Michael J Cates

US Patent:

6456383, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Nov 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/705847

Inventors:

Dennis D. Earl - Knoxville TN
Stephen W. Allison - Knoxville TN
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Alvin J. Sanders - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

UT Battelle, LLC - Oak Ridge TN
The University of Tennessee Research Corporation - Knoxville TN

International Classification:

G01D 1114

US Classification:

356614, 356498

Abstract:

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making absolute distance or ranging measurements using Fresnel diffraction. The invention employs a source of electromagnetic radiation having a known wavelength or wavelength distribution, which sends a beam of electromagnetic radiation through a screen at least partially opaque at the wavelength. The screen has an aperture sized so as to produce a Fresnel diffraction pattern. A portion of the beam travels through the aperture to a detector spaced some distance from the screen. The detector detects the central intensity of the beam as well as a set of intensities displaced from a center of the aperture. The distance from the source to the target can then be calculated based upon the known wavelength, aperture radius, and beam intensity.

US Patent:

61234559, Sep 26, 2000

Filed:

May 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/850239

Inventors:

David L. Beshears - Knoxville TN
David N. Sitter - Tucson AZ
William H. Andrews - Oliver Springs TN
Marc L. Simpson - Knoxville TN
Ruth A. Abston - Vienna, AT
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Steve W. Allison - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

American Iron and Steel Institute - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01K 1120
G01K 1112

US Classification:

374161

Abstract:

An apparatus for measuring the temperature of a moving substrate includes an air gun with a powder inlet port in communication with the outlet port of a powder reservoir, an air inlet port in communication with a pressurized air source, and an outlet nozzle spaced from and directed toward the moving substrate. The air gun is activated by the air pulses to spray controlled amounts of the powdered phosphor onto the moving substrate, where the phosphor assumes the temperature of the moving substrate. A laser produces light pulses, and optics direct the light pulses onto the phosphor on the moving substrate, in response to which the phosphor emits a luminescence with a decay rate indicative of the temperature of the phosphor. A collection lens is disposed to focus the luminescence, and a photodetector detects the luminescence focused by the collection lens and produces an electrical signal that is characteristic of the brightness of the luminescence. A processor analyzes the electrical signal to determine the decay characteristic of the luminescence and to determine the temperature of the phosphor from the decay characteristic.

US Patent:

59147857, Jun 22, 1999

Filed:

Feb 4, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/018502

Inventors:

Stephen W. Allison - Knoxville TN
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
William S. Key - Knoxville TN
Alvin J. Sanders - Knoxville TN
Dennis D. Earl - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

The University of Tennesee Research Corporation - Knoxville TN
Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

G01B 514

US Classification:

356375

Abstract:

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making absolute distance or ranging measurements using Fresnel diffraction. The invention employs a source of electromagnetic radiation having a known wavelength or wavelength distribution, which sends a beam of electromagnetic radiation through an object which causes it to be split (hereinafter referred to as a "beamsplitter"), and then to a target. The beam is reflected from the target onto a screen containing an aperture spaced a known distance from the beamsplitter. The aperture is sized so as to produce a Fresnel diffraction pattern. A portion of the beam travels through the aperture to a detector, spaced a known distance from the screen. The detector detects the central intensity of the beam. The distance from the object which causes the beam to be split to the target can then be calculated based upon the known wavelength, aperture radius, beam intensity, and distance from the detector to the screen.

US Patent:

57305285, Mar 24, 1998

Filed:

Aug 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/704052

Inventors:

Stephen W. Allison - Knoxville TN
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Lynn A. Boatner - Oak Ridge TN
George T. Gillies - Earlysville VA

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

G01K 1120

US Classification:

374161

Abstract:

A high temperature phosphor consists essentially of a material having the general formula LuPO. sub. 4 :Dy. sub. (x),Eu. sub. (y), wherein: 0. 1 wt %. ltoreq. x. ltoreq. 20 wt % and 0. 1 wt %. ltoreq. y. ltoreq. 20 wt %. The high temperature phosphor is in contact with an article whose temperature is to be determined. The article having the phosphor in contact with it is placed in the environment for which the temperature of the article is to be determined. The phosphor is excited by a laser causing the phosphor to fluoresce. The emission from the phosphor is optically focused into a beam-splitting mirror which separates the emission into two separate emissions, the emission caused by the dysprosium dopant and the emission caused by the europium dopent. The separated emissions are optically filtered and the intensities of the emission are detected and measured. The ratio of the intensity of each emission is determined and the temperature of the article is calculated from the ratio of the intensities of the separate emissions.

US Patent:

59495391, Sep 7, 1999

Filed:

Nov 10, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/966657

Inventors:

Charles L. Britton - Alcoa TN
David L. Beshears - Knoxville TN
Marc L. Simpson - Knoxville TN
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Steve W. Allison - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

American Iron and Steel Institute - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01J 330

US Classification:

356317

Abstract:

A method for determining the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor is provided, together with an apparatus for performing the method. The apparatus includes a photodetector for detecting light emitted by a phosphor irradiated with an excitation pulse and for converting the detected light into an electrical signal. The apparatus further includes a differentiator for differentiating the electrical signal and a zero-crossing discrimination circuit that outputs a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the time period between the start of the excitation pulse and the time when the differentiated electrical signal reaches zero. The width of the output pulse signal is proportional to the decay-time constant of the phosphor.

US Patent:

58854843, Mar 23, 1999

Filed:

Sep 23, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/933916

Inventors:

Stephen W. Allison - Knoxville TN
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Lynn A. Boatner - Oak Ridge TN
George T. Gillies - Earlysville VA

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

C09K 1181

US Classification:

2523014P

Abstract:

A high temperature phosphor consists essentially of a material having the general formula LuPO. sub. 4 :Dy. sub. (x),Eu. sub. y) wherein: 0. 1 wt %. ltoreq. x. ltoreq. 20 wt % and 0. 1 wt %. ltoreq. y. ltoreq. 20 wt %. The high temperature phosphor is in contact with an article whose temperature is to be determined. The article having the phosphor in contact with it is placed in the environment for which the temperature of the article is to be determined. The phosphor is excited by a laser causing the phosphor to fluoresce. The emission from the phosphor is optically focused into a beam-splitting mirror which separates the emission into two separate emissions, the emission caused by the dysprosium dopant and the emission caused by the europium dopent. The separated emissions are optically filtered and the intensities of the emission are detected and measured. The ratio of the intensity of each emission is determined and the temperature of the article is calculated from the ratio of the intensities of the separate emissions.

US Patent:

59862726, Nov 16, 1999

Filed:

Apr 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/293916

Inventors:

Charles L. Britton - Alcoa TN
David L. Beshears - Knoxville TN
Marc L. Simpson - Knoxville TN
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Steve W. Allison - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

American Iron and Steel Institute - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01K 1100

US Classification:

2504591

Abstract:

A method for determining the temperature of a fluorescing phosphor is provided, together with an apparatus for performing the method. The apparatus includes a photodetector for detecting light emitted by a phosphor irradiated with an excitation pulse and for converting the detected light into an electrical signal. The apparatus further includes a differentiator for differentiating the electrical signal and a zero-crossing discrimination circuit that outputs a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the time period between the start of the excitation pulse and the time when the differentiated electrical signal reaches zero. The width of the output pulse signal is proportional to the decay-time constant of the phosphor.

US Patent:

20170290518, Oct 12, 2017

Filed:

Apr 11, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/485070

Inventors:

Alfred Akerman - Knoxville TN, US
Stephen W. Allison - Collierville TN, US
Matthew B. Scudiere - Oak Ridge TN, US
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN, US
David L. Beshears - Knoxville TN, US
Lara Brewer - Salt Lake City UT, US
Adan James Akerman - Knoxville TN, US

International Classification:

A61B 5/02
G01N 21/31
G01N 33/49

Abstract:

A system for measuring the blood loss comprises a measuring device that determines a hemoglobin concentration of fluid within a container utilizing a light source and a light detector. The container receives blood and other fluids from a patient during a medical procedure. Light from the light source is passed through the blood and other fluids in the container and is detected by the light detector. Based upon a magnitude of light detected, a hemoglobin concentration of the fluid in the container can be determined. A volume-measuring device determines the volume of blood and fluid in the container. Knowing the hemoglobin concentration and volume of fluid in the container, the volume of patient blood loss in the container can be determined. The blood loss measuring device in combination with infusion systems maintains a real-blood volume status so that proper infusion of blood, crystalloid and/or colloid solutions occurs.