Patents by Inventor J. Frank Harmon

J. Frank Harmon 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: 7718962
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a defect imaging device that has an energy beam that is directed at a device under test. The energy beam creates positrons deep within the material of the device under test. When the positrons combine with electrons in the material they produce a pair of annihilation photons. The annihilation photons are detected. The Doppler broadening of the annihilation photons is used to determine if a defect is present in the material. Three dimensional images of the device under test are created by directing the energy beam at different portions of the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Idaho State University and the Board of Educa
    Inventors: Alan W. Hunt, J. Frank Harmon, Douglas P. Wells
  • Patent number: 7508909
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a sealed container is disclosed and which includes a pulsed electron accelerator which is positioned in spaced relation relative to a first side of the sealed container, and which produces a pulsed beam of photons which passes through the sealed container and any contents enclosed within the sealed container; a detector positioned in spaced relation relative to a second, opposite side of the sealed container, and which receives the pulsed beam of photons which passes through the contents of the sealed container, and which produces an output signal; and a computer for developing a visible image from the output signal of the detector which depicts the contents of the sealed container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: J. Frank Harmon, James L. Jones, Alan W. Hunt, Randy J. Spaulding, Michael Smith
  • Publication number: 20080067372
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a defect imaging device that has an energy beam that is directed at a device under test. The energy beam creates positrons deep within the material of the device under test. When the positrons combine with electrons in the material they produce a pair of annihilation photons. The annihilation photons are detected. The Doppler broadening of the annihilation photons is used to determine if a defect is present in the material. Three dimensional images of the device under test are created by directing the energy beam at different portions of the device under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Alan W. Hunt, J. Frank Harmon, Douglas P. Wells
  • Publication number: 20070245809
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a sealed container is disclosed and which includes a pulsed electron accelerator which is positioned in spaced relation relative to a first side of the sealed container, and which produces a pulsed beam of photons which passes through the sealed container and any contents enclosed within the sealed container; a detector positioned in spaced relation relative to a second, opposite side of the sealed container, and which receives the pulsed beam of photons which passes through the contents of the sealed container, and which produces an output signal; and means for developing a visible image from the output signal of the detector which depicts the contents of the sealed container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: J. Frank Harmon, James Jones, Alan Hunt, Randy Spaulding, Michael Smith