Patents by Inventor Brian C. Salter

Brian C. Salter 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).

  • Photoinduced nucleation: a novel tool for detecting molecules in air at ultra-low concentrations
    Patent number: 6469781
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the presence of molecules in a gas at concentrations of less than about 100 ppb. Light having wavelengths in the range from about 200 nm to about 350 nm is used to illuminate a flowing sample of the gas causing the molecules if present to form clusters. A mixture of the illuminated gas and a vapor is cooled until the vapor is supersaturated so that there is a small rate of homogeneous nucleation. The supersaturated vapor condenses on the clusters thus causing the clusters to grow to a size sufficient to be counted by light scattering and then the clusters are counted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Joseph L. Katz, Heikki Lihavainen, Markus M. Rudek, Brian C. Salter