Patents by Inventor Paul R. Wilkinson

Paul R. Wilkinson 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: 11946160
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in a substantially opposing relationship to a second surface. In some embodiments, the second surface is provided by a wall of the processing chamber, and in other embodiments the second surface is provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., having a thickness less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Matrix Sensors, Inc
    Inventors: David K Britt, Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20230358580
    Abstract: A sensor device and method to determine an amount of gas in the environment. The sensor device comprises at least one transducer. A sensing material (e.g., a metal-organic framework or a polymer film) is disposed on the transducer, and the sensing material captures an amount of the gas that depends on a temperature of the sensing material and a concentration or partial pressure of the gas. At least one detector or readout circuit is arranged to detect responses of the transducer as it captures gas in the sensing material and to output transducer measurement signals indicative of the responses of the transducer. At least one processor is arranged to process (e.g., demodulate) the transducer measurement signals according to the frequency of the temperature modulation. The processor determines the amount of gas according to the demodulated signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventor: Paul R. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20230279582
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in a substantially opposing relationship to a second surface. In some embodiments, the second surface is provided by a wall of the processing chamber, and in other embodiments the second surface is provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., having a thickness less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K Britt, Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11714066
    Abstract: A sensor device comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material disposed on the transducer. The sensing material adsorbs or absorbs an amount of analyte (e.g., a target gas) that depends on a temperature of the sensing material and a concentration of the analyte. At least one detector is arranged to measure responses of the transducer to sorption or desorption of the analyte in the sensing material while the sensing material is heated and/or cooled according to at least one temperature profile. The device also comprises a humidity sensor that is arranged to detect a humidity level of the environment or sample containing the analyte. A processor or controller is programmed to determine the quantity (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: MATRIX SENSORS, INC
    Inventors: David K Britt, Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11643751
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in a substantially opposing relationship to a second surface. In some embodiments, the second surface is provided by a wall of the processing chamber, and in other embodiments the second surface is provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., having a thickness less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K Britt, Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20220082525
    Abstract: A sensor device comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material disposed on the transducer. The sensing material adsorbs or absorbs an amount of analyte (e.g., a target gas) that depends on a temperature of the sensing material and a concentration of the analyte. At least one detector is arranged to measure responses of the transducer to sorption or desorption of the analyte in the sensing material while the sensing material is heated and/or cooled according to at least one temperature profile. The device also comprises a humidity sensor that is arranged to detect a humidity level of the environment or sample containing the analyte. A processor or controller is programmed to determine the quantity (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K Britt, Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20220001414
    Abstract: A method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in an opposing relationship to a second surface. The second surface may be provided by a wall of the processing chamber, or in some cases the second surface may be provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 ?m. Confining the volume of the reaction mixture to a thin layer adjacent the substrate surface significantly reduces problems with sedimentation and concentration control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K. Britt, Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20210387161
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a substrate with at least one film of porous coordination polymer. A body has an interior space for holding the substrate to be coated, at least one inlet, and at least one outlet in communication with the interior space to permit fluid to flow in a downstream direction from the inlet, across the surface of the substrate in the interior space, and through the outlet. A plurality of flow channels are arranged to flow a plurality of different reagent solutions from respective supply sources to the at least one inlet. The flow channels merge into at least one mixing region, positioned upstream of the interior space, to mix the solutions prior to the mixture contacting the surface of the substrate in the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: Matrix Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Britt, Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20210285126
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in a substantially opposing relationship to a second surface. In some embodiments, the second surface is provided by a wall of the processing chamber, and in other embodiments the second surface is provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., having a thickness less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K. Britt, Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10605778
    Abstract: A gas sensor comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material (e.g., a metal-organic framework) disposed on the transducer. The sensing material has a temperature-dependent gas sorption behavior. A detector is arranged to detect responses of the transducer to sorption and/or desorption of a target gas in the sensing material and to output transducer measurement signals indicative of the transducer responses. At least one thermal element changes the temperature of the sensing material by heating and/or cooling, and at least one temperature sensor (which may be integral with the thermal element) is arranged to measure a temperature of the sensing material. At least one processor determines the quantity (e.g., concentration, partial pressure, or mass) of the target gas according to the temperature of the sensing material at which the transducer measurement signals satisfy a signal value condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K Britt, Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10436737
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting analyte with correction for the effects of humidity. The device comprises a resonant sensor having an oscillating portion. A capacitor is positioned on the oscillating portion. The capacitor is formed by at least two electrodes and a sensing material positioned between the electrodes. A readout circuit is arranged to measure a response of the oscillating portion (e.g., frequency shift or change in resonance frequency, stiffness or strain) and a capacitance of the capacitor when substances are adsorbed or absorbed in the sensing material. This combination of measurements enables the device to distinguish between various types of adsorbed or absorbed molecules, especially distinguishing between an analyte of interest and water molecules that might interfere with the detection of the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: Heinrich Sussner, Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto, David K Britt
  • Publication number: 20190255510
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a substrate with at least one film of porous coordination polymer. A body (e.g., a flow cell) has an interior space for holding the substrate to be coated, at least one inlet, and at least one outlet in communication with the interior space to permit fluid to flow in a downstream direction from the inlet, across the surface of the substrate in the interior space, and through the outlet. A plurality of flow channels are arranged to flow a plurality of different reagent solutions from respective supply sources to the at least one inlet. The flow channels merge into at least one mixing region, positioned upstream of the interior space, to mix the solutions prior to the mixture contacting the surface of the substrate in the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K. Britt, Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20190072523
    Abstract: A gas sensor comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material (e.g., a metal-organic framework) disposed on the transducer. The sensing material has a temperature-dependent gas sorption behavior. A detector is arranged to detect responses of the transducer to sorption and/or desorption of a target gas in the sensing material and to output transducer measurement signals indicative of the transducer responses. At least one thermal element changes the temperature of the sensing material by heating and/or cooling, and at least one temperature sensor (which may be integral with the thermal element) is arranged to measure a temperature of the sensing material. At least one processor determines the quantity (e.g., concentration, partial pressure, or mass) of the target gas according to the temperature of the sensing material at which the transducer measurement signals satisfy a signal value condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K. Britt, Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10036730
    Abstract: A sensor array comprises resonant sensors and porous receptor materials arranged on the resonant sensors to absorb or adsorb one or more analytes. The average pore size of the porous receptor materials on the sensors increases systematically from one sensor to the next in the array. At least one detector is arranged to detect responses of the resonant sensors when the array is exposed to a sample potentially containing one or more of the analytes. In some embodiments, a processor is programmed to determine from the sensor responses the presence, amount or relative concentration of target molecules in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20180202961
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting analyte with correction for the effects of humidity. The device comprises a resonant sensor having an oscillating portion. A capacitor is positioned on the oscillating portion. The capacitor is formed by at least two electrodes and a sensing material positioned between the electrodes. A readout circuit is arranged to measure a response of the oscillating portion (e.g., frequency shift or change in resonance frequency, stiffness or strain) and a capacitance of the capacitor when substances are adsorbed or absorbed in the sensing material. This combination of measurements enables the device to distinguish between various types of adsorbed or absorbed molecules, especially distinguishing between an analyte of interest and water molecules that might interfere with the detection of the analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: Heinrich Sussner, Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto, David K. Britt
  • Patent number: 9857243
    Abstract: An array of resonant sensors self-corrects measured values for the effects of environmental conditions, such as operating temperature, pressure or humidity. The resonant sensors have varied frequency responses to N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters. Each of the sensors has a different, non-zero frequency response to at least two of the parameters. The device also comprises at least one detector for detecting frequency responses of the resonant sensors. Individual parameter values are determined for each of the N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters according to the detected frequency responses and a system of equations using calibration terms that relate the frequency responses to the individual parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Matrix Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20170231499
    Abstract: In one aspect, an elastography system includes an elastography device and a position sensing device connected to the elastography device. The elastography device includes a housing, a probing element removably attached to the housing, and a force sensor attached within the housing, where the force sensor is connected to the probing element. In another aspect, an elastography) method includes inserting a probing element into a material, producing, by a force sensor connected to a base of the probing element a signal indicative of a force applied to the probing element upon insertion of the probing element into the material, and based on the signal, deriving a mapping of spatial variations of a material property within the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: James K. Gimzewski, Shivani Sharma, Paul R. Wilkinson, Nagesh Ragavendra, JianYu Rao, M. Dayan J. Wickramaratne
  • Publication number: 20170173623
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with at least one film of porous coordination polymer. A body (e.g., a flow cell) has an interior space for holding the material to be coated, at least one inlet, and at least one outlet in communication with the interior space to permit fluid to flow in a downstream direction from the inlet, across the surface of the material in the interior space, and through the outlet. A plurality of flow channels are arranged to flow a plurality of different reagent solutions from respective supply sources to the at least one inlet. The flow channels merge into at least one mixing region, positioned upstream of the interior space, to mix the solutions prior to the mixture contacting the surface of the material in the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: David K. Britt, Paul R Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20170023511
    Abstract: An array of resonant sensors self-corrects measured values for the effects of environmental conditions, such as operating temperature, pressure or humidity. The resonant sensors have varied frequency responses to N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters. Each of the sensors has a different, non-zero frequency response to at least two of the parameters. The device also comprises at least one detector for detecting frequency responses of the resonant sensors. Individual parameter values are determined for each of the N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters according to the detected frequency responses and a system of equations using calibration terms that relate the frequency responses to the individual parameter values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20150192548
    Abstract: A sensor array comprises resonant sensors and porous receptor materials arranged on the resonant sensors to absorb or adsorb one or more analytes. The average pore size of the porous receptor materials on the sensors increases systematically from one sensor to the next in the array. At least one detector is arranged to detect responses of the resonant sensors when the array is exposed to a sample potentially containing one or more of the analytes. In some embodiments, a processor is programmed to determine from the sensor responses the presence, amount or relative concentration of target molecules in the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: MATRIX SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto