Patents Assigned to Science Incorporated
  • Self-ligating orthodontic bracket
    Patent number: 7214057
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket assembly and method of assembling an orthodontic bracket assembly. The bracket assembly may generally include a base defining an archwire slot and having a lingual surface attachable to a tooth, the base defining a recess extending from the lingual surface, an insert positionable in the recess, a slot being at least partially defined by the insert, and a locking member including a lingual portion receivable in the slot to support the locking member on the base, the lingual portion being movable in the slot between an open position, in which the locking member permits access to the archwire slot, and a closed position, in which the locking member inhibits access to the archwire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Ceramic Sciences Incorporated
    Inventor: John C. Voudouris
  • Lamp that emits colored light
    Patent number: 7176606
    Abstract: A lamp includes a transparent envelope having a first region defining an enclosed interior volume and a closure region adjacent to the first region, a light source in the interior volume and electrically coupled through the closure region, an interference filter coating on the exterior of the first region, and a light absorbing coating that is 7–40 nanometers thick on the exterior of the first region, except in a ring-shaped portion adjacent to the closure region that has a thickness of 50–200 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignees: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur Elektrisch Gluhlampen mbH, Deposition Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Reinhard Schaefer, Robert Nichols, Florence Taitel
  • Method and apparatus for full phase interferometry
    Publication number: 20060290939
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for differential spectral interferometry comprising providing an interferometer comprising a light source; employing an element to provide a dithered relative phase shift between target and reference arms of the interferometer, detecting output from the interferometer, demodulating signals received from the detector at different multiples of the dither frequencies, generating more than one real-valued interferograms from demodulated signals, and using the real-valued interferograms to obtain the complex spectral interferogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrei Vakhtin, Daniel Kane, Kristen Peterson
  • Fire alarm algorithm using smoke and gas sensors
    Patent number: 7142105
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of detecting fires comprising detecting (with one or more detectors) levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and smoke in an ambient environment, computing (using a processor) over time rates of increase of each of the levels, and generating an alarm if one or more of the rates of increase exceed predetermined threshold rates of increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventor: Shin-Juh Chen
  • Optical absorbance sensitivity and reliability improvement via rotation of sample container
    Patent number: 7126685
    Abstract: An absorption spectroscopy method comprising providing a sample in a container, rotating the container, while rotating the container, directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the container, the beam comprising one or more wavelengths selected from the group consisting of visible wavelengths, infrared wavelengths, and ultraviolet wavelengths, and measuring characteristics of the beam after it passes through the container. Also an absorption spectroscopy apparatus comprising a container holder, a drive rotating the container holder, means for, while rotating the container, directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the container, the beam comprising one or more wavelengths selected from visible wavelengths, infrared wavelengths, and ultraviolet wavelengths, and means for receiving the beam after passage through the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Sciences incorporated
    Inventors: Mark E. Paige, David S. Bomse, Joel A. Silver
  • Dense pattern optical multipass cell
    Publication number: 20060232772
    Abstract: A multiple pass optical cell and method comprising providing a pair of opposed cylindrical mirrors having curved axes with substantially equal focal lengths, positioning an entrance hole for introducing light into the cell and an exit hole for extracting light from the cell, wherein the entrance hole and exit hole are coextensive or non-coextensive, introducing light into the cell through the entrance hole, and extracting light from the cell through the exit hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST SCIENCES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Joel Silver
  • Self-ligating orthodontic bracket
    Publication number: 20060204918
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket assembly and method of assembling an orthodontic bracket assembly. The bracket assembly may generally include a base defining an archwire slot and having a lingual surface attachable to a tooth, the base defining a recess extending from the lingual surface, an insert positionable in the recess, a slot being at least partially defined by the insert, and a locking member including a lingual portion receivable in the slot to support the locking member on the base, the lingual portion being movable in the slot between an open position, in which the locking member permits access to the archwire slot, and a closed position, in which the locking member inhibits access to the archwire slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: Ceramic Sciences Incorporated
    Inventor: John Voudouris
  • Determination of fit basis functions
    Patent number: 7092852
    Abstract: An apparatus, software, and method for segregating out background signals from a signal of interest comprising sampling a signal that includes the background signals over one or more periods of time, forming a matrix from results of the sampling, calculating a matrix of basis functions via a singular value decomposition of the matrix from the forming operation, and determining a set of basis functions to employ to segregate out background signals. Also a corresponding wavelength modulation spectroscopy apparatus, software, and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kane, David Christian Hovde
  • Near re-entrant dense pattern optical multipass cell
    Publication number: 20060158644
    Abstract: A multiple pass optical cell and method comprising providing a pair of opposed mirrors, one cylindrical and one spherical, introducing light into the cell via an entrance mechanism, and extracting light from the cell via an exit mechanism, wherein the entrance mechanism and exit mechanism are coextensive or non-coextensive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST SCIENCES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Joel Silver
  • Method and apparatus for imaging internal structures of transparent and translucent materials
    Patent number: 7079254
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for spectral interferometry comprising providing an interferometer comprising a light source and dithering an element to provide a continuous relative phase shift between target and reference arms of the interferometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kane, Andrei B. Vakhtin, Kristen A. Peterson
  • Determination of fit basis functions
    Patent number: 7003436
    Abstract: An apparatus, software, and method for segregating out background signals from a signal of interest comprising sampling a signal that includes the background signals over one or more periods of time, forming a matrix from results of the sampling, calculating a matrix of basis functions via a singular value decomposition of the matrix from the forming operation, and determining a set of basis functions to employ to segregate out background signals. Also a corresponding wavelength modulation spectroscopy apparatus, software, and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kane, David Christian Hovde
  • Fire alarm algorithm using smoke and gas sensors
    Publication number: 20050200475
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of detecting fires comprising detecting (with one or more detectors) levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and smoke in an ambient environment, computing (using a processor) over time rates of increase of each of the levels, and generating an alarm if one or more of the rates of increase exceed predetermined threshold rates of increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventor: Shin-Juh Chen
  • Envelope functions for modulation spectroscopy
    Patent number: 6940599
    Abstract: A spectrometer and spectrometry method comprising modulating a light source with a carrier waveform multiplied by an envelope function, directing light from the light source through a sample region and to a photodetector, and demodulating current from the photodetector at a reference frequency. Also a method for computing a modulation waveform comprising specifying a target detection efficiency in a Fourier space, computing a response of a waveform that comprises a carrier wave multiplied by an envelope function, and modifying the envelope function using nonlinear optimization means to minimize a difference between the computed response and a predetermined target gain spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventor: David Christian Hovde
  • Discrete wavelength-locked external cavity laser
    Patent number: 6914917
    Abstract: An external cavity laser (and method of generating laser light) comprising: a laser light source; means for collimating light output by the laser light source; a diffraction grating receiving collimated light; a cavity feedback mirror reflecting light received from the diffraction grating back to the diffraction grating; and means for reliably tuning the external cavity laser to discrete wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Pilgrim, Joel A. Silver
  • Anti-reflective coating conformality control
    Patent number: 6852473
    Abstract: A method for forming an anti-reflective coating on a semiconductor substrate, including providing a first vessel containing an anti-reflective coating component and a second vessel containing a solvent. The anti-reflective coating component from the first vessel and the solvent from the second vessel are supplied to a mixing chamber. The anti-reflective coating component and the solvent are mixed in the mixing chamber to form a product. The product is transferred to the semiconductor substrate. The product is applied to the semiconductor substrate to form the anti-reflective coating. A system for forming an anti-reflective coating on a semiconductor substrate, including a first vessel for containing an anti-reflective coating component and a second vessel for containing a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignees: Infineon Technologies Richmond, LP, Brewer Science Incorporated
    Inventors: William Roberts, Marlene Strobl, Paul Williams, Douglas J. Guerrero, Alice F. Martin
  • Optical pulse characterization for telecommunications applications
    Publication number: 20040257578
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for optical pulse characterization comprising employment of an intensity modulator receiving optical pulses, a spectrometer receiving output from the intensity modulator, a detector receiving output from the spectrometer, a phase shifter receiving a gate pulse and providing output to the intensity modulator, and information processing means receiving output from the detector and providing commands to the phase shifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST SCIENCES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Daniel J. Kane
  • Method and apparatus for imaging internal structures of transparent and translucent materials
    Publication number: 20040239946
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for spectral interferometry comprising providing an interferometer comprising a light source and dithering an element to provide a continuous relative phase shift between target and reference arms of the interferometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST SCIENCES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kane, Andrei B. Vakhtin, Kristen A. Peterson
  • Anti-reflective coating conformality control
    Publication number: 20040058278
    Abstract: A method for forming an anti-reflective coating on a semiconductor substrate, including providing a first vessel containing an anti-reflective coating component and a second vessel containing a solvent. The anti-reflective coating component from the first vessel and the solvent from the second vessel are supplied to a mixing chamber. The anti-reflective coating component and the solvent are mixed in the mixing chamber to form a product. The product is transferred to the semiconductor substrate. The product is applied to the semiconductor substrate to form the anti-reflective coating. A system for forming an anti-reflective coating on a semiconductor substrate, including a first vessel for containing an anti-reflective coating component and a second vessel for containing a solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicants: Infineon Technologies Richmond, LP, Brewer Science Incorporated
    Inventors: William Roberts, Marlene Strobl, Paul Williams, Douglas J. Guerrero, Alice F. Martin
  • Wavelength agile external cavity diode laser
    Patent number: 6683895
    Abstract: An external cavity diode laser and method of generating laser light comprising: generating light from a Fabry-Perot diode laser source; collimating light from the source with an intracavity optical element; reflecting light via a feedback mirror; and employing a diffraction grating to receive light from the optical element, diffract received light to the mirror in a non-zero order, receive reflected light from the mirror, and direct reflected light back towards the optical element and Fabry-Perot diode laser to complete an external cavity, the diffraction grating additionally directing a portion of the received light from the optical element toward a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Southwest Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Pilgrim, Daniel B. Oh
  • Variable rate infusion apparatus with indicator and adjustable rate control
    Patent number: 6645175
    Abstract: An apparatus for accurately infusing medicinal agents into an ambulatory patient at specific rates over extended periods of time. The apparatus is of a compact, low profile, laminate construction and includes an elastic distendable membrane, chamber having a fluid outlet. The apparatus also includes a highly novel fluid flow indicator that provides a readily discernible visible indication of fluid flow through the apparatus. Additionally, the apparatus includes a novel adjustable flow rate control means for precisely adjustably controlling the rate of fluid flow from the reservoir of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Science Incorporated
    Inventors: Marshall S. Kriesel, Steven M. Arnold, James Garrison, Farhad Kazemzadeh