Picker International, Inc.

Energy Focus, Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

David Nicolay

Leonard F Plut

John M Davenport

Laszlo A Takacs

Attila Tomasovics

Zhang Liang

Greg Flies

Zhongmin Steve Lin

Hung Y Wong

Robert E Shroy, Jr

Charles G Cassudakis

Jay Seifert

Louis A Paradiso

A system and method for providing high power factor wired lamp control that include receiving a lighting control input though a switch that is associated with at least one of: an operation and a function of at least one lamp. The system and method also include determining if an environment of the at least one lamp includes a connection between a neutral wire and the switch. The system and method additionally include communicating at least one electronic data command associated with the lighting control input to the at least one lamp through an AC power cycle. The system and method further include controlling the at least one lamp to operate based on the lighting control input based on the receipt of the at least one electronic data command communicated through the AC power cycle.

System and method for providing high power factor wired lamp control

A system and method for providing high power factor wired lamp control that include receiving a lighting control input though a switch that is associated with at least one of: an operation and a function of at least one lamp. The system and method also include processing a digital data packet that includes at least one electronic data command associated with the lighting control input. The system and method additionally include implementing at least one powerline interruption associated with an AC power cycle to communicate the digital data packet to the at least one lamp. The system and method further include controlling the at least one lamp to operate based on the lighting control input based on the receipt of the digital data packet communicated through the AC power cycle.

An adaptive median filter ( ) provides dynamic detection and correction of digital image defects which are caused by defective or malfunctioning elements of a radiation detector array ( ). The adaptive median filter receives ( ) lines of pixel values of a digital image that may have defects and a user-defined defect threshold. The lines of pixel values are scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis using a kernel of n&times;n pixels, where the kernel contains the candidate pixel being examined ( ). Each kernel is numerically reordered ( ) and a median value is calculated ( ). A defect threshold value is calculated by multiplying the user-defined defect threshold criteria and the candidate pixel value ( ). A reference value is calculated by subtracting the candidate pixel value and the median value ( ). The reference value is compared to the defect threshold value ( ). The candidate pixel value is replaced by the median value ( ) if it differs from the median value by more than the predefined defect threshold, e.g., 20%. The adaptive median filter is particularly effective in detecting and correcting double line and double column defects in digital images. In addition, the filter minimizes image blurring and maintains image resolution by filtering only defective pixels.

Method and apparatus for digital image defect correction and noise filtering

Improved apparatus, circuitry and method is disclosed for control of a television camera in a radiographic imaging system. The system includes a radiation source, an image intensifier tube and several associated components for acquiring analog radiation representing images in one or more of several prime analog study modes. The analog acquisition components include any one or a combination of a cine camera, a spot film camera and a spot film device. Radiation is directed from the source through a subject to the intensifier tube input and to selected analog acquisition components. As the analog images are acquired, a television camera views the image tube output to produce another image, by way of a monitor, in verification that the radiation exposure is of a character suitable for the selected analog image acquisition mode. Sets of representations of camera operating parameter value decisions are stored in non-volatile random access memory circuitry coupled to the camera. Each set of representations corresponds to a different analog study mode, or combination of modes. Means is provided for selection of one or a combination of analog study modes. In response to that selection, the corresponding set of camera operating parameter decision respresentations is applied to the camera, in order to optimize camera performance for the particular x-ray mode, or combination of modes, which has been selected. In another embodiment, apparatus and circuitry is provided for suppressing the camera video signal in response to a selection of a predetermined video camera scan rate, while maintaining transmission of synchronization signals from the camera to the monitor.

Television camera control in radiation imaging

A radiographic imaging system and method is disclosed having improved monitor control for enhancing the flexibility of a monitor so that one monitor can perform optimally under several system operating modes. The monitor automically detects the line rate most suitable for producing an image in the selected mode. Brightness compensation is accomplished as a function of the scan line rate at which the monitor is operating. Aspect ratio of the monitor produced image is also adjusted automatically in accordance with the operating mode selected. The system incorporates monitor brightness adjustment as a function of aspect ratio as well. Where the system incorporates a video tape or disk recorder, a time constant of the monitor is adjusted to optimize the monitor's compatibility with the video data output from the recorder in response to the selection of an operating mode wherein the recorder feeds the monitor with video information.

Radiation imaging monitor control improvement

An x-ray imaging system incorporating a television imaging chain is disclosed. The system includes automatic gain control circuitry, operable upon the video signal produced by the camera of the television imaging chain. The gain control circuitry affords automatic gain control capability for increasing the video gain in response to an undesired decrease in video output signal level. The gain control circuitry, however, is constrained in that it includes circuitry for establishing a minimum video gain which is always maintained during a study, irrespective of increases in brightness of an overall sample window area of the image, which could otherwise cause undesirable darkening of areas of interest in the image when the sample window also includes uninteresting structure which happens to exhibit a bright field.

Radiation imaging automatic gain control

A system and method using television for x-ray radiographic imaging is disclosed. The disclosure is directed to circuitry and technique whereby digital information for defining blanking time and active time for a given television scan format is stored in read only memory circuitry. In operation, the system blanks unwanted data, producing for active display only a circular image of predetermined size and location. Additional read only memory is used as lookup tables to scale the circular image size, or to alter its shape symmetrically about a center line.

X-ray television imaging using digital circular blanking

A medical diagnostic television imaging system is disclosed having an x-ray source, an image intensifier tube and a video camera positioned to view the output face of the image tube. A monitor is coupled to receive video and synchronization signals from the camera. Means is associated with the video camera for controlling the camera to scan at a selected one of a plurality of scan rate formats. Circuitry is provided for suppressing the delivery of video to the monitor in response to the selection of at least one of the plurality of scan rates. During video suppression, transmission of synchronization signals to the monitor continues.

Improved apparatus, circuitry and method is disclosed for control of a television camera in a radiographic imaging system. The system includes a radiation source, an image intensifier tube and several associated components for acquiring analog radiation representing images in one or more of several prime analog study modes. The analog acquisition components include any one or a combination of a cine camera, a spot film camera and a spot film device. Radiation is directed from the source through a subject to the intensifier tube input and to selected analog acquisition components. As the analog images are acquired, a television camera views the image tube output to produce another image, by way of a monitor, in verification that the radiation exposure is of a character suitable for the selected analog image acquisition mode. Sets of representations of camera operating parameter value decisions are stored in non-volatile random access memory circuitry coupled to the camera. Each set of representations corresponds to a different analog study mode, or combination of modes. Means is provided for selection of one or a combination of analog study modes. In response to that selection, the corresponding set of camera operating parameter decision representations is applied to the camera, in order to optimize camera performance for the particular x-ray mode, or combination of modes, which has been selected. In another embodiment, apparatus and circuitry is provided for suppressing the camera video signal in response to a selection of a predetermined video camera scan rate, while maintaining transmission of synchronization signals from the camera to the monitor.

Growing community of inventors

Fairview Park, OH, United States of America

David Nicolay