Patents by Inventor Brian C. LaCourse
Brian C. LaCourse 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).
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Publication number: 20250109072Abstract: A ceramic article may include a body including a primary phase including alumina and a secondary phase. The body may further include a content of calcium oxide. In an embodiment, the body may include a content of magnesium oxide lower than the content of calcium oxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2024Publication date: April 3, 2025Inventor: Brian C. LACOURSE
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Patent number: 11827567Abstract: A material including a body including B6OX can include lattice constant c of at most 12.318. X can be at least 0.85 and at most 1. In a particular embodiment, 0.90?X?1. In another particular embodiment, lattice constant a can be at least 5.383 and lattice constant c can be at most 12.318. In another particular embodiment, the body can consist essentially of B6OX.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.Inventor: Brian C. LaCourse
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Publication number: 20220009836Abstract: A material including a body including B6OX can include lattice constant c of at most 12.318. X can be at least 0.85 and at most 1. In a particular embodiment, 0.90?X?1. In another particular embodiment, lattice constant a can be at least 5.383 and lattice constant c can be at most 12.318. In another particular embodiment, the body can consist essentially of B6OX.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventor: Brian C. LaCourse
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Patent number: 11066331Abstract: A material including a body including B6OX can include lattice constant c of at most 12.318. X can be at least 0.85 and at most 1. In a particular embodiment, 0.90?X?1. In another particular embodiment, lattice constant a can be at least 5.383 and lattice constant c can be at most 12.318. In another particular embodiment, the body can consist essentially of B6OX.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.Inventor: Brian C. LaCourse
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Publication number: 20190330114Abstract: A material including a body including B6OX can include lattice constant c of at most 12.318. X can be at least 0.85 and at most 1. In a particular embodiment, 0.90?X?1. In another particular embodiment, lattice constant a can be at least 5.383 and lattice constant c can be at most 12.318. In another particular embodiment, the body can consist essentially of B6OX.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventor: Brian C. LaCourse
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Publication number: 20190002337Abstract: An apparatus can include a ceramic component, a metal component, and a glass sealing material that bonds the ceramic and metal components to each other. In an embodiment, the coefficients of thermal expansion of the components and glass sealing material can be within 4 ppm/° C. of one another. The metal component may be relatively oxidation resistant. The glass sealing material may have a relatively low amount of an amorphous phase as compared to one or more crystalline phases within the glass sealing material. The apparatuses can exhibit good bond strength even after long term exposure to high temperature, thermal cycling to a high temperature, or both. In an embodiment, the metal component may allow another metal component of a different composition to be used without a significant impact on the integrity of the bonded apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2016Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Sean M. Kelly, Charles Robinson, Javier E. Gonzalez, Lawrence W. Kosowski, David A. Rich, Brian C. LaCourse, Signo T. Reis
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Patent number: 10081575Abstract: A sintered ceramic component can have a final composition including at least 50 wt. % MgO and at least one desired dopant, wherein each dopant of the at least one desired dopant has a desired dopant content of at least 0.1 wt. %. All impurities (not including the desired dopant(s)) are present at a combined impurity content of less than 0.7 wt. %. A remainder can include Al2O3. The selection of dopants can allow for better control over the visual appearance of the sintered ceramic component, reduces the presence of undesired impurities that may adversely affect another part of an apparatus, or both. The addition of the dopant(s) can help to improve the sintering characteristics and density as compared to a sintered ceramic component that includes the material with no dopant and a relatively low impurity content.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2017Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignees: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC., SAINT-GOBAIN CENTRE DE RECHERCHE ET D'ETUDES EUROPÉENInventors: Guangyong Lin, Yeshwanth Narendar, Brian C. LaCourse, Wesley R. Robbins, Daniel René Urffer
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Publication number: 20170190624Abstract: A sintered ceramic component can have a final composition including at least 50 wt. % MgO and at least one desired dopant, wherein each dopant of the at least one desired dopant has a desired dopant content of at least 0.1 wt. %. All impurities (not including the desired dopant(s)) are present at a combined impurity content of less than 0.7 wt. %. A remainder can include Al2O3. The selection of dopants can allow for better control over the visual appearance of the sintered ceramic component, reduces the presence of undesired impurities that may adversely affect another part of an apparatus, or both. The addition of the dopant(s) can help to improve the sintering characteristics and density as compared to a sintered ceramic component that includes the material with no dopant and a relatively low impurity content.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Guangyong LIN, Yeshwanth NARENDAR, Brian C. LaCourse, Wesley R. ROBBINS, Daniel René URFFER
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Publication number: 20160130184Abstract: A sintered ceramic component can have a final composition including at least 50 wt. % MgO and at least one desired dopant, wherein each dopant of the at least one desired dopant has a desired dopant content of at least 0.1 wt. %. All impurities (not including the desired dopant(s)) are present at a combined impurity content of less than 0.7 wt. %. A remainder can include Al2O3. The selection of dopants can allow for better control over the visual appearance of the sintered ceramic component, reduces the presence of undesired impurities that may adversely affect another part of an apparatus, or both. The addition of the dopant(s) can help to improve the sintering characteristics and density as compared to a sintered ceramic component that includes the material with no dopant and a relatively low impurity content.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Guangyong LIN, Yeshwanth Narendar, Brian C. Lacourse, Wesley R. Robbins, Daniel René Urffer
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Patent number: 9183962Abstract: A scintillation device includes a ceramic scintillator body that includes a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material comprising gadolinium. The polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material is characterized by a pyrochlore crystallographic structure. A method of producing a ceramic scintillator body includes preparing a precursor solution including a rare earth element precursor, a hafnium precursor, and an activator (Ac) precursor. The method also includes obtaining a precipitate from the solution and calcining the precipitate to produce a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material including the rare earth element, hafnium, and the activator, and having a pyrochlore titrating the precursor solution into the precipitant solution structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2009Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.Inventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Anne B. Hardy, Hélène Laetitia Rétot, Qiwei Chen, Xiaofeng Peng
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Patent number: 9175216Abstract: A ceramic scintillator body includes a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material having a substantially cubic crystallographic structure. The polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material has a chemical composition represented by a general formula LU(2-x)GdxO3:Ac, where x is greater than zero and less than two, and where Ac is an activator.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2009Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.Inventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Anne B. Hardy, Hélène Laetitia Rétot, Qiwei Chen, Xiaofeng Peng, Bruno Viana, Morteza Zandi
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Publication number: 20150108404Abstract: A polycrystalline ceramic scintillator body includes a ceramic scintillating material comprising an oxide of gadolinium (Gd) and a second rare earth element (Re). The ceramic scintillating material has a composition, expressed in terms of molar percentage of oxide constituents, that includes greater than fifty-five percent (55%) Gd2O3 and a minority percentage of Re2O3. The ceramic scintillating material includes an activator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Anne B. Hardy, Helene Laetitia Retot, Qiwei Chen, Xiaofeng Peng, Bruno Viana, Morteza Zandi
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Patent number: 8877093Abstract: A polycrystalline ceramic scintillator body includes a ceramic scintillating material comprising an oxide of gadolinium (Gd) and a second rare earth element (Re). The ceramic scintillating material has a composition, expressed in terms of molar percentage of oxide constituents, that includes greater than fifty-five percent (55%) Gd2O3 and a minority percentage Of Re2O3. The ceramic scintillating material includes an activator.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2009Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignees: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc., Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueInventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Anne B. Hardy, Hélène Loetitia Rétot, Qiwei Chen, Xiaofeng Peng, Bruno Viana, Morteza Zandi
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Publication number: 20140091227Abstract: A neutron sensor includes neutron-sensing particles and a scintillator coating surrounding the neutron-sensing particles. In an embodiment, the neutron-sensing particles include 6LiF particles, the scintillator coating includes ZnS, or both. In another embodiment, the scintillator coating can coat more than one neutron-sensing particle. In a further embodiment, the scintillator coating is formed on neutron-sensing particles using precipitation techniques or fluidized bed processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Inventors: Kan Yang, Peter R. Menge, Brian C. LaCourse
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Patent number: 8460578Abstract: A method of producing a rare earth oxysulfide scintillating ceramic body includes heat treatment to form a consolidated body, followed by gas hot isostatic pressing (GHIPing). A powder is first provided having the general formula (M1-xLnx)2O2S, wherein M is a rare earth element, and Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Pr, Tb, Yb, Dy, Sm, and Ho, and 1×10?6<X<2×10?1. The powder is heat treated to form a consolidated body having closed porosity, wherein heat treating is carried out at a temperature Tht. The consolidated body is GHIPed to a density not less than 99% of theoretical density, in a GHIPing environment having a temperature Thip, where 1100° C.<Thip<1500° C., to thereby form a densified body.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Morteza Zandi
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Publication number: 20120085972Abstract: A ceramic scintillator body includes a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material having a substantially cubic crystallographic structure. The polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material has a chemical composition represented by a general formula LU(2-x)GdxO3:Ac, where x is greater than zero and less than two, and where Ac is an activator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2009Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicants: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.Inventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Anne B. Hardy, Hélène Lortita Rétot, Qiwei Chen, Xiaofeng Peng, Bruno Viana, Morteza Zandi
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Publication number: 20120049118Abstract: A polycrystalline ceramic scintillator body includes a ceramic scintillating material comprising an oxide of gadolinium (Gd) and a second rare earth element (Re). The ceramic scintillating material has a composition, expressed in terms of molar percentage of oxide constituents, that includes greater than fifty-five percent (55%) Gd2O3 and a minority percentage Of Re2O3. The ceramic scintillating material includes an activator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2009Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicants: Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics Inc.Inventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Anne B. Hardy, Hélène Loetitia Rétot, Qiwei Chen, Xiafeng Peng, Bruno Viana, Morteza Zandí
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Publication number: 20120012787Abstract: A scintillation device includes a ceramic scintillator body that includes a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material comprising gadolinium. The polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material is characterized by a pyrochlore crystallographic structure. A method of producing a ceramic scintillator body includes preparing a precursor solution including a rare earth element precursor, a hafnium precursor, and an activator (Ac) precursor. The method also includes obtaining a precipitate from the solution and calcining the precipitate to produce a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material including the rare earth element, hafnium, and the activator, and having a pyrochlore titrating the precursor solution into the precipitant solution structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2009Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Anne B. Hardy, Hélène Laetita Rétot, Qiwei Chen, Xiaofeng Peng
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Publication number: 20100285284Abstract: An inorganic phosphorescent article having a formed phosphorescent layer where the phosphorescent layer is not mixed with a frit and the majority of the layer comprises photoluminescent phosphors comprising rare earth doped alkaline earth aluminates, rare earth doped alkaline earth silicates, zinc sulfide doped with copper or mixtures thereof. The phosphorescent articles of the present invention may be formed as tile bodies and fired at high temperatures between 1000C and 1600C providing durable ceramic and porcelain tiles suitable for use in emergency lighting flooring systems, aqueous environments such as pools and spas, and outdoor pathway lighting.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Inventor: Brian C. LaCourse
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Publication number: 20090189121Abstract: A method of producing a rare earth oxysulfide scintillating ceramic body includes heat treatment to form a consolidated body, followed by gas hot isostatic pressing (GHIPing). A powder is first provided having the general formula (M1-xLnx)2O2S, wherein M is a rare earth element, and Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Pr, Tb, Yb, Dy, Sm, and Ho, and 1×10?6<X<2×10?1. The powder is heat treated to form a consolidated body having closed porosity, wherein heat treating is carried out at a temperature Tht. The consolidated body is GHIPed to a density not less than 99% of theoretical density, in a GHIPing environment having a temperature Thip, where 1100° C.<Thip<1500° C., to thereby form a densified body.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.Inventors: Brian C. LaCourse, Morteza Zandi