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US5122671A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Terbium activated silicate luminescent glasses for use in converting x-ray radiation into visible radiation

Assignee: COLLIMATED HOLES Inc
•
Filing: 1991-06-24
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Granted: 1992-06-16
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Expires: 2011-06-24
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to terbium activated silicate luminescent glasses exhibiting reduced afterglow and enhanced luminescence due to incorporation therein of selected rare earth oxides of cerium, europium and godolinium.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert A. Buchanan
  • 👤 Clifford Bueno

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 23:33
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K4/00; C; C03; C03C; C03C3/00; C03C3/04; C03C3/062; C03C3/076; C03C3/095; C03C4/00; C03C4/12; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/08; C09K11/77; C09K11/7743; C09K11/77494; C09K11/7766; C09K11/77744; C09K11/7783; C09K11/77924; G21K2004/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 186 words
A method of converting x-ray radiation into radiation in the visible spectrum comprising the steps of: a. positioning in said x-ray radiation field a luminescent terbium-activated, silicate glass exhibiting strong visible luminescence, low phosphorescence and low background buildup when exposed to x-ray radiation in the range of 5 KeV to 16 MeV and consisting essentially, by weight on the oxide basis, of about 3-25% R 2 O wherein R 2 O consists of 0-5% Li 2 O, 0-25% Na 2 O, 0-25% K 2 O, 0-25% Rb 2 O, and 0-25% Cs 2 O; 5-55% RO wherein RO consists of 0-20% MgO, 0-30% CaO, 0-45% SrO and 0-55% BaO; 35-70% SiO 2 ; 0-20% R 2 O 3 wherein R 2 O 3 consists of 0-20% La 2 O 3 and 0-15% Y 2 O 3 ; 0.1-2% of at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of cerium oxide and europium oxide; 5-20% Tb 2 O 3 ; and 1-15% Gd 2 O 3 ; and b. irradiating said glass with said x-ray radiation, thereby to convert said x-ray radiation into said visible radiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 186 words
A method of converting x-ray radiation into radiation in the visible spectrum comprising the steps of: a. positioning in said x-ray radiation field a luminescent terbium-activated, silicate glass exhibiting strong visible luminescence, low phosphorescence and low background buildup when exposed to x-ray radiation in the range of 5 KeV to 16 MeV and consisting essentially, by weight on the oxide basis, of about 3-25% R 2 O wherein R 2 O consists of 0-5% Li 2 O, 0-25% Na 2 O, 0-25% K 2 O, 0-25% Rb 2 O, and 0-25% Cs 2 O; 5-55% RO wherein RO consists of 0-20% MgO, 0-30% CaO, 0-45% SrO and 0-55% BaO; 35-70% SiO 2 ; 0-20% R 2 O 3 wherein R 2 O 3 consists of 0-20% La 2 O 3 and 0-15% Y 2 O 3 ; 0.1-2% of at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of cerium oxide and europium oxide; 5-20% Tb 2 O 3 ; and 1-15% Gd 2 O 3 ; and b. irradiating said glass with said x-ray radiation, thereby to convert said x-ray radiation into said visible radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said terbium oxide is present in an amount of about 6 to 12 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one oxide of cerium and europium is present in an amount of about 0.1 to 1.0 percent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gadolinium oxide is present in an amount of about 1 to 10 percent.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3654172A Cited
US4798681A Cited
US4928017A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-06-16 1995-12-16 1996-06-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-06-16 1999-12-16 2000-06-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-06-16 2003-12-16 2004-06-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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