Patents by Inventor James F. Browning

James F. Browning 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).

  • Method for studying a sample of material using a heavy ion induced mass spectrometer source
    Patent number: 5872824
    Abstract: A heavy ion generator is used with a plasma desorption mass spectrometer to provide an appropriate neutron flux in the direction of a fissionable material in order to desorb and ionize large molecules from the material for mass analysis.The heavy ion generator comprises a fissionable material having a high n,f reaction cross section. The heavy ion generator also comprises a pulsed neutron generator that is used to bombard the fissionable material with pulses of neutrons, thereby causing heavy ions to be emitted from the fissionable material. These heavy ions impinge on a material, thereby causing ions to desorb off that material. The ions desorbed off the material pass through a time-of-flight mass analyzer, wherein ions can be measured with masses greater than 25,000 amu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: David P. Fries, James F. Browning
  • System for studying a sample of material using a heavy ion induced mass spectrometer source
    Patent number: 5784424
    Abstract: A heavy ion generator is used with a plasma desorption mass spectrometer to provide an appropriate neutron flux in the direction of a fissionable material in order to desorb and ionize large molecules from the material for mass analysis.The heavy ion generator comprises a fissionable material having a high n,f reaction cross section. The heavy ion generator also comprises a pulsed neutron generator that is used to bombard the fissionable material with pulses of neutrons, thereby causing heavy ions to be emitted from the fissionable material. These heavy ions impinge on a material, thereby causing ions to desorb off that material. The ions desorbed off the material pass through a time-of-flight mass analyzer, wherein ions can be measured with masses greater than 25,000 amu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: David P. Fries, James F. Browning