Patents by Inventor Dennis D. Rathman
Dennis D. Rathman 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).
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Patent number: 8710424Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include an electron counter with a charge-coupled device (CCD) register configured to transfer electrons to a Geiger-mode avalanche diode (GM-AD) array operably coupled to the output of the CCD register. At high charge levels, a nondestructive amplifier senses the charge at the CCD register output to provide an analog indication of the charge. At low charge levels, noiseless charge splitters or meters divide the charge into single-electron packets, each of which is detected by a GM-AD that provides a digital output indicating whether an electron is present. Example electron counters are particularly well suited for counting photoelectrons generated by large-format, high-speed imaging arrays because they operate with high dynamic range and high sensitivity. As a result, they can be used to image scenes over a wide range of light levels.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: David C. Shaver, Bernard B. Kosicki, Robert K. Reich, Dennis D. Rathman, Daniel R. Schuette, Brian F. Aull
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Patent number: 8324554Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include an electron counter with a charge-coupled device (CCD) register configured to transfer electrons to a Geiger-mode avalanche diode (GM-AD) array operably coupled to the output of the CCD register. At high charge levels, a nondestructive amplifier senses the charge at the CCD register output to provide an analog indication of the charge. At low charge levels, noiseless charge splitters or meters divide the charge into single-electron packets, each of which is detected by a GM-AD that provides a digital output indicating whether an electron is present. Example electron counters are particularly well suited for counting photoelectrons generated by large-format, high-speed imaging arrays because they operate with high dynamic range and high sensitivity. As a result, they can be used to image scenes over a wide range of light levels.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: David C. Shaver, Bernard B. Kosicki, Robert K. Reich, Dennis D Rathman, Daniel R. Schuette, Brian F. Aull
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Publication number: 20110233386Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include an electron counter with a charge-coupled device (CCD) register configured to transfer electrons to a Geiger-mode avalanche diode (GM-AD) array operably coupled to the output of the CCD register. At high charge levels, a nondestructive amplifier senses the charge at the CCD register output to provide an analog indication of the charge. At low charge levels, noiseless charge splitters or meters divide the charge into single-electron packets, each of which is detected by a GM-AD that provides a digital output indicating whether an electron is present. Example electron counters are particularly well suited for counting photoelectrons generated by large-format, high-speed imaging arrays because they operate with high dynamic range and high sensitivity. As a result, they can be used to image scenes over a wide range of light levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: David C. Shaver, Bernard B. Kosicki, Robert K. Reich, Dennis D. Rathman, Daniel R. Schuette, Brian F. Aull
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Patent number: 7091530Abstract: A charge-coupled device imager including an array of super pixels disposed in a semiconductor substrate having a surface that is accessible to incident illumination. For each super pixel there is provided a plurality of subpixels which each correspond to one in the sequence of image frames. Each subpixel includes a doped photogenerated charge collection channel region opposite the illumination-accessible substrate surface, a charge collection channel region control electrode, doped charge drain regions adjacent to the channel region, a charge drain region control electrode, and a doped charge collection control region. To each subpixel are provided channel region and drain region control voltage connections, for independent collection and storage of photogenerated charge from the substrate at the charge collection channel region of a selected subpixel during one in the sequence of image frames and for drainage of photogenerated charge from the substrate to a drain region.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2003Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Robert K. Reich, Bernard B. Kosicki, Jonathan C. Twichell, Barry E. Burke, Dennis D. Rathman
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Patent number: 5846708Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying molecular structures within a sample substance using a monolithic array of test sites formed on a substrate upon which the sample substance is applied. Each test site includes probes formed therein to bond with a predetermined target molecular structure or structures. A signal is applied to the test sites and certain electrical, mechanical and/or optical properties of the test sites are detected to determine which probes have bonded to an associated target molecular structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1992Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: Massachusetts Institiute of TechnologyInventors: Mark A. Hollis, Daniel J. Ehrlich, R. Allen Murphy, Bernard B. Kosicki, Dennis D. Rathman, Richard H. Mathews, Barry E. Burke, Mitch D. Eggers, Michael E. Hogan, Rajender Singh Varma
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Patent number: 5834840Abstract: An electronic device package is provided, consisting of reaction bonded silicon nitride structural and dielectric components and conductor, resistor, and capacitor elements positioned with the package structural components. The package consists of a ceramic package base characterized by a dielectric constant less than 6, of reaction bonded silicon nitride, or a heat spreader material. An electrical conductor is positioned on, embedded in, or attached to the package base for making electrical contact to an electronic device supported on the base and in preferred embodiments, a resistor is attached to the package base. The invention also provides package sidewalls connected to the package base, preferably of reaction bonded silicon nitride, and at least one electrical conductor extending to an outside surface of the package sidewalls for making electrical contact to an electronic device supported by the package base.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1995Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: William L. Robbins, John S. Haggerty, Dennis D. Rathman, William D. Goodhue, George B. Kenney, Annamarie Lightfoot, R. Allen Murphy, Wendell E. Rhine, Julia Sigalovsky
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Patent number: 5801073Abstract: A method of producing electronic device packages is provided, consisting of the steps of shaping a package preform and heating the package preform in a nitrogen-containing atmoshpere to nitride the package preform. The shaped package preform may consist of package base, sidewall, conductor, resistor, or capacitor components. The package base and sidewall components may be formed of silicon powder. The method also accommodates the step of inserting a semiconducting material into the package preform and heating the semiconducting material component along with the package preform. The inserted semiconducting material component may be processed to define active electronic device areas on the component either before or after the step of heating the shaped package preform and inserted semiconducting material component.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1995Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignees: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: William L. Robbins, John S. Haggerty, Dennis D. Rathman, William D. Goodhue, George B. Kenney, Annamarie Lightfoot, R. Allen Murphy, Wendell E. Rhine, Julia Sigalovsky
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Patent number: 5653939Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying molecular structures within a sample substance using a monolithic array of test sites formed on a substrate upon which the sample substance is applied. Each test site includes probes formed therein to bond with a predetermined target molecular structure or structures. A signal is applied to the test sites and certain electrical, mechanical and/or optical properties of the test sites are detected to determine which probes have bonded to an associated target molecular structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Houston Advanced Research Center, Baylor College of MedicineInventors: Mark A. Hollis, Daniel J. Ehrlich, R. Allen Murphy, Bernard B. Kosicki, Dennis D. Rathman, Chang-Lee Chen, Richard H. Mathews, Barry E. Burke, Mitch D. Eggers, Michael E. Hogan, Rajender Singh Varma