Patents Examined by Sean Luck
  • Patent number: 9903845
    Abstract: An apparatus for ionizing analyte molecules comprised in a flow of a first gas. The apparatus includes an inlet tube through which the first gas may be discharged into an ionization region. The apparatus also includes a nozzle electrode disposed around the inlet tube to define a substantially annular space between the exterior of the inlet tube and the interior of the nozzle electrode. The sheath tube includes an inlet for introducing a fluid into the substantially annular space and an outlet through which the fluid may be discharged into the ionization region. The apparatus is configured to ionize the analyte molecules optionally via electrospray or chemical ionization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Douglas M. Stevens
  • Patent number: 9896349
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water purifying device that may include: an upper cover that is configured to have an inlet for liquid; two or more light source modules that are configured to include a light source that emits a UV ray; two or more light guide plates that are configured to guide, to the front, the UV ray that is incident through the lateral side thereof from the light source module to then be output; a purifying plate that is configured to provide a flow path through which liquid flows, and that is configured to provide a plate-type photocatalyst that is disposed on the flow path so that the UV ray emitted from the light guide plate reaches the plate-type photocatalyst in order to thereby purify the liquid; and a lower cover that is configured to have an outlet for the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Sukin Park, Jae Kyung Yoon, Seung Jae Lee, In Soo Ryu, Gyu Duk Kim
  • Patent number: 9899184
    Abstract: An optical vacuum cryostage for correlative light and electron microscopy comprises a vacuum chamber, an anti-contamination system adapter interface, an electron microscope specimen holder adapter interface, an upper optical window, a lower optical window, a vacuum pumping system adapter interface and a vacuum valve, wherein the anti-contamination system adapter interface is arranged in one end of the vacuum chamber, the electron microscope specimen holder adapter interface is arranged in the other end of the vacuum chamber, the upper optical window is arranged on the upper wall of the vacuum chamber, the lower optical window is arranged on the lower wall of the vacuum chamber and opposite to the upper optical window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Gang Ji, Shuoguo Li, Fei Sun
  • Patent number: 9894743
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating extreme ultraviolet light may include: a chamber having an opening through which a laser beam is introduced into the chamber; a reference member on which the chamber is mounted; a target supply unit for supplying a target material to be irradiated by the laser beam to a predetermined region inside the chamber; a laser beam focusing optical system for focusing the laser beam in the predetermined region inside the chamber to turn the target material into plasma; and a collector mirror for collecting the extreme ultraviolet light emitted from the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Yukio Watanabe, Miwa Igarashi, Masato Moriya, Hiroaki Nakarai
  • Patent number: 9867266
    Abstract: A radiation image detection apparatus, including an image receiving unit having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of pixels that generate electrical charges when being subjected to irradiation of radiation, the plurality of pixels including a plurality of pixels for detecting an image; and one or more pixels for detecting irradiation; an image data generation unit configured to generate image data based on an electrical signal output from the respective pixels for detecting the image, an irradiation detection unit configured to detect the irradiation of radiation based on the electrical signal output from the respective pixels for detecting irradiation, a communication unit that transmits the image data generated in the image data generation unit, and a control unit configured to include a plurality of control modes including a photographing mode generating the image data, an irradiation detection mode detecting the irradiation of radiation and a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasufumi Takahashi, Naoto Iwakiri
  • Patent number: 9863879
    Abstract: A sample analyzer has a support for an assay sample vessel, a detector, and a shutter assembly. The assay sample vessel contains an assay sample within an assay sample reservoir. The detector has an optical axis aligned with the assay sample reservoir, so as to detect luminescence from the assay sample. The shutter assembly includes an illuminator and is positioned between the detector and the support, intersecting the optical axis, such that the illuminator causes luminescence of the assay sample. Thus both illumination and detection occur on the same side of the assay sample vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Jasperse, Normand Desmarais
  • Patent number: 9850696
    Abstract: In a conventional fine particle detection device that vaporizes fine particles attached to the object of examination by heating, processing capability decreases as the processing time elapses due to the influence of deposition of fine particles other than the object of examination, dirt/dust, a residue of the fine particles as the object of examination, or residual matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Sugaya, Koichi Terada, Hideo Kashima, Yasuaki Takada, Hisashi Nagano
  • Patent number: 9837247
    Abstract: A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes an area density calculation unit to calculate a pattern area density weighted using a dose modulation value, which has previously been input from an outside and in which an amount of correction of a dimension variation due to a proximity effect has been included, a fogging correction dose coefficient calculation unit to calculate a fogging correction dose coefficient for correcting a dimension variation due to a fogging effect by using the pattern area density weighted using the dose modulation value having been input from the outside, a dose calculation unit to calculates a dose of a charged particle beam by using the fogging correction dose coefficient and the dose modulation value, and a writing unit to write a pattern on a target object with the charged particle beam of the dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kato, Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9833526
    Abstract: A solution for disinfecting an area using ultraviolet radiation is provided. The solution can include an enclosure including at least one ultraviolet transparent window and a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located adjacent to the at least one ultraviolet transparent window. The set of ultraviolet radiation sources can be configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed through the at least one ultraviolet transparent window. An input unit can be located on the enclosure and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to pressure applied to the enclosure. A control unit can be configured to manage the ultraviolet radiation by monitoring the electrical signal generated by the input unit and controlling, based on the monitoring, the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Agafonov, Alexander Dobrinsky, Michael Shur, Remigijus Gaska, Saulius Smetona
  • Patent number: 9826616
    Abstract: An initial pulse of radiation is generated; a section of the initial pulse of radiation is extracted to form a modified pulse of radiation, the modified pulse of radiation including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being temporally connected to the second portion, and the first portion having a maximum energy that is less than a maximum energy of the second portion; the first portion of the modified pulse of radiation is interacted with a target material to form a modified target; and the second portion of the modified pulse of radiation is interacted with the modified target to generate plasma that emits extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yezheng Tao, John Tom Stewart, IV, Jordan Jur, Daniel Brown
  • Patent number: 9791690
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a first shutter blade having a first toothed arm extending therefrom and a first light transmitting aperture therein, and a second shutter blade positioned adjacent and parallel to the first shutter blade. The second shutter blade has a second toothed arm extending therefrom and a second light transmitting aperture therein. The first and second shutter blades are supported to allow parallel linear motion. A motor gear is disposed between, and meshed with, the first and second toothed arms such that rotation of the gear causes the first and second shutter blades to move linearly in opposite directions between an open position in which the first and second light transmitting apertures are in an overlapping relationship with respect to one another, and a closed position in which the first and second light transmitting apertures are in a non-overlapping relationship with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Jasperse
  • Patent number: 9782135
    Abstract: An x-ray breast imaging system comprising a compression paddle in which the compression paddle comprises a front wall and a bottom wall. The front wall is configured to be adjacent and face a chest wall of a patient during imaging and the bottom wall configured to be adjacent a length of a top of a compressed breast. The bottom wall extends away from the patient's chest wall, wherein the bottom wall comprises a first portion and a second portion such that the second portion is between the front wall and the first portion. The first portion is generally non- coplanar to the second portion, wherein the compression paddle is movable along a craniocaudal axis. The x-ray breast imaging system also comprises a non-rigid jacket releasably secured to the compression paddle, the non-rigid jacket positioned between the compression paddle and the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Stango, Kenneth F. Defreitas, Ian Shaw, Jay Stein, Lynne Jameson-Meehan, Loren Niklason
  • Patent number: 9784694
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes an X-ray generation unit, an X-ray detection unit, a unit to reconstruct volume data for a reconstruction region having an operator-designated diameter based on projection data, a unit to generate interpolation data based on measurement data to complete projection data for end portions of the reconstruction region wherein the projection data required for reconstructing the volume data of a middle portion of the reconstruction region is acquired as the measurement data, and a unit to decide a width of the end portions based on the set radiation range along the top's longitudinal direction, reconstruction region's diameter, and object's imaging target portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Nakanishi, Naruomi Akino, Yoshinori Uebayashi, Takahiro Goto
  • Patent number: 9776018
    Abstract: Systems and methods are proposed for accurate and efficient automatic measurement of jaw and leaf positioning in multi-leaf collimator imaging systems. Specifically, the method enables the automated and objective processing of images to determine characteristics of collimator jaws and MLC leaves. These novel techniques enable verification of collimator component positioning to ensure accurate beam modulation for radiation application procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Gaudio
  • Patent number: 9776019
    Abstract: A particle beam therapy system is disclosed which includes: a synchrotron accelerating a charged particle beam injected from a pre-accelerator up to a predetermined energy level before applying a high-frequency voltage to an extraction device to extract the charged particle beam caused to exceed a stability limit; a beam transportation system transporting the charged particle beam extracted from the synchrotron up to a treatment room, and an irradiation device irradiating a patient in the treatment room with the charged particle beam in conformity to the patient's tumor shape. The synchrotron has functionality to accelerate or decelerate the charged particle beam successively to extract the charged particle beam at a plurality of energy levels during an extraction phase of the synchrotron, the beam transportation system further having functionality to block off an unnecessary charged particle beam extracted from the synchrotron during acceleration or deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Saito, Takuya Nomura, Hideaki Nishiuchi
  • Patent number: 9773634
    Abstract: There is provided an iridium tip including a pyramid structure having one {100} crystal plane as one of a plurality of pyramid surfaces in a sharpened apex portion of a single crystal with <210> orientation. The iridium tip is applied to a gas field ion source or an electron source. The gas field ion source and/or the electron source is applied to a focused ion beam apparatus, an electron microscope, an electron beam applied analysis apparatus, an ion-electron multi-beam apparatus, a scanning probe microscope or a mask repair apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kozakai, Osamu Matsuda, Yasuhiko Sugiyama, Kazuo Aita, Fumio Aramaki, Anto Yasaka, Hiroshi Oba
  • Patent number: 9761787
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that describe a MEMS device and a method of sensing based on a consensus algorithm. The MEMS device is a sensor comprising multiple piezoelectric layers attached to a microcantilever. It can be used to sense deflections or variations in corresponding parameters of systems in micro- and nano-scales. Multiple piezoelectric elements on a microcantilever can provide a more accurate measurement of the microcantilever's deflection. The device can eliminate bulky laser sensors in SPMs and provide additional use as a biosensor, or chemical sensor at the micro- and nano-scale. The consensus sensing algorithm can provide added robustness into the system. If one of the sensing elements or electrodes fails during a sensing process, other elements can compensate and allow for near zero-error measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama
    Inventors: Ehsan Omidi, Seyed Nima Mahmoodi
  • Patent number: 9741549
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer vacuum interface can include a skimmer apparatus having a skimmer aperture and an internal surface. A method of operating the mass spectrometer vacuum interface can include establishing an outwardly directed flow along the internal surface of the skimmer apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Alekseevich Makarov, Lothar Rottmann
  • Patent number: 9733215
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing mass spectrometry are provided herein. In accordance with various aspects of the applicants' teachings, the methods and systems can utilize an ion mobility spectrometer operating at atmospheric or low-vacuum pressure to remove the major contributors to the contamination and degradation of critical downstream components of a mass spectrometer located within a high-vacuum system (e.g., ion optics, mass filters, detectors), with limited signal loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Covey, Bradley B. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9719963
    Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometry method wherein ions are separated along a drift axis while providing a drift gas flow in a direction that is substantially neither in the direction of the drift axis nor opposite to the drift axis. Ion mobility spectrometer operation methods use a cross-directional gas flow in a drift tube and/or a segmented drift tube for pre-separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Excellims Corporation
    Inventors: Ching Wu, Clinton Alawn Krueger, Anthony Joseph Midey, Mark A Osgood