Longitudinal field driven ion mobility filter and detection system
Patent # 6,815,669  Date Issued:  November 9, 2004

An asymmetric field ion mobility spectrometer for filtering ions via an asymmetric electric field, an ion flow generator propulsing ions to the filter via a propulsion field.

Method and apparatus for chromatography-high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry
Patent # 6,815,668  Date Issued:  November 9, 2004

Method and apparatus for chromatographic high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry, including a gas chromatographic analyzer section intimately coupled with an ionization section, an ion filter section, and an ion detection section, in which the sample compounds are at least somewhat separated prior to ionization, and ion filtering proceeds in a planar chamber under influence of high field asymmetric periodic signals, with detection integrated into the flow path, for producing accurate, real-time, orthogonal data for identification of a broad range of chemical compounds.

Molecular recognition sensor system
Patent # 6,807,842  Date Issued:  October 26, 2004

A molecular recognition sensor system for detecting the presence and concentration of an analyte including a resistive sensor having a semiconductive polymer film which swells when exposed to an analyte and interferents and a molecular imprinted resistive sensor having a semiconductive polymer film imprinted with the analyte which thereby swells when exposed to interferents, a circuit connected to the resistive sensor and the molecular imprinted resistive sensor for detecting a change in the resistance of the resistive sensor when exposed to the analyte and the interferents, the change in the resistance of the molecular imprinted resistive sensor when exposed to the analyte and interferents, and for subtracting the change in resistance of the molecular imprinted resistive sensor from the change in resistance of the resistive sensor to reduce the effect of any interferents on the change in resistance of the resistive sensor thereby determining the presence and concentration of the analyte.

Micromachined field asymmetric ion mobility filter and detection system
Patent # 6,806,463   Date Issued:  October 19, 2004

A micromechanical field asymmetric ion mobility filter for a detection system includes a pair of spaced substrates defining between them a flow path between a sample inlet and an outlet; an ion filter disposed in the path and including a pair of spaced filter electrodes, one electrode associated with each substrate; and an electrical controller for applying a bias voltage and an asymmetric periodic voltage across the ion filter electrodes for controlling the paths of ions through the filter.

Environmentally mitigated navigation system
Patent # 6,778,908  Date Issued:  August 17, 2004

An environmentally mitigated navigation system includes a thermal isolating chamber, an inertial measurement unit that can include individual gyroscopes and accelerometers for making inertial measurements, and a temperature control system; the temperature control system includes a thermoelectric cooling system, which in a powered mode maintains the inertial measurement unit at a substantially predetermined temperature, and a phase change device for maintaining the inertial measurement unit or inertial sensors at substantially a predetermined temperature in an unpowered mode; the phase change device substantially maintains the predetermined temperature by changing phase to define a stable temperature window for the inertial measurement unit or individual sensors to make inertial measurements during the unpowered mode as well as during the powered mode.

Integrated packaging of micromechanical sensors and associated control circuits
Patent # U.S. 6,770,503 Date Issued: August 3, 2004

A micromechanical sensor is fabricated on a semiconductor wafer, and a control circuit is fabricated on another semiconductor wafer. A cavity is etched on the back side of the control circuit wafer, the cavity being formed such that the sensor on the other wafer fits within the cavity when the wafers are brought together in an adjoining relationship. Through-holes are etched through the back side of the control circuit wafer to allow access to electrical contact points, and a patterned layer of metal is deposited to form electrical interconnections between the electrical contact points and termination points on the back side of the wafer via the through-holes. The termination points are arranged such that electrical contacts of the sensor contact the termination points when the wafers are placed in the adjoining relationship. The wafers are then cleaned and bonded together in the adjoining relationship. In a typical process the wafers contain multiple sensors and control circuits, respectively, and thus the bonded wafers are diced to yield individual bonded sensor-circuit pairs. The bonded pairs are then packaged in an integrated-circuit package such as a leadless chip carrier in a known manner.

Elastohydrodynamic and boundary lubricant and method of lubricating
Patent # U.S. 6,767,872 Date Issued: July 27,2004

A lubricant compound for use for both boundary and elastohydrodynamic lubrication utilize a hydrocarbon boundary lubricant linked to one or more fluorocarbon elastohydrodynamic lubricants and may be employed alone or as an additive. The lubricant compound lubricates surfaces on which it is disposed over a range of conditions. The boundary lubricant and the elastohydrodynamic lubricant are substituted such that they react with and/or provide desirable lubrication properties for particular surfaces.

Micro-optic absorption spectrometer
Patent # U.S. 6,765,211 Date Issued: July 20, 2004

An infrared absorption spectrometer features an optical microcavity, and a waveguide that evanescently couples light into the microcavity. The optical resonance frequency of the microcavity is tuned to coincide with an atomic or molecular resonance frequency of a selected atom or molecule. In this way, light coupled into the microcavity will experience absorption in the presence of an atomic or molecular subtance. The absorption causes a measurable change in the evanescent light coupling into the microcavity. The detection sensitivity of the spectrometer is significantly increased, compared to prior art spectrometers, because of the high Q value of the microcavity and the ensuing long optical path lengths of the resonant modes traveling within the microcavity.

Non-Invasive pipeline inspection system
Patent # U.S. 6,751,560 Date Issued: June 15, 2004

The invention is directed to a system and method for non-invasive pipeline inspection. According to one embodiment, the system includes a processor, an analyzer, and a wave launcher. The wave launcher is adapted to transmit an input wideband waveform having a selected input energy into the pipeline along a longitudinal axis, and to receive from the pipeline a reflected component of the input waveform having a reflected energy. The analyzer is adapted to generate the input waveform, and to receive the reflected component of the input waveform from the wave launcher. The processor is adapted to compare the input waveform with the reflected component of the input waveform to determine characteristics.

Method and apparatus for stabilizing a broadband source
Patent # U.S. 6,744,793 Date Issued: June 1, 2004

The invention relates to a method and system for wavelength stabilization of a broadband optical source. The method and system are based on utilizing an optical power divider to generate two optical signals for each of the broadband source and a reference wavelength source. The difference in the power ratio of the two optical signals derived from the broadband source and the power ratio of the two optical signals derived from the reference wavelength source is determined. Because the power ratios are similarly affected by component aging and changes in environmental factors such as temperature and incident radiation, the difference in the power ratios can be used to adjust the wavelength of the broadband source so that its center wavelength is stabilized to the center wavelength of the reference source.

Deeply-integrated adaptive GPS-based navigator with extended-range code tracking
Patent # 6,731,237 Date Issued:  May 4, 2004

A system and method for generating a multidimensional navigation solution utilizes Global Positioning System (GPS) data to obtain highly reliable and accurate navigational solutions in high interference and dynamic environments, at a performance level which has been heretofore unattainable. Additional sensors such as inertial (gyros and accelerometers), altimeters, radars, etc. may be employed in a deeply integrated configuration. The approach taken in the present invention differs from that of previous techniques through its exploitation of nonlinear filtering methods; as a result, the navigation system architecture and processes employed yield significant improvements in navigation system performance, both in code tracking and reacquisition, and in carrier tracking and reacquisition. The improvements are particularly significant at low signal/noise ratios, where conventional approaches are especially susceptible to loss of code lock or carrier lock.

Method and device for achieving a high-Q microwave resonant cavity
Patent # U.S. 6,727,787 ; Date Issued: April 27, 2004

A device for manipulating microwave radiation includes a substrate that defines the shape of a surface for reflecting microwave radiation. The device also includes a metal fitting. The fitting conforms to the defined shape, and provides the surface that reflects microwave radiation.

Active tremor control system
Patent # U.S. 6,695,794 ; Date Issued: February 24, 2004

A light weight, wearable, and balanced active tremor control system including a mount; a proof mass frame moveable with respect to the mount; at least one actuator on the proof mass frame for imparting a force on the mount; a motion sensor for detecting movement of the mount due to tremors; and a controller for driving the actuator in response to the motion sensor.

Vertical takeoff and landing aerial vehicle
Patent # U.S. 6,691,949 ; Date Issued: February 17, 2004

An aerial vehicle including a toroidal fuselage having a longitudinal axis, and a duct extending along the longitudinal axis between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the fuselage, first and second counter-rotating, variable pitch rotor assemblies coaxially mounted within the duct of the fuselage, and at least one canard wing secured to the toroidal fuselage and having a leading edge positioned out of the duct of the fuselage and axially forward of the leading edge of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of the canard wing comprises a control surface having a variable angle of attack. The invention provides an aerial vehicle that can take-off and land vertically, hover for extended periods of time over a fixed spatial point, and operate in confined areas. The aerial vehicle also has the ability to transition between a hover and high speed forward flight.

Geographical navigation using multipath wireless navigation signals
Patent # U.S. 6,693,592 ; Date Issued: February 17, 2004

A wireless navigational system and process utilize multipath wireless signals normally discarded from the navigation solution to enhance navigational performance under a range of operational scenarios. A relationship between the receiver's location and one or more multipath signals is established, facilitating subsequent navigation using the multipath signal(s).

Method and apparatus for electrospray-augmented high field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry
Patent # U.S. 6,690,004; Date Issued: February 10, 2004

Method and apparatus for the analysis of compounds using electrospray in high field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry.

Flexural plate wave sensor and array
Patent # U.S. 6,688,158; Date Issued: February 10, 2004

A method for manufacturing a flexural plate wave sensor including the steps of depositing a sacrificial material layer over a silicon substrate, depositing a membrane layer over the sacrificial material layer with the membrane layer covering the sacrificial material layer and contacting the silicon substrate, depositing a piezoelectric layer over the membrane layer, forming a first transducer on the piezoelectric layer, forming a second transducer on the piezoelectric layer, spaced from the first transducer, removing the sacrificial material layer to expose a portion of the membrane layer, and depositing an absorptive coating on the exposed portion of the membrane layer.

Drive feedthrough nulling system
Patent # U.S. 6,674,294 ; Date Issued: January 6, 2004

The present invention relates to a system for nulling drive feedthrough error in a sensor having first and second drive electrodes which impart vibratory motion to first and second proof masses in response to first and second opposite phase drive signals, and having first and second capacitances defined between the drive electrodes and their associated proof masses. A mismatch between the first and the second capacitance is measured. Drive feedthrough caused by the measured capacitance mismatch is nulled by adjusting the relative amplitudes of the first and second opposite phase drive signals, whereby the ratio of the amplitudes is proportional to the ratio of the first and second capacitances. A servo loop may adaptively effect the ratio of amplitudes.

Method for microfabricating structures using silicon-on-insulator material
Patent # U.S. 6,673,694; Date Issued: January 6, 2004

The invention provides a general fabrication method for producing MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) and related devices using Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI). One first obtains an SOI wafer that has (i) a handle layer, (ii) a a dielectric layer, and (iii) a device layer. A mesa etch has been made on the device layer of the SOI wafer and a structural etch has been made on the dielectric layer of the SOI wafer. One then obtains a substrate (such as glass or silicon), where a pattern has been etched onto the substrate. The SOI wafer and the substrate are bonded together. Then the handle layer of the SOI wafer is removed, followed by the dielectric layer of the SOI wafer.