Patents by Inventor Robert L. Armstrong

Robert L. Armstrong 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).

  • Optical devices and methods employing nanoparticles, microcavities, and semicontinuous metal films
    Patent number: 7123359
    Abstract: An optical sensing enhancing material (and corresponding method of making) comprising: a medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals; and a microcavity, wherein the medium is located in a vicinity of the microcavity. Also an optical sensor and sensing method comprising: providing a doped medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals, with the material; locating the doped medium in the vicinity of a microcavity; exciting the doped medium with a light source; and detecting light reflected from the doped medium. Also an optical sensing enhancing material comprising a medium, the medium comprising a semicontinuous metal film of randomly distributed metal particles and their clusters at approximately their percolation threshold. The medium preferably additionally comprises a microcavity/microresonator. Also devices and methods employing such material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Armstrong, Vladimir M. Shalaev, Harold V. Smith, Andrey K. Sarychev, Z. Charles Ying
  • Sensors employing nanoparticles and microcavities
    Patent number: 6781690
    Abstract: An optical sensing enhancing material (and corresponding method of making) comprising: a medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals; and a microcavity, wherein the medium is located in a vicinity of the microcavity. Also an optical sensor and sensing method comprising: providing a doped medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals, with the material; locating the doped medium in the vicinity of a microcavity; exciting the doped medium with a light source; and detecting light reflected from the doped medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: New Mexico State University Technology Transfer Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Armstrong, Vladimir M. Shalaev, Harold V. Smith
  • Optical devices and methods employing nanoparticles, microcavities, and semicontinuous metal films
    Publication number: 20040150818
    Abstract: An optical sensing enhancing material (and corresponding method of making) comprising: a medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals; and a microcavity, wherein the medium is located in a vicinity of the microcavity. Also an optical sensor and sensing method comprising: providing a doped medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals, with the material; locating the doped medium in the vicinity of a microcavity; exciting the doped medium with a light source; and detecting light reflected from the doped medium. Also an optical sensing enhancing material comprising a medium, the medium comprising a semicontinuous metal film of randomly distributed metal particles and their clusters at approximately their percolation threshold. The medium preferably additionally comprises a microcavity/microresonator. Also devices and methods employing such material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Robert L. Armstrong, Vladimir M. Shalaev, Harold V. Smith, Andrey K. Sarychev, Z. Charles Ying
  • Optical enhancement with nanoparticles and microcavities
    Patent number: 6608716
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced optical emissions, the apparatus comprising a light source, a microcavity, and a medium comprising nanoparticles, located within or near the microcavity. The nanoparticles are either non-aggregated or are aggregated in the form of fractals. The nanoparticles and microcavity exhibit enhanced linear and non-linear optical emission. The light emitting apparatus can be used for wavelength translation, amplification, optical parametric oscillation, light detection and ranging, increased sensitivity, high density optical data storage, and near-field optical spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: New Mexico State University Technology Transfer Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Armstrong, Vladimir M. Shalaev, Thomas M. Shay, Won-Tae Kim, Z. Charles Ying, Vladimir P. Drachev, Vladimir P. Safonov
  • Sensors employing nanoparticles and microcavities
    Publication number: 20020015150
    Abstract: An optical sensing enhancing material (and corresponding method of making) comprising: a medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals; and a microcavity, wherein the medium is located in a vicinity of the microcavity. Also an optical sensor and sensing method comprising: providing a doped medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals, with the material; locating the doped medium in the vicinity of a microcavity; exciting the doped medium with a light source; and detecting light reflected from the doped medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Robert L. Armstrong, Vladimir M. Shalaev, Harold V. Smith