Patents by Inventor Joseph Balch

Joseph Balch 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).

  • System and method for optically locating microchannel positions
    Patent number: 6225635
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for optically locating a microchannel position. A laser source generates a primary laser beam which is directed at a microchannel plate. The microchannel plates include microchannels at various locations. A back-reflectance beam detector receives a back-reflected beam from the plate. The back-reflected beam is generated when the primary beam reflects off of the plate. A photodiode circuit generates a trigger signal when the back-reflected beam exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating a presence of the microchannel. The method of the present invention includes the steps of generating a primary beam, directing the primary beam to a plate containing a microchannel, receiving from the plate a back-reflected beam generated in response to the primary beam, and generating a trigger signal when the back-reflected beam exceeds a predetermined threshold which corresponds to a presence of the microchannel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Laurence R. Brewer, Joseph Kimbrough, Joseph Balch, J. Courtney Davidson