Patents Assigned to Photon Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11525731
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for creating deposits of uniformly spaced or uniformly overlapping droplets of selected chemicals where each droplet has an a priori known amount of the selected chemical or chemicals is taught (including biological and microbial materials). In some embodiments the deposits may be used as samples of different but known concentrations that may be used to calibrate spectroscopic inspection instruments to enable such instruments to not only provide identification in situ of unknown materials but also to provide calibrated and traceable surface concentrations of such materials. In some embodiments, such calibrated instruments may be used in enhanced processes for validating the cleanliness of manufacturing surfaces such as surfaces of equipment used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, food, or semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Reid
  • Patent number: 11448598
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems provide improved identification of selected biohazard and/or biohazard signatures from complex in vivo or in vitro samples and include deep UV native fluorescence spectroscopic analysis for multiple locations of a sample wherein classification results for individual locations are combined and spatially correlated to provide a positive or negative conclusion of biohazard signature presence (e.g., for signatures for viruses, bacteria, and diseases including SARS-CoV-2 and its variants and COVID-19 and its variants). Improvements include one or more of reduced sample processing time (minutes to fractions of a minute), reduced sampling cost (dollars to fractions of a dollar), high conclusion reliability (rivaling real time RT-PCR). Some embodiments may incorporate a stage or scanning mirror system to provide movement of a sample relative to an excitation exposure location. Some embodiments may incorporate Raman or phosphorescence spectroscopic analysis as well as imaging systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Bhartia, Michael R. Reid, William F. Hug, Ray D. Reid
  • Patent number: 11262301
    Abstract: Naphthalene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds VOCs have been identified as serious health hazards. Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for near-real-time in-situ detection and accumulated dose measurement of exposure to naphthalene vapor and other hazardous gaseous VOCs. The methods and apparatus employ excitation of fluorophors native or endogenous to compounds of interest using light sources emitting in the ultraviolet below 300 nm and measurement of native fluorescence emissions in distinct wavebands above the excitation wavelength. The apparatus of some embodiments are cell-phone-sized sensor/dosimeter “badges” to be worn by personnel potentially exposed to hazardous VOCs. The badge sensor of some embodiments provides both real time detection and data logging of exposure to naphthalene or other VOCs of interest from which both instantaneous and accumulated dose can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Rohit Bhartia, Ray D. Reid, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 11022490
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for creating deposits of uniformly spaced or uniformly overlapping droplets of selected chemicals where each droplet has an a priori known amount of the selected chemical or chemicals is taught (including biological and microbial materials). In some embodiments the deposits may be used as samples of different but known concentrations that may be used to calibrate spectroscopic inspection instruments to enable such instruments to not only provide identification in situ of unknown materials but also to provide calibrated and traceable surface concentrations of such materials. In some embodiments, such calibrated instruments may be used in enhanced processes for validating the cleanliness of manufacturing surfaces such as surfaces of equipment used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, food, or semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Reid
  • Patent number: 10895533
    Abstract: Naphthalene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds VOCs have been identified as serious health hazards. Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for near-real-time in-situ detection and accumulated dose measurement of exposure to naphthalene vapor and other hazardous gaseous VOCs. The methods and apparatus employ excitation of fluorophors native or endogenous to compounds of interest using light sources emitting in the ultraviolet below 300 nm and measurement of native fluorescence emissions in distinct wavebands above the excitation wavelength. The apparatus of some embodiments are cell-phone-sized sensor/dosimeter “badges” to be worn by personnel potentially exposed to hazardous VOCs. The badge sensor of some embodiments provides both real time detection and data logging of exposure to naphthalene or other VOCs of interest from which both instantaneous and accumulated dose can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Röhit Bhartia, Ray D. Reid, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 10890533
    Abstract: Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Ray D. Reid, Rohit Bhartia, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 10753863
    Abstract: Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Ray D. Reid, Rohit Bhartia, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 10732037
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for creating deposits of uniformly spaced or uniformly overlapping droplets of selected chemicals where each droplet has an a priori known amount of the selected chemical or chemicals is taught (including biological and microbial materials). In some embodiments the deposits may be used as samples of different but known concentrations that may be used to calibrate spectroscopic inspection instruments to enable such instruments to not only provide identification in situ of unknown materials but also to provide calibrated and traceable surface concentrations of such materials. In some embodiments, such calibrated instruments may be used in enhanced processes for validating the cleanliness of manufacturing surfaces such as surfaces of equipment used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, food, or semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Reid
  • Patent number: 10598596
    Abstract: Naphthalene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds VOCs have been identified as serious health hazards. Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for near-real-time in-situ detection and accumulated dose measurement of exposure to naphthalene vapor and other hazardous gaseous VOCs. The methods and apparatus employ excitation of fluorophors native or endogenous to compounds of interest using light sources emitting in the ultraviolet below 300 nm and measurement of native fluorescence emissions in distinct wavebands above the excitation wavelength. The apparatus of some embodiments are cell-phone-sized sensor/dosimeter “badges” to be worn by personnel potentially exposed to hazardous VOCs. The badge sensor of some embodiments provides both real time detection and data logging of exposure to naphthalene or other VOCs of interest from which both instantaneous and accumulated dose can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Rohit Bhartia, Ray D. Reid, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 9915603
    Abstract: Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Ray D. Reid, Rohit Bhartia, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 9909990
    Abstract: Naphthalene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds VOCs have been identified as serious health hazards. Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for near-real-time in-situ detection and accumulated dose measurement of exposure to naphthalene vapor and other hazardous gaseous VOCs. The methods and apparatus employ excitation of fluorophors native or endogenous to compounds of interest using light sources emitting in the ultraviolet below 300 nm and measurement of native fluorescence emissions in distinct wavebands above the excitation wavelength. The apparatus of some embodiments are cell-phone-sized sensor/dosimeter “badges” to be worn by personnel potentially exposed to hazardous VOCs. The badge sensor of some embodiments provides both real time detection and data logging of exposure to naphthalene or other VOCs of interest from which both instantaneous and accumulated dose can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Rohit Bhartia, Ray D. Reid, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 9568418
    Abstract: Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Ray D. Reid, Rohit Bhartia, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 9442070
    Abstract: Naphthalene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds VOCs have been identified as serious health hazards. Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for near-real-time in-situ detection and accumulated dose measurement of exposure to naphthalene vapor and other hazardous gaseous VOCs. The methods and apparatus employ excitation of fluorophors native or endogenous to compounds of interest using light sources emitting in the ultraviolet below 300 nm and measurement of native fluorescence emissions in distinct wavebands above the excitation wavelength. The apparatus of some embodiments are cell-phone-sized sensor/dosimeter “badges” to be worn by personnel potentially exposed to hazardous VOCs. The badge sensor of some embodiments provides both real time detection and data logging of exposure to naphthalene or other VOCs of interest from which both instantaneous and accumulated dose can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Rohit Bhartia, Ray D. Reid, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 8759791
    Abstract: Naphthalene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds have been identified as serious health hazards. This is especially true for personnel working with JP8 jet fuel and other fuels containing naphthalene as well as other hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for near-real-time in-situ detection and accumulated dose measurement of exposure to naphthalene vapor and other hazardous gaseous VOCs. The methods and apparatus employ excitation of fluorophors native or endogenous to compounds of interest using light sources emitting in the ultraviolet below 300 nm and measurement of native fluorescence emissions in distinct wavebands above the excitation wavelength. The apparatus of some embodiments are cell-phone-sized sensor/dosimeter “badges” to be worn by personnel potentially exposed to naphthalene or other hazardous VOCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Rohit Bhartia, Ray D. Reid, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 5808671
    Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of monitoring the transmission of an analog video signal through a video signal transmission channel, e.g. a fiber optic cable from a headend capturing the analog video signal at a location remote from the headend and select a signal channel from the captured video signal. The selected signal channel is digitized and serialized as a digital signal and the digital signal is transmitted as an optical signal through an optical fiber cable to a monitoring location, where the digital signal is converted to an analog video signal which is displayed on a video monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Augat Photon Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John Charles Maycock, Carey Todd Ritchey, Vincent Maddock Smith