Patents by Inventor Susan Y. Wrbanek

Susan Y. Wrbanek 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: 10429521
    Abstract: A small, low power, solid state particle counter may be configured to detect radiation. A scintillator may be doped to emit light in a predetermined energy range when impacted by radiation particles. A photodiode attached to or held against the scintillator may be configured to detect the emitted light in the predetermined energy range and output a current proportional to an amount of the emitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Susan Y. Wrbanek, John D. Wrbanek, Gustave C. Fralick
  • Patent number: 9291774
    Abstract: A tunable resonant system is provided and includes a microsphere that receives an incident portion of a light beam generated via a light source, the light beam having a fundamental mode, a waveguide medium that transmits the light beam from the light source to the microsphere, and a polarizer disposed in a path of the waveguide between the light source and the microsphere. The incident portion of the light beam creates a fundamental resonance inside the microsphere. A change in a normalized frequency of the wavelength creates a secondary mode in the waveguide and the secondary mode creates a secondary resonance inside the microsphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Grigory Adamovsky, Susan Y. Wrbanek
  • Patent number: 8159669
    Abstract: A particle detector is provided, the particle detector including a spherical Cherenkov detector, and at least one pair of detector stacks. In an embodiment of the invention, the Cherenkov detector includes a sphere of ultraviolet transparent material, coated by an ultraviolet reflecting material that has at least one open port. The Cherenkov detector further includes at least one photodetector configured to detect ultraviolet light emitted from a particle within the sphere. In an embodiment of the invention, each detector stack includes one or more detectors configured to detect a particle traversing the sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John D. Wrbanek, Gustave C. Fralick, Susan Y. Wrbanek
  • Publication number: 20110127437
    Abstract: A particle detector is provided, the particle detector including a spherical Cherenkov detector, and at least one pair of detector stacks. In an embodiment of the invention, the Cherenkov detector includes a sphere of ultraviolet transparent material, coated by an ultraviolet reflecting material that has at least one open port. The Cherenkov detector further includes at least one photodetector configured to detect ultraviolet light emitted from a particle within the sphere. In an embodiment of the invention, each detector stack includes one or more detectors configured to detect a particle traversing the sphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: John D. Wrbanek, Gustave C. Fralick, Susan Y. Wrbanek
  • Patent number: 7872750
    Abstract: A particle detector is provided, the particle detector including a spherical Cherenkov detector, and at least one pair of detector stacks. In an embodiment of the invention, the Cherenkov detector includes a sphere of ultraviolet transparent material, coated by an ultraviolet reflecting material that has at least one open port. The Cherenkov detector further includes at least one photodetector configured to detect ultraviolet light emitted from a particle within the sphere. In an embodiment of the invention, each detector stack includes one or more detectors configured to detect a particle traversing the sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John D. Wrbanek, Gustave C. Fralick, Susan Y. Wrbanek