Precision Tool Holder with Flexure-Adjustable, Three Degrees of Freedom for a Four-Axis Lathe
Matthew J. Bono, Robin L. Hibbard
U.S. Patent 7,337,700 B2
March 4, 2008
A precision tool holder positions a single-point cutting tool on a four-axis lathe so that the center of the radius of the tool nose is precisely aligned with the B axis of the machine tool. With this positioning, mesoscale components with complex three-dimensional shapes can be machined to submicrometer accuracy. Designed to fit on a commercial diamond-turning machine, the device uses three flexure-based mechanisms to adjust the cutting tool’s position with submicrometer resolution. Two flexures move the tool laterally to align it with the B axis, and a third adjusts the tool’s height. Micrometer adjusters can be driven manually for precise positioning. The tool holder simplifies the positioning process and thus substantially reduces setup time.

Sample Rotating Turntable Kit for Infrared Spectrometers
Joel Del Eckels, Gregory L. Klunder
U.S. Patent 7,339,169 B1
March 4, 2008
A turntable kit for infrared spectrometers can be used to rotate samples. The infrared spectrometer has a probe for analyzing the sample, and the rotatable cup, which holds the sample, is adapted to receive the probe. A reflectance standard is located in the sample cup. A sleeve placed near the cup is positioned to receive the probe. A rotator connected to a battery moves the sample cup.

Portable Compton Gamma-Ray Detection System
Mark S. Rowland, Mark E. Oldaker
U.S. Patent 7,339,172 B2
March 4, 2008
This Compton-scattered gamma-ray detector system has a gamma-ray spectrometer, an array of scintillators around the spectrometer, and a multichannel analyzer. A radiation shield surrounds the first scintillator in the annular array.

Filtered Back-Projection Algorithm for Compton Telescopes
Donald L. Gunter
U.S. Patent 7,345,283 B2
March 18, 2008
This method converts Compton camera data of incident-radiation flux on a celestial sphere into a two-dimensional image. The system detects coincident gamma-radiation flux arriving from various directions of a 2-sphere. Using a back-projection process, it maps these events onto the 2-sphere to produce a convolution integral. This integral is stereographically projected onto a 2-plane to produce a second convolution integral, which is deconvolved by the Fourier method. The resulting image is then projected onto the 2-sphere.

Electron Beam Diagnostic for Profiling High Power Beams
John W. Elmer, Todd A. Palmer, Alan T. Teruya
U.S. Patent 7,348,568 B2
March 25, 2008
This system can be used to characterize high-power electron beams at power levels up to 10 kilowatts. The system has a slit disk assembly with several radial slits. A conducting disk with the same number of radial slits is placed below the slit disk, and a Faraday cup is located below the conducting disk. A start–stop target is placed near the slit disk assembly. A heat sink prevents the system from overheating. A cooling system, using water, for example, can be integrated into the heat sink. The high-power beam is initially directed onto the start–stop target. Once it reaches full power, the beam rotates around the slit disk assembly. The Faraday cup assembly detects the beam when it enters the radial slits in either of the two disk assemblies. A trigger probe can also be integrated into the system to help determine the proper orientation of the beam during reconstruction. After the beam passes over each slit, it is rapidly translated back to the start–stop target to minimize the amount of time it is in contact with the slit disk. A computed tomography algorithm uses the recorded data to reconstruct the power density distribution of the beam.

Neutron Interrogation System Using High Gamma Ray Signature to Detect Contraband Special Nuclear Materials in Cargo
Dennis R. Slaughter, Bertram A. Pohl, Arden D. Dougan,
Adam Bernstein, Stanley G. Prussin, Eric B. Norman
U.S. Patent 7,359,480 B2
April 15, 2008
A system for inspecting cargo uses neutrons to detect the presence of special nuclear material. Cargo is irradiated with neutrons. The neutrons produce fission products in special nuclear material, if it is present, which will then generate gamma rays. The detection of gamma rays thus indicates the presence of special nuclear material.