Patents Assigned to Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
  • Patent number: 7184076
    Abstract: A fluid-powered inspection camera adapted to be operated in a contaminated environment where an electric power supply is not readily available includes a housing having a tubular shell terminating at an open end. An imaging device has a portion arranged within the tubular shell in a spaced relation so as to define an annular chamber therebetween. The imaging device has an eye positioned adjacent to the open end of the body. A compressed fluid-powered motor is arranged within the body and has a compressed fluid inlet adapted to be connected to a suitable source of compressed fluid and also has a compressed fluid outlet. A generator is operatively coupled to the compressed fluid-powered motor and arranged within the body to electrically power the imaging device in proportion to the rate of fluid flow passing through the motor. Compressed fluid discharged from the compressed fluid-powered motor outlet passes through the annular chamber and is discharged through the open end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Woodstock
  • Patent number: 6850008
    Abstract: A gas discharge lamp having a translucent envelope enclosing a light emitting assembly that includes a baffle and an anode separated by one or more spacers made of an electrically insulating material such as ceramic, which are oriented towards a heated cathode to receive electrons emitted therefrom. Each spacer has a front surface, a rear surface, a top surface and a bottom surface including a transverse cavity formed between the front and rear surfaces to permit electrons to flow through. The cavity extends from a first through-hole in the front surface to a second through-hole in the rear surface of the spacer. Further, the cavity includes a gap for allowing conductive materials that may sputter or evaporate from the anode or the baffle to escape from the cavity to prevent short circuiting between the anode and the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Clark
  • Patent number: 6690111
    Abstract: An improved deuterium lamp (20) includes a gas-filled envelope (21), a cathode (22), an anode (23), electrical leads (24) sealingly penetrating the glass envelope and connected to the anode and cathode, respectively, a window-shielding electrode (25), a cathode-shielding electrode (26), a focusing electrode (28), and a ceramic support (29). The improvement comprises the anode being mounted on a rear surface of the ceramic support and being so configured and arranged as to have nothing that substantially interferes with the radiation of heat in rearward direction from the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric P. Davenport
  • Patent number: 6667761
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved visualization and measurement system (15). In the preferred embodiment, the visualization system comprises: a video sensor (16) having a range of view (18), a field of view (19), and a video output signal (20), a non-contact instrument (21); having a measurement zone (22) and a measurement output signal (23), the instrument and video sensor being so configured and arranged that the measurement zone is aligned in the field of view; a processor (24) for processing the video output signal and the measurement output signal and for providing a processor output signal (25); a display device (26) for displaying the processor output signal; and a control device (28) for moving the field of view and measurement zone in the range of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Ludwig, William L. Zabriskie
  • Patent number: 6356015
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved hollow cathode lamp (15). In the preferred embodiment, the lamp is comprised of a stem (23), a cathode lead (18) which passes through the stem, and a getter (26). The improvement includes a flash shield (28) positioned between the getter and the stem, whereby the flash shield will limit the deposit of getter metal on the stem when the getter flashes. The flash shield may be a circular disk and composed of nickel. The flash shield may include an evacuation passage (46). The flash shield may also be capable of being heated to about 1000° C. during flashing, whereby the flash shield may be heated so as to convectionally repel the getter metal when the getter flashes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric P Davenport
  • Publication number: 20020012049
    Abstract: A fluid-powered inspection camera adapted to be operated in a contaminated environment where an electric power supply is not readily available includes a housing having a tubular shell terminating at an open end. An imaging device has a portion arranged within the tubular shell in a spaced relation so as to define an annular chamber therebetween. The imaging device has an eye positioned adjacent to the open end of the body. A compressed fluid-powered motor is arranged within the body and has a compressed fluid inlet adapted to be connected to a suitable source of compressed fluid and also has a compressed fluid outlet. A generator is operatively coupled to the compressed fluid-powered motor and arranged within the body to electrically power the imaging device in proportion to the rate of fluid flow passing through the motor. Compressed fluid discharged from the compressed fluid-powered motor outlet passes through the annular chamber and is discharged through the open end of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Woodstock
  • Publication number: 20010035717
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved hollow cathode lamp (15). In the preferred embodiment, the lamp is comprised of a stem (23), a cathode lead (18) which passes through the stem, and a getter (26). The improvement comprises a flash shield (28) positioned between the getter and the stem, whereby the flash shield will limit the deposit of getter metal on the stem when the getter flashes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric P. Davenport
  • Patent number: 6202486
    Abstract: A sensor for determining the location of the surface of liquid in a container, includes: a hollow tubular stainless steel probe inserted into said container, said probe having one portion arranged above the surface of the liquid and having another portion submerged in the liquid; a first thermocouple operatively arranged within the probe to sense the temperature above the liquid surface; a second thermocouple operatively arranged within the probe to sense the temperature of said liquid at a point beneath the liquid surface; a resistance wire operatively arranged within the probe; a current source operatively arranged to apply a constant-current to the ends of the wire; and an ohmmeter for measuring the electrical resistance of the wire according to the equation: RT=ƒ[kaTaHh+kwTwH(1−h)] where RT is the resistance of the wire, ƒ is the symbol for “a function of”, ka is a constant for the probe first portion, Ta is the temperature sensed by the first temperatur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Kemp
  • Patent number: 6078132
    Abstract: The present invention broadly provides an improvement in a deuterium arc lamp having structure (e.g., anode 27, baffle 28, etc.) mounted on the distal end of an electrical conductor (26) within an elongated tubular glass envelope (21) in spaced relation to the side wall (22) of the envelope. The improvement broadly comprises spacer means (24), such as axially-spaced disk-like first and second members (32, 33), that operatively engage the structure, and that restrain transverse movement of such structure within the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric P. Davenport
  • Patent number: 5977727
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to dynamically shape the projected energy profile of an electron beam and the energy distribution of an electron beam of a cathode ray tube to provide a single cathode ray tube the ability to display multiple image formats of varying resolutions, brightnesses and aspect ratios. In one embodiment, the invention contemplates the introduction of a shaping lens along the path of the electron beam comprising at least three electrodes. Voltages are selectively applied to the electrodes to dynamically and selectively vary the projected energy profile of an electron beam in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cathode ray tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Dunbar
  • Patent number: 5972469
    Abstract: An improved baffle (24) for directing the light discharged from a deuterium lamp includes a plate-like member configured as a cylindrical segment (25), an aperture (27) provided through a central portion (26) of the member, and a flattened portion (26) about the aperture. The flattened portion is of such size and has a surface of such reflectivity as to substantially eliminate interference ring(s) of discontinuous light intensity from the light output of the lamp. A deuterium employing the improved baffle affords the advantage of markedly-increased light intensity, as compared with prior art baffles, at selected wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Curtis
  • Patent number: 5864209
    Abstract: A unique cathode (30) for an ultraviolet discharge lamp (10) is described. The cathode includes a triple-coil wire, i.e., the wire has a primary coil (43), a secondary coil (41) wound around the primary coil and a tertiary coil (36) wound around the secondary coil. The interstices of the primary coil and secondary coil, but not the tertiary coil, are occupied by a crystalline oxide emitter material. Filling the primary and secondary coils of the triple coil cathode provides a cathode having a greater amount of emitter material than prior art. In addition, as the outer layer of the emitter material sputters away from bombardment by positive ions, the remaining emitter material is protected by the now-exposed portion of the coil wire which protrudes beyond the remaining emitter material. Thus, incoming positive ions are apt to strike the exposed wire, and not the remaining emitter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: David Lyle Clark
  • Patent number: 5660475
    Abstract: An improved heater facsimile temperature detector (47) has an increased dynamic responsiveness in measuring temperature changes. The improved HFTD (47) reduces the amount of mass surrounding the thermocouple tip, thus, reducing the time lag caused by the intervening heating or cooling of this material before the temperature change can affect the thermocouple. The thermocouple (69) is welded to a body (59) extending beyond a machined flat (54) on the outer surface of an intermediate portion (49) of the HFTD. The body does not extend beyond the outer surface (51) of the intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Todd M. Wetherill, Kerwin C. Playfoot
  • Patent number: 5448603
    Abstract: A fluid detector (20) has an enclosure (32) defining an internal chamber (33). The enclosure has a frangible wall portion (34). A sensor (46) is arranged within the chamber. The sensor has a hygroscopic portion (48), the electrical resistance of which changes depending upon whether the sensor portion is wet or dry. The chamber is normally filled with a dry fluid, such as nitrogen. The outer surface of the enclosure is exposed to another fluid containing water. When the pressure differential across the frangible wall portion exceeds a predetermined minimum value, the frangible wall portion ruptures to permit the sensor portion to become wetted. An ammeter (31) is arranged to determine the change in the electrical resistance of the sensor and to indicate the presence of the water-containing fluid within the chamber. The detector is particularly useful in determining the fluid-tight sealed integrity of a closed-end thimble having a portion inserted into a pressurized water reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Lynch
  • Patent number: 5254905
    Abstract: A cathode-luminescent panel lamp (20) includes an evacuated tube (21) having a phosphor coating (25) on the inside surface of a face plate (24). An electron gun (28) is arranged to discharge at least one conical beam of electrons toward the coating to form an electron cloud within the tube. Shaping electrodes (29,30) positioned within the tube distribute and normalize the electron density of the cloud as a function of the angle (.theta.). The electrons pass through a field-separating mesh (39) to impinge upon a secondary emission mesh (40), which amplifies the electron density. The amplified electrons excite the phosphor coating to produce light of substantially-constant intensities across the face plate. The improved lamp may be used to back-light an LCD or in a stadium display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Dunbar, Richard F. Kankus, Thomas J. Kolonoski