Patents Represented by Attorney Carol I. Ashby
  • Patent number: 7148974
    Abstract: A method for tracking the movement and position of mobile agents using light detection and ranging (LIDAR) as a stand-off optical detection technique. The positions of the agents are tracked by analyzing the time-history of a series of optical measurements made over the field of view of the optical system. This provides a (time+3-D) or (time+2-D) mapping of the location of the mobile agents. Repeated pulses of a laser beam impinge on a mobile agent, such as a bee, and are backscattered from the agent into a LIDAR detection system. Alternatively, the incident laser pulses excite fluorescence or phosphorescence from the agent, which is detected using a LIDAR system. Analysis of the spatial location of signals from the agents produced by repeated pulses generates a multidimensional map of agent location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Randal L. Schmitt, Susan Fae Ann Bender, Philip J. Rodacy, Philip J. Hargis, Jr., Mark S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7132163
    Abstract: Heteroporphyrin nanotubes, metal nanostructures, and metal/porphyrin-nanotube composite nanostructures formed using the nanotubes as photocatalysts and structural templates, and the methods for forming the nanotubes and composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventors: John A. Shelnutt, Craig J. Medforth, Zhongchun Wang
  • Patent number: 7064817
    Abstract: A method to determine the alignment of the transmitter and receiver fields of view of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. This method can be employed to determine the far-field intensity distribution of the transmitter beam, as well as the variations in transmitted laser beam pointing as a function of time, temperature, or other environmental variables that may affect the co-alignment of the LIDAR system components. In order to achieve proper alignment of the transmitter and receiver optical systems when a LIDAR system is being used in the field, this method employs a laser-beam-position-sensing detector as an integral part of the receiver optics of the LIDAR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Randal L. Schmitt, Tammy D. Henson, Leslie J. Krumel, Philip J. Hargis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7036146
    Abstract: A method and a secure system, processing on one or more computers, provides a way to control a group transaction. The invention uses group consensus access control and multiple distributed secure agents in a network environment. Each secure agent can organize with the other secure agents to form a secure distributed agent collective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Y. Goldsmith
  • Patent number: 6884624
    Abstract: A method of detecting cancer using a laser biocavity having a semiconductor laser including a microchannel through which cells in fluid traverse, comprising determining the laser wavelength of the laser biocavity with only fluid in the microchannel; determining the wavelength shift of the biocavity when each cell passes through the microchannel; and determining the percentage of cells in G2 phase from the wavelength shift of the cells; wherein an increased percentage of G2 phase cells is an indication of cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Paul L. Gourley
  • Patent number: 6775314
    Abstract: A supported distributed Bragg reflector or superlattice structure formed from a substrate, a nucleation layer deposited on the substrate, and an interlayer deposited on the nucleation layer, followed by deposition of (Al,Ga,B)N layers or multiple pairs of (Al,Ga,B)N/(Al,Ga,B)N layers, where the interlayer is a material selected from AlN, AlxGa1-xN, and AlBN with a thickness of approximately 20 to 1000 angstroms. The interlayer functions to reduce or eliminate the initial tensile growth stress, thereby reducing cracking in the structure. Multiple interlayers utilized in an AlGaN/GaN DBR structure can eliminate cracking and produce a structure with a reflectivity value greater than 0.99.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Karen E. Waldrip, Stephen R. Lee, Jung Han
  • Patent number: 6754643
    Abstract: An adaptive architecture method with feedback control for an intelligent agent provides for adaptively integrating reflexive and deliberative responses to a stimulus according to a goal. An adaptive architecture method with feedback control for multiple intelligent agents provides for coordinating and adaptively integrating reflexive and deliberative responses to a stimulus according to a goal. Re-programming of the adaptive architecture is through a nexus which coordinates reflexive and deliberator components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Y. Goldsmith