Patents by Inventor Randall Black

Randall Black 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: 11396980
    Abstract: A low vibration cryostat includes a cryocooler with a cold head having a flange and a cooling body extending from the flange. A housing is coupled to the cold head, with the housing having an opening receiving at least a portion of the cooling body. A first bellows extends between the housing and the flange to mitigate the transfer of vibrational forces between the housing and the flange. The first bellows, the flange, and the housing collectively define a first chamber. A force balancing assembly containing a second bellows is coupled to the housing and includes a second chamber spaced from the first chamber. The two chambers are arranged to create a net zero force on the cold head when the pressure in the bellows changes. A viscous damping assembly mitigates bouncing of the cold head on support springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: QUANTUM DESIGN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: William Neils, Dinesh Martien, Randall Black
  • Publication number: 20200149686
    Abstract: A low vibration cryostat includes a cryocooler with a cold head having a flange and a cooling body extending from the flange. A housing is coupled to the cold head, with the housing having an opening receiving at least a portion of the cooling body. A first bellows extends between the housing and the flange to mitigate the transfer of vibrational forces between the housing and the flange. The first bellows, the flange, and the housing collectively define a first chamber. A force balancing assembly containing a second bellows is coupled to the housing and includes a second chamber spaced from the first chamber. The two chambers are arranged to create a net zero force on the cold head when the pressure in the bellows changes. A viscous damping assembly mitigates bouncing of the cold head on support springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: William Neils, Dinesh Martien, Randall Black
  • Patent number: 10416253
    Abstract: A cryostat apparatus including a cooler configured to cool a cryogenic fluid. The cooler includes a cooler chamber disposed about a cooler axis. A magnet assembly is in thermodynamic communication with the cooler and is disposed about a magnet axis offset from the cooler axis. The magnet assembly includes a magnet housing and first and second annular magnet coils disposed about the magnet axis within the magnet housing. A viewing chamber is at least partially located between the first and second magnet coils, such that the magnet axis and a viewing axis perpendicular to the magnet axis both pass through the viewing chamber, with the viewing axis extending between the first and second magnet coils. The first annular magnet coil includes a first conical surface disposed about the magnetic axis and having minimum and maximum peripheries, the minimum periphery being disposed adjacent the viewing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: QUANTUM DESIGN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Dinesh Martien, William Neils, Randall Black
  • Publication number: 20180143273
    Abstract: A cryostat apparatus including a cooler configured to cool a cryogenic fluid. The cooler includes a cooler chamber disposed about a cooler axis. A magnet assembly is in thermodynamic communication with the cooler and is disposed about a magnet axis offset from the cooler axis. The magnet assembly includes a magnet housing and first and second annular magnet coils disposed about the magnet axis within the magnet housing. A viewing chamber is at least partially located between the first and second magnet coils, such that the magnet axis and a viewing axis perpendicular to the magnet axis both pass through the viewing chamber, with the viewing axis extending between the first and second magnet coils. The first annular magnet coil includes a first conical surface disposed about the magnetic axis and having minimum and maximum peripheries, the minimum periphery being disposed adjacent the viewing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Dinesh Martien, William Neils, Randall Black
  • Patent number: 9618257
    Abstract: A gas-flow cryostat adapted for dynamic temperature regulation using a fluid level sensor; the cryostat further including one or more heaters coupled to various components of the cryostat. As fluid evaporates from a liquid cryogen evaporation reservoir within the cryostat, the fluid level sensor and a feedback control unit are adapted to monitor and dynamically control the level of evaporating cryogen by regulating the heaters. Accordingly, the cryostat is adapted to dynamically control temperature about a specimen region within the cryostat. The cryostat can be used in various applications, including analytical laboratory equipment for measuring various physical properties of samples. Temperature sensors are further incorporated for added control and optimization of the cryostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: QUANTUM DESIGN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Randall Black, Dinesh Martien, William Neils
  • Patent number: 9234691
    Abstract: A cryostat for providing temperature regulation, one purpose being measuring physical properties of materials, the cryostat employing a superconducting magnet assembly for generating variable magnetic field in the sample space and a cryogenic cooler for cooling the sample space. The cryogenic cooler chamber configuration provides for efficient heat exchange between different stages of the cryogenic cooler without the need for physical heat links. This construction enables selective delivery of cooling power from the cryogenic cooler to the desired areas within the cryostat without using flexible physical thermal links. A counter flow exchanger and ambient temperature valves facilitate efficient use of the cryogenic cooler stages. The removal of large heat load generated by the superconducting magnet while operating in the sweeping mode is achieved, in part, by employing a solid plate thermal coupling element between the cryogenic cooler chamber and the magnet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Quantum Design International, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall Black, Dinesh Martien, William Neils, Jost Diederichs
  • Publication number: 20120011859
    Abstract: A gas-flow cryostat adapted for dynamic temperature regulation using a fluid level sensor; the cryostat further including one or more heaters coupled to various components of the cryostat. As fluid evaporates from a liquid coolant evaporation reservoir within the cryostat, the fluid level sensor and a feedback control unit are adapted to monitor and dynamically control the level of evaporating coolant by regulating the heaters. Accordingly, the cryostat is adapted to dynamically control temperature about a specimen region within the cryostat. The cryostat can be used in various applications, including analytical laboratory equipment for measuring various physical properties of samples. Temperature sensors are further incorporated for added control and optimization of the cryostat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: QUANTUM DESIGN, INC.
    Inventors: Randall Black, Dinesh Martien, William Neils
  • Publication number: 20110219785
    Abstract: A cryostat for providing temperature regulation, one purpose being measuring physical properties of materials, the cryostat employing a superconducting magnet assembly for generating variable magnetic field in the sample space and a cryogenic cooler for cooling the sample space. The cryogenic cooler chamber configuration provides for efficient heat exchange between different stages of the cryogenic cooler without the need for physical heat links. This construction enables selective delivery of cooling power from the cryogenic cooler to the desired areas within the cryostat without using flexible physical thermal links. A counter flow exchanger and ambient temperature valves facilitate efficient use of the cryogenic cooler stages. The removal of large heat load generated by the superconducting magnet while operating in the sweeping mode is achieved, in part, by employing a solid plate thermal coupling element between the cryogenic cooler chamber and the magnet assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: QUANTUM DESIGN, INC.
    Inventors: Randall BLACK, Dinesh MARTIEN, William NEILS, Jost DIEDERICHS
  • Publication number: 20070239912
    Abstract: A communication network comprises a communication bus and at least two line cards. Each of the line cards are coupled to the communication bus The line cards comprise a processor and a configuration memory coupled to the processor. The communication occurring on the communication bus is predetermined, but can be reconfigured during real time operation by events or by the addition or subtraction of line cards. The configuration memory comprising an array of configuration tables, each configuration table storing a listing of processes to run and data to be transmitted or received by the process. A current configuration table is selected from the array of configuration tables upon the occurrence of a predefined event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Mitchell Fletcher, Randall Black
  • Publication number: 20070198126
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more actuators to perform a mission while complying with predetermined regulations. A system for controlling one or more actuators includes a first processor for transmitting a command to operate at least one of the actuators, a second processor having an input coupled to the first processor, and a third processor having an input coupled to the output of the second processor and an output configured to couple to the actuators. The second processor is configured to transmit a first signal based on the command, and the first signal indicates a compliant command. The third processor is configured to transmit a second signal based on the first signal, and the second signal indicates a safe command. Software partitions executing on a single processor may be substituted for the hardware processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Randall Black, Andrew Michalicek
  • Publication number: 20050120275
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for preventing faulty commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) peripherals or I/Os from disabling the bus to which they are connected. The apparatus has isolators coupled to the bus and the I/Os. A controller is coupled between the interfaces, a processor and memory, operating such that an I/O cannot transfer data to the bus without permission from the bus. Isolation memory keeps I/O and bus messages separate. I/O messages are checked before being sent to the bus. The method comprises: determining if there is a message for the peripheral, temporarily storing the message, determining if the message is for output or input, and if for output, sending it to the peripheral, and if for input, requesting and receiving it from the peripheral, temporarily storing and checking it, and transferring it to the bus only if valid. This prevents a failed I/O or peripheral from disabling the bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Mitchell Fletcher, Peter Alejandro, Randall Black, Michael Gregg, Victor Revelle