Patents by Inventor Janet W. Lou

Janet W. Lou 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: 8651138
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating sheathed flow includes an inlet section comprising an array of tubes including at least one sheath inlet port and a sample inlet port, a flow focusing section downstream from the inlet section, an optical access section downstream from the flow focusing region and comprising opposing flat surfaces, and an outlet section downstream from the optical access section, wherein the apparatus is operable to create a sheathed flow around a fluid introduced into the sample inlet port and to maintain the sheathed flow through the optical access section. Applications of the apparatus and method include bead/particle counting, flow cytometry, waveguiding, and fluid control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Carl A. Villarruel, Janet W. Lou, Ross Schermer
  • Patent number: 8528582
    Abstract: The application of an optical beam redirects sheathed micro-fluidic flow without direct interaction with the sample. The hydrodynamic properties of the sheath are locally modified due to optical absorption and heating, resulting in a spatial shift of the sample flow. The technique can result in up to 100 ?m shift at peak flow velocities of 19 mm/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Janet W. Lou, Carl A. Villarruel, Ross Schermer
  • Publication number: 20120273054
    Abstract: The application of an optical beam redirects sheathed micro-fluidic flow without direct interaction with the sample. The hydrodynamic properties of the sheath are locally modified due to optical absorption and heating, resulting in a spatial shift of the sample flow. The technique can result in up to 100 ?m shift at peak flow velocities of 19 mm/sec.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Janet W. Lou, Carl A. Villarruel, Ross Schermer
  • Publication number: 20120138152
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating sheathed flow includes an inlet section comprising an array of tubes including at least one sheath inlet port and a sample inlet port, a flow focusing section downstream from the inlet section, an optical access section downstream from the flow focusing region and comprising opposing flat surfaces, and an outlet section downstream from the optical access section, wherein the apparatus is operable to create a sheathed flow around a fluid introduced into the sample inlet port and to maintain the sheathed flow through the optical access section. Applications of the apparatus and method include bead/particle counting, flow cytometry, waveguiding, and fluid control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Naval Research Laboratory
    Inventors: Carl A. Villarruel, Janet W. Lou, Ross Schermer
  • Patent number: 7755828
    Abstract: A method and system for modifying the detected phase of a signal by driving a photodetector into saturation. This system and method differs from current manual and electrical microwave phase modification by using saturation means for modifying the phase. The system and method may use a plurality of the signal generators for saturating the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Marc Currie, Igor Vurgaftman, Janet W Lou
  • Publication number: 20080278794
    Abstract: A method and system for modifying the detected phase of a signal by driving a photodetector into saturation. This system and method differs from current manual and electrical microwave phase modification by using saturation means for modifying the phase. The system and method may use a plurality of the signal generators for saturating the photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Marc Currie, Igor Vurgaftman, Janet W. Lou
  • Patent number: 7130545
    Abstract: An electro-optic clock recovery circuit comprising an electro-optic modulator circuit operatively coupled to; a photodetector circuit; a buffer circuit operatively coupled to said photodetector circuit; a voltage controlled oscillator operatively coupled to said buffer circuit and to said electro-optic modulator circuit; wherein the electro-optic modulator circuit receives and modulates a multi-channel input data stream, the photodetector circuit responsive to the modulated input data stream drives the voltage controlled oscillator in a phase locked loop through the buffer circuit, and the modulator circuit is responsive to the voltage controlled oscillator and is driven at a harmonic of the voltage controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Janet W. Lou, Thomas F. Carruthers
  • Publication number: 20040052276
    Abstract: A multiple wavelength laser apparatus is taught to select wavelengths for simultaneous generation of short pulses at multiple wavelengths having application in wavelength-division-multiplexed communications systems, photonic microwave systems, and pump-probe applications. The multiple wavelength laser comprises an optical fiber lasing material, a laser pump source connected to said lasing material for outputting coherent light, a splitter for dividing said coherent light into parallel paths of differing wavelengths, parallel band pass filters for selecting multiple wavelengths, and parallel Faraday mirrors for operating the multiple wavelength laser in a single polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Janet W. Lou, Thomas Clark, Marc Currie, Thomas Carruthers
  • Publication number: 20030058503
    Abstract: An electro-optic clock recovery circuit comprising an electro-optic modulator circuit operatively coupled to; a photodetector circuit; a buffer circuit operatively coupled to said photodetector circuit; a voltage controlled oscillator operatively coupled to said buffer circuit and to said electro-optic modulator circuit; wherein the electro-optic modulator circuit receives and modulates a multi-channel input data stream, the photodetector circuit responsive to the modulated input data stream drives the voltage controlled oscillator in a phase locked loop through the buffer circuit, and the modulator circuit is responsive to the voltage controlled oscillator and is driven at a harmonic of the voltage controlled oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Janet W. Lou, Thomas F. Carruthers