Patents by Inventor Francesco P. Orfino

Francesco P. Orfino 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).

  • Humidified imaging with an environmental scanning electron microscope
    Patent number: 6674076
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for imaging wet samples with an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). In particular, a carrier gas is humidified such that the water vapor in the carrier gas in the sample chamber of the ESEM has a partial pressure equal to the saturated vapor pressure of water. Thus, the sample can be imaged without observing any evaporation or condensation thereon. Both the carrier gas and the water vapor may act as the imaging gas within the ESEM. The apparatus is an imaging gas delivery system for the ESEM wherein the carrier gas may be appropriately humidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Francesco P. Orfino, Joerg Zimmermann, Lynn C. Erickson