Patents by Inventor Larry Burggraf

Larry Burggraf 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: 11054535
    Abstract: A directional radiation detection system and an omnidirectional radiation detector. The omnidirectional radiation detector detects radiation comprising at least one of: (i) gamma rays; and (ii) neutron particles. A radiation scatter mask (RSM) of the radiation detection system includes a rotating sleeve received over the omnidirectional radiation detector and rotating about a longitudinal axis. The RSM further includes: (i) a fin extending longitudinally from one side of the rotating sleeve; and (ii) a wall extending from the rotating sleeve and spaced apart from the fin having an upper end distally positioned on the rotating sleeve spaced apart or next to from a first lateral side of the fin and a lower end proximally positioned on the rotating sleeve and spaced apart from or next to a second lateral side of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Robert Olesen, Bryan Egner, Darren Holland, Valerie Martin, James Bevins, Larry Burggraf, Buckley O'Day
  • Patent number: 11047997
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system images a distributed source of radiation from an unknown direction by rotating a scatter mask around a central axis. The scatter mask has a pixelated outer surface of tangentially oriented, flat geometric surfaces that are spherically varying in radial dimension that corresponds to a discrete amount of attenuation. Rotation position of the scatter mask is tracked as a function of time. Radiation counts from gamma and/or neutron radiation are received from at least one radiation detector that is positioned at or near the central axis. A rotation-angle dependent detector response curve (DRC) is generated based on the received radiation counts. A reconstruction algorithm for distributed radiation source(s) and/or localized source(s) are applied based on the tracked rotation position and prior characterization of the detector response for a given scatter mask. A two-dimensional image with relative orientation and source distribution is generated from the measured DRC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Darren Holland, Robert Olesen, Larry Burggraf, Buckley O'Day, James Bevins
  • Publication number: 20200393580
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system images a distributed source of radiation from an unknown direction by rotating a scatter mask around a central axis. The scatter mask has a pixelated outer surface of tangentially oriented, flat geometric surfaces that are spherically varying in radial dimension that corresponds to a discrete amount of attenuation. Rotation position of the scatter mask is tracked as a function of time. Radiation counts from gamma and/or neutron radiation are received from at least one radiation detector that is positioned at or near the central axis. A rotation-angle dependent detector response curve (DRC) is generated based on the received radiation counts. A reconstruction algorithm for distributed radiation source(s) and/or localized source(s) are applied based on the tracked rotation position and prior characterization of the detector response for a given scatter mask. A two-dimensional image with relative orientation and source distribution is generated from the measured DRC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Darren Holland, Robert Olesen, Larry Burggraf, Buckley O'Day, James Bevins
  • Publication number: 20200292720
    Abstract: A directional radiation detection system and an omnidirectional radiation detector. The omnidirectional radiation detector detects radiation comprising at least one of: (i) gamma rays; and (ii) neutron particles. A radiation scatter mask (RSM) of the radiation detection system includes a rotating sleeve received over the omnidirectional radiation detector and rotating about a longitudinal axis. The RSM further includes: (i) a fin extending longitudinally from one side of the rotating sleeve; and (ii) a wall extending from the rotating sleeve and spaced apart from the fin having an upper end distally positioned on the rotating sleeve spaced apart or next to from a first lateral side of the fin and a lower end proximally positioned on the rotating sleeve and spaced apart from or next to a second lateral side of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Olesen, Bryan Egner, Darren Holland, Valerie Martin, James Bevins, Larry Burggraf, Buckley O'Day