US4595949A — Systems and methods for translating radiation int…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 98 words

A diagnostic imaging method for automatically substantially simultaneously controlling a plurality of variable parameters governing the translation of detected radiation intensity to pixel values for video display images, said method comprising the steps of: energizing a source of penetrating radiation to transmit the radiation through an object, detecting on detector means the radiation that has passed through the object, measuring the energy intensity of said radiation at each location on the detector means, determining the maximum and minimum values of said measured intensities, and using said determined maximum and minimum intensities for adjusting said plurality of variable parameters.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 98 words

A diagnostic imaging method for automatically substantially simultaneously controlling a plurality of variable parameters governing the translation of detected radiation intensity to pixel values for video display images, said method comprising the steps of: energizing a source of penetrating radiation to transmit the radiation through an object, detecting on detector means the radiation that has passed through the object, measuring the energy intensity of said radiation at each location on the detector means, determining the maximum and minimum values of said measured intensities, and using said determined maximum and minimum intensities for adjusting said plurality of variable parameters.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 84 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said radiation detecting step includes the steps of: detecting at the detector means the locations of the energy intensity caused by photons impinging on said detector locations, converting said energy intensities into signals containing information about the intensities at each location, said signals being linear with respect to the integral absorbing power of the object on the radiation passing through the object in the path from the source to the detector, and converting said signals into digital signals.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said signals comprise analog signals changing in time so that each instant in time corresponds to a unique location on the detector.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said converting of said intensities to said analog signals include the following steps: intensifying the image formed by the detector, creating an intensified image on a "target" plate scanning said "target" plate with a video camera, and producing a video signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 4 wherein the step of converting said analog signals to said digital signals is done by an Analog to Digital converter (ADC) with variable threshold and gain.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 2 including the step of converting the radiation that has passed through the object to light signals, and converting said light signals into analog signals.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 2 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the top threshold of the signal converted to a digital signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the total energy of the radiation used for each image.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 2 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the range of intensities of the radiation converted to positive digital signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 3 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the intensity level converted to the maximum analog signal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 4 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the intensity level converted to the maximum video signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 5 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the upper threshold of said ADC which controls the level of video signal converted to the maximum digital signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 4 where the variable parameters include: the range of video signals converted to the full range of digital signals.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said determining step includes the steps of: storing said digital signals into matrix locations, said locations corresponding to the locations on the detector impinged by photons, and scanning said matrix locations todetermine the minimum and maximum values of said stored digital signals.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 14 including: performing preparatory test operations for setting at least certain of said plurality of variable parameters prior to the actual patient study.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 15 where one of the said preparatory operations comprises: setting the energy output of said source to obtain a maximum analog signal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method of claim 15 wherein one of said preparatory operations comprises setting the complete available range of digital values to cover only the range between the maximum and minimum intensity values.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 76 words

The method of claim 16 where said setting of the energy output comprises the steps of: energizing the source with predetermined ADC settings, first current specifications and a first iris size, comparing the resulting highest video signals with the maximum video signals, and adjusting the first current specifications to obtain new current specifications and the first iris size to obtain a new iris size so the resulting highest video signal will equal the maximum video signal.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 18 including the step of calculating the new current specifcations using linear equations, as a function of the measured highest digital signal and the digital signal corresponding to the maximum video signal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 19 including the step of calculating the new iris size using a linear equation in which the new iris size is a function of the digital signal corresponding to the maximum video signal and the new current specifications.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 17 wherein the step of using the determined maximum and minimum values comprises the steps of: determining a digital range of signals defined by the minimum and maximum intensity values, and using the determined digital range to set the ADC so that it will convert to the full digital range only analog video signals resulting from intensities in a wanted range.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 21 including the step of calculating the new ADC setting, using linear equations, as a function of said maximum and minimum digital values.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 14 and controlling the changes in the variable parameters using the maximum and minimum values by calculating the parameters as linear functions of the maximum and minimum values, and setting the parameters to the calculated values.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 99 words

A diagnostic system for automatically substantially simultaneously controlling a plurality of variable parameters governing the translation of detected radiation intensity to pixel values for display images, said system comprising: means for energizing a source of penetrating radiation to transmit the radiation through an object, means for detecting on detector means the radiation that has passed through the object and measuring the energy intensity at each location on the detector means, means for determining the maximum and minimum values of said measured intensity, and means for using said determined maximum and minimum intensities for adjusting said plurality of variable parameters.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 99 words

A diagnostic system for automatically substantially simultaneously controlling a plurality of variable parameters governing the translation of detected radiation intensity to pixel values for display images, said system comprising: means for energizing a source of penetrating radiation to transmit the radiation through an object, means for detecting on detector means the radiation that has passed through the object and measuring the energy intensity at each location on the detector means, means for determining the maximum and minimum values of said measured intensity, and means for using said determined maximum and minimum intensities for adjusting said plurality of variable parameters.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 85 words

The system of claim 24 wherein said detecting means includes: means for detecting at the detector the locations of the energy intensity caused by photons impinging on said detector locations, means for converting said energy intensities into signals containing information about the intensities at each location, said signals being linear with respect to the integral absorbing power of the object on the radiation passing through the object in the path from the source to the detector, and means for converting said signals into digital signals.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 25 wherein said signals comprise analog signals changing in time so that each instant in time corresponds to a unique location on the detector.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 26 wherein said means for converting of said intensities to said analog signals include: means for intensifying the image formed by the detector, means for creating an intensified image on a "target" plate, and, means for scanning said "target" plate with a video camera, and producing a video signal.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system of claim 27 wherein the means for converting said analog signals to said digital signals is done by an analog to digital converter (ADC) with variable threshold and gain.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 25 including means for converting the radiation that has passed through the object to light signals, and converting said light signals into analog signals.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 25 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the top threshold of the signal converted to a digital signal.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 24 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the total energy of the radiation used for each image.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 25 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the range of intensities of the radiation converted to positive digital signals.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 26 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the intensity level converted to the maximum analog signal.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 27 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the intensity level converted to the maximum video signal.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 28 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the upper threshold of the said analog to digital converter which controls the level of video signal converted to the maximum digital signal.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 27 where the plurality of variable parameters include: the range of video signals converted to the full range of digital signals.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system of claim 23 wherein said means for determining includes: means for storing said digital signals into matrix locations, said locations corresponding to the locations on the detector impinged by said photons, and means for scanning said matrix locations to determine the minimum and maximum values of said stored digital signals.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 37 including: means for performing preparatory test operations for setting of at least certain of said plurality of parameters prior to the actual patient study.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 38 wherein said means for performing preparatory operations comprises: means for setting the energy output of said source to obtain a maximum analog signal.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 35 words

A system of claim 38 wherein means for performing said preparatory operations comprises: means for setting the complete available range of digital values to cover only the range between the maximum and minimum intensity values.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 65 words

The system of claim 39 where said means for setting of the energy output comprises: means for energizing the source with predetermined ADC voltage, current specifications and iris size, means for comparing the resulting highest video signals with the maximum video signals, and means for adjusting the current specifications and the iris size so the resulting highest video signal will equal the maximum video signal.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 41 including means for calculating the new current specifications using linear equations, as a function of the measured highest digital signal and the digital signal corresponding to the maximum video signal.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 41 including means for calculating the new iris size using a linear equation wherein the new iris size is a function of the digital signal corresponding to the maximum video signal and the new current specifications.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 67 words

The system of claim 40 wherein the means for using the determined maximum and minimum values comprises: means for determining the digital range defined by the minimum and maximum intensity values, and means for using the determined digital range to set the analog to digital converter so that it will convert to the full digital range only analog video signals resulting from intensities in a wanted range.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 44 including means for calculating the new ADC setting using linear equations, in which the new ADC setting is a function of said maximum and minimum digital values.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 37 and means for controlling the changes in the variable parameters using the maximum and minimum values by calculating the parameters as linear functions of the maximum and minimum values, and setting the parameters to the calculated values.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 19 including the step of calculating the new iris size using a linear equation which is a function of the digital signal corresponding to the maximum video signal and the first current specifications.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 41 including means for calculating the new iris size using a linear equation which is a function of the digital signal corresponding to the maximum video signal and the first current specifications.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-06-16	1989-12-16	1990-06-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-06-16	1993-12-16	1994-06-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-06-16	1997-12-16	1998-06-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Systems and methods for translating radiation intensity into pixel values

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