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US5491414A
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Method of nuclear quadrupole resonance testing of integral spin quantum number systems
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
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Filing: 1992-12-04
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Granted: 1996-02-13
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Expires: 2012-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance testing includes the steps of applying to a sample in which selected nuclei have an integral spin quantum number a series of at least three pulses of electromagnetic waves at a single radiofrequency to excite quadrupole resonance of the selected nuclei, and detecting responses at a plurality of times when echo response signals are expected to occur.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. S. Smith
- 👤 Julian D. Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/441
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of NQR testing which includes the steps of: applying to a sample in which selected nuclei have an integral spin quantum number, a series of at least three excitation pulses of electromagnetic waves at a single radiofrequency to excite quadrupole resonance in said selected nuclei; and detecting echo response signals from said sample at a plurality of times; said series of at least three excitation pulses being arranged in time to generate a greater number of said echo response signals in a predetermined substance than a number of said at least three excitation pulses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of NQR testing which includes the steps of: applying to a sample in which selected nuclei have an integral spin quantum number, a series of at least three excitation pulses of electromagnetic waves at a single radiofrequency to excite quadrupole resonance in said selected nuclei; and detecting echo response signals from said sample at a plurality of times; said series of at least three excitation pulses being arranged in time to generate a greater number of said echo response signals in a predetermined substance than a number of said at least three excitation pulses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said echo response signals are summed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of applying said series of at least three excitation pulses and said step of detecting said echo response signals from said sample take place in an absence of any applied non-radiofrequency magnetic field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first interval between a first pulse of said series of at least three excitation pulses and a second pulse of said series of at least three excitation pulses is different from a second interval between said second pulse of said series of at least three excitation pulses and a third pulse of said series of at least three excitation pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said step of applying said series of at least three excitation pulses includes a step of applying three pulses at times 0, τ 1 and τ 2 , respectively; and said echo response signals are detected in periods embracing at least one of times 2τ 2 , τ 1 +τ 2 , 2τ 2 and 2τ 2 -2τ 1 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein: τ 2 >2τ 1 ; and τ 1 , τ 2 , 2τ 1 , τ 1 +τ 2 , 2τ 2 -2τ 1 and 2τ 2 are times separate and distinct from one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein τ 1 is greater than one millisecond.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pulses of said series of at least three excitation pulses are applied at times τ n , where n=0 to N and N is greater than or equal to two; and at least one of said pulses of said series of at least three excitation pulses being applied at a respective time 2τ m -τ m-1 , with m being greater than one for such respective time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a further pulse in said series of at least three excitation pulses is applied at a time 2τ n -τ n-1 , n being greater than one.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, each of said series of at least three excitation pulses which is interposed between two other adjacent pulses of said series of at least three excitation pulses is not equally spaced between said two other adjacent pulses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said step of applying said series of at least three excitation pulses includes a step of applying three pulses at times 0, τ 1 and τ 2 , respectively; and said echo response signals are detected in periods embracing at least one of times 2τ 1 , τ 1 +τ 2 , 2τ 2 and 2τ 2 -2τ 1 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a further pulse in said series of at least three excitation pulses is applied at time 2τ 2 -τ 1 .
Claim 14
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of NQR testing which includes the steps of: applying to a sample in which selected nuclei have an integral spin quantum number, a series of at least three excitation pulses of electromagnetic waves at a single radiofrequency to excite quadrupole resonance in said selected nuclei; and determining a plurality of times when echo response signals are expected to occur in said sample; detecting echo response signals from said sample at said plurality of times when echo response signals are expected to occur; said series of at least three excitation pulses being arranged in time to generate a greater number of said echo response signals in a predetermined substance than a number of said at least three excitation pulses.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of NQR testing which includes the steps of: applying to a sample in which selected nuclei have an integral spin quantum number, a series of at least three excitation pulses of electromagnetic waves at a single radiofrequency to excite quadrupole resonance in said selected nuclei; and determining a plurality of times when echo response signals are expected to occur in said sample; detecting echo response signals from said sample at said plurality of times when echo response signals are expected to occur; said series of at least three excitation pulses being arranged in time to generate a greater number of said echo response signals in a predetermined substance than a number of said at least three excitation pulses.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-12 | 1999-08-14 | 2000-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-12 | 2003-08-14 | 2004-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-12 | 2007-08-14 | 2008-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |