Patents by Inventor W. Bruce Feller

W. Bruce Feller 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: 11733409
    Abstract: A neutron imaging system includes a neutron generator, a flight tube, a stage, a neutron imaging module, and a neutron shield. The flight tube enables neutrons from the neutron generator to enter the flight tube through an input opening and exit through an output opening. The stage supports a sample object to receive neutrons that pass through the entire length of the flight tube and the output opening. The neutron imaging module has a neutron-sensitive component that receives neutrons that pass through the sample object and generates neutron detection signals. The neutron shield surrounds at least a portion of the flight tube and the neutron imaging module to block at least a portion of stray neutrons that travel toward the neutron-sensitive component of the neutron imaging module, in which the stray neutrons do not enter the flight tube through the input opening of the flight tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Photonis Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian White, W. Bruce Feller, R. Gregory Downing
  • Publication number: 20220342097
    Abstract: A neutron imaging system includes a neutron generator, a flight tube, a stage, a neutron imaging module, and a neutron shield. The neutron generator is configured to provide neutrons. The flight tube has an input opening, an output opening, and a flight tube wall extending from the input opening to the output opening. The flight tube is positioned relative to the neutron generator to enable neutrons from the neutron generator to enter the flight tube through the input opening and exit the flight tube through the output opening. The stage is configured to support a sample object at a position to receive neutrons that pass through the entire length of the flight tube and then pass through the output opening of the flight tube. The neutron imaging module has a neutron-sensitive component that is sensitive to neutrons and configured to receive neutrons that pass through the sample object and generate neutron detection signals that can be used to generate an image or video of the sample object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Brian White, W. Bruce Feller, R. Gregory Downing
  • Patent number: 11327185
    Abstract: A neutron imaging system includes a neutron generator, a flight tube, a stage, a neutron imaging module, and a neutron shield. The flight tube enables neutrons from the neutron generator to enter the flight tube through an input opening and exit through an output opening. The stage supports a sample object to receive neutrons that pass through the entire length of the flight tube and the output opening. The neutron imaging module has a neutron-sensitive component that receives neutrons that pass through the sample object and generates neutron detection signals. The neutron shield surrounds at least a portion of the flight tube and the neutron imaging module to block at least a portion of stray neutrons that travel toward the neutron-sensitive component of the neutron imaging module, in which the stray neutrons do not enter the flight tube through the input opening of the flight tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Photonis Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian White, W. Bruce Feller, R. Gregory Downing
  • Publication number: 20200309973
    Abstract: A neutron imaging system includes a neutron generator, a flight tube, a stage, a neutron imaging module, and a neutron shield. The neutron generator is configured to provide neutrons. The flight tube has an input opening, an output opening, and a flight tube wall extending from the input opening to the output opening. The flight tube is positioned relative to the neutron generator to enable neutrons from the neutron generator to enter the flight tube through the input opening and exit the flight tube through the output opening. The stage is configured to support a sample object at a position to receive neutrons that pass through the entire length of the flight tube and then pass through the output opening of the flight tube. The neutron imaging module has a neutron-sensitive component that is sensitive to neutrons and configured to receive neutrons that pass through the sample object and generate neutron detection signals that can be used to generate an image or video of the sample object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Brian White, W. Bruce Feller, R. Gregory Downing
  • Patent number: 9941438
    Abstract: A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include at least one of hafnium (Hf), samarium (Sm), erbium (Er), neodymium (Nd), tantalum (Ta), lutetium (Lu), europium (Eu), dysposium (Dy), or thulium (Tm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Patent number: 9651688
    Abstract: A method for detecting a neutron includes providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate, providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage, measuring a signal on the output electrode, and detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the signal at the output electrode with a baseline value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon H. Chappell, W. Bruce Feller
  • Publication number: 20160320499
    Abstract: A method for detecting a neutron includes providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate, providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage, measuring a signal on the output electrode, and detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the signal at the output electrode with a baseline value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Jon H. Chappell, W. Bruce Feller
  • Patent number: 9297914
    Abstract: A method for detecting a neutron includes providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate, providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage, measuring a signal on the output electrode, and detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the signal at the output electrode with a baseline value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon. H. Chappell, W. Bruce Feller
  • Patent number: 9082907
    Abstract: A device includes a neutron-sensitive composition. The composition includes, in weight percent, a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide (e.g., approximately 1% to approximately 3.5% aluminum oxide), greater than 12% (e.g., approximately 12% to approximately 17%) boron oxide, greater than approximately 60% silicon oxide (e.g., approximately 62% to approximately 68% silicon oxide), and a non-zero amount of sodium oxide (e.g., approximately 10% to approximately 14% sodium oxide). The device is capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White, William J. S. Zhong
  • Publication number: 20150115164
    Abstract: A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include at least one of hafnium (Hf), samarium (Sm), erbium (Er), neodymium (Nd), tantalum (Ta), lutetium (Lu), europium (Eu), dysposium (Dy), or thulium (Tm).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Patent number: 9006672
    Abstract: A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include boron-10, lithium-6, or gadolinium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Publication number: 20140339433
    Abstract: A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include boron-10, lithium-6, or gadolinium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Publication number: 20140299780
    Abstract: A device includes a neutron-sensitive composition. The composition includes, in weight percent, a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide (e.g., approximately 1% to approximately 3.5% aluminum oxide), greater than 12% (e.g., approximately 12% to approximately 17%) boron oxide, greater than approximately 60% silicon oxide (e.g., approximately 62% to approximately 68% silicon oxide), and a non-zero amount of sodium oxide (e.g., approximately 10% to approximately 14% sodium oxide). The device is capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White, William J.S. Zhong
  • Patent number: 8835864
    Abstract: A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include boron-10, lithium-6, or gadolinium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Patent number: 8766206
    Abstract: A neutron detector includes a coincidence detector to detect coincidence events in which each coincidence event indicates proximity in time of a first signal and a second signal. The first signal indicates detection of at least one of a neutron or a gamma ray, and the second signal indicates detection of a gamma ray by a gamma ray detector. A data processor identifies detection of neutron radiation based on characteristics of an energy spectrum of the gamma rays associated with the second signals that correspond to the coincidence signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Publication number: 20140077087
    Abstract: A method for detecting a neutron includes providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate, providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage, measuring a signal on the output electrode, and detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the signal at the output electrode with a baseline value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Jon. H. Chappell, W. Bruce Feller
  • Publication number: 20140077088
    Abstract: A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include boron-10, lithium-6, or gadolinium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Patent number: 8507872
    Abstract: A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include boron-10, lithium-6, or gadolinium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Patent number: 8445861
    Abstract: Neutrons can be detected using first information derived from a first charge induced on an input electrode of a microchannel plate and second information derived from a second charge induced on an output electrode of the microchannel plate. For example, a ratio between the first charge and the second charge is calculated, a sum of the first and second charges is calculated, and whether a neutron has been detected can be determined based on the ratio and the sum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
  • Patent number: 8445858
    Abstract: A device includes a neutron-sensitive composition. The composition includes, in weight percent, a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide (e.g., approximately 1% to approximately 3.5% aluminum oxide), greater than 12% (e.g., approximately 12% to approximately 17%) boron oxide, greater than approximately 60% silicon oxide (e.g., approximately 62% to approximately 68% silicon oxide), and a non-zero amount of sodium oxide (e.g., approximately 10% to approximately 14% sodium oxide). The device is capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Nova Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White, William J. S. Zhong