Patents Represented by Attorney Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • Patent number: 7265037
    Abstract: Homogeneous and dense arrays of nanowires are described. The nanowires can be formed in solution and can have average diameters of 40-300 nm and lengths of 1-3 ?m. They can be formed on any suitable substrate. Photovoltaic devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Peidong Yang, Lori Greene, Matthew Law
  • Patent number: 7238425
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a telescoped multiwall nanotube. Such a telescoped multiwall nanotube may find use as a linear or rotational bearing in microelectromechanical systems or may find use as a constant force nanospring. In the method of the invention, a multiwall nanotube is affixed to a solid, conducting substrate at one end. The tip of the free end of the multiwall nanotube is then removed, revealing the intact end of the inner wall. A nanomanipulator is then attached to the intact end, and the intact, core segments of the multiwall nanotube are partially extracted, thereby telescoping out a segment of nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: John P. Cumings, Alex K. Zettl, Steven G. Louie, Marvin L. Cohen
  • Patent number: 7148778
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a high performance hybrid magnetic structure made from a combination of permanent magnets and ferromagnetic pole materials which are assembled in a predetermined array. The hybrid magnetic structure provides for separation and other biotechnology applications involving holding, manipulation, or separation of magnetic or magnetizable molecular structures and targets. Also disclosed are: a method of assembling the hybrid magnetic plates, a high throughput protocol featuring the hybrid magnetic structure, and other embodiments of the ferromagnetic pole shape, attachment and adapter interfaces for adapting the use of the hybrid magnetic structure for use with liquid handling and other robots for use in high throughput processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David E. Humphries, Martin J. Pollard, Christopher J. Elkin
  • Patent number: 7139349
    Abstract: A spherical neutron generator is formed with a small spherical target and a spherical shell RF-driven plasma ion source surrounding the target. A deuterium (or deuterium and tritium) ion plasma is produced by RF excitation in the plasma ion source using an RF antenna. The plasma generation region is a spherical shell between an outer chamber and an inner extraction electrode. A spherical neutron generating target is at the center of the chamber and is biased negatively with respect to the extraction electrode which contains many holes. Ions passing through the holes in the extraction electrode are focused onto the target which produces neutrons by D-D or D-T reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Ka-Ngo Leung
  • Patent number: 7116102
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals are detected in microtesla fields. Prepolarization in millitesla fields is followed by detection with an untuned dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Because the sensitivity of the SQUID is frequency independent, both signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution are enhanced by detecting the NMR signal in extremely low magnetic fields, where the NMR lines become very narrow even for grossly inhomogeneous measurement fields. MRI in ultralow magnetic field is based on the NMR at ultralow fields. Gradient magnetic fields are applied, and images are constructed from the detected NMR signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: John Clarke, Robert McDermott, Alexander Pines, Andreas Heinz Trabesinger
  • Patent number: 7060523
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating both segmented and unsegmented radiation detectors which can operate at room temperature. The devices include a metal contact layer, and an n-type blocking contact formed from a thin layer of amorphous semiconductor. In one embodiment the material beneath the n-type contact is n-type material, such as lithium compensated silicon that forms the active region of the device. The active layer has been compensated to a degree at which the device may be fully depleted at low bias voltages. A p-type blocking contact layer, or a p-type donor material can be formed beneath a second metal contact layer to complete the device structure. When the contacts to the device are segmented, the device is capable of position sensitive detection and spectroscopy of ionizing radiation, such as photons, electrons, and ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Craig S. Tindall, Paul N. Luke
  • Patent number: 7057055
    Abstract: A process for labeling organic compounds with deuterium and tritium is described using specific catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert C. Bergman, Steven R. Klei
  • Patent number: 7056901
    Abstract: Novel microgels, microparticles and related polymeric materials capable of delivering bioactive materials to cells for use as vaccines or therapeutic agents. The materials are made using a crosslinker molecule that contains a linkage cleavable under mild acidic conditions. The crosslinker molecule is exemplified by a bisacryloyl acetal crosslinker. The new materials have the common characteristic of being able to degrade by acid hydrolysis under conditions commonly found within the endosomal or lysosomal compartments of cells thereby releasing their payload within the cell. The materials can also be used for the delivery of therapeutics to the acidic regions of tumors and sites of inflammation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jean M. J. Frechet, Niren Murthy
  • Patent number: 7048872
    Abstract: Fast, bright inorganic scintillators at room temperature are based on radiative electron-hole recombination in direct-gap semiconductors, e.g. CdS and ZnO. The direct-gap semiconductor is codoped with two different impurity atoms to convert the semiconductor to a fast, high luminosity scintillator. The codopant scheme is based on dopant band to dopant trap recombination. One dopant provides a significant concentration of carriers of one type (electrons or holes) and the other dopant traps carriers of the other type. Examples include CdS:In,Te; CdS:In,Ag; CdS:In,Na; ZnO:Ga,P; ZnO:Ga,N; ZnO:Ga,S; and GaN:Ge,Mg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Stephen E. Derenzo, Edith Bourret-Courchesne, Marvin J. Weber, Mattias K. Klintenberg
  • Patent number: 7049152
    Abstract: The present invention herein provides the design, synthesis and characterization of compositions comprising asymmetric bolaamphiphilic lipids that form extended polymeric ribbons and wide sheets. These compositions may be doped, or interspersed, with various compounds to fine-tune the fluidity and rigidity of the bolaamphiphilic lipid composition, and promote other morphologies of the composition, including fluid vesicles and truncated flat sheets. Upon an increase in pH these compositions undergo a calorimetric and morphological transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Raymond C. Stevens, Quan Cheng, Jie Song
  • Patent number: 6954128
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a high performance hybrid magnetic structure made from a combination of permanent magnets and ferromagnetic pole materials which are assembled in a predetermined array. The hybrid magnetic structure provides means for separation and other biotechnology applications involving holding, manipulation, or separation of magnetizable molecular structures and targets. Also disclosed are: a method of assembling the hybrid magnetic plates, a high throughput protocol featuring the hybrid magnetic structure, and other embodiments of the ferromagnetic pole shape, attachment and adapter interfaces for adapting the use of the hybrid magnetic structure for use with liquid handling and other robots for use in high throughput processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David E Humphries, Martin J Pollard, Christopher J Elkin
  • Patent number: 6921557
    Abstract: Provided are low-cost, mechanically strong, highly electronically conductive porous substrates and associated structures for solid-state electrochemical devices, techniques for forming these structures, and devices incorporating the structures. The invention provides solid state electrochemical device substrates of novel composition and techniques for forming thin electrode/membrane/electrolyte coatings on the novel or more conventional substrates. In particular, in one embodiment the invention provides techniques for firing of device substrate to form densified electrolyte/membrane films 5 to 20 microns thick. In another embodiment, densified electrolyte/membrane films 5 to 20 microns thick may be formed on a pre-sintered substrate by a constrained sintering process. In some cases, the substrate may be a porous metal, alloy, or non-nickel cermet incorporating one or more of the transition metals Cr, Fe, Cu and Ag, or alloys thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Craig P. Jacobson, Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. DeJonghe
  • Patent number: 6835952
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a new nanoscale metal-semiconductor, semiconductor-semiconductor, or metal-metal junction, designed by introducing topological or chemical defects in the atomic structure of the nanotube. Nanotubes comprising adjacent sections having differing electrical properties are described. These nanotubes can be constructed from combinations of carbon, boron, nitrogen and other elements. The nanotube can be designed having different indices on either side of a junction point in a continuous tube so that the electrical properties on either side of the junction vary in a useful fashion. For example, the inventive nanotube may be electrically conducting on one side of a junction and semiconducting on the other side. An example of a semiconductor-metal junction is a Schottky barrier. Alternatively, the nanotube may exhibit different semiconductor properties on either side of the junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Vincent Henry Crespi, Marvin Lou Cohen, Steven Gwon Sheng Louie, Alexander Karlwalter Zettl
  • Patent number: 6794522
    Abstract: A process for labeling organic compounds with deuterium and tritium is described using specific catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert C. Bergman, Steven R. Klei
  • Patent number: 6767662
    Abstract: A process of making an electrochemical device comprising providing a trilayer structure comprising an electrode/electrolyte/electrode and simultaneously sintering the trilayer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Craig P. Jacobson, Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
  • Patent number: 6759312
    Abstract: Non-alloyed, low resistivity contacts for semiconductors using Group III-V and Group II-VI compounds and methods of making are disclosed. Co-implantation techniques are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Wladyslaw Walukiewicz, Kin M. Yu
  • Patent number: 6740441
    Abstract: Provided are low-cost, mechanically strong, highly electronically conductive current collects and associated structures for solid-state electrochemical devices, techniques for forming these structures, and devices incorporating the structures. The invention provides solid state electrochemical devices having as current interconnects a ferritic steel felt or screen coated with a protective oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Craig P. Jacobson, Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. DeJonghe