Patents by Inventor Alan C. Robins

Alan C. Robins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9010202
    Abstract: An improved cryogenic specimen holder for imaging and analysis facilitates imaging at very high tilt angles with a large field of view. A retractable specimen holder tip protects the specimen during transport. An optimized Dewar design is positioned at a fixed, tilted angle with respect to the axis of the holder, providing a means of continuously cooling the specimen irrespective of the high tilt angle and amount of liquid nitrogen present in the vessel. The Dewar neck design reduces entrapment of nitrogen gas bubbles and its shape prevents the spilling of liquid nitrogen at high tilt angles. The specimen holder has a retractable tip that completely encapsulates the specimen within a shielded environment internal to the specimen holder body. The cooling and specimen transfer mechanisms reduce thermal drift and the detrimental effects of vibrations generated by both the evaporation of liquid nitrogen present in the Dewar and other environmental effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventors: Halina Stabacinskiene, Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Christine M. Thomas, Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Alan C. Robins, Paul E. Fischione
  • Publication number: 20140157914
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing specimens for microscopy including equipment for providing two or more of each of the following specimen processing activities under continuous vacuum conditions: plasma cleaning the specimen, ion beam or reactive ion beam etching the specimen, plasma etching the specimen and coating the specimen with a conductive material. Also, an apparatus and method for detecting a position of a surface of the specimen in a processing chamber, wherein the detected position is used to automatically move the specimen to appropriate locations for subsequent processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Paul E Fischione, Alan C. Robins, Rocco R. Cerchiara, Joseph M. Matesa, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140098380
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing specimens for microscopy including equipment for providing two or more of each of the following specimen processing activities under continuous vacuum conditions: plasma cleaning the specimen, ion beam or reactive ion beam etching the specimen, plasma etching the specimen and coating the specimen with a conductive material. Also, an apparatus and method for detecting a position of a surface of the specimen in a processing chamber, wherein the detected position is used to automatically move the specimen to appropriate locations for subsequent processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Paul E. Fischione, Alan C. Robins, Rocco R. Cerchiara, Joseph M. Matesa, JR.
  • Patent number: 8679307
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing specimens for microscopy including equipment for providing two or more of each of the following specimen processing activities under continuous vacuum conditions: plasma cleaning the specimen, ion beam or reactive ion beam etching the specimen, plasma etching the specimen and coating the specimen with a conductive material. Also, an apparatus and method for detecting a position of a surface of the specimen in a processing chamber, wherein the detected position is used to automatically move the specimen to appropriate locations for subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Fischione, Alan C. Robins, David W. Smith, Rocco R. Cerchiara, Joseph M. Matesa, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130014528
    Abstract: An improved cryogenic specimen holder for imaging and analysis facilitates imaging at very high tilt angles with a large field of view. A retractable specimen holder tip protects the specimen during transport. An optimized Dewar design is positioned at a fixed, tilted angle with respect to the axis of the holder, providing a means of continuously cooling the specimen irrespective of the high tilt angle and amount of liquid nitrogen present in the vessel. The Dewar neck design reduces entrapment of nitrogen gas bubbles and its shape prevents the spilling of liquid nitrogen at high tilt angles. The specimen holder has a retractable tip that completely encapsulates the specimen within a shielded environment internal to the specimen holder body. The cooling and specimen transfer mechanisms reduce thermal drift and the detrimental effects of vibrations generated by both the evaporation of liquid nitrogen present in the Dewar and other environmental effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: E.A. FISCHIONE, INC.
    Inventors: Halina Stabacinskiene, Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Christine M. Thomas, Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Alan C. Robins, Paul E. Fischione
  • Patent number: 8336405
    Abstract: An improved cryogenic specimen holder for imaging and analysis facilitates imaging at very high tilt angles with a large field of view. A retractable specimen holder tip protects the specimen during transport. An optimized Dewar design is positioned at a fixed, tilted angle with respect to the axis of the holder, providing a means of continuously cooling the specimen irrespective of the high tilt angle and the amount of liquid nitrogen present in the vessel. The Dewar neck design reduces the entrapment of nitrogen gas bubbles and its shape prevents the spilling of liquid nitrogen at high tilt angles. The specimen holder has a retractable tip that completely encapsulates the specimen within a shielded environment internal to the specimen holder body. The cooling and specimen transfer mechanisms reduce thermal drift and the detrimental effects of vibrations generated by both the evaporation of liquid nitrogen present in the Dewar as well as other environmental effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Halina Stabacinskiene, Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Christine M. Thomas, Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Alan C. Robins, Paul E. Fischione
  • Publication number: 20120024086
    Abstract: An improved cryogenic specimen holder for imaging and analysis facilitates imaging at very high tilt angles with a large field of view. A retractable specimen holder tip protects the specimen during transport. An optimized Dewar design is positioned at a fixed, tilted angle with respect to the axis of the holder, providing a means of continuously cooling the specimen irrespective of the high tilt angle and the amount of liquid nitrogen present in the vessel. The Dewar neck design reduces the entrapment of nitrogen gas bubbles and its shape prevents the spilling of liquid nitrogen at high tilt angles. The specimen holder has a retractable tip that completely encapsulates the specimen within a shielded environment internal to the specimen holder body. The cooling and specimen transfer mechanisms reduce thermal drift and the detrimental effects of vibrations generated by both the evaporation of liquid nitrogen present in the Dewar as well as other environmental effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Halina Stabacinskiene, Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Christine M. Thomas, Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Alan C. Robins, Paul E. Fischione
  • Publication number: 20040108067
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing specimens for microscopy including equipment for providing two or more of each of the following specimen processing activities under continuous vacuum conditions: plasma cleaning the specimen, ion beam or reactive ion beam etching the specimen, plasma etching the specimen and coating the specimen with a conductive material. Also, an apparatus and method for detecting a position of a surface of the specimen in a processing chamber, wherein the detected position is used to automatically move the specimen to appropriate locations for subsequent processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Paul E. Fischione, Alan C. Robins, David W. Smith, Rocco R. Cerchiara, Joseph M. Matesa