Patents Examined by Nicole M Ippolito
  • Patent number: 11801318
    Abstract: A UV sterilization system for a vehicle includes a sterilization housing in which a sterilizing object is accommodated, an LED module emitting ultraviolet rays to the sterilizing object, and a controller configured to control an operation of the LED module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, KAIS Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeseung Lee, Younghoon Ji
  • Patent number: 11802841
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a defect detection device capable of using a compact optical system to detect a plurality of types of defects with high sensitivity and high speed. The defect detection device includes an irradiation system that irradiates light onto an object to be inspected; an optical system that forms scattered light produced by a light irradiation into an image; a microlens array disposed at an image plane of the optical system; an imaging element that is disposed at a position offset from the imaging plane of the optical system and that images light that passes through the microlens array; a mask image storage unit that stores a plurality of mask images generated for each type of defect or each defect direction; and a calculation unit that carries out mask processing on an image obtained from the imaging element using the plurality of mask images and carries out defect detection processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Takagi, Yuko Otani
  • Patent number: 11804356
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising: a first electrically conductive layer; a second electrically conductive layer; a plurality of optics element s between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer, wherein the plurality of optics elements are configured to influence a plurality of beams of charged particles; a third electrically conductive layer between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer; and an electrically insulating layer physically connected to the optics elements, wherein the electrically insulating layer is configured to electrically insulate the optics elements from the first electrically conductive layer, and the second electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Xuerang Hu, Weiming Ren, Xuedong Liu, Zhong-wei Chen
  • Patent number: 11802823
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Cryo-Charged Particle (CCP) sample handling and storage system. The system is used for storing and handling cryo-samples for use in charged particle microscopy, such as cryo-electron microscope samples for use in cryo-transmission electron microscopy. The system comprises a storage apparatus for storing a plurality of CCP samples, and a Charged Particle Apparatus (CPA), such as a cryo-TEM, at a location remote from said storage apparatus. The system further comprises a transfer device that is releasably connectable to said storage apparatus, and that is releasably connectable to said CPA as well. As defined herein, said transfer device is arranged for acquiring a CCP sample from said plurality of CCP samples when connected to said storage apparatus, and arranged for transferring said CCP sample from said transfer device to said CPA when connected to said CPA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Vojt{hacek over (e)}ch Dole{hacek over (z)}al, Hans Persoon, John Mitchels
  • Patent number: 11804370
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to two-dimensional mass spectrometry using ion micropacket detection. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems including a mass spectrometer having an ion trap and one or more detectors. The system includes a central processing unit (CPU), and storage coupled to the CPU for storing instructions that when executed by the CPU cause the system to: apply one or more scan functions to the ion trap that excite a precursor ion and eject a product ion from the ion trap; and determine a secular frequency of the product ion by detecting micropackets of the product ion as the micropackets are ejected from the ion trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert Graham Cooks, Dalton Snyder, Lucas Szalwinski
  • Patent number: 11801319
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the construction of a disinfection and/or sanitizing device that provides for individual users the ability to disinfect utilizing ultraviolet (UV) light. The device is designed to be in the form of a tool that can attach to and be readily carried in conjunction with a smart device such as a smartphone and to utilize the battery of the smart device so that it is unnecessary to obtain separate batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: The Innovative Lifestyle LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Brazer, Reese Thompson, Michael Hill
  • Patent number: 11798780
    Abstract: The scanning charged particle beam microscope according to the present application is characterized in that, in acquiring an image of the FOV (field of view), interspaced beam irradiation points are set, and then, a deflector is controlled so that a charged particle beam scan is performed faster when the charged particle beam irradiates a position on the sample between each of the irradiation points than when the charged particle beam irradiates a position on the sample corresponding to each of the irradiation points (a position on the sample corresponding to each pixel detecting a signal). This allows the effects from a micro-domain electrification occurring within the FOV to be mitigated or controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Yokosuka, Chahn Lee, Hideyuki Kazumi, Hajime Kawano, Shahedul Hoque, Kumiko Shimizu, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11794033
    Abstract: A process for treating highly localized carcinoma cells that provides precise positioning of a therapeutic source of highly ionizing but weakly penetrating radiation, which can be shaped so that it irradiates essentially only the volume of the tumor. The intensity and duration of the radiation produced by the source can be activated and deactivated by controlling the neutron flux generated by an array of electrically controlled neutron generators positioned outside the body being treated. The energy of the neutrons that interact with the source element can be adjusted to optimize the reaction rate of the ionized radiation production by utilizing neutron moderating material between the neutron generator array and the body. The source device may be left in place and reactivated as needed to ensure the tumor is eradicated without exposing the patient to any additional radiation between treatments. The source device may be removed once treatment is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: John H. Nelson, Michael D. Heibel
  • Patent number: 11798797
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for reducing ion reflections between multipole segments in a mass spectrometer by matching the effective potential between the two segments. Mass spectrometers having at least two multipole segments separated from each other along a longitudinal axis of the mass spectrometer such that a boundary region exists through which ions are drawn from an upstream segment to a downstream segment, and wherein each multipole segment further includes a set of spaced-apart rod-shaped electrodes disposed around the longitudinal axis and having a field radius defined by an inscribed circle between the innermost portions of each electrode. Effective potential matching can be achieved by either supplying RF signals of different amplitudes to each segment and/or by modifying the field strength of the segments. In one embodiment, the multipole segments are configured such that the upstream multipole segment has a smaller field radius than the downstream segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development PTE LTD
    Inventor: Bruce Collings
  • Patent number: 11796565
    Abstract: A method of operating an atomic force microscope (AFM), using a denoising algorithm, real-time, during AFM data acquisition. Total Variation and Non-Local Means denoising are preferred. Real time images with minimized sensor noise needing no post-image acquisition processing to account for noise as described herein results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Bruker Nano, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Fonoberov, James Young, Jason Osborne, Sean Hand
  • Patent number: 11796564
    Abstract: A method comprises using an atomic-force microscope, acquiring a set of images associated with surfaces, and, using a machine-learning algorithm applied to the images, classifying the surfaces. As a particular example, the classification can be done in a way that relies on surface parameters derived from the images rather than using the images directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Igor Sokolov, Milos Miljkovic
  • Patent number: 11798699
    Abstract: A containment enclosure for shielding an outer cask containing an inner canister loaded with nuclear waste such as spent fuel rods. The enclosure includes a lower base portion at least partially embedded in a concrete pad and an upper radiation shielding portion defined by a shield jacket coupled to and supported by the lower base portion at a circumferential joint. Cavities of the base and shielding portions collectively define a contiguous containment space for the cask. A portion of the cask resides in each of the base and shielding portions which completely enclose and shield the cask to minimize radiation dosage of personnel in the environment surrounding the cask. The cask is cooled by a natural convectively-driven ambient cooling air ventilation system including air inlets at the circumferential joint of the enclosure. The concrete pad may be part of a spent nuclear fuel storage installation comprising plural cask containment enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Krishna P. Singh
  • Patent number: 11791125
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, an aberration corrector includes a first electrode substrate provided with first passage holes through which multiple electron beams pass; a second electrode substrate disposed below the first electrode substrate and provided with second passage holes through which the multiple electron beams pass, first electrodes of four or more poles being disposed individually on each top surface region of top surface regions around some second passage holes among the second passage holes; and a third electrode substrate disposed below the second electrode substrate and provided with third passage holes through which the multiple electron beams pass, second electrodes of four or more poles being disposed individually on each of top surface region of top surface regions around some third passage holes corresponding to remaining second passage holes in which the first electrodes are not disposed, among the third passage holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichi Maekawa, Kazuhiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 11789374
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus may include a chamber, a first partition wall covering a plasma generation region in the chamber and having a first opening, an EUV light concentrating mirror located in a first space inside the chamber and outside the first partition wall and configured to concentrate extreme ultraviolet light generated in the plasma generation region and having passed through the first opening, a first gas supply port formed at the chamber and configured to supply gas to the first space, and a gas exhaust port formed in the first partition wall and configured to exhaust gas in a second space inside the first partition wall to outside of both the first partition wall and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Hoshino, Yukio Watanabe, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Atsushi Ueda, Koichiro Koge, Takayuki Osanai, Gouta Niimi
  • Patent number: 11791128
    Abstract: A method of determining a beam convergence of a charged particle beam (11) focused by a focusing lens (120) toward a sample (10) in a charged particle beam system (100) is provided. The method includes (a) taking one or more images of the sample when the sample is arranged at one or more defocus distances from a respective beam focus of the charged particle beam; (b) retrieving one or more beam cross sections from the one or more images; (c) determining one or more beam widths from the one or more beam cross sections; and (d) calculating at least one beam convergence value based on the one or more beam widths and the one or more defocus distances. Further, a charged particle beam system for imaging and/or inspecting a sample that is configured for any of the methods described herein is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Dominik Ehberger, John Breuer, Matthias Firnkes
  • Patent number: 11771787
    Abstract: A disinfection system includes an ultraviolet disinfecting light, a controlling device, and an ultraviolet detecting device. The ultraviolet disinfecting light can be turned on or off under control. The controlling device controls the ultraviolet disinfecting light to be turned on or off. The ultraviolet detecting device is signally connected to the controlling device and is for detecting an intensity of the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet disinfecting light. The controlling device controls the ultraviolet disinfecting light to increase an ultraviolet radiation dose of the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet disinfecting light after the ultraviolet disinfecting light is turned on and the intensity of the ultraviolet rays is less than a predetermined intensity. An elevator equipment includes a car, a lift control device, and the disinfection system. In this way, the space can be disinfected with the ultraviolet rays to avoid insufficient disinfection effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GRAND MATE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Chin Huang, Chin-Ying Huang, Hsin-Ming Huang, Hsing-Hsiung Huang, Yen-Jen Yeh, Soong-Jack Chow, Soong-Wai Chow
  • Patent number: 11776800
    Abstract: A substance analyzer that includes, to enhance selectivity of substance analysis, the following: a heater that heats a medium for collecting a chemical substance adhering to a surface of an inspection object; a mass spectrometer that performs tandem mass spectrometry of vapor derived from the chemical substance heated and vaporized by the heater from the medium; and a control device that causes the mass spectrometer to perform, based on a temperature of the medium in the heater, tandem mass spectrometry for the chemical substance that is vaporized at the temperature of the medium using the vapor sent from the heater to the mass spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Takada, Shun Kumano, Masuyuki Sugiyama, Tsukasa Shishika, Shinji Yoshioka, Akimasa Osaka
  • Patent number: 11774626
    Abstract: A method of detecting and/or identifying a material or article in a volume of interest, comprises: a) detecting, with an input hodoscope, charged particles entering the volume of interest, b) detecting, with an output hodoscope, charged particles leaving the volume of interest, c) associating particles leaving the volume of interest with particles entering the volume of interest and determining therefrom a set of completed trajectories for the particles, d) performing filtering based on the deflections of the particles with completed trajectories, e) calculating a volume density map based on the filtered completed trajectories which passed through each respective voxel, the map representing a number of completed trajectories and/or a total scattering angle; and f) detecting and/or identifying the material or article in the volume of interest from the volume density map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GSCAN OÜ
    Inventors: Anzori Georgadze, Madis Kiisk, Mart Magi, Egils Avots, Gholamreza Anbarjafari
  • Patent number: 11774012
    Abstract: A conduit suitable for use in a high temperature, high pressure environment, the conduit having an elongate portion made of a first refractory metal and a fitting portion made of a second refractory metal attached to an axial end of the elongate portion. The attachment may be made by welding and the second refractory metal may have a greater yield strength than the first refractory metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jon David Tedrow, David Bessems, Wei-Hsun Chen
  • Patent number: 11774241
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to methods for measuring a characteristic of a substrate. In an embodiment, the method includes scanning over the substrate with a scanning probe microscope, the substrate having fins thereon, the scanning obtaining images showing respective fin top regions of the fins, the scanning probe microscope interacting with respective portions of sidewalls of the fins by a scanning probe oscillated during the scanning, selecting images obtained at a predetermined depth below the fin top regions to obtain a line edge profile of the fins, by a processor-based system, analyzing the line edge profile of the fins using power spectral density (PSD) method to obtain spatial frequency data of the line edge profile of the fins, and by the processor-based system, calculating line edge roughness of the fins based on the spatial frequency data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Shan Hu, Dong Gui, Jang Jung Lee, Che-Liang Li, Duen-Huei Hou, Wen-Chung Liu