William F Bowers

US Patent:

6363773, Apr 2, 2002

Filed:

Apr 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/552462

Inventors:

William D. Bowers - Newport Beach CA

Assignee:

Femtometrics - Irvine CA

International Classification:

H03H 925

US Classification:

73 2406, 73 3106, 310313 R, 310313 D

Abstract:

A real time nonvolatile residue (NVR) monitor operates to efficiently detect molecular contamination in a given environment. The present NVR monitor utilizes surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators in a controlled environment which efficiently promotes deposition of NVR on the sensor surface. The SAW resonators preferably operate at a resonant frequency of approximately 200 MHz-2,000 MHz which enables the NVR monitor to detect molecular contamination on the order of 10 g-cm to 10 g-cm. The NVR monitor utilizes active temperature control of (SAW) resonators to achieve a stable resonant frequency and to thermally separate NVR from a sample fluid contacting the SAW. The temperature control system of the NVR monitor is able to directly heat and cool the SAW resonators utilizing a thermoelectric element to maintain the resonators at a preset temperature in accordance with optimal environmental conditions for separating NVR from the sample fluid. The sample fluid, comprising a carrier fluid and NVR, is furthermore processed to provide conditions, such as pre-cooling and/or pressurization, which enhance condensation of NVR on the sensor surface. Increasing the collection efficiency allows the NVR monitor to operate faster at a desired level of accuracy and provides more quantitative information for trace contaminant analysis.

US Patent:

6378385, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Feb 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/789500

Inventors:

William D. Bowers - Newport Beach CA

Assignee:

Femtometrics, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

G01N 2518

US Classification:

7386312

Abstract:

A device samples chemicals adsorbed to a surface by applying a pulse of fluid to desorb the particles adhered to the surface. After the pulse of fluid, the region above the surface is enriched with particles dislodged from the surface. Suction is applied in the region above the surface to collect these dislodged particles, which are then transferred to a chemical detector for detection, identification, and quantification. A pulsed air sampler collects particles adhered to a surface and delivers the particles to a chemical sensor. An outlet ejects a fluid, preferably gas, pulse to dislodge particles from the surface and thereby enrich the density of particles above the surface. An inlet collects the dislodged particles for delivery to the chemical sensor.

US Patent:

6682641, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Apr 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/559906

Inventors:

Michael J. Finney - San Francisco CA
Daniel E. Sullivan - Cambridge MA
Bruce R. Turner - Exeter NH
Alexis Vira - Somerville MA
Peter B. Vander Horn - Foster City CA
Charles P. Andre - San Francisco CA
Sean Rubin - Mountain View CA
Corey Nislow - San Francisco CA
John R. Linton - Lincoln MA
William D. Bowers - Peabody MA

Assignee:

MJ Research, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

B01D 5702

US Classification:

204466, 204465, 204606, 204615, 204616, 204618, 204619, 204620, 425179, 425234, 425543

Abstract:

The invention provides an electrophoresis cassette to cast electrophoresis gels and to separate and analyze molecular components by electrophoresis. The electrophoresis cassette comprises a top plate assembly, a spacer and a bottom plate. The top plate assembly is seated to the bottom plate with the spacer there between to define a thickness of the electrophoresis cassette and to seal an outer perimeter of the assembly. The top plate assembly includes a cathode reservoir connected to a first terminal end of a central plate, and an anode reservoir connected to a second terminal end of the central plate. When the electrophoresis cassette is assembled, the cathode and anode reservoirs are in alignment with the first and second terminal ends of the central plate to facilitate formation of leak-proof seals between the reservoirs and the assembly components. An embodiment of the invention provides a plurality of sample wells incorporated with the cathode reservoir and constructed of rigid, electrically non-conducting material to provide a hard-well sample loading site for uniform and consistent sample injection. Another embodiment provides a mechanical biasing system incorporated with a cathode reservoir body to bias the assembly components together.

US Patent:

7383240, Jun 3, 2008

Filed:

Dec 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/308333

Inventors:

Vijay Mital - Fremont CA, US
Sanjay Kumar - Coppell TX, US
Stanton L. Thomas - Incline Village NV, US
William L. Bowers - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

i2 Technologies US, Inc. - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G06N 5/04

US Classification:

706 47, 706 45, 706 46, 700 28, 705 7, 705 11

Abstract:

Operationalizing a goal includes receiving the goal and execution rules associated with the goal, where one or more execution rules correspond to an execution system operable to initiate execution of the execution rules. The goal is represented in a representation language that includes a set of operations. An operation of the set of operations is applied to the goal to partition the goal into subgoals. For each subgoal, an operation of the set of operations is applied to the subgoal to derive and configure one or more execution rules associated with the subgoal. The goals, the applied operations, the subgoals, and the execution rules are recorded as operationalized knowledge to operationalize the goal.

US Patent:

7399447, Jul 15, 2008

Filed:

Apr 1, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/815983

Inventors:

William D. Bowers - Newport Beach CA, US
Gregory F. Quinn - Fullerton CA, US

Assignee:

Enigma Science, LLC - Irvine CA

International Classification:

G01N 1/14

US Classification:

422100, 73 6456, 7386301

Abstract:

An active sampler for detecting contaminants in liquids comprises an inlet tube, and outlet tube and a sampling unit positioned between said paths such that the liquid flows along a path from the inlet, through the sampling unit, to the outlet. The sampling unit has a plurality of sampling chambers that are substantially fluidly sealed relative to one another, wherein one of the sampling chambers is selectively positioned in the flow path. The active sampler also comprises an actuator, which relatively moves the sampling unit and the inlet and outlet tubes such that said one sampling chamber is positioned out of the flow path while another of the sampling chambers is positioned in the flow path.

US Patent:

8119065, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Jul 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/173612

Inventors:

William D. Bowers - Newport Beach CA, US
Gregory F. Quinn - Fullerton CA, US

Assignee:

Enigma Science, LLC - Irvine CA

International Classification:

G01N 1/14

US Classification:

422 681, 73 6456, 7386301

Abstract:

An active sampler for detecting contaminants in liquids comprises an inlet, an outlet and a sampling unit positioned such that the liquid flows along a path from the inlet, through the sampling unit, to the outlet. The sampling unit has a plurality of sampling chambers that are substantially fluidly sealed relative to one another, wherein one of the sampling chambers is selectively positioned in the flow path. The active sampler also comprises an actuator, which relatively moves the sampling unit and the inlet and outlet such that one sampling chamber is positioned out of the flow path while another of the sampling chambers is positioned in the flow path.

US Patent:

59182580, Jun 29, 1999

Filed:

Jul 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/678792

Inventors:

William D. Bowers - Newport Beach CA

International Classification:

H03H 925
G01N 2902
G01N 2922

US Classification:

73 2406

Abstract:

A real time nonvolatile residue (NVR) monitor operates to efficiently detect molecular contamination in a given environment. The present NVR monitor utilizes surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators in a controlled environment which efficiently promotes deposition of NVR on the sensor surface. The SAW resonators preferably operate at a resonant frequency of approximately 200 MHz-2,000 MHz which enables the NVR monitor to detect molecular contamination on the order of 10. sup. -11 g-cm. sup. -2 to 10. sup. -13 g-cm. sup. -2. The NVR monitor utilizes active temperature control of (SAW) resonators to achieve a stable resonant frequency and to thermally separate NVR from a sample fluid contacting the SAW. The temperature control system of the NVR monitor is able to directly heat and cool the SAW resonators utilizing a thermoelectric element to maintain the resonators at a preset temperature in accordance with optimal environmental conditions for separating NVR from the sample fluid. The sample fluid, comprising a carrier fluid and NVR, is furthermore processed to provide conditions, such as pre-cooling and/or pressurization, which enhance condensation of NVR on the sensor surface.

US Patent:

6269703, Aug 7, 2001

Filed:

Sep 11, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/151743

Inventors:

William D. Bowers - Newport Beach CA

Assignee:

Femtometrics, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

G01N 2518

US Classification:

7386312

Abstract:

A device samples chemicals adsorbed to a surface by applying a pulse of fluid to desorb the particles adhered to the surface. After the pulse of fluid, the region above the surface is enriched with particles dislodged from the surface. Suction is applied in the region above the surface to collect these dislodged particles, which are then transferred to a chemical detector for detection, identification, and quantification. A pulsed air sampler collects particles adhered to a surface and delivers the particles to a chemical sensor. An outlet ejects a fluid, preferably gas, pulse to dislodge particles from the surface and thereby enrich the density of particles above the surface. An inlet collects the dislodged particles for delivery to the chemical sensor.