Patents by Inventor Mark Crain

Mark Crain 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: 8409510
    Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a flow through micro scale plate arranged to collect analyte. The plate includes holes, and sorbent coating on contact surfaces of the plate. The holes pass analyte fluid flow, for example analyte vapor so that fluid flow for collection may be generally perpendicular to the sorbent plate. Preferred embodiment plates include an integrated heater trace. In preferred embodiments, a high substantially perpendicular flow is used for collection and concentration, and during desorption and delivery a low substantially parallel flow is used. The low flow is selected to meet constraints of a detector system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Andrew McGill, Michael Martin, Mark Crain, Kevin Walsh, Eric Houser, Stanley Vincent Stepnowski, Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7854174
    Abstract: A three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) capacitive bending and axial strain sensor capacitor is described. Two independent comb structures, incorporating suspended polysilicon interdigitated fingers, are fabricated simultaneously on a substrate that can displace independently of each other while attached to a substrate undergoing bending or axial deformation. A change in spacing between the interdigitated fingers will output a change in capacitance of the sensor and is the primary mode of operation of the device. On the bottom and to the end of each comb structure, a glass pad is attached to the comb structure to allow for ample surface area for affixing the sensor to a substrate. During fabrication, tethers are used to connect each comb structure to maintain equal spacing between the fingers before attachment to the substrate. After attachment, the tethers are broken to allow independent movement of each comb structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: OrthoData Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Julia W. Aebersold, Kevin Walsh, Mark Crain, Michael Voor
  • Publication number: 20100120167
    Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a flow through micro scale plate arranged to collect analyte. The plate includes holes, and sorbent coating on contact surfaces of the plate. The holes pass analyte fluid flow, for example analyte vapor so that fluid flow for collection may be generally perpendicular to the sorbent plate. Preferred embodiment plates include an integrated heater trace. In preferred embodiments, a high substantially perpendicular flow is used for collection and concentration, and during desorption and delivery a low substantially parallel flow is used. The low flow is selected to meet constraints of a detector system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Andrew McGill, Michael Martin, Mark Crain, Kevin Walsh, Eric Houser, Stanley Vincent Stepnowski
  • Publication number: 20090188325
    Abstract: A three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) capacitive bending and axial strain sensor capacitor is described. Two independent comb structures, incorporating suspended polysilicon interdigitated fingers, are fabricated simultaneously on a substrate that can displace independently of each other while attached to a substrate undergoing bending or axial deformation. A change in spacing between the interdigitated fingers will output a change in capacitance of the sensor and is the primary mode of operation of the device. On the bottom and to the end of each comb structure, a glass pad is attached to the comb structure to allow for ample surface area for affixing the sensor to a substrate. During fabrication, tethers are used to connect each comb structure to maintain equal spacing between the fingers before attachment to the substrate. After attachment, the tethers are broken to allow independent movement of each comb structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: OrthoData Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Julia W. Aebersold, Kevin Walsh, Mark Crain, Michael Voor
  • Patent number: 7509870
    Abstract: A three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) capacitive bending and axial strain sensor capacitor is described. Two independent comb structures, incorporating suspended polysilicon interdigitated fingers, are fabricated simultaneously on a substrate that can displace independently of each other while attached to a substrate undergoing bending or axial deformation. A change in spacing between the interdigitated fingers will output a change in capacitance of the sensor and is the primary mode of operation of the device. On the bottom and to the end of each comb structure, a glass pad is attached to the comb structure to allow for ample surface area for affixing the sensor to a substrate. During fabrication, tethers are used to connect each comb structure to maintain equal spacing between the fingers before attachment to the substrate. After attachment, the tethers are broken to allow independent movement of each comb structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: OrthoData Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Julia W. Aebersold, Kevin Walsh, Mark Crain, Michael Voor
  • Patent number: 7302858
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a MEMS cantilever strain sensor. Capacitor plates in a MEMS device of the invention are carried on cantilevered opposing micro-scale plates separated by a micro-scale gap under an unstrained condition. At least one of the micro-scale plates may be attached to a substrate or forms a substrate, which may be part of a monitored system. When a load is applied to the substrate, distal ends of the opposing cantilevered micro-scale plates become further separated, resulting in a change of capacitance. The change of capacitance is proportional to a load and therefore is an indication of the strain. Electrodes may be integrated into the strain sensor to provide a connection to measurement circuitry, for example. Sensors of the invention also provide for telemetric communication using radio frequency (RF) energy and can be interrogated without a power supply to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Walsh, Mark Crain, William Hnat, Douglas Jackson, Ji-Tzuoh Lin, John Naber
  • Publication number: 20070256502
    Abstract: A three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) capacitive bending and axial strain sensor capacitor is described. Two independent comb structures, incorporating suspended polysilicon interdigitated fingers, are fabricated simultaneously on a substrate that can displace independently of each other while attached to a substrate undergoing bending or axial deformation. A change in spacing between the interdigitated fingers will output a change in capacitance of the sensor and is the primary mode of operation of the device. On the bottom and to the end of each comb structure, a glass pad is attached to the comb structure to allow for ample surface area for affixing the sensor to a substrate. During fabrication, tethers are used to connect each comb structure to maintain equal spacing between the fingers before attachment to the substrate. After attachment, the tethers are broken to allow independent movement of each comb structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Julia Aebersold, Kevin Walsh, Mark Crain, Michael Voor
  • Publication number: 20060070451
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a MEMS cantilever strain sensor. Capacitor plates in a MEMS device of the invention are carried on cantilevered opposing micro-scale plates separated by a micro-scale gap under an unstrained condition. At least one of the micro-scale plates may be attached to a substrate or forms a substrate, which may be part of a monitored system. When a load is applied to the substrate, distal ends of the opposing cantilevered micro-scale plates become further separated, resulting in a change of capacitance. The change of capacitance is proportional to a load and therefore is an indication of the strain. Electrodes may be integrated into the strain sensor to provide a connection to measurement circuitry, for example. Sensors of the invention also provide for telemetric communication using radio frequency (RF) energy and can be interrogated without a power supply to the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Kevin Walsh, Mark Crain, William Hnat, Douglas Jackson, Ji-Tzuoh Lin, John Naber
  • Publication number: 20050095722
    Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a flow through micro scale plate arranged to collect analyte. The plate includes holes, and sorbent coating on contact surfaces of the plate. The holes pass analyte fluid flow, for example analyte vapor so that fluid flow for collection may be generally perpendicular to the sorbent plate. Preferred embodiment plates include an integrated heater trace. In preferred embodiments, a high substantially perpendicular flow is used for collection and concentration, and during desorption and delivery a low substantially parallel flow is used. The low flow is selected to meet constraints of a detector system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Robert McGill, Michael Martin, Mark Crain, Kevin Walsh, Eric Houser, Viet Nguyen