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: 9010202Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Inventors: Halina Stabacinskiene, Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Christine M. Thomas, Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Alan C. Robins, Paul E. Fischione
-
Publication number: 20140157914Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2014Publication date: June 12, 2014Inventors: Paul E Fischione, Alan C. Robins, Rocco R. Cerchiara, Joseph M. Matesa, JR.
-
Publication number: 20140098380Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Inventors: Paul E. Fischione, Alan C. Robins, Rocco R. Cerchiara, Joseph M. Matesa, JR.
-
Patent number: 8679307Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 1, 2003Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Paul E. Fischione, Alan C. Robins, David W. Smith, Rocco R. Cerchiara, Joseph M. Matesa, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20130014528Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: E.A. FISCHIONE, INC.Inventors: Halina Stabacinskiene, Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Christine M. Thomas, Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Alan C. Robins, Paul E. Fischione
-
Patent number: 8336405Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: 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: 20120024086Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Halina Stabacinskiene, Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Christine M. Thomas, Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Alan C. Robins, Paul E. Fischione
-
Publication number: 20040108067Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Paul E. Fischione, Alan C. Robins, David W. Smith, Rocco R. Cerchiara, Joseph M. Matesa