Patents by Inventor R. Kenneth Marcus

R. Kenneth Marcus 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).

  • Publication number: 20040026616
    Abstract: A glow discharge spectroscopy (GDS) source operates at atmospheric pressure. One of the discharge electrodes of the device is formed by an electrolytic solution 27 containing the analyte specimen. The passage of electrical current (either electrons or positive ions) across the solution/gas phase interface causes local heating and the volatilization of the analyte species. Collisions in the discharge region immediately above the surface of the solution results in optical emission and ionization that are characteristic of the analyte elements. As such, these analyte elements can be identified and quantified by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) or mass spectrometry (MS). The device uses the analyte solution as either the cathode or anode. Operating parameters depend on the electrolyte concentration (i.e. solution conductivity) and the gap 35 between the solution surface and the counter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: R. Kenneth Marcus, W. Clay Davis
  • Publication number: 20020003210
    Abstract: The apparatus and methods employ momentum separation to implement a particle beam (PB) sampling scheme for the introduction of particulate matter into low pressure (e.g., glow discharge) plasma sources for subsequent atomic emission and mass spectrometry chemical analysis in real time, whether the particles are provided in a continuous stream during the analysis or are collected in situ and analyzed periodically upon obtaining a suitable number of particles to be analyzed. The particulate matter in the particle beam (PB) is subjected to low-power laser scattering to effect particle size analysis. Gases removed by momentum separation are also analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventor: R. Kenneth Marcus
  • Patent number: 5325021
    Abstract: A high voltage accelerating potential, which is supplied by a high voltage direct current power supply, is applied to the electrically conducting interior wall of an RF powered glow discharge cell. The RF power supply desirably is electrically grounded, and the conductor carrying the RF power to the sample held by the probe is desirably shielded completely excepting only the conductor's terminal point of contact with the sample. The high voltage DC accelerating potential is not supplied to the sample. A high voltage capacitance is electrically connected in series between the sample on the one hand and the RF power supply and an impedance matching network on the other hand. The high voltage capacitance isolates the high DC voltage from the RF electronics, while the RF potential is passed across the high voltage capacitance to the plasma. An inductor protects at least the RF power supply, and desirably the impedance matching network as well, from a short that might occur across the high voltage capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Douglas C. Duckworth, R. Kenneth Marcus, David L. Donohue, Trousdale A. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5086226
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing solid sample materials mounted externally to the apparatus is provided wherein a low pressure glow discharge is initiated by applying a radio frequency potential to an integral, continuous solid sample and an electrically grounded anode in the presence of an inert gas, the glow discharge being maintained such that the inert gas is ionized and the ionized gas sputters sample material, the sputtered sample material then passing into an analyzer region for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventor: R. Kenneth Marcus
  • Patent number: 5006706
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing solid sample materials is provided wherein a low pressure glow discharge is initiated by applying a radio frequency potential to an integral, continuous sample cathode and an electrically grounded anode in the presence of an inert gas, the glow discharge being maintained such that the inert gas is ionized and the ionized gas sputters sample material, the sputtered sample material then passing into an analyzer region for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventor: R. Kenneth Marcus
  • Patent number: 4812040
    Abstract: Sample material is sputtered from an orifice in a disc mounted in a hollow cathode. A plasma plume is ejected from the orifice and the material sputtered from the smaple is transported directly into the base of the plasma plume. Collisions with particles in the plasma plume excite the sputtered material. Light emission and absorption from the plume are measured and ions in the plume are measured. A chamber surrounding the plasma plume is maintained at about 1 torr. About 15 cc's per minute of argon are supplied to the hollow cathode at 2 torr. The power supply supplies about 200 volts at about 0.10 amps. Low energy argon ions strick the disc at the end of the cathode tube and sputter atoms off the aperture. Atoms collide with particles in the plasma causing excitation, photon emission and ionization of atoms which are measured by optical and mass spectrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: The University of Virginia Alumni Patents Foundation
    Inventors: R. Kenneth Marcus, W. W. Harrison