The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 07, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 14, 2005
Michael L. Buess, Alexandria, VA (US);
Allen M. Garroway, Fort Washington, MD (US);
Joel B. Miller, Cheverly, MD (US);
James P. Yesinowski, Fort Washington, MD (US);
Roy P. Lindquist, Oakton, VA (US);
Michael L. Buess, Alexandria, VA (US);
Allen M. Garroway, Fort Washington, MD (US);
Joel B. Miller, Cheverly, MD (US);
James P. Yesinowski, Fort Washington, MD (US);
Roy P. Lindquist, Oakton, VA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for screening samples to determine which samples include a target material. Generally, the samples are pre-screened to determine which of the samples have a piezoelectric resonance when irradiated with an electric field, to thereby indicate the presence of the target material. The samples that have the piezoelectric resonance are then further screened by a different process to confirm the presence of the target material. For example, samples that have the piezoelectric resonance are further screened for a specific nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR), a specific nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or a specific visual characteristic, to confirm the presence of the target material in the sample. The apparatus and method can be used, for example, to search luggage at ports of entry for the presence of cocaine hydrochloride or heroin hydrochloride.