Patents Examined by Mindy Vu
  • Patent number: 9097578
    Abstract: An infrared sensor formed from a resonant sensor element having a mechanical resonator and an IR absorber arranged to receive and absorb incident infrared radiation. The resonator includes a temperature-responsive material that exhibits pyroelectric and piezoelectric effects. The IR absorber is thermally coupled to the resonator such that the resonator receives thermal energy from at least some of the incident infrared radiation absorbed by the IR absorber. The resonator has at least one resonant characteristic that varies based on the amount of thermal energy received from the IR absorber by the resonator. A sensor array and infrared sensing method are included that use a plurality of the infrared sensors along with a reference sensor having the same construction as the other sensor elements, except that the sensor either lacks the IR absorber or has it arranged so that it is not exposed to the incident infrared radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Mina Raieszadeh, Vikrant Jayant Gokhale
  • Patent number: 9097657
    Abstract: A safe, fast and accurate method of detecting a leak locale of a stator liquid cooling system especially in a plurality of stator windings in a liquid cooled generator is provided. The method includes the step of introducing a non-corrosive compatible gas or its air mixture having an infrared absorption spectrum into the plurality of stator windings of the liquid cooled generator and detecting leaks through the use of an infrared detection system. The infrared detection system includes an imaging component adapted to detect radiation at the infrared absorption spectrum of the non-corrosive gas or its air mixture. The imaging component is provided with a filter that filters wavelengths in a range encompassing the infrared absorption spectrum of the compatible, non-corrosive gas. The imaging component displays an image of the tracer gas leaking from stator liquid cooling system of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: James Jun Xu
  • Patent number: 9091766
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an advanced fast and thermal neutron detector material composition with the properties useful for Special Nuclear Material (SNM) detection. Specific embodiments of the material composition result in two excimer scintillation light production mechanisms that provide two corresponding independent techniques for gamma discrimination; namely Pulse Shape Discrimination and Pulse Height Discrimination. A dual discrimination method, Pulse Shape and Pulse Height Discrimination (PSHD), can be implemented relying on both pulse height discrimination and pulse shape discrimination, and can allow the operation of large area, fast and thermal neutron detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: NANOPTICS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James K. Walker, Youngwook Noh, Richard T. Farley
  • Patent number: 9091774
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a geologic formation having a borehole therein may include operating at least one tool within the borehole to collect respective borehole dimensions at different depths in the borehole, and collect respective total values for a given element at the different depths in the borehole. Each total value may be based upon both a value for an adjacent portion of the geologic formation and a value for material within the borehole. The method may also include determining each value of the given element in the adjacent portion of the geologic formation based upon the total value and the corresponding borehole dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Miles, Robert Badry, James A. Grau
  • Patent number: 9091628
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating location and size measurements for small scattered objects in a large medium are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kumsal Deniz Sezen, Stephen Bushnell-Fowler
  • Patent number: 9091155
    Abstract: Reducing disturbance during fiber optic sensing. An in-well fiber optic sensing system includes a device insulated to be disturbance-resistant. The device is in a fiber optic communication path between a source and a target configured to be received in a well. The device is configured to receive a parameter sensing signal transmitted from the source to the target and produce a reference signal. The fiber optic sensing system includes a signal interrogation system connected to the device in the fiber optic communication path. The signal interrogation system is configured to receive the reference signal from the device and to receive a response signal from the target in response to the parameter sensing signal. The response signal represents the parameter of interest. The signal interrogation system is configured to determine the parameter of interest based, in part, on the reference signal and the response signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Andrew Barfoot
  • Patent number: 9086373
    Abstract: Methods and systems for real time, in situ monitoring and blending of hydrocarbon fluids from multiple transmission lines feeding into a downstream line or vessel are described. The method and system include the scanning of the NIR range on fluids within each of at least two transmission lines. The spectroscopic optical data from the two scans is used to determine flow rates of the fluids from each transmission line to, for example, achieve a desired energy content, physical properties, or speciation in the blended fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: JP3 Measurement, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Paul Little, III, Matt Thomas
  • Patent number: 9077412
    Abstract: A millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength receiver imaging apparatus and method which directly generates a time encoded digital signal for an imaging pixel in response to interoperation of a digital quench circuit, an envelope detector, and a regenerative oscillator coupled to an antenna. The device utilizes the fact that oscillator startup time in a regenerative oscillator is inversely proportional to injected pixel image power. A digital quench circuit, such as a latch, is coupled for activating and deactivating the regenerative oscillator in response to receiving an output from an envelope threshold circuit, and for generating a time encoded digital signal in response to pixel amplitude during millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength imaging. Receiver embodiments are described for both fundamental frequency operation (DRR) and for multi-frequency imaging (IRR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Mau-Chung Frank Chang, Adrian Tang
  • Patent number: 9075149
    Abstract: A detector of ionizing radiation comprises a photodetector and a scintillator in the shape of truncated cone comprising a large base, a small base and a lateral surface, the large base of the scintillator being coupled to the photodetector, any half-angle at the apex of the cone being in the range between 5° and 35°, the lateral face being coated with a black coating. The detector in accordance with an embodiment can produce a very short pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Cristaux Et Detecteurs
    Inventors: Jeremy Flamanc, Marie-Virginie Ehrensperger, Michele Schiavoni
  • Patent number: 9057021
    Abstract: An object comprising a low rare earth mineral photoluminescent structure incorporated onto or into one or more portions of the object, the object being a photoluminescent object is disclosed. Further disclosed is a method for fabricating the object. An object comprising a low rare earth mineral photoluminescent composition incorporated onto or into one or more portions of the object, the object being a photoluminescent object is also disclosed, as well as, a method for fabricating the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: PERFORMANCE INDICATOR, LLC
    Inventors: Edward D. Kingsley, Satish Agrawal
  • Patent number: 9046610
    Abstract: A mechanical device for supporting and attaching at least one ionizing radiation detection probe. For each detection probe it includes one probe-holder ending in a collimator-holder able to support a collimator intended to delimit a field of observation of the detection probe, and an attachment device intended to be attached to a glove port of a glove box, where the probe-holder, or each probe-holder, cooperates with the said attachment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Christophe Brenneis, Christian Ducros, Fabrice Lamadie, Philippe Girones
  • Patent number: 9046486
    Abstract: At least two luminescent materials are intermingled within a security feature. The materials are selected from among a larger set of luminescent materials each having a different individual exponential decay characteristic (decay constant and initial amplitude response to the degree of excitation) for photo-luminescent emission from the respective material following excitation. The ratio of the decay constants for any two materials is greater than or equal to about 1.5. The selected materials are mixed in one of a plurality of predetermined ratios. The combined emissions from the intermingled materials appear, to an unsophisticated measuring device, to have a single exponential decay constant. Based on measurements for the decay of the combined emissions following excitation, estimates of the individual decay constants and associated initial emission amplitudes allow decoding of the particular combination of materials and/or their ratios to validate the security feature, authenticating the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Authentix, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Carr, Jeffrey L. Conroy, Olusola O. Soyemi
  • Patent number: 9046612
    Abstract: A double-helix Boron-10 powder detector having intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency comparable to 36? long, 2-in diameter, 2-bar Helium-3 detectors, and which can be used to replace such detectors for use in portal monitoring, is described. An embodiment of the detector includes a metallic plate coated with Boron-10 powder for generating alpha and Lithium-7 particles responsive to neutrons impinging thereon supported by insulators affixed to at least two opposing edges; a grounded first wire wound in a helical manner around two opposing insulators; and a second wire having a smaller diameter than that of the first wire, wound in a helical manner around the same insulators and spaced apart from the first wire, the second wire being positively biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Zhehui Wang, Christopher L. Morris, Jeffrey D. Bacon
  • Patent number: 9040934
    Abstract: This invention relates to a two-dimensional detection system for neutron radiation comprising a means (1) for emitting a neutron beam (10), a support means (2) adapted for receiving a sample (3), a photoemission means (5) adapted for being activated by a neutron radiation, a cooled low light level charge-coupled detection device (7). The emission means (1) emits a monochromatic neutron beam (10). The system further comprises a filter means (4), the filter means (4) being located between the support means (2) and the photoemission means (5) and being adapted for trapping at least a substantial part of the monochromatic neutron beam transmitted (12) by the sample (3), and an amplification means (6) located upstream the charge-coupled detection device (7) and coupled with the charge-coupled detection device (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CRNS), COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Patrick Francois Baroni, Laurence Marie Noirez
  • Patent number: 9035252
    Abstract: A detection circuit includes a pyroelectric element; a first P-type transistor provided between an output node and a low-potential-side power node of the detection circuit, a detection signal being inputted from the pyroelectric element to a gate of the first P-type transistor; and a second P-type transistor provided between a high-potential-side power node and the output node, a gate of the second P-type transistor being set to a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Yamamura
  • Patent number: 9035266
    Abstract: The invention concerns a dosimeter for the determination of an absorbed dose (D) of a radiation field (26), the dosimeter having a dosimeter probe (12), which has (a) a sensor (14), which has a sensor volume that emits electrical charges (Q) when exposed to ionizing radiation, (b) a cable (18) for the transmission of the charges (Q) and (c) an evaluation unit (20), which is designed for the capture of a physical quantity (U), which corresponds to the emitted electrical charge (Q), which is characterized by the fact that the evaluation unit (20) is arranged for (d) the detection of a interval cycle of the radiation field (26), (e) the recording of a measurement number of measurements of a physical quantity (U) corresponding to the electrical charge, which is always read at the same time relative to the interval cycle, so that an initial raw measured value (U1) and at least one second raw measured value (U2) are obtained per interval, and (f) the calculation of a measured value (D) from the at-least two raw mea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, VERTRETEN DURCH DAS BUNDESMINISTERIUM FUR WIRTSCHAFT UND TECHNOLOGIE, DIESES VERTRETEN DURCH DEN PRASIDENTEN DER PHYSIKALISCH-TECHNISCHEN BUNDESANSTALT
    Inventors: Jens Illemann, Christoph Makowski
  • Patent number: 9035258
    Abstract: To provide an electromagnetic pulse transmitting apparatus and a tomography apparatus capable of shortening an electromagnetic pulse. The apparatus performs processing such that two electromagnetic pulse portions emitted to an object have an electric field intensity of mutually opposite polarity and the time difference between pulse peaks of the two electromagnetic pulse portions is a time difference within a time of a pulse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kousuke Kajiki, Toshihiko Ouchi
  • Patent number: 9035263
    Abstract: A radiation image imaging apparatus includes: a sensor board in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged two-dimensionally; and a scintillator which converts an incident radiation into light and irradiates the light onto the photoelectric conversion elements, and a protection layer having an anti-static function is provided between the sensor board and the scintillator, and an anti-static layer having conductivity or an anti-static function is provided on a surface of the sensor board, the surface being opposite with a side facing the scintillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA MEDICAL & GRAPHIC, INC.
    Inventors: Yukino Iwata, Shinichi Okamura
  • Patent number: 9029781
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor device has a sensor and a fastener. The sensor has a body and a connector. The body has a detector and a lens. The lens covers the detector. The connector is formed on the body. The fastener is connected securely to the connector of the sensor. When the occupancy sensor device is installed on a light, the connector is mounted through a sensor hole of a light cover first, and the fastener is connected securely to the connector. Then the installation is completed and the sensor device is mounted securely on the light cover. Because the sensor has the connector directly formed on the body and the connector can be connected securely to the fastener, the sensor device is easily mounted on various kinds of lights regardless of the structure of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: IR-TEC International Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-I Huang
  • Patent number: 9024269
    Abstract: A digital X-ray detector includes a scintillator that is configured to absorb radiation emitted from an X-ray radiation source and to emit light photons in response to the absorbed radiation. The detector also includes a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) light imager that is configured to absorb the light photons emitted by the scintillator. The CMOS light imager includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is disposed opposite the second surface. The scintillator contacts the first surface of the CMOS light imager. The CMOS light imager further includes a CMOS pixel array with an array of CMOS pixels. Each individual CMOS pixel includes at least two row select transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James Zhengshe Liu