Patents by Inventor Norman C. Ford
Norman C. Ford 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: 8388134Abstract: A system for performing quasi-elastic light scattering and fluorescent ligand scanning on a subject's eye includes a light source configured to transmit light toward the subject's eye, a lens configured to focus light sent from the source and scattered by the subject's eye, a measurement reflector disposed to receive at least a portion of the focused light and configured to reflect a first portion of the received light, a camera configured and disposed to receive the first portion of the received light and configured to provide indicia of an image corresponding to the first portion of the received light, and a processor coupled to the camera and configured to analyze intensities of light in the image to determine a location of a reference point corresponding to an interface of a portion of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Cognoptix, Inc.Inventors: Lee E. Goldstein, Norman C. Ford, Leo T. Chylack, Jr., Paul D. Hartung, Marc D. Friedman, Evan A. Sherr, Stephen D. Fantone
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Publication number: 20110080559Abstract: A system for performing quasi-elastic light scattering and fluorescent ligand scanning on a subject's eye includes a light source configured to transmit light toward the subject's eye, a lens configured to focus light sent from the source and scattered by the subject's eye, a measurement reflector disposed to receive at least a portion of the focused light and configured to reflect a first portion of the received light, a camera configured and disposed to receive the first portion of the received light and configured to provide indicia of an image corresponding to the first portion of the received light, and a processor coupled to the camera and configured to analyze intensities of light in the image to determine a location of a reference point corresponding to an interface of a portion of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventors: Lee E. Goldstein, Norman C. Ford, Leo T. Chylack, JR., Paul D. Hartung, Marc D. Friedman, Evan A. Sherr, Stephen D. Fantone
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Patent number: 7828436Abstract: A system for performing quasi-elastic light scattering and fluorescent ligand scanning on a subject's eye includes a light source configured to transmit light toward the subject's eye, a lens configured to focus light sent from the source and scattered by the subject's eye, a measurement reflector disposed to receive at least a portion of the focused light and configured to reflect a first portion of the received light, a camera configured and disposed to receive the first portion of the received light and configured to provide indicia of an image corresponding to the first portion of the received light, and a processor coupled to the camera and configured to analyze intensities of light in the image to determine a location of a reference point corresponding to an interface of a portion of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Neuroptix CorporationInventors: Lee E. Goldstein, Norman C. Ford, Leo T. Chylack, Jr., Paul D. Hartung, Marc D. Friedman, Evan A. Sherr, Stephen D. Fantone
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Patent number: 6795183Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring component concentration in a liquid containing relatively large particles and relatively small particles. The invention may be utilized for measuring fat and casein concentrations in a dairy product, but is not limited to such use. A polarized light beam is directed through a scattering cell having first and second windows and containing a sample of the liquid. A normal to an exterior surface of the second window of the scattering cell is at or near Brewster's angle with respect to the light beam to reduce or eliminate reflections. A first light detector, positioned at an angle of about 5° to about 45° with respect to the light beam, detects scattered light from a first component of the liquid, such as fat particles. A second light detector, positioned at an angle of about 130° to about 160° with respect to the light beam, detects scattered light from a second component of the liquid, such as casein particles.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Metron Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. O'Keeffe, Spencer M. Lovette, Norman C. Ford
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Publication number: 20030007150Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring component concentration in a liquid containing relatively large particles and relatively small particles. The invention may be utilized for measuring fat and casein concentrations in a dairy product, but is not limited to such use. A polarized light beam is directed through a scattering cell having first and second windows and containing a sample of the liquid. A normal to an exterior surface of the second window of the scattering cell is at or near Brewster's angle with respect to the light beam to reduce or eliminate reflections. A first light detector, positioned at an angle of about 5° to about 45° with respect to the light beam, detects scattered light from a first component of the liquid, such as fat particles. A second light detector, positioned at an angle of about 130° to about 160° with respect to the light beam, detects scattered light from a second component of the liquid, such as casein particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: On-Line Instrumentation, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. O'Keeffe, Spencer M. Lovette, Norman C. Ford
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Patent number: 6407813Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring component concentration in a liquid containing relatively large particles and relatively small particles. The invention may be utilized for measuring fat and casein concentrations in a dairy product, but is not limited to such use. A polarized light beam is directed through a scattering cell having first and second windows and containing a sample of the liquid. A normal to an exterior surface of the second window of the scattering cell is at or near Brewster's angle with respect to the light beam to reduce or eliminate reflections. A first light detector, positioned at an angle of about 5° to about 45° with respect to the light beam, detects scattered light from a first component of the liquid, such as fat particles. A second light detector, positioned at an angle of about 130° to about 160° with respect to the light beam, detects scattered light from a second component of the liquid, such as casein particles.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: On-Line Instrumentation, Inc.Inventors: Spencer M. Lovette, Norman C. Ford
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Patent number: 5701176Abstract: A high temperature light scattering measurement device for characterizing certain physical properties of molecules is described. In one embodiment the device includes a sample scattering chamber having at least one detector positioned about the chamber so as to collect light scattered by the molecules to be characterized located within the sample chamber. The sample scattering chamber, detectors and associated optics are located within an oven to maintain the scattering chamber at an elevated temperature. Light to be scattered by molecules in the sample scattering chamber is provided by a laser located outside the oven. Light from the laser is directed along an optical path through the oven wall where it is then focussed by optical elements on the sample chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1995Date of Patent: December 23, 1997Assignee: Precision Detectors, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Dion, Norman C. Ford, Jr.
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Patent number: 5305073Abstract: A molecular characterization detector includes a scattering cell containing a sample for molecular characterization, a light source for directing a light beam through the cell so that the light beam is scattered by the sample, optical elements for selecting from the scattered light a measurement beam comprising light that is scattered by the sample from a predetermined portion of the cell in a predetermined range of angles relative to the optical axis, and a detector for detecting the measurement beam and providing an output electrical signal representative of the measurement beam. The detector typically selects light scattered from a central portion of the scattering cell at angles in the range of 14.degree. to 16.degree.. A single spherical lens is preferably utilized. As a result, interference from stray scattered light is minimized. A beam dump attenuates the light beam after it passes through the scattering cell. Additional detectors detect light scattered at 90.degree. to the light beam.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1992Date of Patent: April 19, 1994Assignee: Precision Detectors, Inc.Inventor: Norman C. Ford, Jr.
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Patent number: 4938592Abstract: Apparatus, intended primarily for use in an aerodynamic particle sizing system, for generating a pair of closely-spaced, substantially parallel light beams and for determining particle sizes by measuring the times of flight of particles between the two light beams. The apparatus for generating the light beams includes a laser source, an aperture slit for establishing the shape of the beams, a cylindrical lens for focusing the laser beam on the aperture slit, a diffraction grating for converting the beam from the aperture slit into diffracted beams in the zero order lobe and one first order lobe and a transfer lens for directing the diffracted beams as substantially parallel beams.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1987Date of Patent: July 3, 1990Assignee: Amherst Process Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Trent A. Poole, Norman C. Ford
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Patent number: 4917494Abstract: Apparatus, intended primarily for use in an aerodynamic particle sizing system, for generating a pair of closely-spaced light beams, each having a thin, elongated cross-sectional shape. Particle sizes are determined by directing a particle stream through the light beams and measuring the times of flight of particles between the two light beams. The apparatus for generating the light beams includes a laser source and beam forming optics. In one embodiment, a first light beam is formed at the particle stream by a cylindrical lens. After passing through the particle stream, the first light beam is reflected and focused to form a second light beam at the particle stream that is displaced from the first light beam. The first light beam can be reflected and focused by a concave cylindrical mirror or, alternatively, by a flat mirror and a convex cylindrical lens.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1988Date of Patent: April 17, 1990Assignee: Amherst Process Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Trent A. Poole, Norman C. Ford, Barton E. Dahneke
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Patent number: 4648715Abstract: Multichannel electrophoresis apparatus employing electrophoretic light scattering as a means for characterizing the particles under study. The apparatus is characterized by the ability to measure light scattered simultaneously using a plurality of local oscillators incident at different angles from the same population of particles being subjected to electrophoresis. The apparatus is used with data processing means to analyze the large amount of scattering data which provide information on electrophoretic mobility, particle size, particle charge, electrophoretic mobility, zeta potential. An important aspect of the new apparatus is a markedly improved capability to segregate data related to diffusion effects from data relating to heterogeneous effects.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1984Date of Patent: March 10, 1987Assignee: Langley-Ford Instruments a division of Coulter Electronics of N.E.Inventors: Norman C. Ford, Jr., Bennie R. Ware
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Patent number: 4571081Abstract: A light scattering interfacial tension spectrometer has a laser source of light directed, as an incident beam I.sub.i, through a focusing lens and a diffraction grating. The grating divides the incident beam I.sub.i into a main beam I.sub.m, undiffracted light, and a higher order, diffracted light, reference beam I.sub.r. The beam I.sub.r is passed through an attenuator and a diffraction focusing lens to a region under test, such as a liquid surface. The main beam I.sub.m, from the grating is transmitted through the common diffraction focusing lens to the test region where it is reflected. The reference beam I.sub.r is reflected from the test surface together with scattered light I.sub.s, and directed through an aperture to a photomultipler tube. The output of the photomultiplier is coupled to a pulse amplifier-discriminator and a photon correlator. For a liquid surface under test the output of the spectrometer provides a measure of the surface tension and the viscosity of the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1982Date of Patent: February 18, 1986Assignee: Coulter Electronics of New England, Inc.Inventor: Norman C. Ford, Jr.
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Patent number: 4350163Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring contaminants in aqueous humor without rupturing an examined eye. The apparatus includes a laser which projects a light beam through a gonioscopic lens into the aqueous humor of the examined eye. The light is scattered in the humor with a portion of the scattered light being reflected by the gonioscopic lens to an analyzing system. The system measures the diffusion constant of any contaminant in the aqueous humor and, by comparing the diffusion constant to a set of known diffusion constants, determines the composition of the macromolecules or the cells of the contaminant.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1980Date of Patent: September 21, 1982Inventors: Norman C. Ford, Jr., David K. Dueker