Patents by Inventor Thomas Ketterl

Thomas Ketterl 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: 11543477
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance detection (MRD) system for and methods of detecting and classifying multiple chemical substances is disclosed. In one example, the presently disclosed MRD system is a nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) detection system that provides multi-frequency operation for substantially full coverage of the explosive NQR spectrum using a broadband transmit/receive (T/R) switch (or duplexer) and a single multi-frequency radio frequency (RF) transducer. More particularly, the MRD system provides a frequency-agile system that can operate over a wide band of frequencies or wavelengths. Further, a method of detecting and classifying various chemical substances is provided that includes pulse sequencing with “frequency hopping,” phase cycling for reducing or substantially eliminating background noise, and/or a process of mitigating amplitude modulation (AM) radio interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Vadum, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Nichols, Shaun M. Gidcumb, Thomas Ketterl, Gregory T. Brauns, Eric Phillips
  • Publication number: 20200333412
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance detection (MRD) system for and methods of detecting and classifying multiple chemical substances is disclosed. In one example, the presently disclosed MRD system is a nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) detection system that provides multi-frequency operation for substantially full coverage of the explosive NQR spectrum using a broadband transmit/receive (T/R) switch (or duplexer) and a single multi-frequency radio frequency (RF) transducer. More particularly, the MRD system provides a frequency-agile system that can operate over a wide band of frequencies or wavelengths. Further, a method of detecting and classifying various chemical substances is provided that includes pulse sequencing with “frequency hopping,” phase cycling for reducing or substantially eliminating background noise, and/or a process of mitigating amplitude modulation (AM) radio interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Todd Nichols, Shaun M. Gidcumb, Thomas Ketterl, Gregory T. Brauns, Eric Phillips
  • Patent number: 7718461
    Abstract: The present invention describes nano-scale fabrication technique used to create a sub-micron wide gap across the center conductor of a coplanar waveguide transmission line configured in a fixed-fixed beam arrangement, resulting in a pair of opposing cantilever beams that comprise an electro-mechanical switch. Accordingly, a nanometer-scale mechanical switch with very high switching speed and low actuation voltage has been developed. This switch is intended primarily for application in the RF/microwave/wireless industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Thomas Weller, Thomas Ketterl
  • Publication number: 20100087063
    Abstract: The present invention describes nano-scale fabrication technique used to create a sub-micron wide gap across the center conductor of a coplanar waveguide transmission line configured in a fixed-fixed beam arrangement, resulting in a pair of opposing cantilever beams that comprise an electro-mechanical switch. Accordingly, a nanometer-scale mechanical switch with very high switching speed and low actuation voltage has been developed. This switch is intended primarily for application in the RF/microwave/wireless industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Thomas Weller, Thomas Ketterl
  • Patent number: 7463123
    Abstract: The present invention describes nano-scale fabrication technique used to create a sub-micron wide gap across the center conductor of a coplanar waveguide transmission line configured in a fixed-fixed beam arrangement, resulting in a pair of opposing cantilever beams that comprise an electro-mechanical switch. Accordingly, a nanometer-scale mechanical switch with very high switching speed and low actuation voltage has been developed. This switch is intended primarily for application in the RF/microwave/wireless industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Thomas Weller, Thomas Ketterl
  • Patent number: 7386289
    Abstract: The invention is a microminiature wireless environmental sensor that has integrated both sensor and transmitter functions into one function. The basic operating principle for the device is that variable components of an RF circuit can be interfaced to the outside world environmental signals resulting in proportional changes in the transmission characteristics or transmission of data/bits from the RF transmitter circuit. This utilization of environmentally sensitive variable elements within a wireless transceiver circuit permits the fusion of both sensor and communications function into an integrated single function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Thomas Weller, David Fries, Thomas Ketterl
  • Publication number: 20070229199
    Abstract: The present invention describes nano-scale fabrication technique used to create a sub-micron wide gap across the center conductor of a coplanar waveguide transmission line configured in a fixed-fixed beam arrangement, resulting in a pair of opposing cantilever beams that comprise an electro-mechanical switch. Accordingly, a nanometer-scale mechanical switch with very high switching speed and low actuation voltage has been developed. This switch is intended primarily for application in the RF/microwave/wireless industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Thomas Weller, Thomas Ketterl
  • Publication number: 20060172714
    Abstract: The invention is a microminiature wireless environmental sensor that has integrated both sensor and transmitter functions into one function. The basic operating principle for the device is that variable components of an RF circuit can be interfaced to the outside world environmental signals resulting in proportional changes in the transmission characteristics or transmission of data/bits from the RF transmitter circuit. This utilization of environmentally sensitive variable elements within a wireless transceiver circuit permits the fusion of both sensor and communications function into an integrated single function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Thomas Weller, David Fries, Thomas Ketterl