Patents by Inventor Rita Seng

Rita Seng 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).

  • Self-tuning method for monitoring the density of a gas vapor component using a tunable laser
    Patent number: 5550636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vapor density monitor and laser atomic absorption spectroscopy method for highly accurate, continuous monitoring of vapor densities, composition, flow velocity, internal and kinetic temperatures and constituent distributions. The vapor density monitor employs a diode laser, preferably of an external cavity design. By using a diode laser, the vapor density monitor is significantly less expensive and more reliable than prior art vapor density monitoring devices. In addition, the compact size of diode lasers enables the vapor density monitor to be portable.According to the method of the present invention, the density of a component of a gas vapor is calculated by tuning the diode laser to a frequency at which the amount of light absorbed by the component is at a minimum or a maximum within about 50 MHz of that frequency. Laser light from the diode laser is then transmitted at the determined frequency across a predetermined pathlength of the gas vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Karla Hagans, Leon Berzins, Joseph Galkowski, Rita Seng