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LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY Patent applications
Patent application numberTitlePublished
20120129688LARGE-PORE PERIODIC MESOPOROUS QUARTZ - Provided herein are methods of synthesizing large-pore periodic mesoporous quartz. Using the methods herein, large-pore periodic mesoporous quartz has been synthesized at a lower pressure and a temperature than in any previous mesoporous crystalline method, yielding a unique mesoporous article having crystalline pore walls. For example, the methods involve modified nanocasting methods using a mesoporous starting material comprising silica, carbon as a an infiltrating pore filler, followed by application of pressure and heat sufficient to crystallize silica in the infiltrated starting material to form a mesoporous crystalline article having crystalline pore walls therein, and useful in many applications, including as a catalyst.05-24-2012
20120125194AUTOTHERMAL CYCLE FOR CO2 CAPTURE - Provided herein are methods and apparatus for capturing or otherwise decreasing the amount of CO05-24-2012
20120094122FABRICATION OF NANOPOROUS GLASS FIBER FOR FLEXIBLE BIOSCAFFOLDS AND OTHER PRODUCTS - Provided herein are novel nanoporous glass fibers, and methods of preparing and using such fibers. In some embodiments, articles are made from particular glass starting materials, such as soda-lime phosphosilicate glass fabricated by melt-quench methods. The articles include nanoporous fibers that can be used alone, or sewn, woven, bundled, and otherwise incorporated to form nanoporous articles, including bioactive articles.04-19-2012
20120044959TERAHERTZ SOURCE - An optical system includes a first gain medium configured to be excited by an energy source and in response generate a first optical signal having first and second wavelengths. A Q-switch is disposed adjacent to the first gain medium for generating a pulsed optical signal in response to receiving the first optical signal. A non-linear optical crystal is configured to output a second optical signal having a frequency based on difference frequency generation of the first and second wavelengths of the pulsed optical signal.02-23-2012
20120034286STABILIZATION OF BIOSOLIDS USING IRON NANOPARTICLES - This invention discloses a stabilized biosolids composition and a method for the stabilization of biosolids. It entails the use of a chemically and biologically reactive material, in the form of ultrafine iron particles. The nanometer-sized iron particles are capable of degrading odorous organosulfur compounds, transforming persistent and toxic organic pollutants such as PCBs and chlorinated pesticides, inhibiting the growth of pathogens by increasing pH and maintaining the increased pH of the stabilized biosolids, immobilizing toxic metal ions such as mercury and lead, and improving the overall quality of biosolids for land application and plant growth.02-09-2012
20110259544ENCAPSULATED PHASE CHANGE APPARATUS FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE - Provided are apparatus and methods for storing thermal energy. For example, an apparatus including comprising at least one phase change material, and a capsule containing the at least one phase change material. The capsule may be permanently or temporarily sealed to contain the encapsulation material. The encapsulation material includes at least one material that is chemically and physically distinct from the phase change material. The encapsulation material and phase change material are selected to store and discharge thermal energy at temperatures of greater than 400° C. without capsule failure.10-27-2011
20110240082THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS BASED ON SINGLE CRYSTAL AlInN-GaN GROWN BY METALORGANIC VAPOR PHASE EPITAXY - The invention is a thermoelectric device fabricated by growing a single crystal AlInN semiconductor material on a substrate, and a method of fabricating same. In a preferred embodiment, the semiconductor material is AlInN grown on and lattice-matched to a GaN template on a sapphire substrate, and the growth is performed using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE).10-06-2011
20110237676SPERMICIDAL AND MICROBICIDAL COMPOSITIONS - Provided herein are new spermicidal compositions that include one or more fluorous surfactants, e.g., non-ionic fluorous surfactants, anionic fluorous surfactants, cationic fluorous surfactants, and combinations thereof. Also provided are methods of preventing fertilization of an ovum, which include a step of contacting at least one spermatozoon with one or more fluorous surfactants. Additionally described herein are methods of preventing infection, which include a step of contacting at least one infectious pathogenic microorganism with one or more fluorous surfactants. Numerous fluorine-containing surfactants are demonstrated to be efficacious as human spermicides.09-29-2011
20110229957POLYMER-MEDIATED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD-BASED PARTICLE CONCENTRATOR - There remains an unmet need for methods to efficiently concentrate and isolate small particles, such as nano-sized and micron-sized particles. The methods herein provide means to fulfill this need through the combination of two independent particle-concentrating mechanisms, yielding unprecedented control, confinement, and concentration enhancement ability. The method is carried out in a reversible and spatially controllable manner. Useful applications include diagnostics and bioparticle separation, material science and research uses, among other uses.09-22-2011
20110204328NITRIDE BASED DEVICES INCLUDING A SYMMETRICAL QUANTUM WELL ACTIVE LAYER HAVING A CENTRAL LOW BANDGAP DELTA-LAYER - A symmetrical quantum well active layer provides enhanced internal quantum efficiency. The quantum well active layer includes an inner (central) layer and a pair of outer layers sandwiching the inner layer. The inner and outer layers have different thicknesses and bandgap characteristics. The outer layers are relatively thick and include a relatively low bandgap material, such as InGaN. The inner layer has a relatively lower bandgap material and is sufficiently thin to act as a quantum well delta layer, e.g., comprising approximately 6 Å or less of InN. Such a quantum well structure advantageously extends the emission wavelength into the yellow/red spectral regime, and enhances spontaneous emission. The multi-layer quantum well active layer is sandwiched by barrier layers of high bandgap materials, such as GaN.08-25-2011
20110155999SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICES HAVING CONCAVE MICROSTRUCTURES PROVIDING IMPROVED LIGHT EXTRACTION EFFICIENCY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME - A conventional semiconductor LED is modified to include a microlenslayer over its light-emitting surface. The LED may have an active layer including at least one quantum well layer of InGaN and GaN. The microlens layer includes a plurality of concave microstructures that cause light rays emanating from the LED to diffuse outwardly, leading to an increase in the light extraction efficiency of the LED. The concave microstructures may be arranged in a substantially uniform array, such as a close-packed hexagonal array. The microlens layer is preferably constructed of curable material, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and is formed by soft-lithography imprinting by contacting fluid material of the microlens layer with a template bearing a monolayer of homogeneous microsphere crystals, to cause concave impressions, and then curing the material to fix the concave microstructures in the microlens layer and provide relatively uniform surface roughness.06-30-2011
20110147703ABBREVIATED EPITAXIAL GROWTH MODE (AGM) METHOD FOR REDUCING COST AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LEDs AND LASERS - The use of an abbreviated GaN growth mode on nano-patterned AGOG sapphire substrates, which utilizes a process of using 15 nm low temperature GaN buffer and bypassing etch-back and recovery processes during epitaxy, enables the growth of high-quality GaN template on nano-patterned AGOG sapphire. The GaN template grown on nano-patterned AGOG sapphire by employing abbreviated growth mode has two orders of magnitude lower threading dislocation density than that of conventional GaN template grown on planar sapphire. The use of abbreviated growth mode also leads to significant reduction in cost of the epitaxy. The growths and characteristics of InGaN quantum wells (QWs) light emitting diodes (LEDs) on both templates were compared. The InGaN QWs LEDs grown on the nano-patterned AGOG sapphire demonstrated at least a 24% enhancement of output power enhancement over that of LEDs grown on conventional GaN templates.06-23-2011
20110147702NITRIDE BASED QUANTUM WELL LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICES HAVING IMPROVED CURRENT INJECTION EFFICIENCY - A III-nitride based device provides improved current injection efficiency by reducing thermionic carrier escape at high current density. The device includes a quantum well active layer and a pair of multi-layer barrier layers arranged symmetrically about the active layer. Each multi-layer barrier layer includes an inner layer abutting the active layer; and an outer layer abutting the inner layer. The inner barrier layer has a bandgap greater than that of the outer barrier layer. Both the inner and the outer barrier layer have bandgaps greater than that of the active layer. InGaN may be employed in the active layer, AlInN, AlInGaN or AlGaN may be employed in the inner barrier layer, and GaN may be employed in the outer barrier layer. Preferably, the inner layer is thin relative to the other layers. In one embodiment the inner barrier and active layers are 15 Å and 24 Å thick, respectively.06-23-2011
20110133157SURFACE PLASMON DISPERSION ENGINEERING VIA DOUBLE-METALLIC AU/AG LAYERS FOR NITRIDE LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES - A double-metallic deposition process is used whereby adjacent layers of different metals are deposited on a substrate. The surface plasmon frequency of a base layer of a first metal is tuned by the surface plasmon frequency of a second layer of a second metal formed thereon. The amount of tuning is dependent upon the thickness of the metallic layers, and thus tuning can be achieved by varying the thicknesses of one or both of the metallic layers. In a preferred embodiment directed to enhanced LED technology in the green spectrum regime, a double-metallic Au/Ag layer comprising a base layer of gold (Au) followed by a second layer of silver (Ag) formed thereon is deposited on top of InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) on a sapphire/GaN substrate.06-09-2011
20110100928PREPARATION AND USE OF NANO SIZE PEROXIDE PARTICLES - Nano-size particles of calcium dioxide and magnesium dioxide for remediation of contaminated water or soil and processes for preparing and using nano-size particles of calcium dioxide and magnesium dioxide.05-05-2011
20110085166OPTO-FLUIDIC NANOPARTICLE DETECTION APPARATUS - Provided herein are new methods and apparatus for quantitative measurement and analysis of particles, including new apparatus systems to process and detect nanoparticles in suspension. By focusing a laser beam at the center of a reservoir, nanoparticles are concentrated by optical energy, and fluorescent intensity at the focal point of the laser is measured to quantify particle concentration in the reservoir. The techniques may be applied to the analysis of suspensions of nanoparticles, including natural particles (e.g., microorganisms including whole viruses, bacteria, animal cells, and proteins) and synthetic particles (e.g., colloidal latexes, paints, pigments, and metallic or semiconductor nanoparticles) for medical and industrial applications, among others.04-14-2011
20110080589VERTICAL PLASMONIC MACH-ZEHNDER INTERFEROMETER - An optical device includes first and second optical branches. The first optical branch is formed at an interface between a first substrate and a second substrate, and the second optical branch is formed at an interface between the second substrate and an ambient medium. The second substrate defines first and second spaced apart slits that are each coupled to the first and second optical branches. The first slit is configured to receive at least partially coherent light from a light source and in response excite at least one surface plasmon polariton mode in each of the first and second optical branches. The second slit is configured to combine the surface plasmon polariton modes received from the first and second optical branches and emit scattered light into at least one of the first substrate and the ambient medium.04-07-2011
20110065672BISPHOSPHONATE-PROSTATIC ACID PHOSPHATASE INHIBITOR CONJUGATES TO TREAT PROSTATE CANCER BONE METASTASIS - The present invention concerns conjugate compounds comprising a bisphosphonate covalently bonded to a prostatic acid phosphatase inhibitor and compositions comprising such conjugates. Methods for treating and inhibiting prostate cancer bone metastases, and determining whether a conjugate is useful for such treatment are also provided. In some instances, the bisphosphonate is alendronate, and it is covalently bonded to either tartaric acid or glyceric acid.03-17-2011
20110060433BILINEAR ALGORITHMS AND VLSI IMPLEMENTATIONS OF FORWARD AND INVERSE MDCT WITH APPLICATIONS TO MP3 AUDIO - Provided herein are hardware efficient bilinear algorithms and methods to compute MDCT/IMDCT of 2̂n and 4.3̂n points. The algorithms and methods for composite lengths have practical applications in MP3 audio encoding and decoding. The MDT/IMDCT can be converted to type-IV discrete cosine transforms (DCT-IV). Using group theory, the methods decomposes DCT-IV transform kernel matrix into groups of cyclic and Hankel product matrices. Bilinear algorithms are then applied to efficiently evaluate these groups. When implemented in VLSI, bilinear algorithms have improved the critical path delays over existing solutions. For MPEG-1/2 layer III (MP3) audio, proposed herein are several different versions of unified hardware architectures for both the short and long blocks and the forward and inverse transforms.03-10-2011
20110059842Tungstated Zirconia Nanocatalysts - A new type of solid acid catalyst, which promises better catalytic performance than conventionally prepared supported metal oxides due to its precisely synthesized nanostructure has been described. The catalyst is nanoparticulate in form and is comprised of monolayers of tungstated zirconia of the formula, WOxZryO4-2y made by impregnating a support with zirconium and tungsten. The support catalyst is further characterized in having a tugsten monolayer between greater than 0001 W/nm2 to about 30 W/nm2.03-10-2011
20110057154CONDUCTIVE DOPED METAL-GLASS COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS - Provided herein are conductive glass-metal compositions, as well as methods of making and using such compositions. In one example, the compositions include gold (Au) doped lithium-borate glasses shown to exhibit a transition from ionic to electronic conduction within the same sample. This is achieved via appropriate heat treatment, and particularly by heat treatment after annealing, wherein the post-annealing heat treatment is performed at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (T03-10-2011
20110006847HIGH-VOLTAGE IMPULSE AMPLIFIER - A circuit includes a first transistor in a common-collector configuration and a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) in a common-emitter configuration. The first transistor has a base coupled to an input node for receiving a pulsed signal. A collector of the first transistor is coupled to a first voltage source node. A base of the HBT is coupled to an emitter of the first transistor. A collector of the HBT is coupled to a second voltage source node configured to bias the HBT normally off. The HBT operating isothermally when the pulsed signal has a short-pulse width and a low duty cycle. The first transistor drives the HBT when the pulsed signal is received at the base of the first transistor to output an amplified pulsed signal at the collector of the HBT.01-13-2011
20100327783STAGGERED COMPOSITION QUANTUM WELL METHOD AND DEVICE - A light emitting device comprising a staggered composition quantum well.12-30-2010
20100300285MINIATURE OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS AND METHODS - Provided herein are new compact and miniature oxygen concentrator apparatus, as well as methods incorporating use of the apparatus. The apparatus and methods utilize selected cycle times, adsorbent specifications and novel conditions to produce a fast Pressure Swing Adsorption (“PSA”) system. The oxygen concentrator apparatus and methods herein have significant utility in the fields of biotechnology, engineering, and medicine. A particularly advantageous use of this invention is as a “snap on” portable oxygen concentrator, where piped compressed air is already available such as in civil and military hospitals, ambulances, air craft cabins, mobile fish tanks, etc. Those embodiments eliminate the need for dedicated moving machinery (blower, compressor, vacuum pump) normally associated with a conventional PSA oxygen concentrator.12-02-2010
20100282675SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REVERSIBLE CATION-EXCHANGE DESALINATION - Desalination is accomplished by subjecting feed saline water to a cation exchanger in magnesium form where sodium and scale-forming cations are at least partially exchanged for non-scale-forming magnesium ions. This ion exchange also reduces the osmotic pressure of the solution. When the resultant solution is subjected to a pressure-driven membrane desalination process, scaling is reduced and desalinated water is efficiently produced at a lower pressure. After desalination, the concentrated waste water, which contains higher concentrations of ions such as magnesium and sodium, is used to regenerate the depleted cation exchanger back into magnesium form. This regeneration permits the process to be self-sustainable.11-11-2010
20100192474ULTRAHARD STISHOVITE NANOPARTICLES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - Compositions comprising nanoparticles (e.g., nanocrystals) of stishovite silica are described. Such nanoparticles may be made by (1) subjecting a mesoporous silica starting material (e.g., SBA-16 or KIT-6) to a pressure of less than about 20 GPa (e.g., about 12 GPa); (2) heating the mesoporous silica starting material while under pressure to an elevated temperature of less than about 1000° C. (e.g., a temperature of between about 300° C. and about 400° C.); and thereafter isolating the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be used in a work tool that is configured and adapted for cutting, drilling, abrading, polishing, machining, or grinding, among other uses.08-05-2010
20100178704RAPID SENSING OF TOXIC METALS WITH HYBRID INORGANIC MATERIALS - Methods for rapid sensing of dissolved toxic heavy metals use a hybrid inorganic material (“HIM”), which is synthesized from hydrated iron oxide (“HFO”) and calcium magnesium silicate. HIM thus synthesized is used in sensing dissolved toxic heavy metals. Water containing toxic heavy metals (e.g., lead, copper, zinc, nickel, etc.) is passed through a sorbent bed of HIM, whereupon it shows a sharp drop in pH after a certain length of time. The presence of HFO and calcium magnesium silicates in HIM synergistically provide a precipitous drop in pH, which is characteristic of the concentration and type of toxic heavy metal. Therefore, observing a change in pH indicates the presence and identity of heavy metal ions in a test water sample.07-15-2010
20100144511MICROPOROUS CERAMICS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - Inorganic microporous metal oxide materials, such as aluminum-based microporous ceramic materials, useful for loop heat pipes, insulators, thermal management devices, catalyst supports, substrates, and filters, among others. An example method of manufacture includes heating a mixture of alumina (Al06-10-2010
20100110525ULTRA-WIDE BAND SLOW LIGHT STRUCTURE USING PLASMONIC GRADED GRATING STRUCTURES - A slow light system includes a substrate and a metal layer formed thereon, the metal layer having a graded grating structure formed at a surface thereof, wherein the grating depth of the grating structure is sized such that surface-plasmon polariton dispersion behavior of the grating structure differs at different respective locations along the grating structure. Different wavelengths of incident light waves can be slowed at the respective locations along the grating structure.05-06-2010
20100085120ADAPTIVE BIAS TECHNIQUE FOR FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR - A power amplifier includes a LDMOS transistor having a source, a drain, a control gate and a shielding electrode positioned between the control gate and the drain, and means for adaptively biasing the drain and shielding electrode power information for a RF signal.04-08-2010
20100015244Nano/Macroporous Bioactive Glasses Made by Melt-Quench Methods - The methods and materials described herein provide novel and simple procedures for the preparation of nano/macroporous glasses, in which the pore structure is characterized by interconnected pores of, e.g. both hundreds of micrometers and several to tens of nanometers in size. Such materials may be used for enhanced bone regeneration, bioscaffolds, drug delivery devices, and filtration media, among other uses. For example, silica-based bone tissue scaffolds are made with a controlled nano/macroporosity, which enhances bone regeneration performance. Also provided herein are new biocompatible CaO—Na01-21-2010
20100000454BOAT SUSPENSION - Boats and suspensions are provided, wherein the boat includes at least one hull, and at least one sponson, the at least one hull and at least one sponson connected by a shock-absorbing suspension member. The suspension greatly reduces the accelerations of the main hull, such that the hull accelerations are generally substantially less than the accelerations of the sponsons at selected speeds.01-07-2010
20090315013EFFICIENT LIGHT EXTRACTION METHOD AND DEVICE - A tight emitting device comprises at least one p-type layer and at least one n-type layer and a microlens array surface. A method for improving light efficiency of a light emitting device, comprises depositing polystyrene microspheres by rapid convection deposition on surface of light emitting device; depositing a monolayer of close-packed SIO12-24-2009
20090242116MICRO-FLUIDIC INTERCONNECTOR - A method of bonding a capillary tube made of a thermally deformable material to a passage in a glass wafer comprising the steps of treating the surface of the capillary tube to render the surface bondable and wettable by a conventional epoxy resin; inserting a support inside the capillary to prevent inward deformation of the capillary during subsequent fabricating steps; inserting the supported capillary inside the port on the wafer; heating an end of the capillary proximate a bottom portion of the port to effect melting of a portion of the heated end of the capillaries; moving the melted end of the capillary into contact with a wall of the port at a desired location for the capillary in the port, thus forming a temporary seal between the capillary and the wall of the port; and introducing an epoxy around the capillary to bind the capillary to the wafer.10-01-2009
20090208773GRADED TRANSITIONS FOR JOINING DISSIMILAR METALS AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREFOR - A transition joint for joining dissimilar metals with the chemical composition of the joint varied in a controlled manner from end to end. The transition joint has a first end of having a chemical composition similar to that of one of the metals to be joined and a second end having a chemical composition similar to that of the other metal with a gradual composition variation between the first and second ends.08-20-2009
20090162963GALLIUM NITRIDE-BASED DEVICE AND METHOD - A gallium nitride-based device has a first GaN layer and a type II quantum well active region over the GaN layer. The type II quantum well active region comprises at least one InGaN layer and at least one GaNAs layer comprising 1.5 to 8% As concentration. The type II quantum well emits in the 400 to 700 nm region with reduced polarization affect.06-25-2009
20090117028RAPID SYNTHESIS OF TITANATE NANOMATERIALS - Provided herein is a hydrothermal process for the rapid synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials (e.g., nanofibers) containing sodium, bismuth, titanium, and oxygen, as well as new compositions made thereby. The process involves heating an aqueous solution or suspension of suitable salts of aforementioned elements at elevated temperature and pressure under constant stirring in a hermetically sealed vessel for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., less than two hours). The powder thus obtained contains nanofibers of rectangular cross-section, with the smallest fibers typically have a cross section of 16 nm×40 nm. Example fibers made by such processes have an aspect ratio exceeding 200.05-07-2009
20090092784SYNTHETIC FIBRILLAR STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING THEREOF - A fibrillar structure and a method of making it. The structure comprises a backing layer, a plurality of fibrils and a contacting region. The method of making it comprises constructing a synthetic fibrillar array, preparing a liquid material on a substrate and contacting the fibrillar array with the liquid material.04-09-2009
20090028810STABILIZATION OF BIOSOLIDS USING IRON NANOPARTICLES - This invention discloses a stabilized biosolids composition and a method for the stabilization of biosolids. It entails the use of a chemically and biologically reactive material, in the form of ultrafine iron particles. The nanometer-sized iron particles are capable of degrading odorous organosulfur compounds, transforming persistent and toxic organic pollutants such as PCBs and chlorinated pesticides, inhibiting the growth of pathogens by increasing pH and maintaining the increased pH of the stabilized biosolids, immobilizing toxic metal ions such as mercury and lead, and improving the overall quality of biosolids for land application and plant growth.01-29-2009
20080292521PERIODIC MESOPOROUS PHOSPHORUS-NITROGEN COMPOUNDS - Provided herein is a new material, periodic mesoporous phosphorus-nitrogen compound, which may be used in a variety of emerging technologies. Its surface properties render it promising as a component in a variety of applications, including gas separation and purification systems in which waste gases such as SO11-27-2008
20080282790Method and Apparatus for Characterizing Coal Tar in Soil - The present invention provides a method and apparatus or system for determining an amount of coal tar that can enter, and subsequently be displaced from, a given type of soil for a range of depths of the soil. The method and apparatus also provide verification of the pressure at which coal tar can be displaced from a given type of soil. In particular, the method and apparatus simulate the hydrostatic pressure that a soil sample encounters in the subsurface of the ground. Accordingly, the method and apparatus provide a relationship between the concentration of coal tar in the soil and the pressure required to displace the coal tar from the soil, which allows for an estimation of the amount of coal tar that may be displaced at a particular location or site. Further, the method and apparatus are adaptable for use in the laboratory or the field.11-20-2008
20080230357GOLD-METAL OXIDE THIN FILMS FOR WEAR-RESISTANT MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS ("MEMS") - Provided herein are new methods for the fabrication of gold (Au) alloys and films containing metal or semimetal oxides such as oxides of vanadium (V), for example, Au—V09-25-2008

Patent applications by LEHIGH UNIVERSITY