US3777146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information density system for scintillation device and method of operation
Assignee: Philips Nuclear Medicine Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-23
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A scintillation scanner having an information density indicator system for counting the number of electrical pulses representative of radiation activity which occur during a predetermined increment of movement of a detection probe and dividing the number of counted pulses by a selected line spacing distance in order to provide direct indication of information density. The information density indicator system utilizes counting circuitry for counting the number of pulses which occur during a predetermined interval of time and scaling circuitry for scaling the number of pulses by a factor which is dependent upon a selected distance of line spacing. The system also incorporates storage circuitry and digital-to-analog conversion circuitry for storing and processing the signals for application to an indicator device.
Inventors
- 👤 C Brunnett
- 👤 B Ioannou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/166; G01T1/1663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
In a scintillation system, a radiation detector including circuitry for developing a train of electrical pulses representative of the value of radiation activity measured by the detector, the improvement comprising: counting circuit means coupled to said detector circuitry for developing an output signal having a value which is a function of the number of electrical pulses received during a predetermined interval of time; and, information density indicator means including; selector means including at least a first and second switch means for selecting one of a plurality of line spacings; preset logic circuit means coupled to said first and second switch means for, upon closure of said first switch means, presetting said counting circuit means so that said output signal is representative of the number of electrical pulses received divided by a first factor and, upon closure of said second switch means, presetting said counting circuit means so that said output signal is representative of the number of electrical pulses received divided by a second factor; and, indicator means coupled to said counting circuit means for providing an output indicator representative of said output signal to thereby provide an indication of information density.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a scintillation system, a radiation detector including circuitry for developing a train of electrical pulses representative of the value of radiation activity measured by the detector, the improvement comprising: counting circuit means coupled to said detector circuitry for developing an output signal having a value which is a function of the number of electrical pulses received during a predetermined interval of time; and, information density indicator means including; selector means including at least a first and second switch means for selecting one of a plurality of line spacings; preset logic circuit means coupled to said first and second switch means for, upon closure of said first switch means, presetting said counting circuit means so that said output signal is representative of the number of electrical pulses received divided by a first factor and, upon closure of said second switch means, presetting said counting circuit means so that said output signal is representative of the number of electrical pulses received divided by a second factor; and, indicator means coupled to said counting circuit means for providing an output indicator representative of said output signal to thereby provide an indication of information density.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said counting circuit means is a decade counter and said preset logic circuit means includes circuit means for setting the starting point of said counter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 including a storage register coupled to said counting circuit means for storing a pattern of electrical signals representative of the number of counts per interval of time; and, digital-to-analog converter means for converting said pattern of stored signals to signals of analog form to be applied to said indicator means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said preset logic circuit means includes a third switch means, for upon closure of said third switch means, presetting said counting circuit means so that said output signal is representative of the number of electrical pulses received divided by a third factor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said counting circuit means is a decade counter and said preset logic circuit means includes circuit means for setting the starting point of said counter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a storage register coupled to said counting circuit means for storing a pattern of electrical signals representative of the number of counts per interval of time; and, digital-to-analog converter means for converting said pattern of stored signals to signals of analog form to be applied to said indicator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first factor is N and said second factor is the sum of N and M where N and M are any integer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
A scintillation system comprising: a radiation detector including circuitry for developing electrical pulses representative of the value of radiation activity measured by the detector; counting circuit means coupled to said detector circuitry for developing an output signal having a value representative of the number of electrical pulses received; information density indicator means for modifying an output signal developed by said counting circuit means including: selector means for selecting one of a plurality of distances between lines of scan; circuit means coupled to said selector means and said counting circuit means for modifying the value of said output signal developed by said counting circuit means in accordance with a selected one of said plurality of line distances; and, indicator means coupled to said counting circuit means for providing an output indicator representative of said output signal to thereby provide an indication of information density.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
A scintillation system comprising: a radiation detector including circuitry for developing electrical pulses representative of the value of radiation activity measured by the detector; counting circuit means coupled to said detector circuitry for developing an output signal having a value representative of the number of electrical pulses received; information density indicator means for modifying an output signal developed by said counting circuit means including: selector means for selecting one of a plurality of distances between lines of scan; circuit means coupled to said selector means and said counting circuit means for modifying the value of said output signal developed by said counting circuit means in accordance with a selected one of said plurality of line distances; and, indicator means coupled to said counting circuit means for providing an output indicator representative of said output signal to thereby provide an indication of information density.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said counting circuit means is a decade counter and said preset logic circuit means includes circuit means for setting the starting point of said counter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 including a storage register coupled to said counting circuit means for storing a pattern of electrical signals representative of the number of counts per inteval of time; and, digital-to-analog converter means for converting said pattern of stored signals to signals of analog form to be applied to said indicator means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said preset logic circuit means includes a third switch means, for upon closure of said third switch means, presetting said counting circuit means so that said output signal is representative of the number of electrical pulses received divided by a third factor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said counting circuit means is a decade counter and said preset logic circuit means includes circuit means for setting the starting point of said counter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 including a storage register coupled to said counting circuit means for storing a pattern of electrical signals representative of the number of counts per interval of time; and, digital-to-analog converter means for converting said pattern of stored signals to signals of analog form to be applied to said indicator means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said first factor is N and said second factor is the sum of N and M where N and M are any integer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of obtaining a direct reading of information density in a scintillation system comprising the steps of: developing a train of electrical pulses representative of the value of radiation activity; developing an output signal having a value which is a function of the number of electrical pulses received during a predetermined interval of time; selecting one of a plurality of line spacings; presetting said counting circuit means in accordance with a selected line spacing so that said output signal is representative of the number of electrical pulses received divided by a factor representative of a selected line spacing; and, providing an output indication representative of said output signal to thereby provide an indication of information density.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of obtaining a direct reading of information density in a scintillation system comprising the steps of: developing a train of electrical pulses representative of the value of radiation activity; developing an output signal having a value which is a function of the number of electrical pulses received during a predetermined interval of time; selecting one of a plurality of line spacings; presetting said counting circuit means in accordance with a selected line spacing so that said output signal is representative of the number of electrical pulses received divided by a factor representative of a selected line spacing; and, providing an output indication representative of said output signal to thereby provide an indication of information density.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3449586A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |