Patents by Inventor Randall J. Knize

Randall J. Knize 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: 10276740
    Abstract: A method for forming a photon absorbing layer. A substrate having a target surface is introduced into a controllable environment, and the pressure within the controllable environment is reduced. A first flux of a semiconductor material and a second flux of a dopant are simultaneously directed toward the target surface for a period of time, thereby producing a thickness of a substantially amorphous layer of the semiconductor material and dopant on the target surface. The semiconductor layer is laser annealed to convert it to a substantially multi-crystalline layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Rajani Ayachitula, Kimberly D. de La Harpe, Daniel E. Weisz, John M. Testerman, William J. Mandeville, Randall J. Knize, Brian M. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5317348
    Abstract: This invention uses various solid-state semiconductor lasers along with frequency doublers as needed to achieve the required three-color light beam wavelengths for input to available light combiners and to a state-of-the-art scanner. The scanner projects a color laser beam to a screen or other equipment. A number of alternate solid-state laser means are described, each combination providing the required light output. Use of the described solid-state lasers instead of the commonly used gas lasers results in considerable savings in required electrical power, cooling and system size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Randall J. Knize
  • Patent number: 5041147
    Abstract: Tritium and deuterium are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof, derived from a nuclear fusion reactor or some other source, by providing a casing with a bulk getter therein for absorbing the gaseous mixture to produce an initial loading of the getter, partially desorbing the getter to produce a desorbed mixture which is tritium-enriched, pumping the desorbed mixture into a separate container, the remaining gaseous loading in the getter being deuterium-enriched, desorbing the getter to a substantially greater extent to produce a deuterium-enriched gaseous mixture, and removing the deuterium-enriched mixture into another container. The bulk getter may comprise a zirconium-aluminum alloy, or a zirconium-vanadium-iron alloy. The partial desorption may reduce the loading by approximately fifty percent. The basic procedure may be extended to produce a multistage isotope separator, including at least one additional bulk getter into which the tritium-enriched mixture is absorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Randall J. Knize, Joseph L. Cecchi
  • Patent number: 4976938
    Abstract: Tritium and deuterium are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof, derived from a nuclear fusion reactor or some other source, by providing a casing with a bulk getter therein for absorbing the gaseous mixture to produce an initial loading of the getter, partially desorbing the getter to produce a desorbed mixture which is tritium-enriched, pumping the desorbed mixture into a separate container, the remaining gaseous loading in the getter being deuterium-enriched, desorbing the getter to a substantially greater extent to produce a deuterium-enriched gaseous mixture, and removing the deuterium-enriched mixture into another container. The bulk getter may comprise a zirconium-aluminum alloy, or a zirconium-vanadium-iron alloy. The partial desorption may reduce the loading by approximately fifty percent. The basic procedure may be extended to produce a multistage isotope separator, including at least one additional bulk getter into which the tritium-enriched mixture is absorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Randall J. Knize, Joseph L. Cecchi
  • Patent number: 4476100
    Abstract: A method of enhancing the thermal desorption of a first isotope of a diatomic gas from a metal comprises the steps of (a) establishing a partial pressure of a second isotope of the diatomic gas in vicinity of the metal; heating the metal to a temperature such that the first isotope is desorbed from the metal; and reducing the partial pressure of the desorbed first isotope while maintaining the partial pressure of the second isotope substantially constant. The method is especially useful for enhancing the desorption of tritium from the Zr-Al getter in a plasma confinement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Unites States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Randall J. Knize, Joseph L. Cecchi