radio Decontamination method and apparatus for solid-state material contaminated by radiocesium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A decontamination method of solid-state material contaminated by radiocesium comprising bringing the solid-state material containing radiocesium in contact with a first processing solution and preferably eluting cesium ion from the solid-state material to the liquid phase under the presence of potassium ion or ammonium ion. Full Article
radio Method for stabilization and removal of radioactive waste and non hazardous waste contained in buried objects By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for the stabilization and safe removal of buried waste that is tested and classified as being transuranic or not transuranic waste and disposed accordingly. The buried waste (usually in vertical pipe units) is enclosed in a casing and ground and mixed with the surrounding soil. This process allows for chemical reactions to occur that stabilizes the mixture. The entire process is contained within the casing to avoid contamination. In situ or external testing is done for radio isotopes to classify the waste. If it is classified as transuranic the waste is removed in a controlled way into a retrieval enclosure and disposed off in drums. If the waste is not transuranic then grout is introduced into the mixture, allowed to set and the resulting monolith is removed and buried in trenches. Full Article
radio Methods of capturing and immobilizing radioactive nuclei with metal fluorite-based inorganic materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods of capturing and immobilizing radioactive nuclei with metal fluorite-based inorganic materials are described. For example, a method of capturing and immobilizing radioactive nuclei includes flowing a gas stream through an exhaust apparatus. The exhaust apparatus includes a metal fluorite-based inorganic material. The gas stream includes a radioactive species. The radioactive species is removed from the gas stream by adsorbing the radioactive species to the metal fluorite-based inorganic material of the exhaust apparatus. Full Article
radio Processing radioactive waste for shipment and storage By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A process for encapsulating a radioactive object to render the object suitable for shipment and/or storage, and including the steps of preparing a plastic material, causing the plastic material to react with a foaming agent, generating a foaming plastic, encapsulating the radioactive object in the foaming plastic, and allowing the foaming plastic to solidify around the radioactive object to form an impervious coating. Full Article
radio System and method for communicating with sensors/loggers in integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) tags By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method is disclosed for communicating with sensors/loggers in integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. An RFID reader uses a Communicate With Data Logger Command to communicate with a data logger in an RFID tag. The RFID reader performs data access processes using an Index Register and a Data Register of the RFID tag. The RFID reader selects one of (1) Index Read access (2) Index Write access (3) Data Write access (4) Data Read access with parity and (5) Data Read access with cyclic redundancy check (CRC). The RFID tag performs the requested data access and then performs an error detection process. Full Article
radio Electrochemical system and method for electropolishing superconductive radio frequency cavities By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electrochemical finishing system for super conducting radio frequency (SCRF) cavities including a low viscosity electrolyte solution that is free of hydrofluoric acid, an electrode in contact with the electrolyte solution, the SCRF cavity being spaced apart from the electrode and in contact with the electrolyte solution and a power source including a first electrical lead electrically coupled to the electrode and a second electrical lead electrically coupled to the cavity, the power source being configured to pass an electric current between the electrode and the workpiece, wherein the electric current includes anodic pulses and cathodic pulses, and wherein the cathodic pulses are interposed between at least some of the anodic pulses. The SCRF cavity may be vertically oriented during the finishing process. Full Article
radio Radio paging selective receiver with display for notifying presence of unread message based on time of receipt By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 08:00:00 EST A radio paging selective receiver determines that a received message is unread based on the time difference between the message reception time and the current time being larger that some predetermined value of time, and the paging selective receiver provides an indication of the unread message by displaying the reception time of the unread message in a second fashion which is visibly different from a first fashion normally used to display the current time. Full Article
radio Diagnostic radio frequency identification sensors and applications thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An integrated passive wireless chip diagnostic sensor system is described that can be interrogated remotely with a wireless device such as a modified cell phone incorporating multi-protocol RFID reader capabilities (such as the emerging Gen-2 standard) or Bluetooth, providing universal easy to use, low cost and immediate quantitative analyses, geolocation and sensor networking capabilities to users of the technology. The present invention can be integrated into various diagnostic platforms and is applicable for use with low power sensors such as thin films, MEMS, electrochemical, thermal, resistive, nano or microfluidic sensor technologies. Applications of the present invention include on-the-spot medical and self-diagnostics on smart skin patches, Point-of-Care (POC) analyses, food diagnostics, pathogen detection, disease-specific wireless biomarker detection, remote structural stresses detection and sensor networks for industrial or Homeland Security using low cost wireless devices such as modified cell phones. Full Article
radio Multi-unit blood processor with isolated valves for radio frequency sealing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into components, comprising a valve design that facilitates loading and unloading of sets of blood bags. The valves comprise a jaw mounted on a shaft, the jaw being adapted to apply radio frequency energy to seal a tube, a stepper motor section, and at least two position sensors. The valve sections are mounted on an upper plate, and the stepper motor sections are mounted on a lower plate. A main radio frequency coil is selectively electrically coupled to each of the valves through a multiplexing switch. Full Article
radio Method for performing handover, user equipment, base station, and radio communication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a method for performing a handover from a first base station to a second base station by a user equipment that is performing a radio communication over a communication channel formed by aggregating a plurality of component carriers. The method includes a step of transmitting a handover command for a component carrier for which a handover has been approved by the second base station among the plurality of component carriers from the first base station to the user equipment and a step of trying to make an access from the user equipment to the second base station for each component carrier in response to the handover command. Full Article
radio Method for controlling interference in a radio communications system and apparatus thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Method and Apparatus thereof, for controlling intercell interference in a radio communications system having a plurality of user equipment and a plurality of access nodes including the steps of: a user equipment of said plurality connected to a serving access node, upon determining that an access node of said plurality is causing interference, transmitting a request to said serving access node; said serving access node forwarding said request to an apparatus controlling said interfering access node over an X2 interface, and said apparatus, instructing said interfering access node to execute said request. Full Article
radio Method and apparatus for measurement for inter-cell interference coordination in radio communication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless communication system and, more specifically, a measurement method and apparatus for inter-cell interference coordination in a wireless communication system are disclosed. Herein, a method for supporting measurement of a User Equipment (UE) by a first base station in a wireless communication system includes the steps of acquiring information of downlink subframe configuration of a second base station, determining measurement objects of downlink resource of the first base station based on the downlink subframe configuration of the second base station; transmitting information of the measurement objects to the UE, and receiving measurement result for the measurement objects from the UE. Full Article
radio Providing digital data services in optical fiber-based distributed radio frequency (RF) communication systems, and related components and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Optical fiber-based distributed communications systems that provide and support both RF communication services and digital data services are disclosed herein. The RF communication services and digital data services can be distributed over optical fiber to client devices, such as remote antenna units for example. In certain embodiments, digital data services can be distributed over optical fiber separate from optical fiber distributing RF communication services. In other embodiments, digital data services can be distributed over common optical fiber with RF communication services. For example, digital data services can be distributed over common optical fiber with RF communication services at different wavelengths through wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and/or at different frequencies through frequency-division multiplexing (FDM). Power distributed in the optical fiber-based distributed communications system to provide power to remote antenna units can also be accessed to provide power to digital data service components. Full Article
radio Stent with radiopaque markers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein. Full Article
radio Container and method for transporting a syringe containing radioactive material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for transporting syringes containing radioactive material. The apparatus includes a radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner chamber in which a sharps container can be secured. The sharps container has a housing and an attachable cap. The method includes assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig so that the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig contains the syringe in the sharps container housing. The radiopharmaceutical pig is disassembled, where upon the syringe is removed, discharged, and then replaced in the sharps container housing. The cap of the sharps container is affixed to the housing of the sharps container, thus enclosing the contaminated syringe therein. The radiopharmaceutical pig is assembled so that its chamber contains the sharps container and the syringe. The radiopharmaceutical pig is transported to a disposal area, where it is disassembled and the sharps container containing the syringe is placed in a particular disposal container. Full Article
radio Radioactive decontamination and translocation method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 08:00:00 EST A method for removing radioactive contaminants from a given surface. An acidic solution having a pH of less than 3.0, and preferably less than 1.5, of a complex substituted keto-amine, and a mixture of a saturated and unsaturated lower alcohol (e.g. isopropyl alcohol and propargyl alcohol), and concentrated acid is applied to a contaminated surface. The solution is left on said surface for a time sufficient to remove the radioactive contaminants into the acidic solution and then removed. The acidic solution containing the radioactive contaminants is preferably neuralized by an alkaline material to a pH of between 5.5 and 9.0. Removal of thorium contamination from railcars is one useful application of the invention. The method of the present invention has the effect of removing substantially all of the radioactive contaminants from a previously contaminated surface. Full Article
radio Radiopharmaceutical pig and transportation apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for transporting radiopharmaceutical substances. The apparatus comprises a radiation shielding pig having an elongated sidewall that extends between two ends and that defines an elongated, interior chamber. The sidewall is thinner than each of the ends. A radiation shield defines at least one cavity. The shield has two open ends and a central area between the open ends that is thicker than each of the two open ends. Also, a method of assembling and disassembling the apparatus includes, placing a syringe filled with a radiopharmaceutical substance into the pig; placing the pig containing the filled syringe in the radiation shield; placing the pig and the shield into an ammunition can for transporting the radioactive substance contained in the syringe. Full Article
radio Radioactive decontamination and translocation method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 08:00:00 EDT A method for removing radioactive contaminants from a given surface. An aqueous solution having a wetting agent and a complex substituted keto-amine is provided. The solution is left on the surface for a time sufficient to remove the radioactive contaminants into the aqueous solution which is then removed. Depending on the type and condition of the surface, a concentrated acid may be added to the aqueous solution to aid in the contaminant removal process. In such a case, a pH of less than 3.0, and preferably less than 1.5 is maintained. If a concentrated acid is used, the acidic solution containing radioactive contaminants is preferably neutralized by an alkaline material to a pH of between 5.5 and 9.0. Removal of thorium contamination from railcars is one useful application of the invention. The method of the present invention has the effect of removing substantially all of the radioactive contaminants from a previously contaminated surface. Full Article
radio Radioactive decontamination and translocation method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 08:00:00 EST A method for removing a wide variety of radioactive contaminants from a contaminated surface sufficient for the surface to be classified as a low-level waste or as free release. Contaminated surfaces may be classified as Class C, Class B, Class A, or high-level radioactive wastes prior to treatment. An aqueous solution having a wetting agent and a complex substituted keto-amine is provided. The aqueous solution is left on the surface for a time sufficient to remove the radioactive contaminants into the aqueous solution which is then removed. Depending on the type and condition of the surface, an acid may be added to the aqueous solution to aid in the contaminant removal process. However, typical metals surfaces may often be treated effectively without the use of concentrated acids or with dilute concentrations of such acids. The method of the present invention has the effect of removing substantially all of the radioactive contaminants from a variety of previously contaminated surfaces. Full Article
radio Container transporting a syringe containing radioactive material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for transporting syringes containing radioactive material. The apparatus includes a radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner chamber in which a sharps container can be secured. The sharps container has a housing and an attachable cap. The method includes assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig so that the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig contains the syringe in the sharps container housing. The radiopharmaceutical pig is disassembled, where upon the syringe is removed, discharged, and then replaced in the sharps container housing. The cap of the sharps container is affixed to the housing of the sharps container, thus enclosing the contaminated syringe therein. The radiopharmaceutical pig is assembled so that its chamber contains the sharps container and the syringe. The radiopharmaceutical pig is transported to a disposal area, where it is disassembled and the sharps container containing the syringe is placed in a particular disposal container. Full Article
radio Radioactive substance decontamination method and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 08:00:00 EDT A radioactive substance decontamination method and apparatus which decontaminates a metal member contaminated by radioactive substance in a short period of time. This apparatus has (1) multiple reducing decontamination tanks having different radiation control values; (2) a carrier for immersing the metal member into the multiple reducing decontamination tanks and a washing tank; (3) a tube for transferring into the second reducing decontamination tank the reducing decontamination agent in the first reducing decontamination tank; (4) a reducing agent decomposer for decomposing a component contained in the reducing decontamination agent of the reducing decontamination tank where the radiation control value is the highest out of the reducing decontamination tanks connected by the tube; and (5) a washing tank for washing the reducing decontamination agent deposited on the decontaminated metal member. Full Article
radio Container and method for transporting a syringe containing radioactive material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 May 2006 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for transporting syringes containing radioactive material. The apparatus includes a radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner chamber in which a sharps container can be secured. The sharps container has a housing and an attachable cap. The method includes assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig so that the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig contains the syringe in the sharps container housing. The radiopharmaceutical pig is disassembled, where upon the syringe is removed, discharged, and then replaced in the sharps container housing. The cap of the sharps container is affixed to the housing of the sharps container, thus enclosing the contaminated syringe therein. The radiopharmaceutical pig is assembled so that its chamber contains the sharps container and the syringe. The radiopharmaceutical pig is transported to a disposal area, where it is disassembled and the sharps container containing the syringe is placed in a particular disposal container. Full Article
radio Container and method for transporting a syringe containing radioactive material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for transporting syringes containing radioactive material. The apparatus includes a radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner chamber in which a sharps container can be secured. The sharps container has a housing and an attachable cap. The method includes assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig so that the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig contains the syringe in the sharps container housing. The radiopharmaceutical pig is disassembled, where upon the syringe is removed, discharged, and then replaced in the sharps container housing. The cap of the sharps container is affixed to the housing of the sharps container, thus enclosing the contaminated syringe therein. The radiopharmaceutical pig is assembled so that its chamber contains the sharps container and the syringe. The radiopharmaceutical pig is transported to a disposal area, where it is disassembled and the sharps container containing the syringe is placed in a particular disposal container. Full Article
radio System and method for chemical decontamination of radioactive material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:00:00 EDT A method for chemically decontaminating radioactive material. The method includes reducing-dissolving step for setting surface of radioactive material in contact with reducing decontamination liquid including mono-carboxylic acid and di-carboxylic acid as dissolvent; and oxidizing-dissolving step for setting the surface of the radioactive material in contact with oxidizing decontamination liquid including oxidizer. The method may include repeated pairs of steps, each pair including the reducing-dissolving step and the oxidizing-dissolving step. The mono-carboxylic acid may include formic acid, and the di-carboxylic acid includes oxalic acid. The oxidizer may be ozone, permanganic acid or permanganate. Full Article
radio Liquid radioactive waste treatment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to a liquid radioactive waste treatment system. The liquid radioactive waste treatment system includes a plurality of evaporation plates and each of the evaporation plates has an uneven surface, in a housing comprised of a glass. A liquid radioactive waste is dispersed via a liquid waste dispersing unit to the evaporation plate, and the liquid radioactive waste is evaporated using solar heat and airflow in the housing. Full Article
radio Low sintering temperature glass waste forms for sequestering radioactive iodine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EDT Materials and methods of making low-sintering-temperature glass waste forms that sequester radioactive iodine in a strong and durable structure. First, the iodine is captured by an adsorbant, which forms an iodine-loaded material, e.g., AgI, AgI-zeolite, AgI-mordenite, Ag-silica aerogel, ZnI2, CuI, or Bi5O7I. Next, particles of the iodine-loaded material are mixed with powdered frits of low-sintering-temperature glasses (comprising various oxides of Si, B, Bi, Pb, and Zn), and then sintered at a relatively low temperature, ranging from 425° C. to 550° C. The sintering converts the mixed powders into a solid block of a glassy waste form, having low iodine leaching rates. The vitrified glassy waste form can contain as much as 60 wt % AgI. A preferred glass, having a sintering temperature of 500° C. (below the silver iodide sublimation temperature of 500° C.) was identified that contains oxides of boron, bismuth, and zinc, while containing essentially no lead or silicon. Full Article
radio Mixed-layered bismuth-oxygen-iodine materials for capture and waste disposal of radioactive iodine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST Materials and methods of synthesizing mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine materials, which can be synthesized in the presence of aqueous radioactive iodine species found in caustic solutions (e.g. NaOH or KOH). This technology provides a one-step process for both iodine sequestration and storage from nuclear fuel cycles. It results in materials that will be durable for repository conditions much like those found in Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and estimated for Yucca Mountain (YMP). By controlled reactant concentrations, optimized compositions of these mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine inorganic materials are produced that have both a high iodine weight percentage and a low solubility in groundwater environments. Full Article
radio Apparatus for treating radioactive nitrate waste liquid By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for treating a radioactive nitrate waste liquid includes: a denitrification tank (12) that accommodates active sludge which adsorbs or takes in a radioactive substance in a nitrate waste liquid (11) containing nitrate and the radioactive substance and in which an anaerobic microorganism that reduces the nitrate to nitrogen gas grows; a reaeration tank (14) that aerates and mixes a denitrification-treated liquid (24) treated in the denitrification tank (12) with the active sludge in which the aerobic microorganism grows; and a sludge dissolution tank (81) that dissolves redundant sludge (26A, 26B) discharged from the denitrification tank (12) and the reaeration tank (14). Acetic peracid (80) is supplied to the sludge dissolution tank (81) to dissolve redundant sludge, a sludge lysate is supplied to the denitrification tank (12) as a carbon source (22), and acetic acid is supplied to the denitrification tank (12). Full Article
radio Touch sensitive screen information apparatus that includes close proximity or near distance radio frequency field communication By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A touch sensitive screen mobile information apparatus having a wireless communication unit for wireless device discovery is herein disclosed. Close proximity wireless device discovery is enabled by wireless searching near distance via radio frequency field for a wireless device, receiving information from the wireless device over the near distance wireless communication, and storing the received information at the information apparatus for future wireless connections. Authentication or pairing of devices may be eliminated due to close proximity of the direct wireless device discovery. After wireless device discovery, the information apparatus and the wireless device may become locked or paired for subsequent wireless communication over any number of wireless communication protocols or standards (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, 2.4GHz) without the need to repeat wireless discovery or pairing. Examples of information apparatus include smart phones, digital camera, laptops, or information pads. Examples of wireless devices include televisions, audio output devices, or printers. Full Article
radio Heterogeneous network (HetNet) user equipment (UE) radio resource management (RRM) measurements By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus for performing radio resource management (RRM) measurements in a heterogeneous network (HetNet) are provided in an effort to prevent failure of RRM measurement procedures in a dominant interference scenario. Several alternatives are provided for determining particular resources (e.g., subframes) to use for performing the RRM measurements, wherein the particular resources are based on cooperative resource partitioning between cells of the HetNet, wherein the cells may be of different types (e.g., macro, pico, or femto cells). These alternatives include, for example: (1) intra-frequency or intra-RAT (radio access technology) alternatives, which may involve transmitting resource partitioning information (RPI) in or deriving non-serving cell RPI based on the serving cell's RPI, as well as (2) inter-frequency or inter-RAT alternatives, where the RRM measurements may be performed during a measurement gap. Full Article
radio Apparatus and method for low voltage radio transmission By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to low-voltage radio transmitters with high spectral purity. One such apparatus includes a baseband path with a predistortion stage, a programmable filter, and an upconverter core. In an embodiment, the programmable filter is placed between the predistortion stage and the upconverter core. In an embodiment, the programmable filter is configured by a controller to reject out-of-band noise introduced at the predistortion stage or earlier. Full Article
radio Method and apparatus for a radiolucent and MRI compatible cranial stabilization pin By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A substantially radiolucent cranial stabilization pin is adapted for use with a fixture for immobilizing a patient's head during a medical procedure. The pin includes a tip and a body, which are secured together to form the pin. The tip and body are constructed from non-ferrous, non-magnetic materials that are biocompatible. The tip and body are safe for use with, and compatible with, imaging techniques including MR imaging and CT imaging. In some examples the tip is a titanium insert and the body is molded within and around at least a portion of the tip. In some versions, the tip includes a hollow portion and one or more openings providing access to the hollow portion. The molded body flows into and around portions of the tip creating a secure pin suitable to withstand torque and axial forces observed in use. Full Article
radio Defining a radio frequency identification read area By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT Defining a radio frequency identification read area includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operable to read RFID tags within a specified read area. An RFID transmitter is coupled with the RFID reader and is operable to radiating a modulated carrier in an area adjacent to the specified read area. The RFID reader controls the RFID transmitter to transmit the modulated carrier during a preamble transmission of the RFID reader to prevent any RFID tags in the adjacent area from recognizing an interrogation signal from the RFID reader. Full Article
radio Techniques for on-demand production of medical radioactive iodine isotopes including I-131 By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for radioisotope production uses fast-neutron-caused fission of depleted or naturally occurring uranium targets in an irradiation chamber. Fast fission can be enhanced by having neutrons encountering the target undergo scattering or reflection to increase each neutron's probability of causing fission (n, f) reactions in U-238. The U-238 can be deployed as one or more layers sandwiched between layers of neutron-reflecting material, or as rods surrounded by neutron-reflecting material. The gaseous fission products can be withdrawn from the irradiation chamber on a continuous basis, and the radioactive iodine isotopes (including I-131) extracted. Full Article
radio System, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to high level radioactive materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a ventilated cask for holding high level radioactive materials. The invention utilizes a tubular shell that is ancillary to the ventilated cask that circumscribes the ventilated cask to add radiation shielding protection while improving heat removal by natural convective air flow. Because the tubular shell and cask are non-unitary and slidably separable from one another, crane lifting capacity is not affected. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a cask holding high level radioactive materials comprising: a tubular shell extending from an open bottom end to an open top end, the tubular shell having an inner surface that forms a cavity about a longitudinal axis; a plurality of primary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; a plurality of secondary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; and an annular seal coupled to the tubular shell and extending from the inner surface of the tubular shell; wherein the secondary apertures are located at an axial height above the annular seal and the primary apertures are located at an axial height below the annular seal. Full Article
radio Nonconjugated conductive polymers for protection against nuclear radiation including radioactive iodine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Nonconjugated conductive polymers absorb radioactive iodine, therefore are useful for protection against nuclear radiation. These polymers have at least one double bond per repeat unit. The ratio of the number of double bonds to the total number of bonds along the polymer chain is less than half. Examples of nonconjugated conductive polymers include: cis-1,4-polyisoprene (natural rubber), trans-1,4-polyisoprene (gutta percha), polybutadiene, polydimethyl butadiene, poly(b-pinene), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polyalloocimene, polynorbornene and many others. Through interaction with iodine atoms the double bonds in the nonconjugated polymers transform into radical cations leading to a dark color. The iodine atoms remain (immobile) bound to the polymer chain through the charge-transfer interaction, these polymers are very inexpensive and can be easily processed into any shape, structure and size. Therefore, these are useful for protection against nuclear radiation including radioactive iodine. These polymers when used as a thick cover can provide safe storage of nuclear waste materials including spent fuel rods. Full Article
radio Radio tomographic image generation method and device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A radio tomographic image generation device includes a reconstruction unit for generating a plurality of reconstructed images of different iteration numbers by a successive approximation process; a region segmentation unit for obtaining information about structure based on radiographic image signals, and segmenting, based on the information about structure, a region, of which the tomographic image is generated, into a plurality of segmented regions having different information about structure; and an image combining unit for generating partial tomographic images by using the reconstructed images of different iteration numbers for the individual segmented regions based on the information about structure of the individual segmented regions, and generating a tomographic image of a subject by using the generated partial tomographic images for the individual segmented regions. Full Article
radio Press plate and radiographic imaging apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A press plate that includes: a plate shaped press portion that is capable of resilient deformation; a first slit that is provided to a first wall portion of a support body with length direction along a first edge portion of the press portion, and that penetrates the first wall portion; second slits that are provided to a second wall portions of the support body with length direction along second edge portions of the press portion, and that penetrate the second wall portions; and a first corner portion slit that is provided straddling a corner portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion and penetrating the corner portion, that is connected to the first slit, and that is disposed at a separation to the second slit. Full Article
radio High-voltage apparatus, and radiation source and radioscopic apparatus having the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a high-voltage apparatus according to this invention, a predetermined voltage is applied to a rotating anode after waiting until the number of rotations increases to such an extent that the rotating anode is not damaged. That is, X-rays of desired intensity are already outputted from a point of time when the voltage is applied to the rotating anode. Therefore, diagnosis can be performed immediately after the voltage is applied to the rotating anode. That is, unlike the prior art, there is no need to wait until X-ray intensity becomes suitable for diagnosis after X-ray emission is started, and there is no need to irradiate the patient with unnecessary X-rays. Therefore, the patient can be inhibited from being irradiated with excessive X-rays (with an improvement made in a response from when the operator gives instructions for starting fluoroscopy until emission of X-rays suitable for diagnosis). Full Article
radio Radiographing system, method of controlling automatic exposure in radiographing system, and radiological image detection device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A compensation circuit 76 of an AEC unit 67 of an electronic cassette 13 defines the detection signal of a detection pixel 65 of the electronic cassette 13 as a detection signal corresponding to the detection signal of an old AEC sensor 25. The compensation circuit 76 performs compensation so as to exclude the influence on the detection signal due to a difference in the configuration of an intermediate member disposed between an X-ray source 10 and an FPD 35 of the electronic cassette 13 when the detection pixel 65 is used as an AEC sensor instead of the old AEC sensor 25. The detection signal is transmitted from a detection signal I/F 80 to a detection signal I/F 26 of a source control device 11 as it is (instantaneous value) or as an accumulated value obtained using an integration circuit 77. Full Article
radio Beam lighting unit for radiographic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Method for limiting an X-ray beam, wherein the X-ray beam is limited by a limiting unit comprising a couple of blades approaching each other or moving away from each other to adjust the width of a space between the blades the two blades being driven by an actuator (12) linked to both blades. The position of a symmetry axis (S) of the space between the blades is set in a shifting step by changing the distance between the blades and by impeding the motion of one blade in comparison with the motion of the other blade resulting in an asymmetric motion of the blades with respect to an initial position of the symmetry axis (S). The desired width (W) of the space between the blades is set in an adjustment step by an unimpeded symmetric motion of the blades with respect to the position of the symmetry axis (S) set in the shifting step. Full Article
radio Real-time, on-line and offline treatment dose tracking and feedback process for volumetric image guided adaptive radiotherapy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:00:00 EST A method of treating an object with radiation that includes generating volumetric image data of an area of interest of an object and emitting a therapeutic radiation beam towards the area of interest of the object in accordance with a reference plan. The method further includes evaluating the volumetric image data and at least one parameter of the therapeutic radiation beam to provide a real-time, on-line or off-line evaluation and on-line or off-line modification of the reference plan. Full Article
radio Cruable U-NII wireless radio with secure, integral antenna connection via SM BIOS in U-NII wireless ready device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT A method that utilizes software and hardware mechanisms to meet the FCC requirement for a U-NII antenna to be an integral part of the device in which it operates, while providing wireless ready U-NII devices and CRUable U-NII radios. Enhancements are made to the software BIOS, including the inclusion of a table of approved radio-antenna PCI ID pairs to create an authentication scheme that verifies and authenticates the radio and antenna combination as being an FCC-approved unique coupling during boot-up of the system. The BIOS also comprises an OEM field that stores an encrypted secret key utilized to complete a second check of the radio model placed in the device. During boot up of the device, the PCI ID pairs from the BIOS are compared against the PCI ID of the radio and the secret key is checked against the radio model. Only a system with an approved combination of radio and antenna is allowed to complete the boot process, indicating an FCC approved device-antenna-radio combination under the “integral” requirement. Full Article
radio Radio frequency (RF) receivers with whitened digital clocks and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Radio frequency (RF) receivers having whitened digital clocks and related methods are disclosed. Disclosed embodiments generate whitened clocks having random variations that are used to operate digital processing blocks so that interference created by the whitened clocks is seen as white noise within the received RF signal spectrum. RF input signals are received by RF front-ends (RFFEs) that output analog signals associated with channels within the RF input signals. These analog signals are converted to digital information and processed by digital receive path circuitry that outputs digital data associated with the channel. The digital receive path circuitry includes a whitened clock generator that generates a whitened clock having random variations and which a digital processing block that operates based upon the whitened clock. Further, the RFFE and the digital receive path circuitry are located within a single integrated circuit. Full Article
radio Receiving circuit, use, and method for receiving an encoded and modulated radio signal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A receiving circuit, use, and method for receiving an encoded and modulated radio signal is provided. The circuit comprise a demodulator and a digital filter connected downstream of the demodulator for moving averaging. The filter has at least two FIFO registers and subtractors. Whereby for subtracting an output value of the FIFO register from an input value of the FIFO register a subtractor is connected to each FIFO register. Wherein the filter has a weighting unit, which is connected downstream of each FIFO register, and wherein the filter has an integrator, which is connected downstream of the subtractors for integration. Full Article
radio VSWR measurement circuit, radio communication apparatus, VSWR measurement method, and recording medium having VSWR measurement program stored thereon By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT In this VSWR measurement circuit, a power measurement unit measures the power level of a reflected signal which is included in a feedback signal which has been extracted at a second CPL which has been deployed at a position connecting to an antenna end via a cable. To this end, the VSWR measurement circuit is provided with a main signal component removal circuit, wherein the main signal which has been extracted from the prestage of a digital pre-distortion circuit, and a signal in which the feedback signal that had been extracted at the second CPL has been converted to a digital signal at an A/D CONV, are provided as inputs, the main signal component included in the feedback signal is removed, and only the reflected signal is extracted so as to be output to the power measurement unit. Full Article
radio Radio communication device and response signal spreading method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A radio communication device capable of randomizing both inter-cell interference and intra-cell interference. In this device, a spreading section (214) primarily spreads a response signal in a ZAC sequence set by a control unit (209). A spreading section (217) secondarily spreads the primarily spread response signal in a block-wise spreading code sequence set by the control unit (209). The control unit (209) controls the cyclic shift amount of the ZAC sequence used for the primary spreading in the spreading section (214) and the block-wise spreading code sequence used for the secondary spreading in the spreading section (217) according to a set hopping pattern. The hopping pattern set by the control unit (209) is made up of two hierarchies. An LB-based hopping pattern different for each cell is defined in the first hierarchy in order to randomize the inter-cell interference. A hopping pattern different for each mobile station is defined in the second hierarchy in order to randomize the intra-cell interference. Full Article
radio Thermal-conduction element for improving the manufacture of a package for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a thermal conduction element (20) for a package for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, comprising: an internal part (30) intended to be in contact with a lateral body (14) of the package;an external part (34) intended to form a portion of an external envelope (24) of said package, holding radiological protection means (22);an intermediate part (32) arranged between the internal and external parts,the internal, external and intermediate parts being produced from copper and one of the alloys thereof. According to the invention, the external part (34) is equipped, at each of its two opposite ends, with an area (36) for connection by welding to another thermal conduction element (20), each connection area (36) being produced from steel. Full Article
radio System and method for generating a radio frequency pulse-width modulated signal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST In an embodiment, a method of producing a multi-level RF signal includes producing plurality of pulse-width modulated signals based on an input signal. The method further includes driving a corresponding plurality of parallel amplifiers with the plurality of pulse-width modulated signals by setting a parallel amplifier to have a first output impedance when a corresponding pulse-width modulated signal is in an active state and setting the parallel amplifier to have a second output impedance when the corresponding pulse-width is in an inactive state. The method also includes phase shifting the outputs of the plurality of parallel amplifiers, wherein phase shifting transforms the second output impedance into a third impedance that is higher than the second output impedance, and combining the phase shifted outputs. Full Article
radio Communications device including radio frequency (RF) signal blocking layer for near-field communication (NFC) device and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST A communications device may include a near-field communication (NFC) circuit device, and a radio frequency (RF) signal blocking member adhesively coupled with the NFC device. The RF signal blocking member may be configured to block RF signal communication by the NFC device while coupled therewith. The RF signal blocking member may comprise an electrical conductor. In accordance with an example, the RF signal blocking member may comprise a frangible layer. In another example, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer may be included for adhesively securing the RF signal blocking member with the NFC device. Full Article