Patents by Inventor Michael W. Ingram

Michael W. Ingram 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: 8854734
    Abstract: An integrating optical system having a chamber, the chamber having an aperture and at least one portion having a diffuse reflective material; a light source; and a diffuse transmissive baffle. The baffle is located in relation to the chamber such that it is also located in an optical path between the light source and a treatable target. A light-ray originating from the light source is diffusely transmitted from the diffuse transmissive baffle and impinges on an interior surface of the chamber before impinging on the treatable target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Vela Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Ingram
  • Patent number: 8426800
    Abstract: Integrating optical systems and methods of use are described herein. In one embodiment, an integrating optical system comprises: a housing having a first and second portions; and a chamber having a diffuse reflective material and a volume formed within the portions when coupled together. The portions are separable to allow insertion and removal of at least one light treatable object in and out of the chamber. At least one aperture is formed in the chamber to couple to a light source and to direct light from the light source to at least a first portion of the diffuse reflective material. At least one holding structure supports the object within the volume at a location, wherein the diffuse reflective material, the aperture and the location ensure that the light is diffusely reflected to integrate the light and impact the object with substantially uniform light without movement of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Vela Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ingram, Joseph C. Stumpf, Jon P. Conway
  • Patent number: 8404186
    Abstract: An ultraviolet flux multiplying air sterilization chamber comprises inner surfaces having a diffuse reflective behavior. The sterilization chamber includes an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture for air to flow through said chamber and a light source emitting an ultraviolet light. Due to the reflectivity of the inner surfaces of the chamber, a flux of the ultraviolet light is multiplied by reflecting multiple times from the inner surfaces of the chamber. The inlet and outlet apertures are advantageously configured to reduce the amount of light that escapes from the chamber and increase the amount of photons available in the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, perforated end panels having diffuse, reflective interior surfaces may be provided over at least a portion of the inlet and outlet apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Novatron, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald W. Clark, Bernard J. Eastland, Michael W. Ingram, Joseph C. Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20120085926
    Abstract: Integrating optical systems and methods of use are described herein. In one embodiment, an integrating optical system comprises: a housing having a first and second portions; and a chamber having a diffuse reflective material and a volume formed within the portions when coupled together. The portions are separable to allow insertion and removal of at least one light treatable object in and out of the chamber. At least one aperture is formed in the chamber to couple to a light source and to direct light from the light source to at least a first portion of the diffuse reflective material. At least one holding structure supports the object within the volume at a location, wherein the diffuse reflective material, the aperture and the location ensure that the light is diffusely reflected to integrate the light and impact the object with substantially uniform light without movement of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: VELA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ingram, Joseph C. Stumpf, Jon P. Conway
  • Publication number: 20110139999
    Abstract: An ultraviolet flux multiplying air sterilization chamber comprises inner surfaces having a diffuse reflective behavior. The sterilization chamber includes an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture for air to flow through said chamber and a light source emitting an ultraviolet light. Due to the reflectivity of the inner surfaces of the chamber, a flux of the ultraviolet light is multiplied by reflecting multiple times from the inner surfaces of the chamber. The inlet and outlet apertures are advantageously configured to reduce the amount of light that escapes from the chamber and increase the amount of photons available in the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, perforated end panels having diffuse, reflective interior surfaces may be provided over at least a portion of the inlet and outlet apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Novatron, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald W. Clark, Bernard J. Eastlund, Michael W. Ingram, Joseph C. Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20110108741
    Abstract: An integrating optical system having a chamber, the chamber having an aperture and at least one portion having a diffuse reflective material; a light source; and a diffuse transmissive baffle. The baffle is located in relation to the chamber such that it is also located in an optical path between the light source and a treatable target. A light-ray originating from the light source is diffusely transmitted from the diffuse transmissive baffle and impinges on an interior surface of the chamber before impinging on the treatable target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: VELA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael W. Ingram
  • Patent number: 7875247
    Abstract: An ultraviolet flux multiplying air sterilization chamber comprises inner surfaces having a diffuse reflective behavior. The sterilization chamber includes an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture for air to flow through said chamber and a light source emitting an ultraviolet light. Due to the reflectivity of the inner surfaces of the chamber, a flux of the ultraviolet light is multiplied by reflecting multiple times from the inner surfaces of the chamber. The inlet and outlet apertures are advantageously configured to reduce the amount of light that escapes from the chamber and increase the amount of photons available in the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, perforated end panels having diffuse, reflective interior surfaces may be provided over at least a portion of the inlet and outlet apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Novatron, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald W. Clark, Bernard J. Eastlund, Michael W. Ingram, Joseph C. Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20080152548
    Abstract: An ultraviolet flux multiplying air sterilization chamber comprises inner surfaces having a diffuse reflective behavior. The sterilization chamber includes an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture for air to flow through said chamber and a light source emitting an ultraviolet light. Due to the reflectivity of the inner surfaces of the chamber, a flux of the ultraviolet light is multiplied by reflecting multiple times from the inner surfaces of the chamber. The inlet and outlet apertures are advantageously configured to reduce the amount of light that escapes from the chamber and increase the amount of photons available in the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, perforated end panels having diffuse, reflective interior surfaces may be provided over at least a portion of the inlet and outlet apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Reginald W. Clark, Bernard J. Eastlund, Michael W. Ingram, Joseph C. Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20040166018
    Abstract: An ultraviolet flux multiplying air sterilization chamber comprises inner surfaces having a diffuse reflective behavior. The sterilization chamber includes an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture for air to flow through said chamber and a light source emitting an ultraviolet light. Due to the reflectivity of the inner surfaces of the chamber, a flux of the ultraviolet light is multiplied by reflecting multiple times from the inner surfaces of the chamber. The inlet and outlet apertures are advantageously configured to reduce the amount of light that escapes from the chamber and increase the amount of photons available in the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, packed arrays of fibers, spheres, or other small particles are placed at the inlet and/or outlet to the chamber. These packed arrays provide light scattering events such that the light incident on the packed arrays reflects back with high reflectivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Reginald W. Clark, Bernard J. Eastlund, Michael W. Ingram, Joseph C. Stumpf
  • Patent number: 6264898
    Abstract: An apparatus for remediating a contaminated fluent material, such as a gas, utilizes a pulsed corona discharge. The apparatus includes a reactor section and a power supply section. The reactor section has a plurality of first electrodes electrically interconnected to a header plate and a plurality of second electrodes concentrically disposed about each first electrode and electrically interconnected to a reactor plate. The electrical contact between the header plate and the power supply is by a compression spring. When fluent material is flowing within channels defined by the second electrodes and a high voltage pulse is applied to the header plate, a stream of high energy electrons flows between the first electrodes and the second electrodes forming corona discharges effective to destroy polluting compounds contained in the contaminated fluent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: The Titan Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Ingram