Patents by Inventor Richard J. Higgins

Richard J. Higgins 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: 20240142516
    Abstract: A multispectral inspection (MSI) device for analyzing an electronic item having a printed circuit board (PCB). An electronic power supply powers the electronic item in accordance with one or more test vectors. An optical imaging scanner, terahertz (THz) imaging scanner, and a functional imaging scanner are each operative to scan the electronic item. An electronic processor is programmed to scan the various scanners and control the power supply to acquire optical, THz, and functional images of the electronic item. The images are combined to form a standard three-dimensional (3D) signature and artificial intelligence (AI) classifiers are applied to the 3D signature to perform non-destructive analyses of the electronic item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kent, Jeremiah P. Schley, Anthony F. George, Richard J. Higgins, Katie T. Liszewski, David Maung
  • Patent number: 11906578
    Abstract: A multispectral inspection (MSI) device for analyzing an electronic item having a printed circuit board (PCB). An electronic power supply powers the electronic item in accordance with one or more test vectors. An optical imaging scanner, terahertz (THz) imaging scanner, and a functional imaging scanner are each operative to scan the electronic item. An electronic processor is programmed to scan the various scanners and control the power supply to acquire optical, THz, and functional images of the electronic item. The images are combined to form a standard three-dimensional (3D) signature and artificial intelligence (AI) classifiers are applied to the 3D signature to perform non-destructive analyses of the electronic item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kent, Jeremiah P. Schley, Anthony F. George, Richard J. Higgins, Katie T. Liszewski, David Maung
  • Publication number: 20210082101
    Abstract: A multispectral inspection (MSI) device for analyzing an electronic item having a printed circuit board (PCB). An electronic power supply powers the electronic item in accordance with one or more test vectors. An optical imaging scanner, terahertz (THz) imaging scanner, and a functional imaging scanner are each operative to scan the electronic item. An electronic processor is programmed to scan the various scanners and control the power supply to acquire optical, THz, and functional images of the electronic item. The images are combined to form a standard three-dimensional (3D) signature and artificial intelligence (AI) classifiers are applied to the 3D signature to perform non-destructive analyses of the electronic item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kent, Jeremiah P. Schley, Anthony F. George, Richard J. Higgins, Katie T. Liszewski, David Maung
  • Patent number: 10436641
    Abstract: Described are a shutter assembly, a spectrometer, and a method for calibrating a spectrometer. For example, the method may include positioning a shutter including a mirror into a first position in an illumination path of an excitation light beam such that a measurement window is blocked. The mirror may be operable to direct at least one of: (1) the illumination path to a spectral calibration material, (2) a first collection path extending from the spectral calibration material, and (3) a second collection path of a spectral calibration light beam. The method may include directing a returned light from the receiving optics unit to an imaging device; processing the returned light at the imaging device into one or more image signals; analyzing and comparing the image signals with approved image signals; and providing an indication of whether the comparative results of the analysis are within acceptable tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: DIRAMED, LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Higgins, Brian Lipp, Don Warren Caudy
  • Publication number: 20170131145
    Abstract: Described are a shutter assembly, a spectrometer, and a method for calibrating a spectrometer. For example, the method may include positioning a shutter including a mirror into a first position in an illumination path of an excitation light beam such that a measurement window is blocked. The mirror may be operable to direct at least one of: (1) the illumination path to a spectral calibration material, (2) a first collection path extending from the spectral calibration material, and (3) a second collection path of a spectral calibration light beam. The method may include directing a returned light from the receiving optics unit to an imaging device; processing the returned light at the imaging device into one or more image signals; analyzing and comparing the image signals with approved image signals; and providing an indication of whether the comparative results of the analysis are within acceptable tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Richard J. Higgins, Brian Lipp, Don Warren Caudy
  • Patent number: 8879067
    Abstract: Sensors operate by resolving changes in orientation of a wavelength dependent structure with respect to a reference direction determined by an incident light beam, resulting in very high sensitivity and dynamic range. Said sensors are wavelength encoded, can be multiplexed in a single light path such as an optical fiber, yet are decoupled mechanically from the fiber, resulting in high stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Higgins, Philip R. Swinehart, Mokhtar M. Maklad
  • Publication number: 20120206714
    Abstract: A shutter assembly for use with a spectrometer having at least one source of optical radiation such as at least one laser capable of generating an excitation light beam having an illumination path. The shutter assembly includes a shutter having at least one of (i) at least one calibration material capable of generating a consistent spectrum within wavelengths utilizable by the spectrometer and (ii) a mirror capable of diverting at least one of the illumination path and a collection path relative to a calibration standard capable of generating a consistent spectrum within wavelengths utilizable by the spectrometer. The shutter assembly further includes a mechanism capable of moving the shutter into at least a first position in the path of the light beam and a second position out of the path of the light beam to enable a sample to be analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: DIRAmed
    Inventors: Richard J. Higgins, Brian Lipp, Don Warren Caudy
  • Publication number: 20120050735
    Abstract: Sensors operate by resolving changes in orientation of a wavelength dependent structure with respect to a reference direction determined by an incident light beam, resulting in very high sensitivity and dynamic range. Said sensors are wavelength encoded, can be multiplexed in a single light path such as an optical fiber, yet are decoupled mechanically from the fiber, resulting in high stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: LAKE SHORE CRYOTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Higgins, Philip R. Swinehart, Mokhtar M. Maklad
  • Publication number: 20080316466
    Abstract: Innovative techniques that result in a better signal-to-noise ratio for spectrographic analysis of substances in a target than conventional techniques. In these techniques, light illuminates a target with at least some of the light penetrating the target. At least a portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected from a region on the target's surface that is not directly illuminated. Preferably, at least a majority of the collected light is light that penetrates the target. Also preferably, the light that illuminates the target is in a pattern that partially but not completely surrounds the region from which the portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected. A spectrum of at least a portion of the collected light is analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: DIRAmed, LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Higgins, Betty Lise Anderson
  • Patent number: 5879715
    Abstract: A process and system for the production of inorganic nanoparticles by precipitating the inorganic nanoparticles by a precipitating agent from a microemulsion with a continuous and a non-continuous phase; and concentrating the precipitated nanoparticles employing an ultrafiltration membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: CeraMem Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Higgins, Robert L. Goldsmith