Patents by Inventor Mark Davidson

Mark Davidson 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: 7876793
    Abstract: A charged particle beam including charged particles (e.g., electrons) is generated from a charged particle source (e.g., a cathode or scanning electron beam). As the beam is projected, it passes between plural alternating electric fields. The attraction of the charged particles to their oppositely charged fields accelerates the charged particles, thereby increasing their velocities in the corresponding (positive or negative) direction. The charged particles therefore follow an oscillating trajectory. When the electric fields are selected to produce oscillating trajectories having the same (or nearly the same) frequency as the emitted radiation, the resulting photons can be made to constructively interfere with each other to produce a coherent radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E. Maines
  • Publication number: 20100277066
    Abstract: An electronic transmitter or receiver employing electromagnetic radiation as a coded signal carrier is described. In the transmitter, the electromagnetic radiation is emitted from ultra-small resonant structures when an electron beam passes proximate the structures. In the receiver, the electron beam passes near ultra-small resonant structures and is altered in path or velocity by the effect of the electromagnetic radiation on structures. The electron beam is accelerated within a series of spiral-shaped anodes to an appropriate current density without the use of a high power supply. Instead, a sequence of low power levels is supplied to the sequence of anodes in the electron beam path. The electron beam is thereby accelerated to a desired current density appropriate for the transmitter or receiver application without the need for a high-level power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
  • Patent number: 7791290
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating a beam of charged particles is described in which a beam of charged particles is produced by a particle source and a varying electric field is induced within an ultra-small resonant structure. The beam of charged particles is modulated by the interaction of the varying electric field with the beam of charged particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E. Maines, Paul Hart
  • Publication number: 20100219820
    Abstract: Devices disclosed according to various embodiments use one or more arrays of atomic magnetometers to detect biologically derived magnetic fields. The disclosed devices and methods relate to application of utilization of a magnetic sensor with unique properties requiring changes in design, allowing new functions, and requiring alternative analysis methodologies. Various embodiments are also directed to methods for obtaining and processing biological magnetic signals. These methods may take advantage of the unique spatial arrangement of the atomic magnetometers and the capacity sensors to he used in either a scalar or a vector mode. Various embodiments have advantages over current magnetometer arrays for the purpose of detecting biological magnetic fields. Such advantages may include, for example: smaller size, lower power consumption, no necessity for cryogenic cooling, potential wafer-level fabrication, and/or the potential of better localization biological signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLOARIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Frank M. Skidmore, James C. Sackellares, Mark Davidson, Bernard F. Whiting, Panos M. Pardalos
  • Publication number: 20100195112
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an interferometer configured to generate an interference pattern by combining test light from a test object with reference light reflected from a reference object, the interferometer being further configured to direct at least a first part of a monitor test beam to the test object at a first incident angle and at least a second part of a monitor reference beam to the reference object at a second incident angle, and recombine the first part and the second part of the monitor beams after they reflect from the test and reference surfaces to interfere with one another and form a monitor pattern, where the first and second angles cause the monitor pattern to have spatial interference fringes, and wherein a change in the position of the interference fringes is indicative of a change in a relative position between the test and reference objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Zygo Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Davidson
  • Patent number: 7758739
    Abstract: We describe an ultra-small structure and a method of producing the same. The structures produce visible light of varying frequency, from a single metallic layer. In one example, a row of metallic posts are etched or plated on a substrate according to a particular geometry. When a charged particle beam passed close by the row of posts, the posts and cavities between them cooperate to resonate and produce radiation in the visible spectrum (or even higher). A plurality of such rows of different geometries are formed by either etching or plating from a single metal layer such that the charged particle beam will yield different visible light frequencies (i.e., different colors) using different ones of the rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Jean Tokarz, Michael E. Maines, Andres Trucco, Paul Hart
  • Publication number: 20100161574
    Abstract: An administration server in a database management system retrieves log files in a plurality of formats from a plurality of clients through helper programs running on the clients. The plurality of clients can include Web servers, application servers, and database servers. The log files can be generated by software modules on the clients. An administration engine converts log entries in the log files into a unified format for display. The converted log entries can be stored in a log database. Upon a user request, the administration server presents the log entries to the user in a log viewer. The log viewer can display log entries originated from heterogeneous software modules in a unified view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Mark Davidson, Erwin Hom, Robert Parks
  • Patent number: 7741934
    Abstract: A device and method is provided that includes a window for coupling a signal between cavities of a device or between cavities of different devices. A wall or microstructure is formed on a surface and defines a cavity. The window is formed in the wall and comprises at least a portion of the wall and is electrically conductive. The cavity can be sized to resonate at various frequencies within the terahertz portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and generate an electromagnetic wave to carry the signal. The window allows surface currents to flow without disruption on the inside surface of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
  • Patent number: 7732786
    Abstract: A device for coupling energy in a plasmon wave to an electron beam includes a metal transmission line having a pointed end; a generator mechanism constructed and adapted to generate a beam of charged particles; and a detector microcircuit disposed adjacent to the generator mechanism. The generator mechanism and the detector microcircuit are disposed adjacent the pointed end of the metal transmission line and wherein a beam of charged particles from the generator mechanism to the detector microcircuit electrically couples the plasmon wave traveling along the metal transmission line to the microcircuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E. Maines
  • Patent number: 7728397
    Abstract: A nano-resonating structure constructed and adapted to couple energy from a beam of charged particles into said nano-resonating structure and to transmit coupled energy outside the nano-resonating structure. A plurality of the nano-resonant substructures may be formed adjacent one another in a stacked array, and each may have various shapes, including segmented portions of shaped structures, circular, semi-circular, oval, square, rectangular, semi-rectangular, C-shaped, U-shaped and other shapes as well as designs having a segmented outer surface or area, and arranged in a vertically stacked array comprised of one or more ultra-small resonant structures. The vertically stacked arrays may be symmetric or asymmetric, tilted, and/or staggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Jean Tokarz
  • Publication number: 20100128278
    Abstract: Apparatus include a microscope including an objective and a stage for positioning a test object relative to the objective, the stage being moveable with respect to the objective, and a sensor system, that includes a sensor light source, an interferometric sensor configured to receive light from the sensor light source, to introduce an optical path difference (OPD) between a first portion and a second portion of the light, the OPD being related to a distance between the objective lens and the stage, and to combine the first and second portions of the light to provide output light, a detector configured to detect the output light from the interferometric sensor, a fiber waveguide configured to direct light between the sensor light source, the interferometric sensor and the detector, a tunable optical cavity in a path of the light from the sensor light source and the interferometric sensor, and an electronic controller in communication with the detector, the electronic controller being configured to determine in
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie L. Deck, Peter De Groot, Mark Davidson, Jan Liesener, Xavier Colonna De Lega
  • Publication number: 20100128280
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features apparatus that includes a broadband scanning interferometry system including interferometer optics for combining test light from a test object with reference light from a reference object to form an interference pattern on a detector, wherein the test and reference light are derived from a common light source. The interferometry system further includes a scanning stage configured to scan an optical path difference (OPD) between the test and reference light from the common source to the detector and a detector system including the detector for recording the interference pattern for each of a series of OPD increments, wherein the frequency of each OPD increment defines a frame rate. The interferometer optics are configured to produce at least two monitor interferometry signals each indicative of changes in the OPD as the OPD is scanned, wherein the detector system is further configured to record the monitor interferometry signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: ZYGO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Davidson, Jan Liesener, Peter de Groot, Xavier Colonna de Lega, Leslie L. Deck
  • Publication number: 20100128276
    Abstract: Interferometry system are disclosed that include a detector sub-system including a monitor detector, interferometer optics for combining test light from a test object with primary reference light from a first reference interface and secondary reference light from a second reference interface to form a monitor interference pattern on a monitor detector, wherein the first and second reference interfaces are mechanically fixed with respect to each other and the test light, a scanning stage configured to scan an optical path difference (OPD) between the test light and the primary and secondary reference light to the monitor detector while the detector sub-system records the monitor interference pattern for each of a series of OPD increments, and an electronic processor electronically coupled to the detector sub-system and the scanning stage, the electronic processor being configured to determine information about the OPD increments based on the detected monitor interference pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: Peter De Groot, Mark Davidson, Jan Liesener, Xavier Colonna de Lega, Leslie L. Deck
  • Publication number: 20100128283
    Abstract: In certain aspects, interferometry methods are disclosed that include providing one or more interferometry signals for a test object, wherein the interferometry signals correspond to a sequence of optical path difference (OPD) values which are not all equally spaced from one another because of noise, providing information about the unequal spacing of the sequence of OPD values, decomposing each of the interferometry signals into a contribution from a plurality of basis functions each corresponding to a different frequency and sampled at the unequally spaced OPD values, and using information about the contribution from each of the multiple basis functions to each of the interferometry signals to determine information about the test object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: ZYGO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jan Liesener, Mark Davidson, Peter J. De Groot, Xavier Colonna De Lega, Leslie L. Deck
  • Patent number: 7718977
    Abstract: In order to reduce the exposure of a detector surface 180 of a photo-multiplier 160 to stray charged particles, an off-axis structure is interposed between the resonant structure and the detector surface of the photo-multiplier. By providing the off-axis structure with at least one reflective surface, photons are reflected toward the detector surface of the photo-multiplier while at the same time absorbing stray charged particles. Stray particles may be absorbed by the reflective surface or by any other part of the off-axis structure. The off-axis structure may additionally be provided with an electrical bias and/or an absorbing coating for absorbing stray charged particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Island Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
  • Patent number: 7714513
    Abstract: We describe an ultra-small structure that produces visible light of varying frequency, from a single metallic layer. In one example, a row of metallic posts are etched or plated on a substrate according to a particular geometry. When a charged particle beam passed close by the row of posts, the posts and cavities between them cooperate to resonate and produce radiation in the visible spectrum (or even higher). A plurality of such rows of different geometries can be etched or plated from a single metal layer such that the charged particle beam will yield different visible light frequencies (i.e., different colors) using different ones of the rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E Maines
  • Patent number: 7710040
    Abstract: An array of ultra-small structures of between ones of nanometers to hundreds of micrometers in size that can be energized to produce at least two different frequencies of out put energy or data, with the ultra small structures being formed on a single conductive layer on a substrate. The array can include one row of different ultra small structures, multiple rows of ultra small structures, with each row containing identical structures, or multiple rows of a variety of structures that can produce all spectrums of energy or combinations thereof, including visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Jean Tokarz, Andres Trucco
  • Patent number: 7688274
    Abstract: An antenna system includes a dielectric structure formed on a substrate; an antenna, partially within the dielectric structure, and supported by the dielectric structure; a reflective surface formed on the substrate. A shield blocks radiation from a portion of the antenna and from at least some of the dielectric structure. The shield is supported by the dielectric structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E. Maines
  • Patent number: 7679067
    Abstract: A multi-frequency receiver for receiving plural frequencies of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light) using a beam of charged particles shared between plural resonant structures. The direction of the beam of charged particles is selectively controlled by at least one deflector. The beam of charged particles passing near the resonant structure is altered on at least one characteristic as a result the presence of the electric field induced on the corresponding resonant structure. Alterations in the beam of charged particles are thus correlated to data values encoded by the electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Island Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Jean Tokarz, Lev Gasparov
  • Patent number: 7659513
    Abstract: A detector system for performing at least one of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation at a low-terahertz frequency. The detection of electromagnetic radiation at low-terahertz frequencies can be useful in the detection of various chemicals. Preferably a detector includes a microresonant structure that is caused to resonate by electromagnetic radiation at a low-terahertz frequency. The resonance is detected by detecting an altered path of a charged particle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E. Maines