Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Timothy D. Stanley
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Patent number: 6439127Abstract: A specially designed projectile is disclosed which provides an initial cruciform-shaped slit or cut, followed by the creation of a round hole into a target. This controlled entry creates a very high localized pressure during initial impact to a target for a very short duration, followed by a longer sustained lower-impact pressure. This creates a fragment-free hole into the container and can allow the projectile to penetrate sensitive explosives inside the container without shock-initiating or igniting the explosives. The projectile can disable bomb circuitry itself or provide a controlled entry hole to allow low-pressure water or other projectiles incapable of penetrating the steel container to enter freely. The leading end of the projectile can, with a high degree of accuracy, sever wires, destroy batteries, capacitors, and other components within a bomb or select military ordnance. The projectile can be used alone or in tandem with water or other disablement projectiles.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1999Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: Christopher R. Cherry
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Patent number: 6312809Abstract: A substrate having a dendrimer monolayer film thereon is provided. The film can comprise either dendrimers, or dendrons (dendrimer branches). In each case, the monolayer films are covalently bonded to the desired surface. The resulting structure can be employed in a variety of applications including chemical sensors.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1996Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Richard M. Crooks, Antonio J. Ricco, Mona Wells
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Patent number: 6304042Abstract: A command triggered plasma opening switch assembly using an amplification stage. The assembly surrounds a coaxial transmission line and has a main plasma opening switch (POS) close to the load and a trigger POS upstream from the main POS. The trigger POS establishes two different current pathways through the assembly depended on whether it has received a trigger current pulse. The initial pathway has both POS's with plasma between their anodes and cathodes to form a short across the transmission line and isolating the load. The final current pathway is formed when the trigger POS receives a trigger current pulse which energizes its fast coil to push the conductive plasma out from between its anode and cathode, allowing the main transmission line current to pass to the fast coil of the main POS, thus pushing its plasma out the way so as to establish a direct current pathway to the load.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Mark E. Savage, Clifford W. Mendel, Jr.
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Patent number: 6291823Abstract: An ion beam analysis system that creates multidimensional maps of the effects of high energy ions from an unfocussed source upon a sample by correlating the exact entry point of an ion into a sample by projection imaging of the secondary electrons emitted at that point with a signal from a detector that measures the interaction of that ion within the sample. The emitted secondary electrons are collected in a strong electric field perpendicular to the sample surface and (optionally) projected and refocused by the electron lenses found in a photon emission electron microscope, amplified by microchannel plates and then their exact position is sensed by a very sensitive X Y position detector. Position signals from this secondary electron detector are then correlated in time with nuclear, atomic or electrical effects, including the malfunction of digital circuits, detected within the sample that were caused by the individual ion that created these secondary electrons in the fit place.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Barney L. Doyle, Gyorgy Vizkelethy, Robert A. Weller
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Patent number: 6269725Abstract: An apparatus and method for disarming improvised bombs are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a fluid-filled bottle or container made of plastic or another soft material which contains a fixed or adjustable, preferably sheet explosive. The charge is fired centrally at its apex and can be adjusted to propel a fluid projectile that is broad or narrow, depending upon how it is set up. In one embodiment, the sheet explosive is adjustable so as to correlate the performance of the fluid projectile to the disarming needs for the improvised explosive device (IED). Common materials such as plastic water bottles or larger containers can be used, with the sheet explosive or other explosive material configured in a general chevron-shape to target the projectile toward the target. In another embodiment, a thin disk of metal is conformably mounted with the exterior of the container and radially aligned with the direction of fire of the fluid projectile.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1999Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: Christopher R. Cherry
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Patent number: 6046426Abstract: A method and system are provided for producing complex, three-dimensional, net shape objects from a variety of powdered materials. The system includes unique components to ensure a uniform and continuous flow of powdered materials as well as to focus and locate the flow of powdered materials with respect to a laser beam which results in the melting of the powdered material. The system also includes a controller so that the flow of molten powdered materials can map out and form complex, three-dimensional, net-shape objects by layering the molten powdered material. Advantageously, such complex, three-dimensional net-shape objects can be produced having material densities varying from 90% of theoretical to fully dense, as well as a variety of controlled physical properties. Additionally, such complex, three-dimensional objects can be produced from two or more different materials so that the composition of the object can be transitioned from one material to another.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1996Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Francisco P. Jeantette, David M. Keicher, Joseph A. Romero, Lee P. Schanwald
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Patent number: 5935216Abstract: A parallel computing system and method having improved performance where a program is concurrently run on a plurality of nodes for reducing total processing time, each node having a processor, a memory, and a predetermined number of communication channels connected to the node and independently connected directly to other nodes. The present invention improves performance of performance of the parallel computing system by providing a system which can provide efficient communication between the processors and between the system and input and output devices. A method is also disclosed which can locate defective nodes with the computing system.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1991Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Robert E. Benner, John L. Gustafson, Gary R. Montry
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Patent number: 5882621Abstract: A method of producing carbon materials for use as electrodes in rechargeable batteries. Electrodes prepared from these carbon materials exhibit intercalation efficiencies of .apprxeq.80% for lithium, low irreversible loss of lithium, long cycle life, are capable of sustaining a high rates of discharge and are cheap and easy to manufacture. The method comprises a novel two-step stabilization process in which polymeric precursor materials are stabilized by first heating in an inert atmosphere and subsequently heating in air. During the stabilization process, the polymeric precursor material can be agitated to reduce particle fusion and promote mass transfer of oxygen and water vapor. The stabilized, polymeric precursor materials can then be converted to a synthetic carbon, suitable for fabricating electrodes for use in rechargeable batteries, by heating to a high temperature in a flowing inert atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1997Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Narayan Doddapaneni, James C. F. Wang, Robert W. Crocker, David Ingersoll, David W. Firsich
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Patent number: 5861570Abstract: The present invention is a low-energy detonator for high-density secondary-explosive materials initiated by a semiconductor bridge igniter that comprises a pair of electrically conductive lands connected by a semiconductor bridge. The semiconductor bridge is in operational or direct contact with the explosive material, whereby current flowing through the semiconductor bridge causes initiation of the explosive material. Header wires connected to the electrically-conductive lands and electrical feed-throughs of the header posts of explosive devices, are substantially coaxial to the direction of current flow through the SCB, i.e., substantially coaxial to the SCB length.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1996Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Robert W. Bickes, Jr., Mark C. Grubelich
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Patent number: 5858559Abstract: A method is described for altering the luminescence of a light emitting semiconductor (LES) device. In particular, a method is described whereby a silicon LES device can be selectively irradiated with a radiation source effective for altering the intensity of luminescence of the irradiated region.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1992Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: J. Charles Barbour, Duane B. Dimos
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Patent number: 5814525Abstract: A piezoelectric biosensor substrate useful for immobilizing biomolecules in an oriented manner on the surface of a piezoelectric sensor has a ladder polymer of polyacrylonitrile. To make the substrate, a solution of an organic polymer, preferably polyacrylonitrile, is applied to the surface of a piezoelectric sensor. The organic polymer is modifying by heating the polymer in a controlled fashion in air such that a ladder polymer is produced which, in turn, forms the attachment point for the biomolecules comprising the piezoelectric biosensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1996Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Clifford L. Renschler, Christine A. White, Robert M. Carter
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Patent number: 5766367Abstract: A method for preventing micromechanical structures from adhering to another object includes the step of immersing a micromechanical structure and its associated substrate in a chemical species that does not stick to itself. The method can be employed during the manufacture of micromechanical structures to prevent micromechanical parts from sticking or adhering to one another and their associated substrate surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James H. Smith, Antonio J. Ricco
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Patent number: 5739637Abstract: A cold cathode vacuum discharge tube, and method for making same, with an interior surface of the trigger probe coated with carbon deposited by carbon vapor deposition (CVD) or diamond-like carbon (DLC) deposition. Preferably a solid graphite insert is employed in the probe-cathode structure in place of an aluminum bushing employed in the prior art. The CVD or DLC probe face is laser scribed to allow resistance trimming to match available trigger voltage signals and to reduce electrical aging.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1995Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: Gordon E. Boettcher
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Patent number: 5735607Abstract: A sensor permanently indicates that it has been exposed to temperatures exceeding a critical temperature for a predetermined time period. An element of the sensor made from shape memory alloy changes shape when exposed, even temporarily, to temperatures above the Austenitic temperature of the shape memory alloy. The shape change of the SMA element causes the sensor to change between two readily distinguishable states.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1995Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Mohsen Shahinpoor, David R. Martinez
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Patent number: 5729365Abstract: A microlithographic tag comprising an array of individual computer generated holographic patches having feature sizes between 250 and 75 nanometers. The tag is a composite hologram made up of the individual holographic patches and contains identifying information when read out with a laser of the proper wavelength and at the proper angles of probing and reading. The patches are fabricated in a steep angle Littrow readout geometry to maximize returns in the -1 diffracted order. The tags are useful as anti-counterfeiting markers because of the extreme difficulty in reproducing them.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1996Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: William C. Sweatt
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Patent number: 5725408Abstract: A cold cathode vacuum discharge tube, and method for making same, with an interior surface of the trigger probe coated with carbon deposited by carbon vapor deposition (CVD) or diamond-like carbon (DLC) deposition. Preferably a solid graphite insert is employed in the probe-cathode structure in place of an aluminum bushing employed in the prior art. The CVD or DLC probe face is laser scribed to allow resistance trimming to match available trigger voltage signals and to reduce electrical aging.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1996Date of Patent: March 10, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: Gordon E. Boettcher
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Patent number: 5722488Abstract: An apparatus for downhole drilling communications is presented. The apparatus includes a spool and end pieces for maintaining the spool at the bottom of a drill string near a drill bit during drilling operations. The apparatus provides a cable for communicating signals between a downhole electronics package and a surface receiver in order to perform measurements while drilling. A method of forming the apparatus is also set forth wherein the apparatus is formed about a central spindle and lathe.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 1996Date of Patent: March 3, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Randy A. Normann, Grant J. Lockwood, Meliton Gonzales
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Patent number: 5710658Abstract: An optical system uses a nonlinear optical medium to alter the frequency of a relatively narrow band light source tunable over a plurality of different frequencies using an optical system for passively directing light to the nonlinear medium at a correct phase matching angle. In this manner, the light from the tunable light source can be efficiently frequency-doubled or frequency-tripled without the need of moving parts. An all prism design provides a system of optimal efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1995Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Alexander Gerson Jacobson, Scott Bisson, Rick Trebino
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Patent number: 5706114Abstract: An optical communication system uses holographic optical elements to provide guided wave and non-guided communication, resulting in high bandwidth, high connectivity optical communications. Holograms within holographic optical elements route optical signals between elements and between nodes connected to elements. Angular and wavelength multiplexing allow the elements to provide high connectivity. The combination of guided and non-guided communication allows compact polyhedral system geometries. Guided wave communications provided by multiplexed substrate-mode holographic optical elements eases system alignment.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1995Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Inventor: Ireena A. Erteza
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Patent number: 5703378Abstract: A hydrogen getter composition comprising a double or triple bonded hydrocarbon with a high melting point useful for removing hydrogen gas, to partial pressures below 0.01 torr, from enclosed spaces and particularly from vessels used for transporting or containing fluids at elevated temperatures. The hydrogen getter compositions disclosed herein and their reaction products will neither melt nor char at temperatures in excess of 100.degree. C. They possess significant advantages over conventional hydrogen getters, namely low risk of fire or explosion, no requirement for high temperature activation or operation, the ability to absorb hydrogen even in the presence of contaminants such as water, water vapor, common atmospheric gases and oil mists and are designed to be disposed within the confines of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1996Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Shepodd, Bradley L. Phillip