Patents Assigned to Moxtek, Inc.
  • Electrostatic-dissipation device
    Patent number: 9826610
    Abstract: An electrostatic-dissipation device comprising an x-ray tube and an electrically-conductive shell that is electrically coupled to an anode of the x-ray tube can be used for electrostatic dissipation, especially at a bottom side of a flat-panel-display (FPD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Miller, Steven West Wilson, Sanjay Kamtekar, Bill Hansen, Brad Harris
  • XRF analyzer communication
    Patent number: 9816950
    Abstract: An x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis system 10 can include an XRF analyzer 20 which can communicate wirelessly with other devices. The system 10 can also include remote-processor software configured to be loaded onto a handheld electronic device 23 and/or remote-computer software configured to be loaded onto a remote-computer 28. The XRF analyzer 20 can include a microphone 18 and/or an output device 31 to allow a user 19 to communicate conveniently with the XRF analyzer 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Floyd Jones, Daniel N. Paas, Brad Harris, Bill Hansen
  • Wire grid polarizer with side region
    Patent number: 9798058
    Abstract: Structures and methods of making wire grid polarizers having multiple regions, including side bars, strips, and/or side ribs along sides of a central region. The central region can include a single region or multiple regions. Each region can have a different function for improving polarizer performance. The various regions can support each other for improved wire grid polarizer durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Probst, Qihong Wu, Eric Gardner, Mark Alan Davis
  • Spark gap X-ray source
    Patent number: 9779847
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention includes an x-ray source having a cathode with (1) a pointed end or (2) an elongated blade oriented substantially transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cathode. The pointed end or blade can be pointed towards an anode. In another embodiment, the invention includes an x-ray source having a window with an annular-shape, forming a hollow-ring. A convex portion of a half-ball-shape of an anode can extend into a hollow of the annular-shape of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Miller, Bill Hansen
  • XRF analyzer
    Patent number: 9775574
    Abstract: A portable XRF analyzer includes a hand shield to substantially block x-rays from impinging on a hand of a user. The portable XRF analyzer includes a heat sink over an x-ray source and a heat sink over an x-ray detector. The heat sinks are separated from each other by a thermally insulative material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Floyd Jones, Daniel N. Paas
  • Wire grid polarizer with phosphonate protective coating
    Patent number: 9703028
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have a phosphonate conformal-coating to protect the WGP from at least one of the following: corrosion, dust, and damage due to tensile forces in a liquid on the WGP. The conformal-coating can include a chemical: where R1 can include a hydrophobic group, Z can be a bond to the ribs, and R5 can be any suitable chemical element or group. A method of applying a phosphonate conformal-coating over a WGP can include exposing the WGP to (R1)iPO(R4)j(R5)k, where: i is 1 or 2, j is 1 or 2, k is 0 or 1, and i+j+k=3; each R1 can independently be a hydrophobic group; R4 can be a phosphonate-reactive-group; each R6 can independently be an alkyl group, an aryl group, or combinations thereof; and each R5, if any, can independently be any suitable chemical element or group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Linford, Anubhav Diwan, Fred Lane, Stew Nielson, Ted Wangensteen
  • XRF analyzer rotational filter
    Patent number: 9689815
    Abstract: An XRF analyzer can include a rotatable filter structure to separately position at least two different x-ray source modification regions between an x-ray source and a focal point and at least two different x-ray detector modification regions between an x-ray detector and the focal point. An XRF analyzer can include a rotatable source filter wheel between an x-ray source and a focal point and a rotatable detector filter wheel between an x-ray detector and the focal point. The source filter wheel can include multiple x-ray source modification regions. The detector filter wheel can include multiple x-ray detector modification regions. A gear wheel can mesh with a gear on the source filter wheel and with a gear on the detector filter wheel and can cause the source filter wheel and the detector filter wheel to rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent Floyd Jones
  • XRF analyzer activation switch
    Patent number: 9689816
    Abstract: The invention includes various electronic devices for avoiding or minimizing XRF analyzer user fatigue. In one embodiment, the XRF analyzer can include a finger sensor for activating an XRF analysis. In another embodiment, the XRF analyzer can include a finger tap switch for activating the XRF analysis. In another embodiment, the XRF analyzer can include a microphone for activating the XRF analysis by receipt of a verbal command. Additional benefits of some embodiments include improving XRF analysis safety and avoiding XRF analyzer theft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Floyd Jones, Daniel N. Paas, Brad Harris
  • Wire grid polarizer with dual absorptive regions
    Patent number: 9684203
    Abstract: A selectively-absorptive wire grid polarizer comprising an array of parallel, elongated rods disposed over a surface of a transparent substrate with gaps between adjacent rods, each of the rods including a reflective wire sandwiched between two absorptive ribs. A method of making this wire grid polarizer. A use of this wire grid polarizer in an image projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, D. Brent Willamson
  • XRF analyzer communication
    Patent number: 9683953
    Abstract: An x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis system 10 can include an XRF analyzer 20 which can communicate wirelessly with other devices. The system 10 can also include remote-processor software configured to be loaded onto a handheld electronic device 23 and/or remote-computer software configured to be loaded onto a remote-computer 28. The XRF analyzer 20 can include a microphone 18 and/or an output device 31 to allow a user 19 to communicate conveniently with the XRF analyzer 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Floyd Jones, Daniel N. Paas, Brad Harris, Bill Hansen
  • Broadband, selectively-absorptive wire grid polarizer
    Patent number: 9632224
    Abstract: The invention includes a selectively-absorptive wire grid polarizer (WGP) comprising an array of parallel, elongated rods located over a surface of a transparent substrate with gaps between adjacent rods. Each of the rods can include a reflective wire and two absorptive ribs. The reflective wire can be sandwiched between the two absorptive ribs and the substrate or the two absorptive ribs can be sandwiched between the reflective wire and the substrate. Each of the two absorptive ribs can comprise a different material. Use of multiple absorptive ribs within each rod can increase the effective useful bandwidth of light for selectively absorbing one polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Mathew Free
  • Wire grid polarizer with side region
    Patent number: 9632223
    Abstract: Structures and methods of making wire grid polarizers having multiple regions, including side bars, strips, and/or side ribs along sides of a central region. The central region can include a single region or multiple regions. Each region can have a different function for improving polarizer performance. The various regions can support each other for improved wire grid polarizer durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Probst, Qihong Wu, Eric Gardner, Mark Alan Davis
  • Fine pitch wire grid polarizer
    Patent number: 9523805
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer can have a repeated pattern of groups of parallel elongated wires disposed over a substrate. Each group of wires can comprise at least three wires. At least one wire at an interior of each group can be taller than outermost wires of each group. The wires can be a byproduct of an etch reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Davis
  • Corrosion-resistant, strong x-ray window
    Patent number: 9502206
    Abstract: The invention is an x-ray window with a stack of thin film layers including aluminum layer(s), corrosion-barrier layer(s), and/or polymer layer(s). Aluminum layer(s) can provide improved gas impermeability. Polymer layer(s) can increase structural strength. The x-ray window can be substantially transmissive to x-rays but also substantially block visible light and infrared light. The x-ray window can have minimal deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: Brigham Young University, Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Mallorie Harker, Steven D. Liddiard, Jonathan Abbott, Robert Davis, Richard Vanfleet, Lei Pei
  • Optical particle analysis
    Patent number: 9448156
    Abstract: A system and method for determining particle size, shape, and/or quantity. The particle can alter the polarization state of two oppositely-polarized light beams, thus allowing the light beams to interfere with each other. An interference pattern from interference of the two light beams can be captured by a CCD. The interference pattern can be analyzed to determine size, shape, and/or quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Faris Modawar
  • Polarizer with wire pair over rib
    Patent number: 9354374
    Abstract: Wire grid polarizers, and methods of making wire grid polarizers, including an array of parallel, elongated nano-structures disposed over a surface of a substrate. Each of the nano-structures can include a first rib disposed over a surface of a substrate and a pair of parallel, elongated wires, each laterally oriented with respect to one another, and disposed over the first rib. The wire grid polarizers can be durable with high transmission of one polarization of light, high contrast, and/or small pitch. The wire grid polarizers can also have high absorption or high reflection of an opposite polarization of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Ted Wangensteen, Rumyana Petrova, Mike Black, Steven Marks, Dean Probst, Mark Alan Davis
  • Polarizer with variable inter-wire distance
    Patent number: 9348076
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer comprising an array of parallel, elongated nano-structures disposed over a surface of a substrate. Each of the nano-structures can include a pair of parallel, elongated wires (or top ribs), each oriented laterally with respect to one another. There can be a first gap disposed between the pair of wires (or top ribs). Each of the nano-structures can be separated from an adjacent nano-structure by a second gap disposed between adjacent nanostructures, and thus between adjacent pairs of wires. A first gap width of the first gap can be different than a second gap width of the second gap. Also included are methods of making wire grid polarizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Ted Wangensteen, Rumyana Petrova, Mike Black, Steven Marks, Dean Probst
  • Grid voltage generation for x-ray tube
    Patent number: 9351387
    Abstract: An x-ray source for improved electron beam control, a smaller electron beam spot size, and a smaller x-ray spot size with reduced power supply size and weight. A method for improved electron beam control, a smaller electron beam spot size, and a smaller x-ray spot size with reduced power supply size and weight. Grid(s) may be used in an x-ray tube for improved electron beam control, a smaller electron beam spot size, and a smaller x-ray spot size. Control circuitry for the grid(s) can be disposed in electrically insulative potting. Light may be used to provide power and control signals to the control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Dongbing Wang
  • Reinforced polymer x-ray window
    Patent number: 9305735
    Abstract: An x-ray window comprising a polymer and carbon nanotubes and/or graphene. The carbon nanotubes and/or graphene can be embedded in the polymer. Multiple layers of polymer, carbon nanotubes, and/or graphene may be used. The polymer with carbon nanotubes and/or graphene can be used as an x-ray window support structure and/or thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: Brigham Young University, Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Liddiard, Charles R. Jensen, Michael Zappe, Keith W. Decker, Robert C. Davis, Lei Pei, Richard R. Vanfleet
  • Modular x-ray source
    Patent number: 9282622
    Abstract: A modular x-ray source in which the x-ray tube is removably attached to a case and power supply by a removable cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Draper, Jon Barron, Vince Jones, Eric Miller, Dustin Peterson