• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.1235-1242
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• 2008

In this paper, x-ray image sensor of photon counting type having a $32{\times}32$ pixel array is designed with $0.18{\mu}m$ triple-well CMOS process. Each pixel of the designed image sensor has an area of loot $100{\times}100\;{\mu}m2$ and is composed of about 400 transistors. It has an open pad of an area of $50{\times}50{\mu}m2$ of CSA(charge Sensitive Amplifier) with x-ray detector through a bump bonding. To reduce layout size, self-biased folded cascode CMOS OP amp is used instead of folded cascode OP amp with voltage bias circuit at each single-pixel CSA, and 15-bit LFSR(Linear Feedback Shift Register) counter clock generator is proposed to remove short pulse which occurs from the clock before and after it enters the counting mode. And it is designed that sensor data can be read out of the sensor column by column using a column address decoder to reduce the maximum current of the CMOS x-ray image sensor in the readout mode.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.565-568
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• 2014

This paper presents a 0.2V DC/DC boost converter with regulated output for thermoelectric energy harvesting. To use low voltages from a thermoelectric device, a start-up circuit consisting of native NMOS transistors and resistors boosts an internal VDD, and the boosted VDD is used to operate the internal control block. When the VDD reaches a predefined value, a detector circuit makes the start-up block turn off to minimize current consumption. The final boosted VSTO is achieved by alternately operating the sub-boost converter for VDD and the main boost converter for VSTO according to the comparator outputs. When the VSTO reaches 2.4V, a buck converter starts to operate to generate a stabilized output VOUT. Simulation results shows that the designed converter generates a regulated 1.8V output from an input voltage of 0.2V, and its maximum power efficiency is 60%. The chip designed using a $0.35{\mu}m$ CMOS process occupies $1.1mm{\times}1.0mm$ including pads.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

For optimal image quality of computer tomography angiography (CTA), different iodine concentrations and scan parameters were applied to quantitatively evaluate the image quality characteristics of filtered back projection (FBP), hybrid-iterative reconstruction (hybrid-IR), and deep learning reconstruction (DLR). A 320-row-detector CT scanner scanned a phantom with various iodine concentrations (1.2, 2.9, 4.9, 6.9, 10.4, 14.3, 18.4, and 25.9 mg/mL) located at the edge of a cylindrical water phantom with a diameter of 19 cm. Data obtained using each reconstruction technique was analyzed through noise, coefficient of variation (COV), and root mean square error (RMSE). As the iodine concentration increased, the CT number value increased, but the noise change did not show any special characteristics. COV decreased with increasing iodine concentration for FBP, adaptive iterative dose reduction (AIDR) 3D, and advanced intelligent clear-IQ engine (AiCE) at various tube voltages and tube currents. In addition, when the iodine concentration was low, there was a slight difference in COV between the reconstitution techniques, but there was little difference as the iodine concentration increased. AiCE showed the characteristic that RMSE decreased as the iodine concentration increased but rather increased after a specific concentration (4.9 mg/mL). Therefore, the user will have to consider the characteristics of scan parameters such as tube current and tube voltage as well as iodine concentration according to the reconstruction technique for optimal CTA image acquisition.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2024

The digital phase-locked loop(DPLL) is one of the circuits composed of a digital detector, digital loop filter, voltage-controlled oscillator, and divider as a fundamental circuit, widely used in many fields such as electrical and circuit fields. A state estimator using various mathematical algorithms is used to improve the performance of a digital phase-locked loop. Traditional state estimators have utilized Kalman filters of infinite impulse response state estimators, and digital phase-locked loops based on infinite impulse response state estimators can cause rapid performance degradation in unexpected situations such as inaccuracies in initial values, model errors, and various disturbances. In this paper, we propose a two-layer Frobenius norm-based finite impulse state estimator to design a new digital phase-locked loop. The proposed state estimator uses the estimated state of the first layer to estimate the state of the first layer with the accumulated measurement value. To verify the robust performance of the new finite impulse response state estimator-based digital phase locked-loop, simulations were performed by comparing it with the infinite impulse response state estimator in situations where noise covariance information was inaccurate.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2019

Purpose: The present study aims to assess the level of coherency and the accuracy of Point dose of the Isocenter of VERO, a linear accelerator developed for the purpose of the Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy(SBRT). Materials and Method: The study was conducted randomly with 10 treatment plans among SBRT patients in Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, using VERO, a linear accelerator between June and December, 2018. In order to assess the equipment's power stability level, we measured the output constancy by using PTW-LinaCheck, an output detector. We also attempted to measure the level of accuracy of the equipment's Laser, kV(Kilo Voltage) imaging System, and MV(Mega Voltage) Beam by using Tofu Phantom(BrainLab, Germany) to assess the accuracy level of geometrical Isocenter. We conducted a comparative analysis to assess the accuracy level of the dose by using an acrylic Phantom($30{\times}30{\times}20cm$), a calibrated ion chamber CC-01(IBA Dosimetry), and an Electrometer(IBA, Dosimetry). Results: The output uniformity of VERO was calculated to be 0.66 %. As for geometrical Isocenter accuracy, we analyzed the error values of ball Isocenter of inner Phantom, and the results showed a maximum of 0.4 mm, a minimum of 0.0 mm, and an average of 0.28 mm on X-axis, and a maximum of -0.4 mm, a minimum of 0.0 mm, and an average of -0.24 mm on Y-axis. A comparison and evaluation of the treatment plan dose with the actual measured dose resulted in a maximum of 0.97 % and a minimum of 0.08 %. Conclusion: The equipment's average output dose was calculated to be 0.66 %, meeting the ${\pm}3%$ tolerance, which was considered as a much uniform fashion. As for the accuracy assessment of the geometric Isocenter, the results met the recommended criteria of ${\pm}1mm$ tolerance, affirming a high level of reproducibility of the patient's posture. The difference between the treatment plan dose and the actual measurement dose was calculated to be 0.52 % on average, significantly less than the 3 % tolerance, confirming that it obtained predicted does. The current study suggested that VERO equipment is suitable for SBRT, and would result in notable therapeutic effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.27-31
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• 2009

Now a days, the Medical X-ray equipments has become digitalized from analog type such as film, cassette to CR, DR. And many scientists are still researching and developing the Medical X-ray equipment. In this study, we used the Bismuth tri-iodide to conversion material for digital X-ray equipments and we couldn't get the satisfying result than previous study, but it opened new possibility to cover the disadvantage of a-Se is high voltage aplly and difficultness of make. In this paper, we use $BiI_3$ powder(99.99%) as x-ray conversion material and make films that have thickness of 200um and the film size is $3cm{\times}3cm$. Also, we deposited an ITO(Indium Tin Oxide) electrode as top electrode and bottom electrode using a Magnetron Sputtering System. To evaluate a characteristics of the produced films, an electrical and structural properties are performed. Through a SEM analysis, we confirmed a surface and component part. And to analyze the electrical properties, darkcurrent, sensitivity and SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) are measured. Darkcurrent is $1.6nA/cm^2$ and sensitivity is $0.629nC/cm^2$ and this study shows that the electrical properties of x-ray conversion material that made by screen printing method are similar to PVD method or better than that. This results suggest that $BiI_3$ is suitable for a replacement of a-Se because of the reduced manufacture processing and improved yield.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of an iterative reconstruction algorithm and an automatic exposure control (AEC) technique on image quality and radiation dose through phantom experiments with coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography protocols. We scanned the AAPM CT performance phantom using 320 multi-detector-row CT. At the tube voltages of 80, 100, and 120 kVp, the scanning was repeated with two settings of the AEC technique, i.e., with the target standard deviations (SD) values of 33 (the higher tube current) and 44 (the lower tube current). The scanned projection data were reconstructed also in two ways, with the filtered back projection (FBP) and with the iterative reconstruction technique (AIDR-3D). The image quality was evaluated quantitatively with the noise standard deviation, modulation transfer function, and the contrast to noise ratio (CNR). More specifically, we analyzed the influences of selection of a tube voltage and a reconstruction algorithm on tube current modulation and consequently on radiation dose. Reduction of image noise by the iterative reconstruction algorithm compared with the FBP was revealed eminently, especially with the lower tube current protocols, i.e., it was decreased by 46% and 38%, when the AEC was established with the lower dose (the target SD=44) and the higher dose (the target SD=33), respectively. As a side effect of iterative reconstruction, the spatial resolution was decreased by a degree that could not mar the remarkable gains in terms of noise reduction. Consequently, if coronary CT angiogprahy is scanned and reconstructed using both the automatic exposure control and iterative reconstruction techniques, it is anticipated that, in comparison with a conventional acquisition method, image noise can be reduced significantly with slight decrease in spatial resolution, implying clinical advantages of radiation dose reduction, still being faithful to the ALARA principle.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.160-167
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• 2015

Radiation exposure from medical diagnostic imaging procedures to patients is one of the most significant interests in diagnostic x-ray system. A miniature x-ray intraoral tube was developed for the first time in the world which can be inserted into the mouth for imaging. Dose evaluation should be carried out in order to utilize such an imaging device for clinical use. In this study, dose evaluation of the new x-ray unit was performed by 1) using a custom made in vivo Pig phantom, 2) determining exposure condition for the clinical use, and 3) measuring patient dose of the new system. On the basis of DRLs (Diagnostic Reference Level) recommended by KDFA (Korea Food & Drug Administration), the ESD (Entrance Skin Dose) and DAP (Dose Area Product) measurements for the new x-ray imaging device were designed and measured. The maximum voltage and current of the x-ray tubes used in this study were 55 kVp, and 300 mA. The active area of the detector was $72{\times}72mm$ with pixel size of $48{\mu}m$. To obtain the operating condition of the new system, pig jaw phantom images showing major tooth-associated tissues, such as clown, pulp cavity were acquired at 1 frame/sec. Changing the beam currents 20 to $80{\mu}A$, x-ray images of 50 frames were obtained for one beam current with optimum x-ray exposure setting. Pig jaw phantom images were acquired from two commercial x-ray imaging units and compared to the new x-ray device: CS 2100, Carestream Dental LLC and EXARO, HIOSSEN, Inc. Their exposure conditions were 60 kV, 7 mA, and 60 kV, 2 mA, respectively. Comparing the new x-ray device and conventional x-ray imaging units, images of the new x-ray device around teeth and their neighboring tissues turn out to be better in spite of its small x-ray field size. ESD of the new x-ray device was measured 1.369 mGy on the beam condition for the best image quality, 0.051 mAs, which is much less than DRLs recommended by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and KDFA, both. Its dose distribution in the x-ray field size was observed to be uniform with standard deviation of 5~10 %. DAP of the new x-ray device was $82.4mGy*cm^2$ less than DRL established by KDFA even though its x-ray field size was small. This study shows that the new x-ray imaging device offers better in image quality and lower radiation dose compared to the conventional intraoral units. In additions, methods and know-how for studies in x-ray features could be accumulated from this work.