Patents by Inventor Christopher Michael McNally

Christopher Michael McNally 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: 11346904
    Abstract: A magnetometer containing a crystal sensor with solid-state defects senses the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field. The solid-state defects in the crystal sensor absorb microwave and optical energy to transition between several energy states while emitting light intensity indicative of their spin states. The magnetic field alters the spin-state transitions of the solid-state defects by amounts depending on the solid-state defects' orientations with respect to the magnetic field. The optical read out, reporting the spin state of an ensemble of solid-state defects from one particular orientation class, can be used to lock microwave signals to the resonances associated with the spin-state transitions. The frequencies of the locked microwave signals can be used to reconstruct the magnetic field vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Linh M. Pham, Kerry Alexander Johnson, Carson Arthur Teale, Hannah A. Clevenson, Danielle Ann Braje, Christopher Michael McNally, John Francis Barry
  • Publication number: 20210011098
    Abstract: A magnetometer containing a crystal sensor with solid-state defects senses the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field. The solid-state defects in the crystal sensor absorb microwave and optical energy to transition between several energy states while emitting light intensity indicative of their spin states. The magnetic field alters the spin-state transitions of the solid-state defects by amounts depending on the solid-state defects' orientations with respect to the magnetic field. The optical read out, reporting the spin state of an ensemble of solid-state defects from one particular orientation class, can be used to lock microwave signals to the resonances associated with the spin-state transitions. The frequencies of the locked microwave signals can be used to reconstruct the magnetic field vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Linh M. Pham, Kerry Alexander Johnson, Carson Arthur TEALE, Hannah A. CLEVENSON, Danielle Ann Braje, Christopher Michael MCNALLY, John Francis BARRY
  • Patent number: 10712408
    Abstract: A magnetometer containing a crystal sensor with solid-state defects senses the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field. The solid-state defects in the crystal sensor absorb microwave and optical energy to transition between several energy states while emitting light intensity indicative of their spin states. The magnetic field alters the spin-state transitions of the solid-state defects by amounts depending on the solid-state defects' orientations with respect to the magnetic field. The optical read out, reporting the spin state of an ensemble of solid-state defects from one particular orientation class, can be used to lock microwave signals to the resonances associated with the spin-state transitions. The frequencies of the locked microwave signals can be used to reconstruct the magnetic field vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Linh M. Pham, Carson Arthur Teale, Hannah A. Clevenson, Kerry Alexander Johnson, Christopher Michael McNally, John Francis Barry, Danielle Ann Braje
  • Patent number: 10705163
    Abstract: Here we present a solid-state spin sensor with enhanced sensitivity. The enhanced sensitivity is achieved by increasing the T2* dephasing time of the color center defects within the solid-state spin sensor. The T2* dephasing time extension is achieved by mitigating dipolar coupling between paramagnetic defects within the solid-state spin sensor. The mitigation of the dipolar coupling is achieved by applying a magic-angle-spinning magnetic field to the color center defects. This field is generated by driving a magnetic field generator (e.g., Helmholtz coils) with phase-shifted sinusoidal waveforms from current source impedance-matched to the magnetic field generator. The waveforms may oscillate (and the field may rotate) at a frequency based on the precession period of the color center defects to reduce color center defect dephasing and further enhance measurement sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John F. Barry, Danielle A. Braje, Erik R. Eisenach, Christopher Michael McNally, Michael F. O'Keeffe, Linh M. Pham
  • Publication number: 20190178958
    Abstract: Here we present a solid-state spin sensor with enhanced sensitivity. The enhanced sensitivity is achieved by increasing the T2* dephasing time of the color center defects within the solid-state spin sensor. The T2* dephasing time extension is achieved by mitigating dipolar coupling between paramagnetic defects within the solid-state spin sensor. The mitigation of the dipolar coupling is achieved by applying a magic-angle-spinning magnetic field to the color center defects. This field is generated by driving a magnetic field generator (e.g., Helmholtz coils) with phase-shifted sinusoidal waveforms from current source impedance-matched to the magnetic field generator. The waveforms may oscillate (and the field may rotate) at a frequency based on the precession period of the color center defects to reduce color center defect dephasing and further enhance measurement sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: John F. Barry, Danielle A. Braje, Erik R. Eisenach, Christopher Michael McNally, Michael F. O'Keeffe, Linh M. Pham
  • Publication number: 20180136291
    Abstract: A magnetometer containing a crystal sensor with solid-state defects senses the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field. The solid-state defects in the crystal sensor absorb microwave and optical energy to transition between several energy states while emitting light intensity indicative of their spin states. The magnetic field alters the spin-state transitions of the solid-state defects by amounts depending on the solid-state defects' orientations with respect to the magnetic field. The optical read out, reporting the spin state of an ensemble of solid-state defects from one particular orientation class, can be used to lock microwave signals to the resonances associated with the spin-state transitions. The frequencies of the locked microwave signals can be used to reconstruct the magnetic field vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Linh M. Pham, Kerry Alexander Johnson, Carson Arthur Teale, Hannah A. Clevenson, Danielle Ann Braje, Christopher Michael McNally, John Francis Barry