Patents Assigned to National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Publication number: 20220349628
    Abstract: A compact, low power cryo-cooler for cryogenic systems capable of cooling gas to at least as low as 2.5 K. The cryo-cooler has a room temperature compressor followed by filtration. Within the cryostat, four counterflow heat exchangers precool the incoming high-pressure gas using the outflowing low-pressure gas. The three warmest heat exchangers are successively heat sunk to three stages of a pulse tube to absorb residual heat from the slight ineffectiveness of the heat exchangers. The pulse tube cold head also absorbs loads from instrumentation leads and radiation loads. The pulse tube stages operate at around 80 K, 25 K, and 10 K. The entire system—cryo-cooler, drive and control electronics, and detector instrumentation, fits in a standard electronics rack mount enclosure, and requires around 300 W or less of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
    Inventors: Vincent Kotsubo, Joel Ullom, Sae Woo Nam
  • Patent number: 11287334
    Abstract: An optomechanical pressure-measurement system measures pressure in the range of 10?6 Pa-10?2 Pa by measuring various properties of a vibrational mode of an ultra-thin membrane member. With independent measurements of the thickness and density of the membrane, in addition to the measured vibration mode properties, the system can operate as a primary pressure sensor. The membrane member is mounted on a vibration-isolated mount and is excited by a drive force. A laser beam impinges on the excited membrane, and an optical phase detector detects the amplitude of the oscillations, as well as parameters of the laser beam affected by the membrane vibration. In one embodiment, a mechanical damping is computed based on the amplitude or frequency shift (depending on the pressure range), and the pressure based on the ring-down time of the membrane vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: University of Maryland, College Park, Government of the USA, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Stephen Eckel, James Fedchak, Thomas Purdy, Robinjeet Singh
  • Publication number: 20210364517
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and systems for early detection of viral diseases, and more specifically to systems and methods for early detection of viral diseases that are capable of detecting very low viral loads, such as for example and not limitation, SARS-CoV-2 loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicants: The Penn State Research Foundation, The National Institute of Standards and Technology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
    Inventors: Vyacheslav V. ROTKIN, Ming ZHENG, Tetyana IGNATOVA, Daniel HAYES, Suresh KUCHIPUDI
  • Patent number: 11181489
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for characterizing high aspect ratio (HAR) structures of fabricated or partially fabricated semiconductor devices. The methods involve using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to determine average parameters of an array of HAR structures. In some implementations, SAXS is used to analyze symmetry of HAR structures in a sample and may be referred to as tilted structural symmetry analysis-SAXS (TSSA-SAXS) or TSSA. Analysis of parameters such as tilt, sidewall angle, bowing, and the presence of multiple tilts in HAR structures may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: Lam Research Corporation, The Government of the United States of America, represented by the Secretary of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: William Dean Thompson, Regis Joseph Kline, Daniel F. Sunday, Wenli Wu, Osman Sorkhabi, Jin Zhang, Xiaoshu Chen
  • Patent number: 11069507
    Abstract: A sample carrier for in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has a dielectric substrate with a conductive layer that forms a coplanar waveguide. The coplanar waveguide has a first and second leads formed by the conductive layer. The first lead is between an adjacent pair of second leads and is spaced from the second leads by a respective gap. The coplanar waveguide is configured to transmit an electrical signal to a specimen held by the sample carrier, in particular, an electrical signal having a frequency in the radio-frequency (RF) regime (3 kHz-300 GHz), for example, up to 100 GHz. The sample carrier may be mounted to a TEM sample holder, which supports the sample carrier within a vacuum chamber of the microscope and provides electrical connection between the leads of the sample carrier and an RF source external to the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: University of Maryland, College Park, Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Michael Katz, Karl Schliep, June Lau, Jason J. Gorman
  • Patent number: 11035792
    Abstract: A nanohole array (NHA)-based plasmonic sensor (e.g., gas/condensed phase sensor), their preparation, and their use to detect and analyze samples, especially mixtures of chemicals/bio-chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: The George Washington University, GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yangyang Zhao, Mona Zaghloul, Stephen Semancik, Kurt D. Benkstein
  • Patent number: 11018290
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for multilayer superconducting structures comprising electroplated Rhenium, where the Rhenium operates in a superconducting regime at or above 4.2 K, or above 1.8 K where specific temperatures and times of annealing have occurred. The structure can include at least a first conductive layer applied to a substrate, where the Rhenium layer is electroplated to the first layer. A third layer formed from the same or a different conductor as the first layer can be formed atop the Rhenium layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Donald David, David Pappas, Xian Wu
  • Patent number: 10999109
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses, for transform discrete voltage pulses to a continuous signal. One method may include receiving a pulsed-voltage signal. The method may also include alternately directing the pulsed-voltage signal between a pair of processing channels based on a modulation signal or another signal. The method may further include determining rate voltages corresponding to the pair of processing channels based on a pulse rate of the pulsed-voltage signal. Further, the method may include processing the rate voltages using low pass filters corresponding to the pair of processing channels to form filtered rate voltages. The method may also include determining a normalized differential output for the pair of processing channels based on the filtered rate voltages. The method may also include outputting the normalized differential output to an output connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS & TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kapildeb Ambal, Robert D. McMichael
  • Patent number: 10858256
    Abstract: A method of separating and extracting carbon nanotubes, the method includes introducing the carbon nanotubes into a two-phase system that includes a first component and a second component, the first component being different from the second component. The method includes introducing a chemical agent into the two-phase system, mixing the chemical agent and the carbon nanotubes in the two-phase system, removing the first component to extract a first portion of the carbon nanotubes contained in the first component after the mixing, replenishing the two-phase system with fresh first component, and extracting a second portion of the carbon nanotubes contained in the fresh first component. A bandgap of the carbon nanotubes in the first portion is different from the bandgap of the carbon nanotubes in the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignees: University of Southern California, Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Hui Gui, Jason K. Streit, Angela R. Hight Walker, Chongwu Zhou, Ming Zheng
  • Patent number: 10741742
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for multilayer superconducting structures comprising electroplated Rhenium, where the Rhenium operates in a superconducting regime at or above 4.2 K, or above 1.8 K where specific temperatures and times of annealing have occurred. The structure can include at least a first conductive layer applied to a substrate, where the Rhenium layer is electroplated to the first layer. A third layer formed from the same or a different conductor as the first layer can be formed atop the Rhenium layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Donald David, David Pappas, Xian Wu
  • Patent number: 10599007
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology provide a novel architecture for optical frequency conversion in a waveguide which can be applied to any suitable nonlinear waveguide material and any wavelength. In accordance with some embodiments, phase-matched bends can be used to increase the nonlinear interaction length. For example, the device can begin with a straight waveguide section with a width designed for phase-matching. When the straight waveguide section approaches the end of the chip, a bending waveguide section allows the waveguide to meander back in the opposite direction. Various embodiments of the bend can have a wider or narrower width to eliminate phase-matching for second harmonic generation (SHG) and instead provide a 2? phase-shift between the pump and signal light. Therefore, at the end of the bend, the pump and signal light are in-phase and a phase-matched width will continue the SHG process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Eric Stanton, Jeffrey Chiles
  • Publication number: 20190363250
    Abstract: A method of switching a phase-change device (Device), including changing phase of the Device from a semiconducting 2H phase to a new 2Hd phase with a higher conductivity, the Device having an active material with a thickness including a phase transition material to thereby transition the Device from a high resistive state (HRS) to a low resistive state (LRS) by application of a set voltage and further to return the Device from the LRS back to the HRS by application of a reset voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Joerg Appenzeller, Feng Zhang, Yuqi Zhu, Albert V. Davydov, Sergiy Krylyuk, Huairuo Zhang, Leonid A. Bendersky
  • Patent number: 10444431
    Abstract: A reticulated resonator includes: a reticulated substrate that includes: a substrate frame; and a phononic structure in mechanical communication with the substrate frame and including a plurality of unit members arranged in a two-dimensional array; and a membrane disposed on the reticulated substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Raymond W. Simmonds, Katarina Cicak, Cindy A. Regal, Pen-Li Yu, Yeghishe Tsaturyan, Thomas P. Purdy, Nir S. Kampel
  • Publication number: 20190226724
    Abstract: A compact, low power cryo-cooler for cryogenic systems capable of cooling gas to at least as low as 2.5 K. The cryo-cooler has a room temperature compressor followed by filtration. Within the cryostat, four counterflow heat exchangers precool the incoming high-pressure gas using the outflowing low-pressure gas. The three warmest heat exchangers are successively heat sunk to three stages of a pulse tube to absorb residual heat from the slight ineffectiveness of the heat exchangers. The pulse tube cold head also absorbs loads from instrumentation leads and radiation loads. The pulse tube stages operate at around 80 K, 25 K, and 10 K. The entire system—cryo-cooler, drive and control electronics, and detector instrumentation, fits in a standard electronics rack mount enclosure, and requires around 300 W or less of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
    Inventors: Vincent Kotsubo, Joel Ullom, Sae Woo Nam
  • Patent number: 10261032
    Abstract: A noncontact resonameter includes: a resonator to: produce an excitation signal including a field; subject a sample to the excitation signal; produce a first resonator signal in a presence of the sample and the excitation signal, the first resonator signal including: a first quality factor of the resonator; a first resonance frequency of the resonator; or a combination thereof, the first resonator signal occurring in an absence of contact between the sample and the resonator; and produce a second resonator signal in a presence of the excitation signal and an absence of the sample, the second resonator signal including: a second quality factor of the resonator; a second resonance frequency of the resonator; or a combination thereof; a circuit in electrical communication with the resonator to receive the first resonator signal and the second resonator signal; and a continuous feeder to: provide the sample proximate to the resonator; dispose the sample intermediately in the field of the excitation signal during
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nathan Daniel Orloff, Christian John Long, Jan Obrzut
  • Patent number: 10247814
    Abstract: A phase shift detector includes: an interferometer; and a microwave probe in electrical communication with the interferometer, the microwave probe including: a primary shield electrode; and a transmission electrode disposed proximate to the primary shield electrode, the transmission electrode and the primary shield electrode being exposed and arranged to produce an electric field, wherein the transmission electrode is isolated electrically from the primary shield electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kin P. Cheung, Jason T. Ryan, Jason Campbell
  • Patent number: 10174981
    Abstract: A system to make ice includes a refrigeration unit and an icemaker disposed in the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is configured to be subjected to a refrigeration cycle; the icemaker is configured to be subjected to a freeze cycle; and the system is configured such that the freeze cycle is synchronized with the refrigeration cycle, asynchronized with the refrigeration cycle, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. A process for controlling an icemaker includes providing a freeze cycle to an icemaker; providing a refrigeration cycle to a refrigeration unit; and constraining the freeze cycle and the refrigeration cycle to control the icemaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: David Yashar
  • Patent number: 10082553
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phantom includes an outer container that includes a first portion comprising a first wall; a second portion opposingly disposed to the first portion and sealingly engaged to the first portion, the second portion including a second wall; and an internal volume bounded by the first wall and the second wall, the internal volume being hollow and configured to receive a fluid; and a sample holder disposed in the internal volume of the outer container, wherein the MRI phantom is configured to maintain a constant temperature of the internal volume. A process for acquiring an MRI image includes providing an MRI; disposing a sample member in the sample holder; disposing a fluid in the MRI phantom; disposing the MRI phantom in an MRI device; achieving thermal equilibrium in the MRI phantom at a selected temperature; and subjecting the MRI phantom to MRI imaging at the selected temperature to acquire the MRI image of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Michael A. Boss
  • Patent number: 10078898
    Abstract: Disclosed is a noncontact metrology probe including: a first camera including a first field of view; a second camera including a second field of view and arranged such that the second field of view overlaps the first field of view to form a prime focal volume; a third camera including a third field of view and arranged such that the third field of view overlaps the prime focal volume to form a probe focal volume; and a tracker including a tracker field of view to determine a location of the probe focal volume in the tracker field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Joshua Gordon
  • Patent number: 10067088
    Abstract: Gradient elution isotachophoretic apparatus, and systems for performing gradient elution isotachophoresis to separate, purify, concentrate, quantify, and/or extract charged analytes from a sample. The isotachophoretic apparatus include an electrophoretic assembly, a sampling assembly connected to the electrophoretic assembly, and/or a support structure connected to the electrophoretic assembly and/or to the sampling assembly. The system includes an isotachophoretic apparatus, and a controller communicatively coupled to the isotachophoretic apparatus. The controller includes a storage medium and a processor for executing computer readable and executable instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignees: Applied Research Associates, Inc., The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Alyssa Henry, Christopher Konek, David Ross, Elizabeth Strychalski