Patents Assigned to U.S. Department of Energy
  • Patent number: 11898960
    Abstract: A method for rapid detection of actinides including the steps of having a support including a colorimetric complexation, placing the support in communication with a sample through urinalysis, and receiving a visual indicator from the colorimetric complexation. The sample having an unknown concentration of at least one actinide within it. The colorimetric complexation is configured to activate when contacted by a threshold concentration of an actinide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Catherine Riddle, Rick L. Demmer
  • Patent number: 11839168
    Abstract: A system and method for storing information in a quantum computer using a quantum storage ring. The method comprises cooling ions in the quantum storage ring to a low temperature; and binding the ions into a lattice structure, forming an ion Coulomb crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Kevin Brown, Thomas Roser
  • Patent number: 11723296
    Abstract: A system and method for storing information in a quantum computer using a quantum storage ring. The method comprises cooling ions in the quantum storage ring to a low temperature; and binding the ions into a lattice structure, forming an ion Coulomb crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Kevin Brown, Thomas Roser
  • Patent number: 11525581
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a portable, personal device for providing cooking and power and adapted for use with a burner, the device including a plurality of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) coupled together; a microelectronic control circuit connected to at least the MS-SOFCs; a light source coupled to at least the microelectronic control circuit; and at least one USB port coupled to at least the microelectronic control circuit; whereby the device is able to simultaneously provide light and power a personal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: U. S. Department of Energy
    Inventor: Michael C Tucker
  • Patent number: 11478570
    Abstract: The invention provides medical devices comprising high-strength alloys which degrade over time in the body of a human or animal, at controlled degradation rates, without generating emboli and which have enhanced degradation due to the presence of a halogen component. In one embodiment the alloy is formed into a bone fixation device such as an anchor, screw, plate, support or rod. In another embodiment the alloy is formed into a tissue fastening device such as staple. In yet another embodiment, the alloy is formed into a dental implant or a stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Bio DG, Inc., U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Inventors: Herbert Radisch, Paul Jablonski
  • Patent number: 11451004
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a method of growing ultrasmooth and high quantum efficiency CsTe photocathodes. The method includes exposing a substrate of Cs using an alkali source such as an effusion cell; and controlling co-evaporating growth and co-deposition forming a CsTe growth. The method further includes monitoring a stoichiometry of the CsTe growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Dustin McIntyre, Daniel Hartzler
  • Patent number: 11444664
    Abstract: A system and methods for selective transmission and reception for stationary wireless networks. The system and method include an end user equipment, a primary base station, a core network, and a selective server. The end user equipment transmits a request for transmission to the primary base station receiver. The primary base station authenticates the end user equipment using a cellular network authentication process. The primary base station then searches for a time slot data for the end user equipment from the selective server and determines whether the time slot is open for transmission, steers a beam towards the end user equipment when time slot is open for transmission. The primary base station then enables transmission from the end user equipment, wherein the enabling is performed by the primary base station. The core network receives the transmission from the end user equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventor: Arupjyoti Bhuyan
  • Patent number: 11408827
    Abstract: A method for evaluating the pH of an aqueous solution by utilizing the optical properties of a pH sensing material comprised of plurality of optically active nanoparticles dispersed in matrix material. The optically active nanoparticles have an electronic conductivity greater than about 10?1 S/cm and generally have an average nanoparticle diameter of less that about 500 nanometers, and the matrix material is a material which experiences a change in surface charge density over a pH range from 2.0 to 12.0 of at least 1%. The method comprises contacting the pH sensing material and the aqueous solution, illuminating the pH sensing material, and monitoring an optical signal generated through comparison of incident light and exiting light to determine the optical transmission, absorption, reflection, and/or scattering of the pH sensitive material. The optical signal of the pH sensitive material varies in response to the pH of the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Paul R. Ohodnicki, Jr., Congjun Wang, Thomas D. Brown, Barbara Kutchko
  • Patent number: 11371887
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filtering coherent infrared light from a thermal background for protection of infrared (IR) imaging arrays and detection systems. A Michelson interferometer is used for coherent light filtering. In an implementation, a system includes a fixed mirror, a beam splitter, and a moving mirror which can be controlled translationally, as well as tip/tilt. The Michelson interferometer may be used as an imaging system. For imaging applications, a system may comprise a tunable array of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors. A mid-wave IR interferometer with electronic feedback and MEMS mirror array is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Inventors: Daniel Wasserman, Eric A. Shaner
  • Publication number: 20220135507
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-way approach to isolate, recover and upgrade 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO) from fermentation broth. A complete separation and recovery process for 2,3-BDO using acetalization and trans-acetalization sequence. Acetalization with butyraldehyde using heterogeneous catalysts, either Amberlyst-15® or Nafion NR50®, efficiently isolates 2,3-BDO as phase-separated protected dioxolane. The approach provides significant process advantages with easy product recovery and high recyclability of the catalyst. Trans-acetalization of dioxolane with methanol (methanolysis) followed by distillation of acetal, yielded very high purity 2,3-BDO with about 90% isolated yield. Alternatively, dioxolane is used in a process direct to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) as a BDO synthon allowing for recovery of the aldehyde.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Cameron Moore, Trideep Rajale, Karthikeyan K. Ramasamy, Andrew Sutton
  • Patent number: 11236953
    Abstract: An inverted heat exchanger device includes an exterior conduit elongated and extending around a center axis between a first end and second end. The exterior conduit including a body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a center core elongated along the center axis, and plural walls extending between the center core and the interior surface. A first conduit is disposed inside the exterior conduit that includes an inlet, plural core passages, an outlet, and internal manifolds. A first fluid is configured to flow along the first conduit. A second conduit is also disposed inside the exterior conduit. The second conduit includes an inlet, plural core passages, an outlet, and internal manifolds. A second fluid is configured to flow along the second conduit. The plural walls are configured to define the first conduit and the second conduit within the body of the exterior conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Daniel J. Erno, John C. Glessner, Neil R. Garrigan, Jeffrey Rambo
  • Patent number: 11222741
    Abstract: A magnetic undulator shim having three interconnected sections arranged one after the other in a direction substantially parallel to the beam axis. The first section is adapted to magnetically engage a magnet having a horizontal surface and configured to extend partially onto the horizontal surface of the magnet. The magnet is adjacent to a pole and the magnet and the pole form a boundary. The second third sections are interconnected to form a shape. The shape corresponds to the boundary. The third section is adapted to magnetically engage a surface of the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Joseph Z. Xu, Isaac Vasserman
  • Patent number: 11207662
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a method of catalytically converting a reactant gas mixture for pollution abatement of products of hydrocarbon fuel combustion. The method provides substituted mixed-metal oxides where catalytically active metals are substituted within the crystal lattice to create an active and well dispersed metal catalyst available to convert the reactant gas mixture. Embodiments may be used with gasoline and diesel fueled internal combustion engine exhaust, although specific embodiments may differ somewhat for each.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: David A. Berry, Dushyant Shekhawat, Daniel J. Haynes, Mark W. Smith
  • Patent number: 11185811
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for removing target moieties from gas streams, the system comprising a supersonic expander coaxially positioned within an array of oblique shock inducers. Also provided is a method for removing target moieties from gas streams, the method comprising simultaneously subjecting the streams to supersonic expansion and oblique shock compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: John G. VanOsdol, Danylo B. Oryshchyn
  • Patent number: 11170986
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus, method and process for detecting rare earth elements. The system includes an LED powered by a first power source and a focusing lens in optical communication with the LED. A shortpass filter is in optical communication with the focusing lens; and a fiber bifurcated cable in optical communication with the shortpass filter. The system includes a probe tip in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable and a sample; a first aspheric lens in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable. A longpass filter is in optical communication with the first aspheric lens and a second aspheric lens in optical communication with the longpass filter. The system includes a spectrometer connected to a power source, where the spectrometer is in optical communication with the second aspheric lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: John C Ahern, Paul R Ohodnicki, Jr., John P Baltrus, Jacob Lorenzi Poole
  • Patent number: 11156447
    Abstract: A gap measurement device. The device has a circuit having a variable inductor and a capacitor. The variable inductor has an indicator. The device has a gap that includes a gap measurement and a gap length. The gap measurement is related to the inductance. The gap is configured to receive at least a portion of the variable inductor while the variable inductor moves along the gap length. The movement of the variable inductor along the gap length causes the inductance to change in response to the gap measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Joel A. Johnson, Ronald J. Heaps
  • Patent number: 11150038
    Abstract: The method presented uses thermally emissive materials for the extraction of heat through the use of electromagnetic waveguides, wherein the emissive material comprises materials which emit electromagnetic radiation due to thermal excitation, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is coupled to electromagnetic waveguides; a receiver adapted to receive the electromagnetic radiation for utilization, wherein the extracted electromagnetic radiation may propagate arbitrary distances inside the waveguides before the need for processing, for example, to maximize the temperature differential between the emissive material and that of the receiver; and the exchange of the chemical composition of some portion of the environment the apparatus is housed in. The thermal energy extraction apparatus described herein has the purpose of removing heat from a source for conversion to other forms of energy such as electricity and for thermal management applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Zsolt Poole, Paul R. Ohodnicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11131648
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a potentiometric sensor having a cathode and an anode. The cathode is configured to provide a summary voltage representative of at least two voltage points. The anode is configured to provide a first voltage. The cathode is in communication with the anode by a first electrolyte forming an open circuit having an open circuit potential. Within the first electrolyte is a concentration of a target ion. The open circuit potential mathematically corresponds to the concentration of the target ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Guoping Cao, Shelly X. Li, Steven Herrmann, Brenda Serrano-Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11116244
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a precision cooking oven that utilizes laser sheets to cook food, thus creating homogeneously heated and uniformly seared food bodies and surfaces. Laser sheets move back and forth evenly injecting heat into items being cooked. All food cold or hot areas can be eliminated since intersecting laser lines can be completely projected on and accommodate an item's exterior surfaces. Items with non-uniform cross-sections and properties can be cooked uniformly by controlling the exact amount of energy projected into differing sections of the food. The oven is also capable of cooking autonomously. Since laser sheets can be precisely controlled, cooking results can be very predictable once the boundary conditions for a thermal analysis are determined. The oven can detect the properties of the items to be cooked and thereafter compute the needed time and power to achieve the desired results stipulated by an oven operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventor: Henry Yu-Heng Lee
  • Patent number: 11113594
    Abstract: Materials, methods of making, and methods of using an integrated wireless detector for real time interrogating metallic tubular structures comprising: an RF patch antenna; a passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor; and data analytic methodologies. An embodiment relates to interrogating a metallic structure having a uniform cross section using an antenna which launches electromagnetic radiation. A sensor may be located within the structure is configured to re-emit electromagnetic radiation modified depending on parameters for which the sensor has been functionalized. An antenna may receive radiation as modified by the sensor, or may receive the transmitted or backscattered radiation directly, without use of a sensor. The antenna then communicates wirelessly with an interrogator providing data which may be used to understand the operational status of the structure in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Paul Ohodnicki, Jagannath Devkota, David W Greve