Patents by Inventor Shane Hilliard
Shane Hilliard 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).
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Patent number: 11686653Abstract: A system for facilitating automated handling using laser ablation system is described that includes a sample generation system. In an embodiment, the sample generation system can include a sample chamber with a sample chamber body, a transmission window and a sealing member coupled to the sample chamber body, an inlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting a sidewall of the interior space, and an outlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting at least one of the sidewall of the interior or a lower surface of the sample chamber body; a placement system including a frame, and an actuator assembly coupled to the frame, where the actuator assembly is configured to place the sample adjacent to the sample chamber for laser ablation; and a laser configured to produce a laser beam that is propagated along a beam path to irradiate the sample.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLCInventors: Jay N. Wilkins, Shane Hilliard, Erik B. Larsen, Robert W. Hutchinson, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Patent number: 11183378Abstract: In a laser assisted spectroscopy system, an apparatus for bypassing the fluid conduit and a method of bypassing the fluid conduit, opening the sample chamber and replacing the sample, closing and purging the sample chamber, and removing the fluid conduit bypass and returning to online status is addressed by the present disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC LASERS, LLCInventors: Jay N. Wilkins, Leif C. Summerfield, Shane Hilliard, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Patent number: 11092519Abstract: A system for facilitating automated handling using laser ablation system is described that includes a sample generation system. In an embodiment, the sample generation system can include a sample chamber with a sample chamber body, a transmission window and a sealing member coupled to the sample chamber body, an inlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting a sidewall of the interior space, and an outlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting at least one of the sidewall of the interior or a lower surface of the sample chamber body; a placement system including a frame, and an actuator assembly coupled to the frame, where the actuator assembly is configured to place the sample adjacent to the sample chamber for laser ablation; and a laser configured to produce a laser beam that is propagated along a beam path to irradiate the sample.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLCInventors: Shane Hilliard, Jay N. Wilkins, Erik B. Larsen, Robert W. Hutchinson, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Publication number: 20190371590Abstract: In a laser assisted spectroscopy system, an apparatus for bypassing the fluid conduit and a method of bypassing the fluid conduit, opening the sample chamber and replacing the sample, closing and purging the sample chamber, and removing the fluid conduit bypass and returning to online status is addressed by the present disclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Jay N. Wilkins, Leif C. Summerfield, Shane Hilliard, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Patent number: 9524856Abstract: A sample chamber is configured to accommodate a target such that a portion of the target is removable as a sample. A carrier gas injection system is configured to introduce a carrier gas into the sample region from a first position and a second position within the sample chamber such that at least a portion of the sample is entrainable by the carrier gas within the sample region. A portion of the sample region is located between the first position and the second position. A sample transport conduit is configured to transport at least a portion of the sample entrained by the carrier gas to a location outside the sample chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventors: Shane Hilliard, Ciaran J O'Connor, Jay Wilkins, Erik Larsen, Leif Summerfield
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Patent number: 8879064Abstract: An apparatus can include ablation chamber body having a transmission window and defining an accommodation region configured to accommodate a target that is movable relative to the transmission window. An aerosol transmission conduit is configured to transport an aerosol produced within the accommodation region to a sample receiving region of an analysis system along a substantially straight transport path.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventors: Ciaran John Patrick O'Connor, Shane Hilliard
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Publication number: 20140223991Abstract: A sample chamber is configured to accommodate a target such that a portion of the target is removable as a sample. A carrier gas injection system is configured to introduce a carrier gas into the sample region from a first position and a second position within the sample chamber such that at least a portion of the sample is entrainable by the carrier gas within the sample region. A portion of the sample region is located between the first position and the second position. A sample transport conduit is configured to transport at least a portion of the sample entrained by the carrier gas to a location outside the sample chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: SHANE HILLIARD, CIARAN J. O'CONNOR, JAY WILKINS, ERIK LARSEN, LEIF SUMMERFIELD
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Patent number: 8710435Abstract: An improved sample chamber for laser assisted spectroscopy integrates valve mechanisms into the sample drawer, permitting the sample chamber to automatically bypass, purge and resume flow as the sample drawer is opened and closed to insert samples for processing. Integrating valve mechanisms into the sample drawer in this manner eliminates the need for external valves to be operated to bypass, purge and resume flow, thereby increasing system throughput and reducing system complexity.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert Hutchinson, Leif Summerfield, Shane Hilliard, Jay Wilkins
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Patent number: 8598488Abstract: An apparatus can include a first beam cropper configured to crop a portion of a radiation pulse having a first spot size to form an intermediate cropped radiation pulse having an intermediate cropped spot with an intermediate cropped spot size less than the first spot size; and a second beam cropper configured to crop the intermediate cropped spot to form a second cropped radiation pulse having a second cropped spot with a second cropped spot size less the intermediate cropped spot size.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventors: Ciaran John Patrick O'Connor, Shane Hilliard, Leif Summerfield
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Publication number: 20130162991Abstract: An apparatus can include ablation chamber body having a transmission window and defining an accommodation region configured to accommodate a target that is movable relative to the transmission window. An aerosol transmission conduit is configured to transport an aerosol produced within the accommodation region to a sample receiving region of an analysis system along a substantially straight transport path.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2011Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Ciaran John Patrick O'Connor, Shane Hilliard
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Publication number: 20130161510Abstract: An apparatus can include a first beam cropper configured to crop a portion of a radiation pulse having a first spot size to form an intermediate cropped radiation pulse having an intermediate cropped spot with an intermediate cropped spot size less than the first spot size; and a second beam cropper configured to crop the intermediate cropped spot to form a second cropped radiation pulse having a second cropped spot with a second cropped spot size less the intermediate cropped spot size.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2011Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Ciaran John Patrick O'Connor, Shane Hilliard, Leif Summerfield
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Publication number: 20130042703Abstract: An improved sample chamber for laser assisted spectroscopy integrates valve mechanisms into the sample drawer, permitting the sample chamber to automatically bypass, purge and resume flow as the sample drawer is opened and closed to insert samples for processing. Integrating valve mechanisms into the sample drawer in this manner eliminates the need for external valves to be operated to bypass, purge and resume flow, thereby increasing system throughput and reducing system complexity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2012Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Robert HUTCHINSON, Leif SUMMERFIELD, Shane HILLIARD, Jay WILKINS
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Patent number: 8319176Abstract: An improved sample chamber for laser assisted spectroscopy integrates valve mechanisms into the sample drawer, permitting the sample chamber to automatically bypass, purge and resume flow as the sample drawer is opened and closed to insert samples for processing. Integrating valve mechanisms into the sample drawer in this manner eliminates the need for external valves to be operated to bypass, purge and resume flow, thereby increasing system throughput and reducing system complexity.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert Hutchinson, Leif Summerfield, Shane Hilliard, Jay Wilkins
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Publication number: 20110240839Abstract: An improved sample chamber for laser assisted spectroscopy integrates valve mechanisms into the sample drawer, permitting the sample chamber to automatically bypass, purge and resume flow as the sample drawer is opened and closed to insert samples for processing. Integrating valve mechanisms into the sample drawer in this manner eliminates the need for external valves to be operated to bypass, purge and resume flow, thereby increasing system throughput and reducing system complexity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Robert Hutchinson, Leif Summerfield, Shane Hilliard, Jay Wilkins