Patents by Inventor Lora B. Thrun

Lora B. Thrun 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: 10302611
    Abstract: Provided are a composition including a hydrogen-selective porous composite, a hydrogen gas sensor device including the hydrogen-selective porous composite, a kit for detecting hydrogen including the hydrogen gas sensor device, and a method for detecting hydrogen including contacting a hydrogen-comprising gas to the hydrogen selective porous composite. The method may include, for example: providing a hydrogen-comprising gas; providing a hydrogen-selective porous composite, the hydrogen-selective porous composite comprising cerium oxide; contacting the hydrogen-comprising gas to the hydrogen-selective porous composite; and selectively detecting hydrogen in the hydrogen-comprising gas according to a decrease in an electrical resistance of the hydrogen-selective porous composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NEXCERIS INNOVATION HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher T. Holt, Stephen R. Cummings, Scott L. Swartz, Lora B. Thrun
  • Publication number: 20160343459
    Abstract: A gas monitoring system and method are provided. In one embodiment, a gas monitoring system includes a gas monitoring unit in a reactor containment environment, a gas monitoring unit controller in a reactor non-containment environment, and a high temperature or industry compliant cable interconnecting the gas monitoring unit with the gas monitoring unit controller. Various sensors on the gas monitoring unit detect conditions of the reactor containment environment, including hydrogen gas concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas A. Mitchell, Lora B. Thrun, Stephen R. Cummings, Chad T. Sellers, Andrew P. Smith, William J. Dawson, Scott L. Swartz
  • Patent number: 9304102
    Abstract: An amperometric electrochemical sensor configured to be operable in an oxidizing atmosphere and under an applied bias to exhibit enhanced reduction of oxygen molecules at the sensing electrode in the presence of one or more target gas species and a resulting measurable increase in oxygen ion flux through the cell. The sensor has an electrolyte membrane, a sensing electrode on the electrolyte membrane, and a counter electrode on the electrolyte membrane, wherein the sensing electrode includes at least one molybdate or tungstate compound. An electrochemical sensor system is also provided, along with a method of detecting the concentration of one or more of NOx and NH3 in a gas sample or stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NexTech Materials, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Day, Scott L. Swartz, Lora B. Thrun, Buddy E. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20160077044
    Abstract: An amperometric electrochemical sensor for measuring the concentrations of two or more target gas species in a gas sample or gas stream, wherein the sensor includes first and second electrochemical cells having respective first and second active electrodes, the electrochemical cells further including an electrolyte membrane and a counter electrode, wherein the first electrochemical cell exhibits an additive response with respect to a first and second ones of the target gas species and the second electrochemical cell exhibits a selective response to the first target gas species in the presence of the second target gas species such that the sensor is capable of measuring the respective concentrations of the first and second target gas species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Gene B. Arkenberg, Scott L. Swartz, Matthew M. Seabaugh, Lora B. Thrun
  • Publication number: 20150226718
    Abstract: Provided are a composition including a hydrogen-selective porous composite, a hydrogen gas sensor device including the hydrogen-selective porous composite, a kit for detecting hydrogen including the hydrogen gas sensor device, and a method for detecting hydrogen including contacting a hydrogen-comprising gas to the hydrogen selective porous composite. The method may include, for example: providing a hydrogen-comprising gas; providing a hydrogen-selective porous composite, the hydrogen-selective porous composite comprising cerium oxide; contacting the hydrogen-comprising gas to the hydrogen-selective porous composite; and selectively detecting hydrogen in the hydrogen-comprising gas according to a decrease in an electrical resistance of the hydrogen-selective porous composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher T. Holt, Stephen R. Cummings, Scott L. Swartz, Lora B. Thrun
  • Patent number: 9011778
    Abstract: A hydrogen sensitive composite sensing material based on cerium oxide with or without additives to enhance sensitivity to hydrogen, reduce cross-sensitivities to interfering gases, or lower the operating temperature of the sensor, and a device incorporating these hydrogen sensitive composite materials including a support, electrodes applied to the support, and a coating of hydrogen sensitive composite material applied over the electroded surface. The sensor may have in integral heater. The sensor may have a tubular geometry with the heater being inserted within the tube. A gas sensor device may include a support, electrodes applied to the support, and a dual sensor element to cancel unwanted effects on baseline resistance such as those resulting from atmospheric temperature changes. The hydrogen sensitive composite material or other gas sensitive materials may be used in the dual element gas sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: NexTech Materials, Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Holt, Stephen R. Cummings, Scott L. Swartz, Lora B. Thrun
  • Patent number: 8974657
    Abstract: Amperometric ceramic electrochemical cells comprise, in one embodiment, an electrolyte layer, a sensing electrode layer comprising a ceramic phase and a metallic phase, and a counter electrode layer, wherein the cell is operable in an oxidizing atmosphere and under an applied bias to exhibit enhanced reduction of oxygen molecules at the sensing electrode in the presence of one or more target gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) or NH3 and a resulting increase in oxygen ion flux through the cell. In another embodiment, amperometric ceramic electrochemical cells comprise an electrolyte layer comprising a continuous network of a first material which is ionically conducting at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.; a counter electrode layer comprising a continuous network of a second material which is electrically conductive at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NexTech Materials Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott L. Swartz, Matthew M. Seabaugh, Lora B. Thrun, Paul H. Matter, Michael J. Day, William J. Dawson, Buddy E. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20130233728
    Abstract: An amperometric electrochemical sensor configured to be operable in an oxidizing atmosphere and under an applied bias to exhibit enhanced reduction of oxygen molecules at the sensing electrode in the presence of one or more target gas species and a resulting measurable increase in oxygen ion flux through the cell. The sensor has an electrolyte membrane, a sensing electrode on the electrolyte membrane, and a counter electrode on the electrolyte membrane, wherein the sensing electrode includes at least one molybdate or tungstate compound. An electrochemical sensor system is also provided, along with a method of detecting the concentration of one or more of NOx and NH3 in a gas sample or stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Michael J. Day, Scott L. Schwartz, Lora B. Thrun, Buddy E. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20120055789
    Abstract: Amperometric ceramic electrochemical cells comprise, in one embodiment, an electrolyte layer, a sensing electrode layer comprising a ceramic phase and a metallic phase, and a counter electrode layer, wherein the cell is operable in an oxidizing atmosphere and under an applied bias to exhibit enhanced reduction of oxygen molecules at the sensing electrode in the presence of one or more target gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) or NH3 and a resulting increase in oxygen ion flux through the cell. In another embodiment, amperometric ceramic electrochemical cells comprise an electrolyte layer comprising a continuous network of a first material which is ionically conducting at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.; a counter electrode layer comprising a continuous network of a second material which is electrically conductive at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Scott L. Swartz, Matthew M. Seabaugh, Lora B. Thrun, Paul H. Matter, Michael J. Day, William J. Dawson, Buddy E. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20090218220
    Abstract: Amperometric ceramic electrochemical cells comprise, in one embodiment, an electrolyte layer, a sensing electrode layer, and a counter electrode layer, wherein the cell is operable in an oxidizing atmosphere and under an applied bias to exhibit enhanced reduction of oxygen molecules at the sensing electrode in the presence of one or more target gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) or NH3 and a resulting increase in oxygen ion flux through the cell. In another embodiment, amperometric ceramic electrochemical cells comprise an electrolyte layer comprising a continuous network of a first material which is ionically conducting at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.; a counter electrode layer comprising a continuous network of a second material which is electrically conductive at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.; and a sensing electrode layer comprising a continuous network of a third material which is electrically conductive at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Paul J. Matter, Matthew M. Seabaugh, Lora B. Thrun, Scott L. Swartz, Michael J. Day, William J. Dawason, Buddy E. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20090090626
    Abstract: A hydrogen sensitive composite sensing material based on cerium oxide with or without additives to enhance sensitivity to hydrogen, reduce cross-sensitivities to interfering gases, or lower the operating temperature of the sensor, and a device incorporating these hydrogen sensitive composite materials including a support, electrodes applied to the support, and a coating of hydrogen sensitive composite material applied over the electroded surface. The sensor may have in integral heater. The sensor may have a tubular geometry with the heater being inserted within the tube. A gas sensor device may include a support, electrodes applied to the support, and a dual sensor element to cancel unwanted effects on baseline resistance such as those resulting from atmospheric temperature changes. The hydrogen sensitive composite material or other gas sensitive materials may be used in the dual element gas sensor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher T. Holt, Stephen R. Cummings, Scott L. Swartz, Lora B. Thrun
  • Publication number: 20080023329
    Abstract: A conductive shield for routing mobile ions to contact pad in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The conductive shield includes a first conductive path electrically coupled to the contact pad. The conductive shield further includes a second conductive path electrically coupled to first and second locations on the first conductive path such that when a physical break occurs in the first conductive path between the first and second locations, mobile ions in the first conductive path are still routed to the contact pad through the second conductive path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Lora B. Thrun, Eric P. Clyde, Walter T. Symons, Gene A. Mausolf