Patents by Inventor Patrick L. Feng
Patrick L. Feng 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: 12105231Abstract: A radiation detector includes a photodetector and a scintillator coupled thereto. The scintillator is formed of a scintillator material comprising an organic glass scintillator (OGS) material and at least one of a polymer additive or a plasticizer additive. The scintillator emits light when radiation is received at the scintillator, and the light is received by the photodetector. The radiation detector can further include a frame that has an interior cavity that holds the scintillator in position with respect to the photodetector, such that the light emitted by the scintillator is transmitted to the photodetector. The scintillator can be formed by casting amorphous scintillator material in the interior cavity of the frame. The frame can then be coupled to the photodetector to form the radiation detector.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2023Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Joseph Carlson, Patrick L. Feng, Nicholas Myllenbeck, Huu Tran, Lucas Nguyen, Melinda Sweany, Peter Marleau
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Patent number: 11795388Abstract: A plastic scintillator includes a polymeric matrix comprising a primary fluorophore capable of forming an amorphous glass in its pure form. The primary fluorophore is also capable of generating luminescence in the presence of ionizing radiation and includes: a central species including silicon; a luminescent organic group bonded to the central species or to an optional organic linker group, the luminescent organic group including fluorene or an analog thereof; and the optional organic linker group, if present, is bonded to the central species and the luminescent organic group.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Nicholas Myllenbeck, Patrick L. Feng, Joseph Carlson
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Publication number: 20230314634Abstract: A radiation detector includes a photodetector and a scintillator coupled thereto. The scintillator is formed of a scintillator material comprising an organic glass scintillator (OGS) material and at least one of a polymer additive or a plasticizer additive. The scintillator emits light when radiation is received at the scintillator, and the light is received by the photodetector. The radiation detector can further include a frame that has an interior cavity that holds the scintillator in position with respect to the photodetector, such that the light emitted by the scintillator is transmitted to the photodetector. The scintillator can be formed by casting amorphous scintillator material in the interior cavity of the frame. The frame can then be coupled to the photodetector to form the radiation detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Joseph Carlson, Patrick L. Feng, Nicholas Myllenbeck, Huu Tran, Lucas Nguyen, Melinda Sweany, Peter Marleau
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Patent number: 11681055Abstract: A radiation detector includes a photodetector and a scintillator coupled thereto. The scintillator is formed of a scintillator material comprising an organic glass scintillator (OGS) material and at least one of a polymer additive or a plasticizer additive. The scintillator emits light when radiation is received at the scintillator, and the light is received by the photodetector. The radiation detector can further include a frame that has an interior cavity that holds the scintillator in position with respect to the photodetector, such that the light emitted by the scintillator is transmitted to the photodetector. The scintillator can be formed by casting amorphous scintillator material in the interior cavity of the frame. The frame can then be coupled to the photodetector to form the radiation detector.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Joseph Carlson, Patrick L. Feng, Nicholas Myllenbeck, Huu Tran, Lucas Nguyen, Melinda Sweany, Peter Marleau
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Patent number: 11680202Abstract: An article that includes a fluorescent composition having at least one of a fluorescent sensor compound and organic reporter molecules encapsulated in a microsphere structure. When encapsulated, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are distributed in a liquid organic matrix. When non-encapsulated, the remaining one of the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules reside in the matrix. In response to a force applied to the composition sufficient to break at least a portion of the microsphere structure, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are transformed into a non-reversible fluorescent state exhibiting a quantum yield greater than 0.2. The fluorescent state is objectively visually verifiable without physically contacting the composition.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Heidi A. Smartt, Dianna S. Blair, Juan A. Romero, Patrick L. Feng
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Publication number: 20220403235Abstract: A plastic scintillator includes a polymeric matrix comprising a primary fluorophore capable of forming an amorphous glass in its pure form. The primary fluorophore is also capable of generating luminescence in the presence of ionizing radiation and includes: a central species including silicon; a luminescent organic group bonded to the central species or to an optional organic linker group, the luminescent organic group including fluorene or an analog thereof; and the optional organic linker group, if present, is bonded to the central species and the luminescent organic group.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Nicholas Myllenbeck, Patrick L. Feng, Joseph Carlson
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Patent number: 11479717Abstract: A plastic scintillator includes a polymeric matrix comprising a primary fluorophore capable of forming an amorphous glass in its pure form. The primary fluorophore is also capable of generating luminescence in the presence of ionizing radiation and includes: a central species including silicon; a luminescent organic group bonded to the central species or to an optional organic linker group, the luminescent organic group including fluorene or an analog thereof; and the optional organic linker group, if present, is bonded to the central species and the luminescent organic group.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Nicholas Myllenbeck, Patrick L. Feng, Joseph Carlson
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Publication number: 20210348054Abstract: An article that includes a fluorescent composition having at least one of a fluorescent sensor compound and organic reporter molecules encapsulated in a microsphere structure. When encapsulated, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are distributed in a liquid organic matrix. When non-encapsulated, the remaining one of the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules reside in the matrix. In response to a force applied to the composition sufficient to break at least a portion of the microsphere structure, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are transformed into a non-reversible fluorescent state exhibiting a quantum yield greater than 0.2. The fluorescent state is objectively visually verifiable without physically contacting the composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Heidi A. Smartt, Dianna S. Blair, Juan A. Romero, Patrick L. Feng
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Patent number: 11084978Abstract: An article that includes a fluorescent composition having at least one of a fluorescent sensor compound and organic reporter molecules encapsulated in a microsphere structure. When encapsulated, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are distributed in a liquid organic matrix. When non-encapsulated, the remaining one of the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules reside in the matrix. In response to a force applied to the composition sufficient to break at least a portion of the microsphere structure, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are transformed into a non-reversible fluorescent state exhibiting a quantum yield greater than 0.2. The fluorescent state is objectively visually verifiable without physically contacting the composition.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Heidi A. Smartt, Dianna S. Blair, Juan A. Romero, Patrick L. Feng
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Patent number: 10732304Abstract: A plastic scintillator includes an anti-fog additive or comonomer. The plastic scintillator is formulated to resist the development of hydrothermally-induced aging defects (e.g. discoloration and “fogging”) while maintaining scintillation light output and other desirable physical properties.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Nicholas Myllenbeck, Patrick L. Feng, Rakia Dhaoui
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Publication number: 20200148946Abstract: An article that includes a fluorescent composition having at least one of a fluorescent sensor compound and organic reporter molecules encapsulated in a microsphere structure. When encapsulated, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are distributed in a liquid organic matrix. When non-encapsulated, the remaining one of the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules reside in the matrix. In response to a force applied to the composition sufficient to break at least a portion of the microsphere structure, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are transformed into a non-reversible fluorescent state exhibiting a quantum yield greater than 0.2. The fluorescent state is objectively visually verifiable without physically contacting the composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Heidi A. Smartt, Dianna S. Blair, Juan A. Romero, Patrick L. Feng
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Patent number: 10538701Abstract: A fluorescent composition includes at least one of a fluorescent sensor compound and organic reporter molecules encapsulated in a microsphere structure. When encapsulated, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are distributed in a liquid organic matrix. When non-encapsulated, the remaining one of the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules reside in the matrix. In response to a force applied to the composition sufficient to break at least a portion of the microsphere structure, the fluorescent sensor compound and the organic reporter molecules are transformed into a non-reversible fluorescent state exhibiting a quantum yield greater than 0.2. The fluorescent state is objectively visually verifiable without physically contacting the composition.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Heidi A. Smartt, Dianna S. Blair, Juan A. Romero, Patrick L. Feng
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Patent number: 10508233Abstract: A mixed compound glass scintillator includes a first compound and a second compound. The first compound has a Tg greater than 25° C., is organic, is capable of generating luminescence in the presence of ionizing radiation. The first compound includes a central species and a luminescent organic group bonded to the central species or to an optional organic linker group. The central species is selected from the group consisting of: carbon, silicon, and tin. The optional organic linker group, if present, is bonded to the central species and the luminescent organic group. The second compound also has a Tg greater than 25° C. The first and second compound are mixed and melted to form a glass material.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Patrick L. Feng, Joseph Carlson
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Patent number: 10024983Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of several new metal-loaded plastic scintillators are reported herein, comprising sterically and electronically isolated organotin additive complexes. Distance-dependent quenching relationships have been used as design criteria for the selection and synthesis of these organometallic additives, resulting in increased light yields and improved gamma-ray energy resolution values relative to previously reported PS/PVT examples. Fast scintillation decay properties have also been characterized in the prepared scintillators, rivaling the kinetics of stilbene-doped bibenzyl and BC-422Q-1% while providing higher light yields than these reference materials.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Patrick L. Feng, Joseph Gabriel Cordaro, Wondwosen Mengesha, Nicolas Richard Myllenbeck
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Patent number: 9915740Abstract: An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventor: Patrick L. Feng
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Patent number: 9885792Abstract: An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventor: Patrick L. Feng
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Patent number: 9845334Abstract: A new family of neutron/gamma discriminating scintillators is disclosed that comprises stable organic glasses that may be melt-cast into transparent monoliths. These materials have been shown to provide light yields greater than solution-grown trans-stilbene crystals and efficient PSD capabilities when combined with 0.01 to 0.05% by weight of the total composition of a wavelength-shifting fluorophore. Photoluminescence measurements reveal fluorescence quantum yields that are 2 to 5 times greater than conventional plastic or liquid scintillator matrices, which accounts for the superior light yield of these glasses. The unique combination of high scintillation light-yields, efficient neutron/gamma PSD, and straightforward scale-up via melt-casting distinguishes the developed organic glasses from existing scintillators.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Patrick L. Feng, Joseph S. Carlson
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Patent number: 9753155Abstract: An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventor: Patrick L. Feng
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Patent number: 9709685Abstract: An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventor: Patrick L. Feng
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Patent number: 9678225Abstract: An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventor: Patrick L. Feng