Patents by Inventor Shane Buller

Shane Buller 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: 11874167
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Metrohm Spectro, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Publication number: 20230075544
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Patent number: 11307090
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: MKS TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Patent number: 11092494
    Abstract: A spectrometer, such as a Raman spectrometer, adapted for analyzing a complex sample is provided. In an example implementation, the spectrometer may be able to determine one or more spectral characteristics of an inner subsurface layer or region of a complex sample (e.g., contents of a container). In one embodiment, for example, A spectrometer includes an excitation source configured to provide an excitation signal; an optical system configured to direct the excitation signal toward a sample and receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample. The optical system may include a spatial filter configured to separate or isolate at least one first portion of the spectroscopy signal from at least one second portion of the spectroscopy signal and pass the at least one first portion of the spectroscopy signal. A detector is configured to determine at least one spectral feature of the at least one first portion of the spectroscopy signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventors: Keith T. Carron, Shane A. Buller, Mark A. Watson, Sean Patrick Woodward
  • Publication number: 20200348179
    Abstract: A spectroscopic assay is provided. The assay comprises: a motive particle configured to move within a solution, the motive particle comprising a first analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to a target analyte; and a spectroscopic reporter particle configured to provide a predetermined spectroscopic signal in response to being interrogated by a spectrometer, the spectroscopic reporter particle comprising a second analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to the target analyte, wherein the motive particle and the spectroscopic reporter particle are configured to provide a sandwich assay in the presence of the target analyte via the first and second analyte binding reagents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Keith Carron, Shane Buller, Mark Watson
  • Publication number: 20200256724
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable minor, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable minor to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Patent number: 10684172
    Abstract: A spectroscopic assay is provided. The assay comprises: a motive particle configured to move within a solution, the motive particle comprising a first analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to a target analyte; and a spectroscopic reporter particle configured to provide a predetermined spectroscopic signal in response to being interrogated by a spectrometer, the spectroscopic reporter particle comprising a second analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to the target analyte, wherein the motive particle and the spectroscopic reporter particle are configured to provide a sandwich assay in the presence of the target analyte via the first and second analyte binding reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventors: Keith Carron, Shane Buller, Mark Watson
  • Patent number: 10473522
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: MKS TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Patent number: 10458917
    Abstract: A method of measuring Raman scattering includes exciting Raman scattering of a sample with a first wavelength and a second wavelength of electromagnetic radiation traveling along a common optical path to form a first scattered radiation and a second scattered radiation. The first wavelength reaches the sample polarized in a first direction, and the second wavelength reaches the sample polarized in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes collecting a first Raman spectrum from the first scattered radiation, collecting a second Raman spectrum from the second scattered radiation, and forming a decomposed Raman spectrum based on the first Raman spectrum and the second Raman spectrum. The decomposed Raman spectrum may be substantially free of noise, such as fluorescence and background radiation. Related spectrometers and laser devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: MKS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith T. Carron, Celestin P. Zemtsop, Shane A. Buller, Scott L. Rudder, Harald R. Guenther
  • Publication number: 20190242751
    Abstract: Spectrometers and methods for determining the presence or absence of a material in proximity to and/or combined with another material are provided. In one particular example, a spectrometer is provided that includes a light source, a detector and an optical system. In this implementation, the light source is configured to provide an excitation incident beam. The detector is configured to detect a spectroscopy signal. The optical system is configured to direct the excitation incident beam toward a sample at a non-zero angle from a zero-angle reference. The optical system is further configured to receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and provide the spectroscopy signal to the detector. The detector is configured to remove a spectral interference component of the spectroscopy signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Keith T. Carron, Shane A. Buller, Mark A. Watson, Sean Patrick Woodward
  • Publication number: 20180283941
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Patent number: 10072984
    Abstract: Spectrometers and methods for determining the presence or absence of a material in proximity to and/or combined with another material are provided. In one particular example, a spectrometer is provided that includes a light source, a detector and an optical system. In this implementation, the light source is configured to provide an excitation incident beam. The detector is configured to detect a spectroscopy signal. The optical system is configured to direct the excitation incident beam toward a sample at a non-zero angle from a zero-angle reference. The optical system is further configured to receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and provide the spectroscopy signal to the detector. The detector is configured to remove a spectral interference component of the spectroscopy signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MKS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith T. Carron, Shane A. Buller, Mark A. Watson, Sean Patrick Woodward
  • Publication number: 20180195965
    Abstract: A method of measuring Raman scattering includes exciting Raman scattering of a sample with a first wavelength and a second wavelength of electromagnetic radiation traveling along a common optical path to form a first scattered radiation and a second scattered radiation. The first wavelength reaches the sample polarized in a first direction, and the second wavelength reaches the sample polarized in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes collecting a first Raman spectrum from the first scattered radiation, collecting a second Raman spectrum from the second scattered radiation, and forming a decomposed Raman spectrum based on the first Raman spectrum and the second Raman spectrum. The decomposed Raman spectrum may be substantially free of noise, such as fluorescence and background radiation. Related spectrometers and laser devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Keith T. Carron, Celestin P. Zemtsop, Shane A. Buller, Scott L. Rudder, Harald R. Guenther
  • Patent number: 9791313
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: MKS TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Publication number: 20170234728
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: MKS Technology (d/b/a Snowy Range Instruments)
    Inventors: Shane Buller, Keith Carron, Mark Watson
  • Patent number: 9523610
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: MKS Technology
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Patent number: 9459146
    Abstract: A spectroscopic system is provided. In one embodiment, the spectroscopic system comprises a light source adapted to provide a beam of illumination; an optical system adapted to provide the beam of illumination to a sample and receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and direct the spectroscopy signal to at least one single channel detector, wherein the optical system comprises an adjustable dispersing element for directing one or more spectral features of the spectroscopy signal to the at least one single channel detector; a calibration detector adapted to determine a set point of the adjustable dispersing element; and a source synchronization component adapted to synchronize an operation of the light source and the at least one single channel detector. A method of calibrating a dispersing element of a spectrometer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: MKS Technology
    Inventors: Keith Carron, Mark Watson, Shane Buller
  • Publication number: 20160223400
    Abstract: Spectrometers and methods for determining the presence or absence of a material in proximity to and/or combined with another material are provided. In one particular example, a spectrometer is provided that includes a light source, a detector and an optical system. In this implementation, the light source is configured to provide an excitation incident beam. The detector is configured to detect a spectroscopy signal. The optical system is configured to direct the excitation incident beam toward a sample at a non-zero angle from a zero-angle reference. The optical system is further configured to receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and provide the spectroscopy signal to the detector. The detector is configured to remove a spectral interference component of the spectroscopy signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Keith T. Carron, Shane A. Buller, Mark A. Watson, Sean Patrick Woodward
  • Publication number: 20150260576
    Abstract: A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: MKS TECHNOLOGY (D/B/A SNOWY RANGE INSTRUMENTS)
    Inventors: Mark Watson, Shane Buller, Keith Carron
  • Publication number: 20150099292
    Abstract: A spectroscopic system is provided. In one embodiment, the spectroscopic system comprises a light source adapted to provide a beam of illumination; an optical system adapted to provide the beam of illumination to a sample and receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and direct the spectroscopy signal to at least one single channel detector, wherein the optical system comprises an adjustable dispersing element for directing one or more spectral features of the spectroscopy signal to the at least one single channel detector; a calibration detector adapted to determine a set point of the adjustable dispersing element; and a source synchronization component adapted to synchronize an operation of the light source and the at least one single channel detector. A method of calibrating a dispersing element of a spectrometer is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: MKS TECHNOLOGY (D/B/A SNOWY RANGE INSTRUMENTS)
    Inventors: Keith Carron, Mark Watson, Shane Buller