Patents by Inventor Eric B. Chen

Eric B. Chen 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).

  • Thermal analysis for detection and identification of explosives and other controlled substances
    Patent number: 6773674
    Abstract: The invention features methods and systems for detecting the presence of an energetic material in a sample in which the presence of the energetic material is unknown. The method includes the steps of: heating the sample; measuring heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment, e.g., by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); and analyzing the measured heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment. An exothermal peak in the measured heat flow indicates the presence of the energetic material in the sample. The system includes a thermal measuring apparatus for performing the heating and measuring steps, and an analyzer for detecting the presence of the energetic material based on the measured heat flow. The invention also features methods and systems for identifying contraband materials (e.g., explosives and drugs) by measuring the thermogram (e.g., by DSC) of a sample to be identified and comparing it to reference thermograms for known contraband materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: William W. Bannister, Chien-Chung Chen, William A. Curby, Eric B. Chen, Paul L. Damour, Antonio Morales
  • Thermal analysis for detection and identification of explosives and other controlled substances
    Publication number: 20040014233
    Abstract: The invention features methods and systems for detecting the presence of an energetic material in a sample in which the presence of the energetic material is unknown. The method includes the steps of: heating the sample; measuring heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment, e.g., by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); and analyzing the measured heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment. An exothermal peak in the measured heat flow indicates the presence of the energetic material in the sample. The system includes a thermal measuring apparatus for performing the heating and measuring steps, and an analyzer for detecting the presence of the energetic material based on the measured heat flow. The invention also features methods and systems for identifying contraband materials (e.g., explosives and drugs) by measuring the thermogram (e.g., by DSC) of a sample to be identified and comparing it to reference thermograms for known contraband materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: University of Massachusetts Massachusetts corporation
    Inventors: William W. Bannister, Chien-Chung Chen, William A. Curby, Eric B. Chen, Paul L. Damour, Antonio Morales
  • Thermal analysis for detection and identification of explosives and other controlled substances
    Patent number: 6406918
    Abstract: The invention features methods and systems for detecting the presence of an energetic material in a sample in which the presence of the energetic material is unknown. The method includes the steps of: heating the sample; measuring heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment, e.g., by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); and analyzing the measured heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment. An exothermal peak in the measured heat flow indicates the presence of the energetic material in the sample. The system includes a thermal measuring apparatus for performing the heating and measuring steps, and an analyzer for detecting the presence of the energetic material based on the measured heat flow. The invention also features methods and systems for identifying contraband materials (e.g., explosives and drugs) by measuring the thermogram (e.g., by DSC) of a sample to be identified and comparing it to reference thermograms for known contraband materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: William W. Bannister, Chien-Chung Chen, William A. Curby, Eric B. Chen, Paul L. Damour, Antonio Morales
  • Apparatus and method for measuring components of a solute stream
    Patent number: 5990486
    Abstract: The invention features an apparatus and method for determining and controlling the concentration of a solute in a solute stream by measuring the concentration of an indicator agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Eric B. Chen, Chien-Chung Chen, Alfred A. Donatelli, Antonio Morales, Jason Barrett, William W. Bannister