Brian James Gallagher

US Patent:

52358178, Aug 17, 1993

Filed:

Apr 2, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/862050

Inventors:

Brian W. Gallagher - Highland Lakes NJ
Robert W. Bergensten - Middletown NY

Assignee:

North American Philips Corp. - New York NY

International Classification:

F25B 1900

US Classification:

62 511

Abstract:

Parallel heat paths are provided by three nested tubes, the outer tube being of stainless steel and connected cantilevered to a housing at ambient temperature. The innermost tube forms a cold finger having a negligible temperature gradient and secured in thermal conductive isolation concentrically within an intermediate cold sleeve tube which is also concentric within the outer tube, the cold finger and cold sleeve tubes being made of copper. The tubes have a minimum diameter and specular facing surfaces to minimize radiation coupling which is the major source of heat transfer between the tubes. The two inner tubes have minimum thermal conductive coupling via thermal insulating tapered rings at one end and a thermal insulating support at the other end. A radiation detector is secured to the inner cold finger tube for receiving X-ray radiation from a specimen in an electron microscope. The other ends of the two inner tubes ar thermally conductively connected to a heat sink Dewar via braided copper straps.

US Patent:

54888328, Feb 6, 1996

Filed:

Jun 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/259947

Inventors:

Brian W. Gallagher - Highland Lakes NJ

Assignee:

Philips Electronics North America Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

F25B 1900

US Classification:

62 511

Abstract:

A matched thermal expansion support system for cryogenically cooled x-ray spectrometers is described for the purpose of holding x-ray detecting crystals precisely in position throughout large temperature changes. This thermal matching is achieved by a detector holder, having an axial thermal movement characteristic, mounted on a support having an equal, but opposite, thermal movement characteristic.

US Patent:

53028317, Apr 12, 1994

Filed:

Apr 30, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/876848

Inventors:

Brian W. Gallagher - Highland Lakes NJ
Duncan R. Quinn - Ridgewood NJ

Assignee:

North American Philips Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

H01J 37244

US Classification:

250397

Abstract:

An inner vessel having a truncated triangular volume is spaced from an outer housing of similar shape to form a chamber therebetween. A thermally conductive strap is connected at one end to the vessel at its other end to a cold finger tube extending into the chamber. The vessel contains liquid nitrogen and is secured in spaced relationship from the outer housing by a fiberglass liquid nitrogen fill tube. An electronic assembly for processing signals generated by the detector cooled by the cold finger are aligned with the cold finger external the dewar housing. The dewar accommodates entry port angles between zero and 60. degree. for different microscopes without physical interference with the microscope housing and attachments.

US Patent:

58118160, Sep 22, 1998

Filed:

Aug 7, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/692965

Inventors:

Brian William Gallagher - Highland Lakes NJ
Costas Blionas - Hackensack NJ
Joseph Anthony Nicolosi - Bardonia NY
Richard Barbara - Oakland NJ

Assignee:

U.S. Philips Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

G01T 100

US Classification:

25037015

Abstract:

A radiation detector having an evacuated envelope, a radiation detector on a cold finger support in the evacuated space, a closed cycle gas cooling system to cool the cold finger to provide cryogenic operation of the radiation detector, and a getter in the evacuated space to maintain an evacuated condition. The evacuated envelope includes a radiation window. The radiation detector is preferably an X-ray detector employed in an energy dispersive spectrometry system. The evacuated space is preferably held at a pressure of less than about 1 mTorr to achieve molecular flow of remaining gas molecules, minimizing parasitic heat input. The closed cycle gas cooling system employs compressed refrigerant, which is precooled in a counterflow heat exchanger and allowed to expand in proximity to the cold finger, thus absorbing heat and maintaining cryogenic temperatures. A getter material, preferably activated carbon, is provided to absorb gasses and maintain the low pressure during operation. A vibration effect attenuation system is provided to reduce effect of cooler induced reduction in detector resolution.

US Patent:

55526080, Sep 3, 1996

Filed:

Jun 26, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/494501

Inventors:

Brian W. Gallagher - Highland Lakes NJ
Costas Blionas - Hackensack NJ
Joseph A. Nicolosi - Bardonia NY
Richard Barbara - Oakland NJ

Assignee:

Philips Electronics North America Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

G01T 100

US Classification:

25037015

Abstract:

A radiation detector having an evacuated envelope, a radiation detector on a cold finger support in the evacuated space, a closed cycle gas cooling system to cool the cold finger to provide cryogenic operation of the radiation detector, and a getter in the evacuated space to maintain an evacuated condition. The evacuated envelope includes a radiation window. The radiation detector is preferably an X-ray detector employed in an energy dispersive spectrometry system. The evacuated space is preferably held at a pressure of less than about 1 mTorr to achieve molecular flow of remaining gas molecules, minimizing parasitic heat input. The closed cycle gas cooling system employs compressed refrigerant, which is precooled in a counterflow heat exchanger and allowed to expand in proximity to the cold finger, thus absorbing heat and maintaining cryogenic temperatures. A getter material, preferably activated carbon, is provided to absorb gasses and maintain the low pressure during operation. A vibration effect attenuation system is provided to reduce effect of cooler induced reduction in detector resolution.

US Patent:

62427482, Jun 5, 2001

Filed:

Aug 10, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/371545

Inventors:

Brian William Gallagher - Highland Lakes NJ
Branimir Vidinsky - Glen Cove NY

Assignee:

EDAX, Inc. - DE

International Classification:

H01J 37244

US Classification:

250397

Abstract:

A mounting system includes a port cover, a mounting interface, and a damping system. The port cover is attached to a microscope and secures the mounting interface to the microscope. The mounting interface provides a mounting surface for an X-ray detector unit to attach to the microscope and a surface to which the damping system is attached. The damping system includes a plurality of collets, a collet clamp, and damping material. The damping system secures the X-ray detector unit to the microscope while damping vibrations caused by the detector unit.

US Patent:

52742377, Dec 28, 1993

Filed:

Apr 2, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/862084

Inventors:

Brian W. Gallagher - Highland Lakes NJ
Robert W. Bergensten - Middletown NY

Assignee:

North American Philips Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

G01T 100

US Classification:

25037015

Abstract:

An X-ray radiation detector is thermally conductively secured to the end of a cryogenically cooled copper cold finger in an evacuated atmosphere. A collimator having a conical radiation conduit at a relatively low evacuated pressure is thermally conductively secured to the end of the cold finger for passing radiation emitted by an electron microscope and reflected from a specimen to the detector in a windowless environment. The collimator and cold finger are at about the same cryogenic temperature. The detector is maintained at a temperature of a few degrees C. above that of the collimator. The collimator conduit radiation ingress aperture is dimensioned to limit gas flow to the conduit to limit moisture flow into the conduit and to the detector, the gas flow being molecular in a low pressure atmosphere. Due to the temperature differential between the detector and collimator, moisture sublimes from the detector to the collimator inside the conduit where the moisture adheres to the collimator as ice providing a relatively ice free detector for long term continuous operation.