Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100184179 | MICROBIAL-MEDIATED METHOD FOR METAL OXIDE NANOPARTICLE FORMATION - The invention is directed to a method for producing metal oxide nanoparticles, the method comprising: (i) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbial-mediated formation of metal oxide nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprise: metal-reducing microbes, a culture medium suitable for sustaining said metal-reducing microbes, an effective concentration of one or more surfactants, a reducible metal oxide component containing one or more reducible metal species, and one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said metal-reducing microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said metal-reducing microbes; and (ii) isolating said metal oxide nanoparticles, which contain a reduced form of said reducible metal oxide component. The invention is also directed to metal oxide nanoparticle compositions produced by the inventive method. | 07-22-2010 |
20100193752 | MICROBIALLY-MEDIATED METHOD FOR SYNTHESIS OF NON-OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR NANOPARTICLES - The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component containing at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals. The invention is also directed to non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticle compositions produced as above and having distinctive properties. | 08-05-2010 |
20100218626 | Hydraulic Involute Cam Actuator - Mechanical joints are provided in which the angle between a first coupled member and a second coupled member may be varied by mechanical actuators. In some embodiments the angle may be varied around a pivot axis in one plane and in some embodiments the angle may be varied around two pivot axes in two orthogonal planes. The joints typically utilize a cam assembly having two lobes with an involute surface. Actuators are configured to push against the lobes to vary the rotation angle between the first and second coupled member. | 09-02-2010 |
20100330367 | MICROBIALLY-MEDIATED METHOD FOR SYNTHESIS OF NON-OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR NANOPARTICLES - The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component comprising at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals. The invention is also directed to non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticle compositions produced as above and having distinctive properties. | 12-30-2010 |
20110196509 | HYDRAULIC APPARATUS WITH DIRECT TORQUE CONTROL - A hydraulic apparatus has a cam body rotatable about an axis and with at least two mirror image involute cam surfaces on opposing sides of the axis. Hydraulic actuators on opposing sides of the axis have a linearly extendable ram and a hydraulic cylinder. A fluid supply line is provided for delivering a pressurized fluid equally to each of the cylinders. A pressure relief or flow control valve is associated with each of the hydraulic cylinders and is operable to selectively assume a closed position to retain fluid or assume an open position to release fluid from the hydraulic cylinders. A control can operate the pressure relief valves between at least the closed and open positions, to move the rams out of and in to the cylinders to rotate the cam body about the axis with controlled torque. A robotic, prosthetic or orthotic and a method for applying torque to a body are also disclosed. | 08-11-2011 |
20120199768 | MESOFLUIDIC DIGITAL VALVE - A mesofluidic scale digital is disclosed. The mesofluidic scale digital includes a valve body including a bore aligned along a longitudinal axis, a solenoid disposed substantially adjacent to the valve body and extending along the longitudinal axis, a poppet carried within the bore and configured to translate a fixed distance in response to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid, an orifice carried within valve body and configured to cooperate with the poppet in response to the magnetic field generated by the solenoid, a bias element carried within the valve body and configured to encourage the poppet to engage the orifice to form a seal, a control element in communication with the solenoid, wherein the control element is configured to: energize the solenoid to generate the magnetic field and translate the poppet the fixed distance away from the seal, and maintain the solenoid in an energized state for a fixed period of time to provide a desired flow rate. | 08-09-2012 |
20120199769 | MESOFLUIDIC TWO STAGE DIGITAL VALVE - A mesofluidic scale digital valve system is disclosed. The mesofluidic scale digital valve system includes a first mesofluidic scale valve having a valve body including a bore, wherein the valve body is configured to cooperate with a solenoid disposed substantially adjacent to the valve body to translate a poppet carried within the bore, an orifice carried within valve body and configured to cooperate with the position of the poppet, a bias element configured to encourage the poppet to engage the orifice, and a second mesofluidic scale valve disposed substantially perpendicular to the first mesofluidic scale valve, the second mesofluidic scale valve that includes a valve body including a bore sized to accept a translatable poppet, an orifice carried within valve body and configured to cooperate with the position of the poppet, a bias element configured to encourage the translatable poppet to engage the orifice and a fluid chamber defined by the cooperation a rear portion of the translatable poppet and the valve body, the fluid chamber in fluid communication with the orifice of the first mesofluidic scale actuator. The mesofluidic scale digital valve system further includes a control element in communication with the solenoid, wherein the control element is configured to maintain the solenoid in an energized state for a fixed period of time to provide a desired flow rate through the orifice of the second mesofluidic actuator. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203358 | MESOFLUIDIC CONTROLLED ROBOTIC OR PROSTHETIC FINGER - A mesofluidic powered robotic and/or prosthetic finger joint includes a first finger section having at least one mesofluidic actuator in fluid communication with a first actuator, a second mesofluidic actuator in fluid communication with a second actuator and a second prosthetic finger section pivotally connected to the first finger section by a joint pivot, wherein the first actuator pivotally cooperates with the second finger to provide a first mechanical advantage relative to the joint point and wherein the second actuator pivotally cooperates with the second finger section to provide a second mechanical advantage relative to the joint point. | 08-09-2012 |
20120210805 | STACK SAMPLING APPARATUS - An apparatus for obtaining samples from a structure includes a support member, at least one stabilizing member, and at least one moveable member. The stabilizing member has a first portion coupled to the support member and a second portion configured to engage with the structure to restrict relative movement between the support member and the structure. The stabilizing member is radially expandable from a first configuration where the second portion does not engage with a surface of the structure to a second configuration where the second portion engages with the surface of the structure. | 08-23-2012 |
20140008559 | MESOFLUIDIC DIGITAL VALVE - A mesofluidic scale digital valve includes a valve body including a bore aligned along a longitudinal axis, a solenoid disposed substantially adjacent to the valve body and extending along the longitudinal axis, a poppet carried within the bore and configured to translate a fixed distance in response to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid, an orifice carried within valve body and configured to cooperate with the poppet in response to the magnetic field generated by the solenoid, and a bias element carried within the valve body and configured to encourage the poppet to engage the orifice to form a seal. | 01-09-2014 |
20140220654 | MICROBIALLY-MEDIATED METHOD FOR SYNTHESIS OF NON-OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR NANOPARTICLES - The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component comprising at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals. The invention is also directed to non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticle compositions produced as above and having distinctive properties. | 08-07-2014 |
20140220724 | METHODS FOR PRODUCING COMPLEX FILMS, AND FILMS PRODUCED THEREBY - A method for producing a film, the method comprising melting a layer of precursor particles on a substrate until at least a portion of the melted particles are planarized and merged to produce the film. The invention is also directed to a method for producing a photovoltaic film, the method comprising depositing particles having a photovoltaic or other property onto a substrate, and affixing the particles to the substrate, wherein the particles may or may not be subsequently melted. Also described herein are films produced by these methods, methods for producing a patterned film on a substrate, and methods for producing a multilayer structure. | 08-07-2014 |
20140262811 | CONTROLLABLE REDUCTIVE METHOD FOR SYNTHESIZING METAL-CONTAINING PARTICLES - The invention is directed to a method for producing metal-containing particles, the method comprising subjecting an aqueous solution comprising a metal salt, E | 09-18-2014 |