US6990176B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and apparatus for tileable sensor array
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 2003-10-30
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Granted: 2006-01-24
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Expires: 2023-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A detector array kit that includes at least one sensor array. The sensor array has an active side at least one sensor on the flat active side configured to detect a particular form of energy. The sensor array active side has a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy. The positioning structure includes a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure. The detector kit further includes a complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to the particular form of energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Donna Marie Sherman
- 👤 William Edward Burdick, Jr.
- 👤 James Wilson Rose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:20
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/02; G21K1/025; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/032; A61B6/44; A61B6/4411; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A sensor array having an active side and comprising: at least one sensor on the active side configured to produce a signal when a particular form of energy is detected; and a positioning structure on the active side essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A sensor array having an active side and comprising: at least one sensor on the active side configured to produce a signal when a particular form of energy is detected; and a positioning structure on the active side essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor comprises an x-ray scintillation detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 2 wherein said positioning structure comprises molded plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 2 wherein said positioning structure comprises rubber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 2 wherein said positioning structure comprises acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 2 wherein said positioning structure comprises graphite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 2 wherein said positioning structure comprises aluminized graphite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 1 wherein said positioning structure is glued onto the active side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 8 wherein said positioning structure does not extend beyond edges of the active side of said detector array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of x-ray scintillation detectors, and said positioning structure further comprises at least one collimator blade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 10 wherein said positioning structure comprises molded plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sensor array in accordance with claim 1 wherein said positioning structure is affixed to the active side of the sensor array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
A detector array kit comprising: at least one sensor array having an active side and comprising at least one sensor on the active side configured to detect a particular form of energy, said at least one sensor array further comprising a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure; and a complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to the particular form of energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A detector array kit comprising: at least one sensor array having an active side and comprising at least one sensor on the active side configured to detect a particular form of energy, said at least one sensor array further comprising a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure; and a complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to the particular form of energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said detector array is an x-ray detector array.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 14 wherein said positioning structure and said complementary mounting structure comprise molded plastic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 14 wherein said positioning structure comprises acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 14 wherein said positioning structure comprises rubber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 14 wherein said positioning structure comprises graphite.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 14 wherein said positioning structure comprises aluminized graphite.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A detector array in accordance with claim 13 wherein said at least one sensor array is compressively and frictionally mounted on said complementary mounting structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said complementary mountings structure is configured to mount a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of said sensor arrays.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 21 wherein said plurality of rows and plurality of columns of said sensor arrays are compressionally and frictionally mounted on said complementary mounting structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said positioning structure is affixed to the active side of the sensor array.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
104 words
A detector array kit comprising: a plurality of sensor arrays each having an active side and comprising at least one sensor on the active side configured to detect a particular form of energy, said sensor arrays each further comprising a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure; and a unitary complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to the particular form of energy and having a plurality of planar segments that meet at angles.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
A detector array kit comprising: a plurality of sensor arrays each having an active side and comprising at least one sensor on the active side configured to detect a particular form of energy, said sensor arrays each further comprising a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure; and a unitary complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to the particular form of energy and having a plurality of planar segments that meet at angles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A detector array kit in accordance with claim 24 wherein said detector array is an x-ray detector array.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detector array in accordance with claim 25 wherein said sensor arrays are compressively and frictionally mounted on said complementary mounting structure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A detector array in accordance with claim 26 having a plurality of both rows and columns of sensor arrays.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computed tomograpic imaging apparatus comprising: a rotating gantry; an x-ray source on the rotating gantry configured to project an x-ray beam through an object being imaged; a table configured to support the object in the x-ray beam; and a detector array on the rotating gantry configured to detect x-rays passing through the object, said detector array comprising a plurality of sensor arrays each having an active side and comprising at least one x-ray sensor on the active side configured to detect x-rays, said sensor arrays each further comprising a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure; and a unitary complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to x-rays and having a plurality of planar segments that meet at angles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computed tomograpic imaging apparatus comprising: a rotating gantry; an x-ray source on the rotating gantry configured to project an x-ray beam through an object being imaged; a table configured to support the object in the x-ray beam; and a detector array on the rotating gantry configured to detect x-rays passing through the object, said detector array comprising a plurality of sensor arrays each having an active side and comprising at least one x-ray sensor on the active side configured to detect x-rays, said sensor arrays each further comprising a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes configured to compressively and frictionally engage with a complementary mounting structure; and a unitary complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to x-rays and having a plurality of planar segments that meet at angles.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein said unitary complementary mounting structure has a plurality of planar segments that meet at angles.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 29 wherein said detector array comprises both a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of said sensor arrays.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for repairing a detector array comprising: disengaging a first sensor array having an active side and at least one sensor on the active side configured to produce a signal when a particular form of energy is detected, and a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes compressively and frictionally engaged with a complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to the particular form of energy; and compressively and frictionally engaging a second sensor array in place of the first sensor array.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for repairing a detector array comprising: disengaging a first sensor array having an active side and at least one sensor on the active side configured to produce a signal when a particular form of energy is detected, and a positioning structure on the active side that is essentially transparent to the particular form of energy, said positioning structure comprising a plurality of spaced compressible posts or tubes compressively and frictionally engaged with a complementary mounting structure essentially transparent to the particular form of energy; and compressively and frictionally engaging a second sensor array in place of the first sensor array.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein said detector array is in a computed tomographic imaging apparatus.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein said detector array is an x-ray detector array.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-01-23 | 2009-07-25 | 2010-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-01-23 | 2013-07-25 | 2014-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-01-23 | 2017-07-25 | 2018-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |