Patents Assigned to Tribogenics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9854657
    Abstract: An x-ray generator device includes a housing at least partially holding a specific fluid pressure, with an arm positioned to be able to strike a strike plate within the housing. The housing contains an x-ray window. The arm is magnetically actuated in at least one direction by a magnetic field generator outside of the housing. A striking portion of the lever arm and/or the strike plate may be a polymeric material with embedded metal or metal alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Camara
  • Patent number: 9814125
    Abstract: An x-ray transmitter, which may be compact, may be in the form of a housing with an x-ray transparent window sputtered with a metal on one wall, and tribocharging electron source on another wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos G. Camara, Benjamin A. Lucas, Zachary J. Gamlieli
  • Patent number: 9766191
    Abstract: A handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) device may include communication circuitry for communicating over a network. In some embodiments information related to sale and/or pricing of material identified by the XRF device is communicated by and/or to the XRF device. In some embodiments the XRF device communicates information regarding rental of the XRF device. In some embodiments the XRF device may be used to ascertain whether an item, for example an item of evidence or a particular item in a manufacturing environment, includes a material composition expected for the item, and in some embodiments storing or logging a result of such a determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Fox, Thomas Michael Schurman, Justen Lee Harper
  • Patent number: 9748068
    Abstract: An x-ray transmission device includes two surfaces in frictional contact within a low fluid pressure environment provided by a housing substantially opaque to x-rays. Materials of the two surfaces are selected such that the frictional contact generates relative charging between the surfaces. The housing includes a window substantially transparent to x-rays, and an electron target, for example a metal, is on an interior surface of the window. The electron target faces the surface that is relatively negatively charged, such that electrons accelerated from that surface, or accelerated due to the negative charge of that surface strike the electron target to generate x-rays, which may be transmitted through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos G. Camara
  • Patent number: 9728368
    Abstract: An x-ray device utilizes a band of material to exchange charge through tribocharging within a chamber maintained at low fluid pressure. The charge is utilized to generate x-rays within the housing, which may pass through a window of the housing. Various contact rods may be used as part of the tribocharging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos G. Camara, Mark G. Valentine, Zachary J. Gamlieli, Benjamin A. Lucas, David M. Kamkar, Pedro Cortes, Vasish Narayan M., Gilberto Jimenez, Daniel E. Cuadra
  • Patent number: 9671355
    Abstract: A device for providing for electron excited x-ray fluorescence may include means for driving two contacting surfaces against each other in a low fluid pressure environment, such that high energy electrons strike a sample under test and provide for x-ray fluorescence of the sample. The sample under test may be in or on a sample holder, whose position with respect to the contacting surfaces is adjustable. For example, the sample holder may be positionable to be a different distances from the contacting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Camara
  • Patent number: 9420977
    Abstract: A portable CT scanner may include a rotatable frame with separable portions. An x-ray source may be coupled to one portion of the rotatable frame, and an x-ray detector may be coupled to another portion of the rotatable frame. During storage and transportation, one portion of the rotatable frame may be housed in a first enclosure, and another portion of the rotatable frame may be housed in a second enclosure. When operation of the scanner is desired, the two enclosures may be connected, and/or the rotatable frame portions may be connected with the enclosures abutting one another, to allow for rotation of the rotatable frame about an aperture formed by the enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Crawford, Dale Fox, Carlos Camara, Aldis Rauda
  • Patent number: 9412553
    Abstract: An x-ray transmission device includes two surfaces in frictional contact within a low fluid pressure environment provided by a housing substantially opaque to x-rays. Materials of the two surfaces are selected such that the frictional contact generates relative charging between the surfaces. The housing includes a window substantially transparent to x-rays, and an electron target, for example a metal, is on an interior surface of the window. The electron target faces the surface that is relatively negatively charged, such that electrons accelerated from that surface, or accelerated due to the negative charge of that surface strike the electron target to generate x-rays, which may be transmitted through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos G. Camara
  • Patent number: 9258874
    Abstract: An x-ray generator device includes a housing at least partially holding a specific fluid pressure, with an arm positioned to be able to strike a strike plate within the housing. The housing contains an x-ray window. The arm is magnetically actuated in at least one direction by a magnetic field generator outside of the housing. A striking portion of the lever arm and/or the strike plate may be a polymeric material with embedded metal or metal alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Camara
  • Patent number: 9244028
    Abstract: A device for providing for electron excited x-ray fluorescence may include means for driving two contacting surfaces against each other in a low fluid pressure environment, such that high energy electrons strike a sample under test and provide for x-ray fluorescence of the sample. The sample under test may be in or on a sample holder, whose position with respect to the contacting surfaces is adjustable. For example, the sample holder may be positionable to be a different distances from the contacting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Camara
  • Patent number: 9208985
    Abstract: A high energy radiation generator utilizes sliding friction in a low pressure environment to generate high energy radiation, for example x-rays. The sliding friction may be generated by sweeping one material against a second material, for example rotating a surface of a rotor against a membrane, in the presence of an electron target, which may be one of the first material or the second material, or a different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Camara, Mark G Valentine
  • Patent number: 9173279
    Abstract: An x-ray transmitter, which may be compact, may be in the form of a housing with an x-ray transparent window sputtered with a metal on one wall, and tribocharging electron source on another wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos G. Camara, Benjamin A. Lucas, Zachary J. Gamlieli
  • Publication number: 20150265225
    Abstract: A portable CT scanner may include a rotatable frame with separable portions. An x-ray source may be coupled to one portion of the rotatable frame, and an x-ray detector may be coupled to another portion of the rotatable frame. During storage and transportation, one portion of the rotatable frame may be housed in a first enclosure, and another portion of the rotatable frame may be housed in a second enclosure. When operation of the scanner is desired, the two enclosures may be connected, and/or the rotatable frame portions may be connected with the enclosures abutting one another, to allow for rotation of the rotatable frame about an aperture formed by the enclosures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: TRIBOGENICS, INC.
    Inventors: Carl Crawford, Dale Fox, Carlos Camara, Aldis Rauda
  • Patent number: 9008277
    Abstract: An x-ray device utilizes a band of material to exchange charge through tribocharging within a chamber maintained at low fluid pressure. The charge is utilized to generate x-rays within the housing, which may pass through a window of the housing. Various contact rods may be used as part of the tribocharging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos G. Camara, Mark G. Valentine, Zachary J. Gamlieli, Benjamin A. Lucas, David M. Kamkar, Pedro Cortes, Jr., Vashish Narayan M, Gilberto Jimenez, Daniel E. Cuadra
  • Patent number: 8938048
    Abstract: An x-ray generator device includes a housing at least partially holding a specific fluid pressure, with an arm positioned to be able to strike a strike plate within the housing. The housing contains an x-ray window. The arm is magnetically actuated in at least one direction by a magnetic field generator outside of the housing. A striking portion of the lever arm and/or the strike plate may be a polymeric material with embedded metal or metal alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Camara
  • Publication number: 20130259204
    Abstract: An x-ray generator device includes a housing at least partially holding a specific fluid pressure, with an arm positioned to be able to strike a strike plate within the housing. The housing contains an x-ray window. The arm is magnetically actuated in at least one direction by a magnetic field generator outside of the housing. A striking portion of the lever arm and/or the strike plate may be a polymeric material with embedded metal or metal alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Camara