Patents Assigned to National Institute of Standards of Technology
  • Publication number: 20140332673
    Abstract: A radiometer includes a substrate; a radiation absorber disposed on the substrate to absorb radiation; a thermal member disposed on the substrate to change electrical resistance in response to a change in temperature of the radiometer; and a thermal link to connect the radiometer to a thermal reference, wherein the radiation absorber, the thermal member, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotubes being mutually aligned with respect to the substrate, and the radiometer being configured to detect optical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: JOHN H. LEHMAN, NATHAN TOMLIN
  • Publication number: 20140338074
    Abstract: A microscope probe includes a substrate; an optical resonator disposed on the substrate and including an optical resonance property; a displacement member disposed on the substrate and separated from the optical resonator, the displacement member including: a first end disposed distal to the optical resonator; and a second end disposed proximate to the optical resonator; and a coupling member disposed on the substrate and connecting the displacement member to the substrate, wherein the first end is configured to probe a sample and to be displaced in response to a condition of the sample, the displacement member is configured to communicate displacement of the first end to the second end, and the second end is configured to change the optical resonance property in response to displacement of the second end
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: VLADIMIR AKSYUK, KARTIK SRINIVASAN, HOUXUN MIAO, IVO W. RANGELOW, THOMAS MICHELS
  • Publication number: 20140331368
    Abstract: A probe module includes a mount; a cantilever disposed on the mount; an electrode disposed on the mount and opposing the cantilever, and a primary fastener disposed on the mount to mechanically separate the cantilever and the electrode at a primary distance. In the probe module, the cantilever is detachably disposed on the mount, the electrode is detachably disposed on the mount, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: RACHEL CANNARA, CHRISTIAN LONG
  • Publication number: 20140320003
    Abstract: A lamp to produce white light includes an envelope; and a composition disposed in the envelope and including an initiator; a primary halide; and a secondary halide, wherein the primary halide, in a presence of the secondary halide, has a vapor pressure that is greater than a vapor pressure in an absence of the secondary halide, and the composition is configured to emit white light in a presence of an electrical discharge in the envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: JOHN J. CURRY, WALTER P. LAPATOVICH, EDGAR G ESTUPINAN
  • Publication number: 20140318978
    Abstract: A photoactive article includes a substrate including a semiconductor to absorb light and to produce a plurality of charge carriers; a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate; a conductive member disposed on the dielectric layer and opposing the substrate such that the dielectric layer is exposed by the conductive member, the conductive member to receive a portion of the plurality of charge carriers from the substrate; and an electrolyte disposed on the dielectric layer and the conductive member. Making a photoactive article includes forming a dielectric layer on a substrate by rapid thermal oxidation, the dielectric layer comprising an oxide of a semiconductor; and forming a conductive member disposed on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: DANIEL V. ESPOSITO, THOMAS P. MOFFAT, ALBERT ALEC TALIN
  • Publication number: 20140321502
    Abstract: A thermometer includes a substrate; an optical resonator disposed on the substrate and including an optical resonance, the optical resonator being configured to receive a resonant frequency corresponding to the optical resonance; and a waveguide disposed on the substrate proximate to the optical resonator to receive input light, to communicate the resonant frequency to the optical resonator, and to transmit output light; wherein an aperture is interposed between: the substrate and the optical resonator, the substrate and the waveguide, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, and the thermometer is configured to change the optical resonance in response to a change in temperature of the optical resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: ZEESHAN AHMED, STEVE SEMANCIK, JACOB M. TAYLOR, JINGYUN FAN, MOHAMMAD HAFEZI, HAITAN XU, GREGORY STROUSE
  • Publication number: 20140307253
    Abstract: An optical meter includes a force member to receive a force and a reflector disposed on the force member to receive radiation and to communicate a pressure of the radiation to the force member. The reflector includes a reflective surface, and the force member is configured to be displaced in response to receiving the force comprising the pressure. The optical meter is configured to measure a power of the radiation, an energy of the radiation, or a combination thereof based on the pressure. A process for measuring a property of radiation includes receiving radiation by the reflector, reflecting radiation from the reflective surface, communicating a pressure from the reflector to the force member, and displacing the force member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: JOHN LEHMAN, PAUL WILLIAMS, ROBERT LEE, FRANK MARING
  • Patent number: 8857266
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and method for evaluating the development of PS during polymerization of dental restorative composites, which includes using a tensometer for measuring deflection of a calibrated cantilever beam induced by PS and calculating PS from the measured deflection. A tensometer according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used to quantify PS at varying beam locations and heights, and determine trend in PS development as a function of beam length. More importantly, in the present invention, the development of polymerization shrinkage and the elastic modulus can be simultaneously obtained in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventor: Martin Chiang
  • Patent number: 8816296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for use in highly sensitive and efficient neutron detection, that includes using trigger reactions to initiate far-ultraviolet (FUV) optical emissions. In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for the detection of slow neutrons includes absorption of a slow neutron with a high neutron capture-cross-section nucleus, decay of the compound nucleus into energetic particles, creation of excimers from the energetic particles reacting with a background gas to form excimers, radiative decay of excimers resulting in emission of FUV radiation, and detection of the FUV radiation using an optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Charles W. Clark, Patrick P. Hughes, Michael Alan Coplan, Alan Keith Thompson, Robert E. Vest
  • Publication number: 20140210473
    Abstract: An electron spin resonance spectrometer includes a bridge to transmit an excitation frequency and to receive a signal frequency; a probe electrically connected to the bridge and comprising: a first conductor in electrical communication with the bridge to transmit the signal frequency to the bridge; a shorting member electrically connected to the first conductor to transmit the excitation frequency to a sample, to produce the signal frequency, and to transmit the signal frequency to the first conductor; and a second conductor electrically connected to the shorting member; and a magnet disposed proximate to the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: JASON P. CAMPBELL, KIN P. CHEUNG, JASON T. RYAN, PATRICK M. LENAHAN
  • Publication number: 20140174991
    Abstract: A process for fractionating a nanoparticle composition, the process includes combining a first polymer, a second polymer, and a solvent to form a fluid and contacting the nanoparticle composition with the fluid. The nanoparticle composition includes a plurality of first nanoparticles, a plurality of second nanoparticles, and a dispersant disposed on an exterior surface of the first nanoparticles and the second nanoparticles. Fractionating the nanoparticle composition also includes forming a multiphase composition that includes a first phase and a second phase by partitioning the first polymer and the second polymer such that a concentration of the first polymer is greater than a concentration of the second polymer in the first phase, and the concentration of the second polymer is greater than the first polymer in the second phase, wherein the solvent is present in the first phase and the second phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: CONSTANTINE Y. KHRIPIN, MING ZHENG
  • Patent number: 8757189
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system is described which provides stable flow rates over a range of different flow rates and while multiple fluids are being concurrently delivered. The delivery system includes one or more reservoirs each containing a respective fluid to be transferred. The reservoir(s) are positioned within a secondary fluid selected such that the reservoir(s) and their contents, i.e. the fluids to be transferred, float within the secondary fluid. One end of a flow conduit is submerged in each fluid to be transferred. A pressure differential is then induced in the flow conduit whereby fluid flow therein occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventor: Gregory A. Cooksey
  • Patent number: 8763161
    Abstract: A variable temperature assembly for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is described which minimizes or eliminates motion of the sample caused by the thermal expansion or contraction of the sample holder assembly and platform/scanning stage on which the assembly is mounted, and minimizes heating or cooling of the platform/stage. In heater form, the variable temperature assembly includes a thin boron nitride puck with one or more high-resistivity wires embedded along an underside of the puck. The puck is suspended from its polished top surface by posts that are secured to the microscope stage. All thermal expansion of the puck occurs in the downward direction, away from the SPM probe-sample interface, thus eliminating relative motion between the probe tip and sample surface. The top surface of the puck remains stationary as a result of the unique geometry of the posts and the puck-post attachment configuration described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Rachel Cannara, Fred Sharifi, Zhao Deng
  • Publication number: 20140170711
    Abstract: A process for making a nucleotide analog includes combining a first substrate that includes a linker and a base with a second substrate to form a substrate composition. An enzyme contacts the substrate composition and catalyzes formation of the nucleotide analog from the first substrate and the second substrate. Additionally, a composition includes the first substrate, second substrate, the enzyme, the nucleotide analog, and optional additives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: JOHN P. MARINO, ZVI KELMAN, JERARD HURWITZ, GARY G. GIULIAN
  • Publication number: 20140162868
    Abstract: Core-shell nanoparticles and techniques for their synthesis are described herein. Generally, the nanoparticles comprise a core that includes iron and at least one shell disposed about the core that includes nickel. In certain versions, the nanoparticles are free of precious metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventor: LAUREN GREENLEE
  • Publication number: 20140153327
    Abstract: A spin transport channel includes a dielectric layer contacting a conductive layer. The dielectric layer includes at least one of a tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide, titanium oxide, and nickel oxide. An intermediate spin layer contacts the dielectric layer. The intermediate spin layer includes at least one of copper and silver. The conductive layer is more electrochemically inert than the intermediate spin layer. A polarizer layer contacts the intermediate spin layer. The polarizer layer includes one of a nickel-iron based material, iron, and cobalt based material. The conductive layer and intermediate layer are disposed on opposite sides of the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer and the polarizer layer are disposed on opposite sides of the intermediate spin layer. The intermediate spin layer is arranged to form a conducting path through the dielectric layer configured to transport a plurality of electrons. Each of the plurality of electrons maintains a polarized electron spin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: The National Institute of Standards and Technology Government of the United States of America, as Re
    Inventor: The National Institute of Standards and Technology, Government of the United States of America, as R
  • Patent number: 8742334
    Abstract: A spinning cell device is described for fast and convenient standardization and analysis of constituents and isotopes in solid samples by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma (LA-ICP) spectrometry. The method and apparatus for performing the method require the sample under test and a standard to be spun during ablation allowing the quasi-simultaneous ablation of both materials. The aerosols resulting from the ablation of sample and standard are mixed in the ablation cell allowing quantification of the ablated metals by the method of standard addition or isotope dilution. The relative proportion of standard verses sample ablated can be changed by altering the trajectory of the laser beam. The ablated aerosol is swept into an inductively coupled plasma by a carrier gas and analyzed by mass spectrometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: John L. Molloy, Naomi Bier, Fanny Claverie, Julien F. C. Malherbe
  • Patent number: 8715591
    Abstract: An apparatus to create a homogenous liposome population without post-processing using laminar flow/diffusive mixing, and for reducing waste discharge of the therapeutic or compound to be encapsulated and delivered by the liposomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Michael Gaitan, Andreas Jahn, Laurie E. Locascio, Wyatt Vreeland, Joseph E. Reiner
  • Patent number: 8707224
    Abstract: A method of simplifying a combinational circuit establishes an initial combinational circuit operable to calculate a set of target signals. A quantity of multiplication operations performed in a first portion of the initial combinational circuit is reduced to create a first, simplified combinational circuit. The first portion includes only multiplication operations and addition operations. A quantity of addition operations performed in a second portion of the first, simplified combinational circuit is reduced to create a second, simplified combinational circuit. The second portion includes only addition operations. Also, the second, simplified combinational circuit is operable to calculate the target signals using fewer operations than the initial combinational circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards & Technology, University of Southern Denmark
    Inventors: Rene Caupolican Peralta, Joan Boyar
  • Publication number: 20140070085
    Abstract: A spinning cell device is described for fast and convenient standardization and analysis of constituents and isotopes in solid samples by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma (LA-ICP) spectrometry. The method and apparatus for performing he method require the sample under test and a standard to be spun during ablation allowing the quasi-simultaneous ablation of both materials. The aerosols resulting from the ablation of sample and standard are mixed in the ablation cell allowing quantification of the ablated metals by the method of standard addition or isotope dilution. The relative proportion of standard verses sample ablated can be changed by altering the trajectory of the laser beam. The ablated aerosol is swept into an inductively coupled plasma by a carrier gas and analyzed by mass spectrometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: The National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: John L Molloy, Naomi Bier, Fanny Claverie, Julien Malherbe