Patents by Inventor Steven Hamann
Steven Hamann 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: 11927552Abstract: An apparatus for cosmogenic neutron sensing to detect moisture includes a thermal neutron proportional counter. A housing is formed at least partially from a moderating material, which is positioned around the thermal neutron proportional counter. A proportional counter electronics unit is within the housing and has a preamplifier and a shaping amplifier. The preamplifier and shaping amplifier are directly connected to the thermal neutron proportional counter. At least one photovoltaic panel provides electrical power to the thermal neutron proportional counter. A data logger is positioned vertically above the thermal neutron proportional counter and proportional counter electronics unit. A signal from the thermal neutron proportional counter is transmitted through the proportional counter electronics unit and is received by the data logger. The signal indicates a moisture content within a measurement surface of the thermal neutron proportional counter.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: QUAESTA INSTRUMENTS, LLCInventors: Peter Shifflett, Gary Womack, Steven Hamann
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Patent number: 11474048Abstract: A wide area cosmogenic neutron sensor is used for detecting moisture within a measurement surface. A neutron detector is positioned on a stand structure holding the detector above a measurement surface. A moderator material and neutron shield are positioned around at least a portion of the neutron detector. The neutron shield substantially covers an entirety of a bottom of the neutron detector and is not positioned on a top side of the neutron detector. Wide area cosmogenic neutrons propagating from the measurement surface travel through an air space before arriving at the moderated neutron detector.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: QUAESTA INSTRUMENTS, LLCInventors: Marek Zreda, Steven Hamann, Martin Schrön, Markus Köhli
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Publication number: 20220163687Abstract: A local area, thermal cosmogenic neutron sensor is used for detecting moisture within a measurement surface. A neutron detector is positioned on a stand structure holding the detector above a measurement surface. A neutron shield is positioned around at least a portion of the neutron detector. The neutron shield substantially covers lateral sides of the neutron detector and substantially an entirety of a top of the neutron detector and is not positioned on a bottom side of the neutron detector. Local area, thermal cosmogenic neutrons propagating from the measurement surface travel through an air space before arriving at the neutron detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2022Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: MAREK ZREDA, STEVEN HAMANN, MARTIN SCHRÖN, MARKUS KÖHLI
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Publication number: 20220113267Abstract: An apparatus for cosmogenic neutron sensing to detect moisture includes a thermal neutron proportional counter. A housing is formed at least partially from a moderating material, which is positioned around the thermal neutron proportional counter. A proportional counter electronics unit is within the housing and has a preamplifier and a shaping amplifier. The preamplifier and shaping amplifier are directly connected to the thermal neutron proportional counter. At least one photovoltaic panel provides electrical power to the thermal neutron proportional counter. A data logger is positioned vertically above the thermal neutron proportional counter and proportional counter electronics unit. A signal from the thermal neutron proportional counter is transmitted through the proportional counter electronics unit and is received by the data logger. The signal indicates a moisture content within a measurement surface of the thermal neutron proportional counter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: PETER SHIFFLETT, GARY WOMACK, STEVEN HAMANN
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Patent number: 11249036Abstract: A local area cosmogenic neutron sensor is used for detecting moisture within a measurement surface. A neutron detector is positioned on a stand structure holding the detector above a measurement surface. A moderator material and neutron shield are positioned around at least a portion of the neutron detector. The neutron shield substantially covers lateral sides and an entirety of a top of the neutron detector and is not positioned on a bottom side of the neutron detector. A thermal neutron shield is positioned below the neutron detector and in a path of neutron travel between the measurement surface and the neutron detector to substantially block environmental thermal neutrons from reaching the neutron detector, which improves the signal-to-noise ratio and signal contrast of the local area cosmogenic neutron sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: QUAESTA INSTRUMENTS, LLCInventors: Marek Zreda, Steven Hamann, Martin Schrön, Markus Köhli
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Publication number: 20210333223Abstract: A wide area cosmogenic neutron sensor is used for detecting moisture within a measurement surface. A neutron detector is positioned on a stand structure holding the detector above a measurement surface. A moderator material and neutron shield are positioned around at least a portion of the neutron detector. The neutron shield substantially covers an entirety of a bottom of the neutron detector and is not positioned on a top side of the neutron detector. Wide area cosmogenic neutrons propagating from the measurement surface travel through an air space before arriving at the moderated neutron detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: MAREK ZREDA, STEVEN HAMANN, MARTIN SCHRÖN, MARKUS KÖHLI
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Publication number: 20210102906Abstract: A local area cosmogenic neutron sensor is used for detecting moisture within a measurement surface. A neutron detector is positioned on a stand structure holding the detector above a measurement surface. A moderator material and neutron shield are positioned around at least a portion of the neutron detector. The neutron shield substantially covers lateral sides and an entirety of a top of the neutron detector and is not positioned on a bottom side of the neutron detector. A thermal neutron shield is positioned below the neutron detector and in a path of neutron travel between the measurement surface and the neutron detector to substantially block environmental thermal neutrons from reaching the neutron detector, which improves the signal-to-noise ratio and signal contrast of the local area cosmogenic neutron sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: MAREK ZREDA, STEVEN HAMANN, MARTIN SCHRÖN, MARKUS KÖHLI
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Patent number: 10845318Abstract: A cosmogenic neutron sensor includes a hydrogen-sensitive neutron detector orientable above a measurement surface. A neutron shield is positionable on the hydrogen-sensitive neutron detector. The neutron shield is positioned to interact with at least a portion of cosmogenic neutrons propagating in a direction of the hydrogen-sensitive neutron detector.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: QUAESTA INSTRUMENTS, LLCInventors: Marek Zreda, Steven Hamann, Martin Schrön, Markus Köhli
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Patent number: 10564112Abstract: A moderated neutron detector includes a neutron detector having a first volume. A moderating enclosure is positioned around the neutron detector and encloses a second volume. The second volume is between 2 and 80 times larger than the first volume. A method for increased neutron detection includes the following steps: positioning a neutron detector within a moderating enclosure, wherein the neutron detector has a first volume, wherein the moderating enclosure encloses a second volume, and wherein the second volume is between 2 and 80 times larger than the first volume; increasing a quantity of neutrons impingent upon the neutron detector; and measuring the quantity of neutrons impinging upon the neutron detector.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: QUAESTA INSTRUMENTS, LLCInventors: Marek Zreda, Steven Hamann
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Publication number: 20190179041Abstract: A moderated neutron detector includes a neutron detector having a first volume. A moderating enclosure is positioned around the neutron detector and encloses a second volume. The second volume is between 2 and 80 times larger than the first volume. A method for increased neutron detection includes the following steps: positioning a neutron detector within a moderating enclosure, wherein the neutron detector has a first volume, wherein the moderating enclosure encloses a second volume, and wherein the second volume is between 2 and 80 times larger than the first volume; increasing a quantity of neutrons impingent upon the neutron detector; and measuring the quantity of neutrons impinging upon the neutron detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: MAREK ZREDA, STEVEN HAMANN
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Publication number: 20190178818Abstract: A cosmogenic neutron sensor includes a hydrogen-sensitive neutron detector orientable above a measurement surface. A neutron shield is positionable on the hydrogen-sensitive neutron detector. The neutron shield is positioned to interact with at least a portion of cosmogenic neutrons propagating in a direction of the hydrogen-sensitive neutron detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: MAREK ZREDA, STEVEN HAMANN, MARTIN SCHRÖN, MARKUS KÖHLI
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Publication number: 20070014319Abstract: An external cavity structure including: a light source for generating a light beam; a dispersive system which in combination with the light source defines a cavity, the dispersive system for directing a selected wavelength of the light beam back into the light source, the dispersive system including a grating for selecting said wavelength of the light beam; and a beam-conditioner positioned within the cavity along a light path between the light source and the dispersive system, the beam conditioner including a beam deflecting element for changing the direction of propagation of the light beam as that light beam that travels between the light source and the dispersive system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Applicant: Zetetic InstituteInventors: Henry Hill, Steven Hamann, Peter Shifflett
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Publication number: 20050111007Abstract: An interferometric system including: an interferometer that directs a measurement beam at an object point to produce a return measurement beam, focuses the return measurement beam to an image point in an image plane, and mixes the return measurement beam with a reference beam at the image point to form a mixed beam; a beam combining layer located at the image plane which is responsive to the mixed beam and produces an optical beam therefrom, wherein the layer comprises a thin film with an array of transmissive openings formed therein and further comprises a fluorescent material associated with each of the openings of the array of openings; a detector that is responsive to the optical beam from the beam combining layer; and an imaging system that directs the optical beam from the beam combining layer onto the detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Applicant: Zetetic InstituteInventors: Henry Hill, Steven Hamann, David Fischer