Patents by Inventor Zane W. Bell

Zane W. Bell 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: 7687780
    Abstract: A semiconductor detector for ionizing electromagnetic radiation, neutrons, and energetic charged particles. The detecting element is comprised of a compound having the composition I-III-VI2 or II-IV-V2 where the “I” component is from column 1A or 1B of the periodic table, the “II” component is from column 2B, the “III” component is from column 3A, the “IV” component is from column 4A, the “V” component is from column 5A, and the “VI” component is from column 6A. The detecting element detects ionizing radiation by generating a signal proportional to the energy deposited in the element, and detects neutrons by virtue of the ionizing radiation emitted by one or more of the constituent materials subsequent to capture. The detector may contain more than one neutron-sensitive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignees: Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12, LLC, Fisk University
    Inventors: Zane W. Bell, Arnold Burger
  • Patent number: 6544442
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition of matter comprising a tributyl phosphate complex of a group 3, lanthanide, actinide, or group 13 salt in an organic carrier and a method of making the complex. These materials are suitable for use in solid or liquid organic scintillators, as in x-ray absorption standards, x-ray fluorescence standards, and neutron detector calibration standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Zane W. Bell, Chuen Huei-Ho, Gilbert M. Brown, Charles Hurlbut
  • Patent number: 6011266
    Abstract: A sensor for simultaneously detecting neutrons and ionizing electromagnetic radiation comprising: a sensor for the detection of gamma radiation, the sensor defining a sensing head; the sensor further defining an output end in communication with the sensing head; and an exterior neutron-sensitive material configured to form around the sensing head; wherein the neutron-sensitive material, subsequent to the capture of the neutron, fissions into an alpha-particle and a .sup.7 Li ion that is in a first excited state in a majority of the fissions, the first excited state decaying via the emission of a single gamma ray at 478 keV which can in turn be detected by the sensing head; and wherein the sensing head can also detect the ionizing electromagnetic radiation from an incident radiation field without significant interference from the neutron-sensitive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation
    Inventor: Zane W. Bell