Patents by Inventor Paul BOUCHARD

Paul BOUCHARD 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: 12459006
    Abstract: A system for the online sorting of ore samples based on mineralogy analysis includes a conveyor moving a stream of the ore samples along a conveying path, a LIBS module, a height measuring device, a focus controller and an airflow system. The LIBS module projects a LIBS laser beam along an optical path focused on an analysis spot of dimensions of the order of one or a few mineral components of the ore samples, and collects a returning LIBS light signal. The height measuring device and focus controller collaborate to adjust in real-time the focus of the LIBS laser beam to move the analysis spot perpendicularly to the conveyor according to a height of the ore samples crossing the optical path. The air flow system moves particles away from the optical path. A processing unit performs the mineralogy analysis of the ore sample based on the LIBS light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
    Inventors: Mohamad Sabsabi, Daniel Gagnon, Paul Bouchard, Aissa Harhira, Elton Soares De Lima Filho, Francis Vanier, Josette El Haddad, Alain Blouin, Christian Padioleau, Antoine Hamel
  • Publication number: 20240165674
    Abstract: A system for the online sorting of ore samples based on mineralogy analysis includes a conveyor moving a stream of the ore samples along a conveying path, a LIBS module, a height measuring device, a focus controller and an airflow system. The LIBS module projects a LIBS laser beam along an optical path focused on an analysis spot of dimensions of the order of one or a few mineral components of the ore samples, and collects a returning LIBS light signal. The height measuring device and focus controller collaborate to adjust in real-time the focus of the LIBS laser beam to move the analysis spot perpendicularly to the conveyor according to a height of the ore samples crossing the optical path. The air flow system moves particles away from the optical path. A processing unit performs the mineralogy analysis of the ore sample based on the LIBS light signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: MOHAMAD SABSABI, Daniel GAGNON, Paul BOUCHARD, Aissa HARHIRA, Elton SOARES DE LIMA FILHO, Francis VANIER, Josette EL HADDAD, Alain BLOUIN, Christian PADIOLEAU, Antoine HAMEL
  • Patent number: 11385182
    Abstract: A LIBS system to detect constituent elements of interest within a sample from plasma light resulting from irradiation of this sample is presented. The LIBS system has a hybrid configuration which provides both a low-resolution spectrum of the plasma light covering a broad spectral range, and a high-resolution spectrum of the same plasma light over a narrow spectral range centered on a spectral line or feature of a constituent element of interest of the sample. In some implementations, the LIBS system has a portable design and can perform onsite sample analyses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Bouchard, Mohamad Sabsabi, Alain Blouin, Christian Padioleau
  • Patent number: 11385101
    Abstract: Spectrometer designs are provided. The spectrometer includes two planar diffraction gratings disposed in a cascade, without intervening optics therebetween. Advantageously, the described configurations may promote both a high throughput and a high resolution, enabling the design of a portable device having sufficient resolution for on-site use or in the laboratory. In some implementations, two different secondary diffraction channels may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Bouchard, Mohamad Sabsabi, Christian Padioleau
  • Publication number: 20210148756
    Abstract: Spectrometer designs are provided. The spectrometer includes two planar diffraction gratings disposed in a cascade, without intervening optics therebetween. Advantageously, the described configurations may promote both a high throughput and a high resolution, enabling the design of a portable device having sufficient resolution for on-site use or in the laboratory. In some implementations, two different secondary diffraction channels may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Paul BOUCHARD, Mohamad SABSABI, Christian PADIOLEAU
  • Publication number: 20210072159
    Abstract: A LIBS system to detect constituent elements of interest within a sample from plasma light resulting from irradiation of this sample is presented. The LIBS system has a hybrid configuration which provides both a low-resolution spectrum of the plasma light covering a broad spectral range, and a high-resolution spectrum of the same plasma light over a narrow spectral range centered on a spectral line or feature of a constituent element of interest of the sample. In some implementations, the LIBS system has a portable design and can perform onsite sample analyses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Paul BOUCHARD, Mohamad SABSABI, Alain BLOUIN, Christian PADIOLEAU
  • Patent number: 10871450
    Abstract: Described are various embodiments of a system, method and device for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). In some embodiments, the LIBS system comprises a silicon photomultiplier (Si PM) operated in a time-gated photon counting mode. Some such embodiments allow for the provision of a portable LIBS device. Also provided are embodiments for the measurement of constituent carbon, gold and/or other precious metal group elements in a target sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
    Inventors: Paul Bouchard, Mohamad Sabsabi, Christian Padioleau, Rene Heon, Peter John Hardman
  • Patent number: 10502624
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compact apparatus for laser induced breakdown atomic emission spectroscopy from a targeted sample having a laser generating a laser beam, the laser beam directed to the sample, optical means for manipulating the laser beam in order maximize laser fluency at the target surface of the sample, the laser beam generating ablation and plasma emission from the sample at the target surface, an emission spectrometer having a detector for detecting a plasma plume from the plasma emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: National Research Council Canada
    Inventors: Paul Bouchard, Mohamad Sabsabi, Francois Doucet, Lütfü Celebi Özcan
  • Publication number: 20190242826
    Abstract: Described are various embodiments of a system, method and device for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). In some embodiments, the LIBS system comprises a silicon photomultiplier (Si PM) operated in a time-gated photon counting mode. Some such embodiments allow for the provision of a portable LIBS device. Also provided are embodiments for the measurement of constituent carbon, gold and/or other precious metal group elements in a target sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
    Inventors: Paul BOUCHARD, Mohamad SABSABI, Christian PADIOLEAU, Rene HEON, Peter John HARDMAN
  • Publication number: 20180283947
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compact apparatus for laser induced breakdown atomic emission spectroscopy from a targeted sample having a laser generating a laser beam, the laser beam directed to the sample, optical means for manipulating the laser beam in order maximize laser fluency at the target surface of the sample, the laser beam generating ablation and plasma emission from the sample at the target surface, an emission spectrometer having a detector for detecting a plasma plume from the plasma emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Bouchard, Mohamad Sabsabi, Francois Doucet, Lütfü Celebi Özcan
  • Patent number: 10024802
    Abstract: A method for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) calibration or LIBS assay comprises providing a plurality of reference samples, each having a respective, known concentration of an analyte, assaying each reference sample to obtain a respective LIBS spectrum, and for each reference LIBS spectrum, measuring an intensity of at least one spectral analyte line that varies with concentration of the analyte, and measuring a peak amplitude of at least one saturating line of a reference element. The ratio and known concentrations define a calibration curve for the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Mohamad Sabsabi, Jean-Pierre Monchalin, René Héon, Paul Bouchard
  • Publication number: 20170191940
    Abstract: A method for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) calibration or LIBS assay comprises providing a plurality of reference samples, each having a respective, known concentration of an analyte, assaying each reference sample to obtain a respective LIBS spectrum, and for each reference LIBS spectrum, measuring an intensity of at least one spectral analyte line that varies with concentration of the analyte, and measuring a peak amplitude of at least one saturating line of a reference element. The ratio and known concentrations define a calibration curve for the analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
    Inventors: Mohamad SABSABI, Jean-Pierre MONCHALIN, René HÉON, Paul BOUCHARD