Patents by Inventor Michael Hoenk

Michael Hoenk 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: 9739898
    Abstract: A scintillation detector, including a scintillator that emits scintillation; a semiconductor photodetector having a surface area for receiving the scintillation, wherein the surface area has a passivation layer configured to provide a peak quantum efficiency greater than 40% for a first component of the scintillation, and the semiconductor photodetector has built in gain through avalanche multiplication; a coating on the surface area, wherein the coating acts as a bandpass filter that transmits light within a range of wavelengths corresponding to the first component of the scintillation and suppresses transmission of light with wavelengths outside said range of wavelengths; and wherein the surface area, the passivation layer, and the coating are controlled to increase the temporal resolution of the semiconductor photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael Hoenk, John Hennessy, David Hitlin
  • Publication number: 20150276947
    Abstract: A scintillation detector, including a scintillator that emits scintillation; a semiconductor photodetector having a surface area for receiving the scintillation, wherein the surface area has a passivation layer configured to provide a peak quantum efficiency greater than 40% for a first component of the scintillation, and the semiconductor photodetector has built in gain through avalanche multiplication; a coating on the surface area, wherein the coating acts as a bandpass filter that transmits light within a range of wavelengths corresponding to the first component of the scintillation and suppresses transmission of light with wavelengths outside said range of wavelengths; and wherein the surface area, the passivation layer, and the coating are controlled to increase the temporal resolution of the semiconductor photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Hoenk, John Hennessy, David Hitlin
  • Patent number: 7786421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to curved focal plane arrays. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for making solid-state curved focal plane arrays from standard and high-purity devices that may be matched to a given optical system. There are two ways to make a curved focal plane arrays starting with the fully fabricated device. One way, is to thin the device and conform it to a curvature. A second way, is to back-illuminate a thick device without making a thinned membrane. The thick device is a special class of devices; for example devices fabricated with high purity silicon. One surface of the device (the non VLSI fabricated surface, also referred to as the back surface) can be polished to form a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shouleh Nikzad, Michael Hoenk, Todd Jones
  • Publication number: 20070039858
    Abstract: A nanofeature particulate trap comprising a plurality of densely packed nanofeatures, such as nanotubes, and a particulate detector incorporating the nanofeature particulate trap are provided. A method of producing a nanotrap structure alone or integrated with a particulate detector is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Flavio Noca, Brian Hunt, Michael Bronikowski, Michael Hoenk, Robert Kowalczyk, Daniel Choi, Fei Chen
  • Publication number: 20050109918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to curved focal plane arrays. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for making solid-state curved focal plane arrays from standard and high-purity devices that may be matched to a given optical system. There are two ways to make a curved focal plane arrays starting with the fully fabricated device. One way, is to thin the device and conform it to a curvature. A second way, is to back-illuminate a thick device without making a thinned membrane. The thick device is a special class of devices; for example devices fabricated with high purity silicon. One surface of the device (the non VLSI fabricated surface, also referred to as the back surface) can be polished to form a curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Shouleh Nikzad, Michael Hoenk, Todd Jones