Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Hewlett-packard Company

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Patrick A Batten

Michael L Christensen

John G Thelen

Martha A Chavez

James P Wester

Troy C Schank

Materials and methods of manufacturing radiation shielded enclosures is presented that may replace the use of lead, granite and other undesirable materials and manufacturing methods. The present invention provides a high-density radiation shielding enclosure manufactured using a fiberglass lay-up or pressure spaying process and tungsten powder. The method of manufacture may include applying a tungsten powder in an epoxy, caulking, sealant, adhesive or elastomeric compound to the radiation shielding enclosure in order to seal any cracks, holes, joints or other radiation leaks.

Condensed tungsten composite material and method for manufacturing and sealing a radiation shielding enclosure

Materials and methods of manufacturing radiation shielded enclosures is presented that may replace the use of lead, granite and other heavy, expensive, toxic, environmentally unfriendly or otherwise undesirable materials and manufacturing methods. The present invention provides a high-density radiation shielding enclosure manufactured by cold casting a liquid refined iron ore or taconite composite material into a mold of an enclosure of an appropriate shape and size to house an x-ray imaging system. The method of manufacture may include applying an iron ore or tungsten composite caulking compound to the radiation shielding enclosure in order to seal any radiation leaks in the radiation shielding enclosure.

Iron ore composite material and method for manufacturing radiation shielding enclosure

A system, method and apparatus for translating a carriage from one position to another position utilizing an injection molded plastic translating system are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an injection molded plastic translating system is utilized within a flatbed scanner to translate a scanhead carriage along a desired path during the scanning process. The plastic translating system is formed utilizing gas injection molding techniques, resulting in a plastic translating system that does not warp. Further, the plastic translating system is smooth to allow the scanhead carriage to be translated with substantially no vibration. Also, the plastic translating system of a preferred embodiment results in very little wear after many translations of the carriage. Because the plastic translating system of a preferred embodiment may be molded as part of the base of the scanner or as part of a platform that is utilized within the scanner, the total number of parts utilized within the scanner is reduced and the total cost for assembling such scanner is reduced. Moreover, the injection molded plastic translating system disclosed herein may be utilized for many other types of devices that require a component to be translated from one position to another along a desired path.

Injection molded plastic positioning system for moving carriage flatbed scanner

A transparency adaptor is described that includes a flat panel illuminator within the scanner lid of the scanner. The flat panel illuminator provides backlighting for scanning transparencies, such that light passes through the transparency only once and into the scanner optics within the scanner base. When the flat panel illuminator is lit during a scanning process, the light source within the scanner is not lit. In a second embodiment, the flat panel illuminator is removeably attached to the scanner lid. Another alternative is for the flat panel illuminator adapter to be a separate from the scanner, such that it is placed over a transparent document when needed, either plugging into the scanner or a separate power source during the scanning process.

Flat panel illuminator active transparency adapter

A transparency adaptor is described that includes a flat panel illuminator integral with an automatic document feeder accessory for a flat bed scanner. The flat panel illuminator provides backlighting for scanning transparencies, such that light passes through the transparency only once and into the scanner optics within the scanner base. When the flat panel illuminator is lit during a scanning process, the light source within the scanner is not lit. The flat panel illuminator transparency adapter unit is controlled by the same control cable used by the automatic document feeder unit. The automatic document feeder and the flat panel illuminator transparency adapter may be simultaneously operated in order to scan more than one transparent document automatically.

Integrated automatic document feeder and active transparency adapter

An adapter for scanning transparent images using a reflective scanner. The adapter receives light from a lamp inside the scanner and redirects the light through the transparent image and back into the scanner. The scanner has an offset between an illumination line and a scan line. An angle of the adapter relative to the surface of a platen on the scanner is dependent on the distance between the illumination line and the scan line. At least one angle adjuster is provided on the adapter to enable the adapter to be used on scanners having different offsets. In addition, the adapter is made wider than the transparent image to be scanned, so that when the scan line is at a leading or trailing edge of the transparent image, the adapter still captures light from the lamp within the scanner.

Growing community of inventors

Ft. Collins, CO, United States of America

Patrick A Batten