Patents by Inventor Michael E. Dugas
Michael E. Dugas 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: 11187664Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for identifying compounds using spectra generated by X-rays at two different voltage levels.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc.Inventors: Pietro Caria, Michael E. Dugas, Gregory M. Tully, Stephen I. Shefsky
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Publication number: 20210010957Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for identifying compounds using spectra generated by X-rays at two different voltage levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Pietro Caria, Michael E. Dugas, Gregory M. Tully, Stephen I. Shefsky
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Patent number: 10718716Abstract: An embodiment of a laser induced breakdown system is described that comprises a portable device that includes: a laser configured to produce a beam comprising a plurality of repeating pulses; a processor configured to open a data acquisition window after a delay period, wherein the delay period begins upon production of one of the pulses; one or more optical elements configured to direct the beam at a sample and collect emitted light from a plasma continuum; and an optical detector configured to produce a plurality of signal values from the emitted light from the plasma continuum collected during the data acquisition window, wherein the processor is configured to identify an element from the signal values.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: THERMO SCIENTIFIC PORTABLE ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS INC.Inventors: Peidong Wang, Rong Sun, Brendan Falvey, Haowen Li, Yu Shen, Michael E. Dugas
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Publication number: 20190310201Abstract: An embodiment of a laser induced breakdown system is described that comprises a portable device that includes: a laser configured to produce a beam comprising a plurality of repeating pulses; a processor configured to open a data acquisition window after a delay period, wherein the delay period begins upon production of one of the pulses; one or more optical elements configured to direct the beam at a sample and collect emitted light from a plasma continuum; and an optical detector configured to produce a plurality of signal values from the emitted light from the plasma continuum collected during the data acquisition window, wherein the processor is configured to identify an element from the signal values.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: THERMO SCIENTIFIC PORTABLE ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS INC.Inventors: Peidong WANG, Rong SUN, Brendan FALVEY, Haowen LI, Yu SHEN, Michael E. DUGAS
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Publication number: 20170023484Abstract: An embodiment of a laser induced breakdown system is described that comprises a portable device that includes: a laser configured to produce a beam comprising a plurality of repeating pulses; a processor configured to open a data acquisition window after a delay period, wherein the delay period begins upon production of one of the pulses; one or more optical elements configured to direct the beam at a sample and collect emitted light from a plasma continuum; and an optical detector configured to produce a plurality of signal values from the emitted light from the plasma continuum collected during the data acquisition window, wherein the processor is configured to identify an element from the signal values.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Peidong WANG, Rong SUN, Brendan FALVEY, Haowen LI, Yu SHEN, Michael E. DUGAS
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Patent number: 8693625Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adapting the shaping time and/or other pulse processing parameters of an x-ray detector (114) in accordance with the elemental composition of a sample and/or energy resolving requirements. X-rays (104) are directed from a source (102) onto a sample (110) and the radiation (108) responsively emitted from the sample (e.g., fluoresced radiation characteristic of the sample's elemental composition) and detected by an x-ray detector (114) that generates pulses representative of the energy and intensity of the incident radiation. Based upon initial analysis of elemental composition, the shaping time and/or other pulse processing parameter (s) are set to optimize count rate subject to constraints of energy resolution in a spectral region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2009Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Dugas, Lee Grodzins
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Patent number: 8515009Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for identifying counterfeit gold jewelry and other counterfeit gold items. Techniques include determining—using a non-destructive mechanism—whether an item of interest (such as an article represented as true gold) is solid gold or a gold-plated object. Techniques include using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer to differentiate true gold from gold plating. The XRF analyzer can distinguish between gold plating and bulk gold material by comparing a ratio of L-alpha and L-beta x-ray lines of gold. The analyzer measures a ratio of intensities of characteristic L-lines of gold using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. When implemented using an XRF analyzer, the system nondestructively determines whether a test object is made of solid gold/gold alloy or has gold plating only.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Thermo Niton Analyzers LLCInventors: Stanislaw Piorek, Stephen I. Shefsky, Michael E. Dugas
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Publication number: 20130202083Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for identifying counterfeit gold jewelry and other counterfeit gold items. Techniques include determining—using a non-destructive mechanism—whether an item of interest (such as an article represented as true gold) is solid gold or a gold-plated object. Techniques include using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer to differentiate true gold from gold plating. The XRF analyzer can distinguish between gold plating and bulk gold material by comparing a ratio of L-alpha and L-beta x-ray lines of gold. The analyzer measures a ratio of intensities of characteristic L-lines of gold using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. When implemented using an XRF analyzer, the system nondestructively determines whether a test object is made of solid gold/gold alloy or has gold plating only.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: August 8, 2013Inventors: Stanislaw Piorek, Stephen I. Shefsky, Michael E. Dugas
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Publication number: 20110211670Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adapting the shaping time and/or other pulse processing parameters of an x-ray detector (114) in accordance with the elemental composition of a sample and/or energy resolving requirements. X-rays (104) are directed from a source (102) onto a sample (110) and the radiation (108) responsively emitted from the sample (e.g., fluoresced radiation characteristic of the sample's elemental composition) and detected by an x-ray detector (114) that generates pulses representative of the energy and intensity of the incident radiation. Based upon initial analysis of elemental composition, the shaping time and/or other pulse processing parameter (s) are set to optimize count rate subject to constraints of energy resolution in a spectral region of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2009Publication date: September 1, 2011Inventors: Michael E. Dugas, Lee Grodzins
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Publication number: 20110142200Abstract: A hand-held, self-contained x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer produces a small x-ray spot on a sample to interrogate the elemental composition of a sample region of millimeter-size characteristic dimension. The analyzer includes a collimator for aiming an x-ray beam toward a desired location on the sample and for determining the size of the spot produced on the sample. The analyzer may include a digital camera oriented toward the portion of the sample that is, or would be, interrogated by the x-ray spot to facilitate aiming the analyzer. The analyzer may generate a reticule in a displayed image to indicate the portion of the sample that is, or would be, illuminated by the x-ray beam. The analyzer may automatically annotate the image of the sample with text or graphics that contain information about the analyzed sample. The image may be stored in the hand-held analyzer or provided for external storage or display.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Stanislaw PIOREK, Mark HAMILTON, Kenneth P. MARTIN, Pratheev SREETHARAN, Michael E. DUGAS, Paul ESTABROOKS, Lee GRODZINS
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Patent number: 7916834Abstract: A hand-held, self-contained x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer produces a small x-ray spot on a sample to interrogate the elemental composition of a sample region of millimeter-size characteristic dimension. The analyzer includes a collimator for aiming an x-ray beam toward a desired location on the sample and for determining the size of the spot produced on the sample. The analyzer may include a digital camera oriented toward the portion of the sample that is, or would be, interrogated by the x-ray spot to facilitate aiming the analyzer. The analyzer may generate a reticule in a displayed image to indicate the portion of the sample that is, or would be, illuminated by the x-ray beam. The analyzer may automatically annotate the image of the sample with text or graphics that contain information about the analyzed sample. The image may be stored in the hand -held analyzer or provided for external storage or display.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Thermo Niton Analyzers LLCInventors: Stanislaw Piorek, Mark Hamilton, Kenneth P. Martin, Pratheev Sreetharan, Michael E. Dugas, Paul Estabrooks, Lee Grodzins
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Patent number: 7899153Abstract: A method for classifying a sample based upon a complete spectral analysis. The sample is illuminated with penetrating radiation and an initial complete spectral analysis is performed based on spectral resolution of resonant fluorescence lines emitted at the surface, or within the volume, of the sample. If the initial complete spectral analysis yields the composition of the sample to within acceptable limits, analysis values are output to the user. Otherwise, further analysis, informed by the results if the initial complete spectral analysis, is performed.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Thermo Niton Analyzers LLCInventors: Michael E. Dugas, Lee Grodzins, Stephen I. Shefsky
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Patent number: 7875847Abstract: An analytical instrument may be docked in a stand. The stand provides electrical power, cooling, gas to purge air from an analytical gap within the instrument and/or other supplies or services to the instrument. The stand contains a contactless memory, such as an RF-ID tag, which stores information about the supplies and/or services the stand is capable of providing to the instrument. The instrument reads the stand's contactless memory and automatically sets operational parameters of the instrument in accordance with the supplies and/or services the stand is capable of providing. Thus, the instrument may automatically operate in an enhanced mode, such as at a higher x-ray beam power, as a result of being mounted in the stand.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Thermo Niton Analyzers LLCInventors: Michael E. Dugas, Mark Hamilton, Kenneth P. Martin
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Publication number: 20090262889Abstract: A method for classifying a sample based upon a complete spectral analysis. The sample is illuminated with penetrating radiation and an initial complete spectral analysis is performed based on spectral resolution of resonant fluorescence lines emitted at the surface, or within the volume, of the sample. If the initial complete spectral analysis yields the composition of the sample to within acceptable limits, analysis values are output to the user. Otherwise, further analysis, informed by the results if the initial complete spectral analysis, is performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Inventors: Michael E. DUGAS, Lee Grodzins, Stephen I. Shefsky
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Publication number: 20090057422Abstract: An analytical instrument stores and/or reads information related to a sample in a contactless memory, such as a passive or active radio-frequency identification (RF-ID) tag. The information may include information about: composition of the sample, one or more analytical instruments that were used to analyze the sample, operator(s) who used the instrument(s) to analyze the sample, user-entered data about the sample (such as an origin of the sample) or a combination thereof or the like. The memory may be attached to the sample or to a container, in which the sample is stored or transported. One or more copies of such a memory may be loosely stored with the sample, such as with soil in a plastic bag or a rail car. When the memory is attached to, or stored with, the sample, the sample becomes essentially self-documenting. Information about the sample, such as its composition or origin, may be read by a contactless memory reader, such as an RF-ID reader.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Michael E. DUGAS, Mark Hamilton, Kenneth P. Martin
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Publication number: 20090057582Abstract: An analytical instrument may be docked in a stand. The stand provides electrical power, cooling, gas to purge air from an analytical gap within the instrument and/or other supplies or services to the instrument. The stand contains a contactless memory, such as an RF-ID tag, which stores information about the supplies and/or services the stand is capable of providing to the instrument. The instrument reads the stand's contactless memory and automatically sets operational parameters of the instrument in accordance with the supplies and/or services the stand is capable of providing. Thus, the instrument may automatically operate in an enhanced mode, such as at a higher x-ray beam power, as a result of being mounted in the stand.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Michael E. Dugas, Mark Hamilton, Kenneth P. Martin
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Publication number: 20090064276Abstract: An analytical instrument includes a contactless memory reader, such as an RF-ID reader. Each person authorized to use the instrument carries a contactless memory, such as an RF-ID tag in an identification (ID) badge. The instrument scans for a contactless memory containing information identifying an authorized user prior to performing an analysis or prior to operating in a predetermined mode, thus preventing unauthorized persons from operating the instrument or from operating the instrument in an unauthorized mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Michael E. DUGAS, Mark HAMILTON, Kenneth P. MARTIN
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Publication number: 20080192897Abstract: A hand-held, self-contained x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer produces a small x-ray spot on a sample to interrogate the elemental composition of a sample region of millimeter-size characteristic dimension. The analyzer includes a collimator for aiming an x-ray beam toward a desired location on the sample and for determining the size of the spot produced on the sample. The analyzer may include a digital camera oriented toward the portion of the sample that is, or would be, interrogated by the x-ray spot to facilitate aiming the analyzer. The analyzer may generate a reticule in a displayed image to indicate the portion of the sample that is, or would be, illuminated by the x-ray beam. The analyzer may automatically annotate the image of the sample with text or graphics that contain information about the analyzed sample. The image may be stored in the hand-held analyzer or provided for external storage or display.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: Stanislaw Piorek, Mark Hamilton, Kenneth P. Martin, Pratheev Sreetharan, Michael E. Dugas, Paul Estabrooks, Lee Grodzins