Patents by Inventor Art Nelson

Art Nelson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10020235
    Abstract: In various approaches room-temperature gamma detector longevity may be improved by selectively removing, or selectively incorporating, alternate halogen component(s) from select surfaces of the detector. According to one embodiment, a method of improving operational longevity of a thallium bromide (TlBr)-based detector includes: selectively treating one or more surfaces of the TlBr-based detector to produce a surface substantially comprising pure TlBr. Similar techniques may be employed to restore a degraded or failed detector. According to another embodiment, a method of forming a TlBr-based detector exhibiting improved operational longevity includes: selectively treating one or more surfaces of the TlBr-based detector to replace Br therein with one or more alternate halogen components while also substantially avoiding replacing some or all of the Br in other surfaces of the TlBr-based detector with the one or more alternate halogen components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Lars Voss, Adam Conway, Robert T. Graff, Art Nelson, Rebecca J. Nikolic, Stephen A. Payne, Erik Lars Swanberg, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180122713
    Abstract: In various approaches room-temperature gamma detector longevity may be improved by selectively removing, or selectively incorporating, alternate halogen component(s) from select surfaces of the detector. According to one embodiment, a method of improving operational longevity of a thallium bromide (TlBr)-based detector includes: selectively treating one or more surfaces of the TlBr-based detector to produce a surface substantially comprising pure TlBr. Similar techniques may be employed to restore a degraded or failed detector. According to another embodiment, a method of forming a TlBr-based detector exhibiting improved operational longevity includes: selectively treating one or more surfaces of the TlBr-based detector to replace Br therein with one or more alternate halogen components while also substantially avoiding replacing some or all of the Br in other surfaces of the TlBr-based detector with the one or more alternate halogen components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Lars Voss, Adam Conway, Robert T. Graff, Art Nelson, Rebecca J. Nikolic, Stephen A. Payne, Erik Lars Swanberg, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180122977
    Abstract: A combination of doping, rapid pulsed optical and/or thermal annealing, and unique detector structure reduces or eliminates sources of electronic noise in a CdZnTe (CZT) detector. According to several embodiments, methods of forming a detector exhibiting minimal electronic noise include: pulse-annealing at least one surface of a detector comprising CZT for one or more pulses, each pulse having a duration of ˜0.1 seconds or less. The at least one surface may optionally be ion-implanted. In another embodiment, a CZT detector includes a detector surface with two or more electrodes operating at different electric potentials and coupled to the detector surface; and one or more ion-implanted CZT surfaces on or in the detector surface, each of the one or more ion-implanted CZT surfaces being independently connected to one of the two or more electrodes and the surface of the detector. At least two of the ion-implanted surfaces are in electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Lars Voss, Adam Conway, Art Nelson, Rebecca J. Nikolic, Stephen A. Payne, Erik Lars Swanberg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9960310
    Abstract: A combination of doping, rapid pulsed optical and/or thermal annealing, and unique detector structure reduces or eliminates sources of electronic noise in a CdZnTe (CZT) detector. According to several embodiments, methods of forming a detector exhibiting minimal electronic noise include: pulse-annealing at least one surface of a detector comprising CZT for one or more pulses, each pulse having a duration of ˜0.1 seconds or less. The at least one surface may optionally be ion-implanted. In another embodiment, a CZT detector includes a detector surface with two or more electrodes operating at different electric potentials and coupled to the detector surface; and one or more ion-implanted CZT surfaces on or in the detector surface, each of the one or more ion-implanted CZT surfaces being independently connected to one of the two or more electrodes and the surface of the detector. At least two of the ion-implanted surfaces are in electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Lars Voss, Adam Conway, Art Nelson, Rebecca J. Nikolic, Stephen A. Payne, Erik Lars Swanberg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9000384
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (e.g. TlBr)-based radiation detector having halide-treated surfaces and associated methods of fabrication, which controls polarization of the mixed ionic-electronic MIEC material to improve stability and operational lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Conway, Patrick R. Beck, Robert T. Graff, Art Nelson, Rebecca J. Nikolic, Stephen A. Payne, Lars Voss, Hadong Kim
  • Publication number: 20130026364
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (e.g. TlBr)-based radiation detector having halide-treated surfaces and associated methods of fabrication, which controls polarization of the mixed ionic-electronic MIEC material to improve stability and operational lifetime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicants: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC
    Inventors: Adam Conway, Patrick R. Beck, Robert T. Graff, Art Nelson, Rebecca J. Nikolic, Stephen A. Payne, Lars Voss, Hadong Kim