Patents by Inventor Michael J. Fehr

Michael J. Fehr 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: 6440689
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the microbiological contamination of opaque media is described and claimed. In this method, a Fluorogenic Dye is added to an Aliquot of opaque medium. After a certain time period, a fluorometer capable of measuring fluorescent signals in an opaque medium is used to measure the fluorogenic signals of the Fluorogenic Dye and the Reacted Fluorogenic Dye. A Useful RATIO of the fluorescent signal of the Reacted Fluorogenic Dye to the fluorescent signal of the Fluorogenic Dye is calculated and the information gleaned from the RATIO is used to ascertain the state of microbiological contamination in the opaque medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Ondeo Nalco Company
    Inventors: Rodney H. Banks, Nancy L. Casselman, Mita Chattoraj, Ronald V. Davis, Michael J. Fehr, Sasireka S. Ramesh, David P. Workman
  • Publication number: 20020042092
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the microbiological contamination of opaque media is described and claimed. In this method, a Fluorogenic Dye is added to an Aliquot of opaque medium. After a certain time period, a fluorometer capable of measuring fluorescent signals in an opaque medium is used to measure the fluorogenic signals of the Fluorogenic Dye and the Reacted Fluorogenic Dye. A Useful RATIO of the fluorescent signal of the Reacted Fluorogenic Dye to the fluorescent signal of the Fluorogenic Dye is calculated and the information gleaned from the RATIO is used to ascertain the state of microbiological contamination in the opaque medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Rodney H. Banks, Nancy L. Casselman, Mita Chattoraj, Ronald V. Davis, Michael J. Fehr, Sasireka S. Ramesh, David P. Workman
  • Patent number: 6369894
    Abstract: Described and claimed is a modular fluorometer and a method of using same to control an industrial water system, wherein said modular fluorometer comprises: one or more units with each unit comprising: a channel comprising an optically appropriate cell through which a water sample flows; a light source positioned outside said optically appropriate cell; an optional excitation filter positioned between the light source and the optically appropriate cell; a reference detector positioned outside the optically appropriate cell; an emission detector positioned outside the optically appropriate cell; an optional emission filter positioned between said emission detector and said optically appropriate cell; wherein if more than one unit is present in said modular fluorometer, said optically appropriate cells through which said water sample flows are aligned such that only one channel through which a water sample flows exists in said fluorometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: NALCO Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Rasimas, Michael J. Fehr, John E. Hoots
  • Patent number: 6329165
    Abstract: A method for monitoring both the planktonic and sessile microbial populations in an industrial water system by the addition of a fluorogenic dye compound is described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Mita Chattoraj, Michael J. Fehr, Steven R. Hatch, Robert W. Shiely
  • Patent number: 6255118
    Abstract: A solid-state fluorometry instrument is provided. The instrument is based on either diode laser or light-emitting diode (LED) excitation sources that are capable of being used in a wide range of applications. The solid-state diode laser based fluorometer instrument monitors fluorescent tracers, particularly suitable for industrial water sample stream applications. Using the instrument, a solid-state diode laser or light-emitting diode (LED) is used as an excitation source to excite fluorescent tracer molecules. The fluorescence resulting from the diode laser excitation is imaged with a lens onto a silicon photodiode detector. An optical filter is placed between the sample cell and the photodiode detector to reject scattered laser light. The output from the photodiode is amplified to produce an output voltage proportional to the quantity of fluorescence striking the photodiode detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Joseph C. Alfano, Michael J. Fehr, Martin R. Godfrey, John E. Hoots, Karen R. Tubergen, James E. Whitten, Narasimha M. Rao