Patents by Inventor Mark R. Litchy
Mark R. Litchy 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).
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Patent number: 10697879Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream, of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Fluid Management Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy
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Publication number: 20180224366Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream, of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy
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Patent number: 9958371Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Fluid Measurement Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy
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Patent number: 9513198Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring dissolved residue concentrations and particulate residue particle concentrations and size distribution in liquids, particularly colloidal suspensions. The method involves separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for subsequent analysis of the residue species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, detecting and sizing the particles, and determining the liquid volumetric inspection rate. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the concentrations of the two residue species as well as the size distribution of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting and sizing particles.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: CT Associates, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy
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Publication number: 20150308940Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy
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Patent number: 9086350Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: CT Associates, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, David Blackford, Derek R. Oberreit
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Publication number: 20140013831Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring dissolved residue concentrations and particulate residue particle concentrations and size distribution in liquids, particularly colloidal suspensions. The method involves separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for subsequent analysis of the residue species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, detecting and sizing the particles, and determining the liquid volumetric inspection rate. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the concentrations of the two residue species as well as the size distribution of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting and sizing particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: CT Associates, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy
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Patent number: 8573034Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring dissolved residue concentrations and particulate residue particle concentrations and size distribution in liquids, particularly colloidal suspensions. The method involves separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for subsequent analysis of the residue species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, detecting and sizing the particles, and determining the liquid volumetric inspection rate. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the concentrations of the two residue species as well as the size distribution of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting and sizing particles.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: CT Associates, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy
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Publication number: 20120312084Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, David Blackford
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Patent number: 8272253Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: CT Associates, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, David Blackford
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Publication number: 20110214489Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring dissolved residue concentrations and particulate residue particle concentrations and size distribution in liquids, particularly colloidal suspensions. The method involves separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for subsequent analysis of the residue species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, detecting and sizing the particles, and determining the liquid volumetric inspection rate. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the concentrations of the two residue species as well as the size distribution of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting and sizing particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy
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Publication number: 20090183554Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, David Blackford
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Patent number: 6947126Abstract: A dilution apparatus for continuously producing a diluted liquid sample, e.g., a chemical-mechanical polishing slurry, for analysis, e.g., particle size distribution, comprises a mixer manifold, a diluent-introducing means, e.g., a flow controlling device, for introducing a diluent, e.g., water, into the mixer manifold, and a liquid sample introducing means, e.g., a pump, for introducing the sample into the mixer manifold. The mixer manifold includes a plurality of ports for receiving a plurality of liquid samples from a plurality of sample points. The dilution apparatus can include a second mixer manifold for continuously producing a second diluted liquid sample, and it can be associated with one or more sensors operable to measure sample properties, e.g., an optical particle counter. The sensors can be operated simultaneously, and the measurements of the sensors can be compared.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2002Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, Mary Kristin Nicholes
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Patent number: 6783429Abstract: An apparatus and method for drawing a sample of a chemical-mechanical polishing slurry for analysis of at least one property, e.g., particle size distribution, is described.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2002Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.Inventors: Mary Kristin Nicholes, Stephen John Carlson, Mark R. Litchy
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Publication number: 20030174306Abstract: A dilution apparatus for continuously producing a diluted liquid sample, e.g., a chemical-mechanical polishing slurry, for analysis, e.g., particle size distribution, comprises a mixer manifold, a diluent-introducing means, e.g., a flow controlling device, for introducing a diluent, e.g., water, into the mixer manifold, and a liquid sample introducing means, e.g., a pump, for introducing the sample into the mixer manifold. The mixer manifold includes a plurality of ports for receiving a plurality of liquid samples from a plurality of sample points. The dilution apparatus can include a second mixer manifold for continuously producing a second diluted liquid sample, and it can be associated with one or more sensors operable to measure sample properties, e.g., an optical particle counter. The sensors can be operated simultaneously, and the measurements of the sensors can be compared.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, Mary Kristin Nicholes
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Publication number: 20030076495Abstract: An apparatus and method for drawing a sample of a chemical-mechanical polishing slurry for analysis of at least one property, e.g., particle size distribution, is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: Mary Kristin Nicholes, Stephen John Carlson, Mark R. Litchy
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Patent number: 6310017Abstract: A cleaning solution composition for use on electronic component and equipment employed in the cleaning of these components. The cleaning solution comprises ultrapure water containing carbonic acid plus an oxidizing agent selected from hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and combinations thereof. The invention includes a method of removing contaminants from electronic components, containers and associated equipment using the cleaning solution of novel composition. Further, the invention includes a method of preparing the novel cleaning solution composition by contacting carbon dioxide gas with ultrapure water and adding an oxidizing agent, or by contacting carbon dioxide gas with an ultrapure water solution of oxidizing agent.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1999Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: CT Associates, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy