Patents by Inventor Brian G. Frederick

Brian G. Frederick 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: 7829864
    Abstract: A grid structure and method for manufacturing the same. The grid is used for gating a stream of charged particles in certain types of particle measurement instruments, such as ion mobility spectrometers and the like. The methods include various microfabrication techniques for etching and/or depositing grid structure materials on a silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignees: University of Maine, Stillwater Scientific Instruments
    Inventors: Rosemary Smith, Scott Collins, Brian G. Frederick, Lawrence J. LeGore
  • Patent number: 7569835
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to grids for gating a stream of charged particles and methods for manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a Bradbury-Nielson gate having transmission line grid elements. In one embodiment is a feed structure for a gating grid where a drive source is coupled to a feeding transmission line with the same geometry as the chopper and continues with the same geometry to a termination transmission line. Also included is a method for fabricating a gate for charged particles which includes micromachining at least two gate elements from at least one wafer, wherein each gate element includes at least one grid element; metalizing the grid elements; and assembling the gate elements such that the grid elements of the gate elements are interleaved, thereby forming a Bradbury Nielson gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignees: Stillwater Scientific Instruments, University of Maine
    Inventors: Brian G. Frederick, Lawrence J. LeGore, Rosemary Smith, Scott Collins, Robert H. Jackson, III
  • Publication number: 20080265173
    Abstract: A grid structure and method for manufacturing the same. The grid is used for gating a stream of charged particles in certain types of particle measurement instruments, such as ion mobility spectrometers and the like. The methods include various microfabrication techniques for etching and/or depositing grid structure materials on a silicon substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicants: Stillwater Scientific Instruments, University of Maine
    Inventors: Rosemary Smith, Scott Collins, Brian G. Frederick, Lawrence J. LeGore
  • Patent number: 7403867
    Abstract: A spectroscopy instrument that uses spectra produced from random binary sequence modulated data. Statistical estimation techniques are used to achieve resolution enhancement, while properly accounting for the Poisson noise distribution and other artifacts introduced by a modulator or “chopper” or other system components. A resolution similar to that of modern spectrometers can be achieved. Both static and dynamic behaviors are theoretically or measured experimentally accounted for in the model as determined. In one embodiment, the finite penetration of the field beyond the plane of the chopper leads to non-ideal chopper response, which is characterized in terms of an “energy corruption” effect and a lead or lag in the time at which the beam responds to the chopper potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignees: University of Maine, Stillwater Scientific Instruments, Spectrum Square Associates
    Inventors: Lawrence J. LeGore, Robert H. Jackson, III, Zhong Yu Yang, Linda K. DeNoyer, Peter H. Kleban, Brian G. Frederick
  • Patent number: 7358593
    Abstract: A grid structure and method for manufacturing the same. The grid is used for gating a stream of charged particles in certain types of particle measurement instruments, such as ion mobility spectrometers and the like. The methods include various microfabrication techniques for etching and/or depositing grid structure materials on a silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignees: University of Maine, Stillwater Scientific Instruments
    Inventors: Rosemary Smith, Scott Collins, Brian G. Frederick, Lawrence J. LeGore
  • Patent number: 7120998
    Abstract: A technique for providing a grid for a gate such as utilized in gating a stream of ions or other particles in a spectrometer instrument. The grid of wires may, for example, be a so-called Bradbury-Nielson Gate that consists of a set of two electrically isolated sets of equally spaced wires that lie substantially in the same plane and alternate in potential. The method utilized to provide is to first fabricate a frame of an insulating substrate having a hole and depositing metal film patterns such that conductive portions are formed on either side of the hole. Conductive portions on either side form a series of terminating pads on the portion of the substrate closest to the hole and a bus bar. Grid wires are then formed by stretching a section of wire with desired constant tension across the hole and bonding the ends of the wire to a respective one of the pads on one side and bus bar on the other side. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive way to fabricate such modulating devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignees: University of Maine, Stillwater Scientific Instruments
    Inventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Lawrence J. LeGore, Robert H. Jackson, III, C. Bronson H. Crothers, Peter H. Kleban, Brian G. Frederick
  • Patent number: 7031877
    Abstract: A spectroscopy instrument that uses spectra produced from random binary sequence modulated data. Statistical estimation techniques are used to achieve resolution enhancement, while properly accounting for the Poisson noise distribution and other artifacts introduced by a modulator or “chopper” or other system components. Indeed, a resolution similar to that of modern spectrometers can be achieved with a dramatic performance advantage over conventional, serial detection analyzers. Both static and dynamic behaviors are theoretically or measured experimentally accounted for in the model as determined. In one embodiment, the finite penetration of the field beyond the plane of the chopper leads to non-ideal chopper response, which is characterized in terms of an “energy corruption” effect and a lead or lag in the time at which the beam responds to the chopper potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignees: University of Maine, Stillwater Scientific Instruments, Spectrum Square Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. LeGore, Robert H. Jackson, III, Zhong Yu Yang, Linda K. DeNoyer, Peter H. Kleban, Brian G. Frederick
  • Patent number: 6782342
    Abstract: A spectroscopy instrument that uses spectra produced from random binary sequence modulated data. Statistical estimation techniques are used to achieve resolution enhancement, while properly accounting for the Poisson noise distribution and other artifacts introduced by a modulator or “chopper” or other system components. Indeed, a resolution similar to that of modern spectrometers can be achieved with a dramatic performance advantage over conventional, serial detection analyzers. Both static and dynamic behaviors are theoretically or measured experimentally accounted for in the model as determined. In one embodiment, the finite penetration of the field beyond the plane of the chopper leads to non-ideal chopper response, which is characterized in terms of an “energy corruption” effect and a lead or lag in the time at which the beam responds to the chopper potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignees: University of Maine, Stillwater Scientific Instruments, Spectrum Square Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. LeGore, Robert H. Jackson, III, Zhong Yu Yang, Linda K. DeNoyer, Peter H. Kleban, Brian G. Frederick
  • Patent number: 6781120
    Abstract: A technique for providing a grid for a gate such as utilized in gating a stream of ions or other particles in a spectrometer instrument. The grid of wires may, for example, be a so-called Bradbury-Nielson Gate that consists of a set of two electrically isolated sets of equally spaced wires that lie substantially in the same plane and alternate in potential. The method utilized to provide is to first fabricate a frame of an insulating substrate having a hole and depositing metal film patterns such that conductive portions are formed on either side of the hole. Conductive portions on either side form a series of terminating pads on the portion of the substrate closest to the hole and a bus bar. Grid wires are then formed by stretching a section of wire with desired constant tension across the hole and bonding the ends of the wire to a respective one of the pads on one side and bus bar on the other side. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive way to fabricate such modulating devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignees: University of Maine, Stillwater Scientific Instruments
    Inventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Lawrence J. LeGore, Robert H. Jackson, III, C. Bronson H. Crothers, Peter H. Kleban, Brian G. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20030055573
    Abstract: A spectroscopy instrument that uses spectra produced from random binary sequence modulated data. Statistical estimation techniques are used to achieve resolution enhancement, while properly accounting for the Poisson noise distribution and other artifacts introduced by a modulator or “chopper” or other system components. Indeed, a resolution similar to that of modem spectrometers can be achieved with a dramatic performance advantage over conventional, serial detection analyzers. Both static and dynamic behaviors are theoretically or measured experimentally accounted for in the model as determined. In one embodiment, the finite penetration of the field beyond the plane of the chopper leads to non-ideal chopper response, which is characterized in terms of an “energy corruption” effect and a lead or lag in the time at which the beam responds to the chopper potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Stillwater Scientific Instruments
    Inventors: Lawrence J. LeGore, Robert H. Jackson, Zhong Yu Yang, Linda K. DeNoyer, Peter H. Kleban, Brian G. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20030048059
    Abstract: A technique for providing a grid for a gate such as utilized in gating a stream of ions or other particles in a spectrometer instrument. The grid of wires may, for example, be a so-called Bradbury-Nielson Gate that consists of a set of two electrically isolated sets of equally spaced wires that lie substantially in the same plane and alternate in potential. The method utilized to provide is to first fabricate a frame of an insulating substrate having a hole and depositing metal film patterns such that conductive portions are formed on either side of the hole. Conductive portions on either side form a series of terminating pads on the portion of the substrate closest to the hole and a bus bar. Grid wires are then formed by stretching a section of wire with desired constant tension across the hole and bonding the ends of the wire to a respective one of the pads on one side and bus bar on the other side. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive way to fabricate such modulating devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: Stillwater Scientific Instruments
    Inventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Lawrence J. LeGore, Robert H. Jackson, C. Bronson H. Crothers, Peter H. Kleban, Brian G. Frederick