Patents by Inventor Charles W. Clark

Charles W. Clark 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).

  • Publication number: 20160360605
    Abstract: An orbital angular momentum (OAM) controller controls OAM of a plurality of neutrons and includes: a substrate; a first surface of the substrate; and a second surface of the substrate disposed opposingly across the substrate from the first surface and including a contoured shape. A process for controlling OAM of neutrons includes: subjecting an OAM controller to a plurality of neutrons; receiving the neutrons at a first surface of the OAM controller; transmitting the neutrons through the OAM controller; and providing a phase shift ? to a wavefunction of neutrons transmitted through the OAM controller according to ??T1+T2(?/2?), wherein T1 is a first thickness of a substrate of the OAM controller, T2 is a second thickness of the substrate, and ? is an azimuthal angle of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: CHARLES W. CLARK, MICHAEL G. HUBER, DMITRY A. PUSHIN, ROMAN A. BARANKOV
  • Patent number: 8816296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for use in highly sensitive and efficient neutron detection, that includes using trigger reactions to initiate far-ultraviolet (FUV) optical emissions. In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for the detection of slow neutrons includes absorption of a slow neutron with a high neutron capture-cross-section nucleus, decay of the compound nucleus into energetic particles, creation of excimers from the energetic particles reacting with a background gas to form excimers, radiative decay of excimers resulting in emission of FUV radiation, and detection of the FUV radiation using an optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Charles W. Clark, Patrick P. Hughes, Michael Alan Coplan, Alan Keith Thompson, Robert E. Vest
  • Publication number: 20120104269
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for use in highly sensitive and efficient neutron detection, that includes using trigger reactions to initiate far-ultraviolet (FUV) optical emissions. In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for the detection of slow neutrons includes absorption of a slow neutron with a high neutron capture-cross-section nucleus, decay of the compound nucleus into energetic particles, creation of excimers from the energetic particles reacting with a background gas to form excimers, radiative decay of excimers resulting in emission of FUV radiation, and detection of the FUV radiation using an optical detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: CHARLES W. CLARK, PATRICK P. HUGHES, MICHAEL ALAN COPLAN, ALAN KEITH THOMPSON, ROBERT E. VEST
  • Patent number: 7791045
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting slow neutrons by monitoring Lyman alpha radiation produced by the 3He(n,tp) nuclear reaction induced by neutrons incident on a gas cell containing 3He or a mixture of 3He and other atoms and/or molecules. Such a method and/or apparatus includes the use of, for example, liquid 3He and 4He mixtures as a scintillation counter for the sensitive detection of neutrons using Lyman alpha radiation produced by the 3He(n,tp) reaction. The radiation can be detected with high efficiency with an appropriate photo-detector, or alternatively, it can be converted to radiation at longer wavelength by absorption in scintillation materials, with the radiation channeled to a photodetector. Because of the simplicity of the system and the fact that the radiation production mechanisms can be measured and/or calculated independently, the method and/or apparatus also has the potential for service as a calculable absolute detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Alan Keith Thompson, Charles W. Clark, Michael A. Coplan
  • Publication number: 20090114843
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting slow neutrons by monitoring Lyman alpha radiation produced by the 3He(n,tp) nuclear reaction induced by neutrons incident on a gas cell containing 3He or a mixture of 3He and other atoms and/or molecules. Such a method and/or apparatus includes the use of, for example, liquid 3He and 4He mixtures as a scintillation counter for the sensitive detection of neutrons using Lyman alpha radiation produced by the 3He(n,tp) reaction. The radiation can be detected with high efficiency with an appropriate photo-detector, or alternatively, it can be converted to radiation at longer wavelength by absorption in scintillation materials, with the radiation channeled to a photodetector. Because of the simplicity of the system and the fact that the radiation production mechanisms can be measured and/or calculated independently, the method and/or apparatus also has the potential for service as a calculable absolute detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Alan Keith Thompson, Charles W. Clark, Michael A. Coplan
  • Patent number: 4734579
    Abstract: An ultrasensitive mass spectrometry method based on multiphoton sub-Doppler resonance ionization to measure abundance sensitivities. The method preferentially ionizes a selected isotope in a sample by using Doppler-free resonant multiphoton ionization to produce an enhanced ratio of selected isotopes. Background species are separately ionized and rejected. As necessary or desired, selected isotope ions are preferentially ionized by using a second Doppler-free resonant multiphoton ionization to provide an additional isotope enhancement. The ions produced are injected into a mass spectrometer. Isotopic spectrum analysis of the ions is performed by the spectrometer and the ions are then detected by a detector such as a particular photon multiplier capable of observing a single ion. In one embodiment, at least one of the steps of preferentially ionizing the selected isotope is accomplished by two counter propagating laser beams of slightly different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Atom Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Lucatorto, Charles W. Clark, Tom J. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 4634864
    Abstract: An ultrasensitive mass spectrometry method based on multiphoton sub-Doppler resonance ionization is used to measure abundance sensitivities. The method preferentially ionizes a selected isotope in a sample by using Doppler-free resonant multiphoton ionization to produce an enhanced ratio of selected isotopes. As necessary or desired, selected isotope ions are preferentially ionized by using a second Doppler-free resonant multiphoton ionization to provide an additional isotope enhancement. The ions produced are injected into a mass spectrometer (24). Isotopic spectrum analysis of the ions is performed by the spectrometer (24) and the ions are then detected by a detector (26) such as a particular photon multiplier capable of observing a single ion. In one embodiment, at least one of the steps of preferentially ionizing the selected isotope is accomplished by two counter propagating laser beams of slightly different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Atom Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Lucatorto, Charles W. Clark, Tom J. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 4625946
    Abstract: A hoist having a worm safety device in which the worm is continuously meshed with a worm wheel coupled to the drum. The worm is accelerated to a speed greater than that of the worm wheel and at a torque sufficient to overcome the frictional contact between the worm and worm wheel when the hoist direction is reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Ederer Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles W. Clark, Jr., Harold H. West
  • Patent number: 4518153
    Abstract: The safety system in a hoist having a motor with a motor shaft, a gear reduction unit, a drum, a safety brake drivingly coupled on an operating element on or close to the drum in which a mechanical out-of-sync detector produces a unidirectional brake-setting output from inputs from the drum and the motor shaft, the unidirectional brake-setting rotational output for setting the brake. In a preferred embodiment, an error correction is made into the detector for obtaining a first unidirectional output during normal operation, and the brake-setting unidirectional rotation is in the opposite direction for setting the brake. One form of detector is a mechanical differential assembly and another form of detector is a set of coaxial shafts that measure differential rotation between the drum and motor input shafts. A unique brake actuator is provided and is easily reset remotely after the brake has been set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Ederer Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold H. West, Roger A. Johnson, Charles W. Clark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4493479
    Abstract: A hoist having a motor, gear reduction unit, drum, and an emergency brake on the drum or on a drive-coupled element close to the drum. A brake-actuating mechanism is operated in response to a mechanical out-of-sync detector with mechanical inputs directly from the motor shaft and drum shaft or a shaft coupled to the drum. The detector has an output shaft which signals to actuate the brake actuator when there is a variation in the relative angular velocities between the two input shafts to the detector to set the brake. In one embodiment, the output shaft rotation provided from the variation in the relative velocities of the input shafts also provides the force for applying the emergency brake. In another embodiment, the brake is set by a large force spring which is controlled by a trigger mechanism. In still other embodiments, the mechanical detector is driven by an overspeed or speed-sensitive clutch, and/or by an electrically operated clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Ederer Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles W. Clark
  • Patent number: 3953808
    Abstract: A solid state amplifier includes at least one junction field effect transistor and an impedance network coupled between a signal input terminal of the amplifier and a gate terminal of the transistor. The network includes a p-n junction device having a region of conductivity opposite to that of the gate of the transistor coupled to the gate terminal, the p-n junction being shunted by a resistor coupled in parallel therewith. The network minimizes signal distortion which would otherwise be introduced to the signal output of the amplifier when an inductive load is present in the output circuit of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1976
    Assignees: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, Western Electric Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Clark, Edwin G. Morton, Robert L. Voss