Patents Assigned to Utah State University
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Publication number: 20200370513Abstract: A hybrid rocket includes a housing having first and second ends, a solid-grain fuel material in the housing and defining a bore extending from end to end, two electrodes positioned adjacent to the fuel material to ignite the fuel material at the first end, a primary oxidizer port positioned at the first end to inject a primary oxidizer to flow in a downstream direction from the first end to the second end, a nozzle positioned at the second end and having a converging portion and a diverging portion, and a secondary oxidizer port to inject a secondary oxidizer downstream of the converging portion. The bore has a geometry configured to produce a hot-gas, fuel-rich mixture at the nozzle as the fuel material and primary oxidizer burn while flowing downstream. The diverging portion of the nozzle is configured to spontaneously combust the secondary oxidizer and the hot-gas, fuel-rich mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: Utah State UniversityInventors: Stephen Whitmore, Mark C. Heiner
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Publication number: 20200307158Abstract: A composite thermal strap includes a pyrolytic graphite stack with multiple pyrolytic graphite sheets and first and second metal foils immediately adjacent and in thermal contact with the top and bottom faces of the pyrolytic graphite stack, together forming a composite stack. The first and second metal foils do not envelop the front and back sides of the pyrolytic graphite stack. A composite thermal strap also includes first and second metal end blocks with inside surfaces connected to and thermally linked to either end of the composite stack. Also disclosed is a particle containment sleeve configured to capture pyrolytic graphite particles or metal particles that may rub off from the composite stack. Also disclosed is a snorkel, configured to pass air from within a volume encapsulated by the particle containment sleeve and the atmosphere.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics LaboratoryInventors: Matt Sinfield, Matt Felt
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Patent number: 10784725Abstract: For misalignment measurement, a method receives a plurality of position detection signals from a corresponding plurality of detection coils. The plurality of position detection signals are generated from mutual inductance between the plurality of detection coils and an energized field-generating detection coil. The method further generates detection information from the position detection signals. In addition the method calculates a lateral misalignment along a lateral Y axis from the detection information. The lateral misalignment includes a lateral misalignment distance and a lateral misalignment direction. The method calculates a vehicle speed along a longitudinal X axis from the detection information. In addition, the method energizes a transmitter power coil and controls the power transfer based on the vehicle speed and lateral misalignment.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventors: Zeljko Pantic, Ahmed Nasim Azad, Seyed Mohammad Reza Tavakoli
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Patent number: 10774789Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various devices, systems and methods of providing a restartable, hybrid-rocket system that uses Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and compressed air containing oxygen levels up to 40% as a propellant. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention includes restartable hybrid rocket system that uses a heterogeneous matrix of ABS and a solid oxidizing agent in addition to compressed air as a propellant. When the ABS is exposed to an electrical potential field, the electrical field's effect on the ABS produces localized arcing between multiple layers of the ABS resulting in joule heating and pyrolysis of the ABS. The pyrolysis produces spontaneous combustion of the ABS once the oxidizer flow provides a local oxygen partial pressure greater than two atmospheres at the surface of the ABS.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventors: Stephen Whitmore, Anthony Marc Bulcher, Zachary Lewis, Nathan Inkley
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Patent number: 10770978Abstract: A power supply includes an active bridge section with input terminals that receive power from a constant current source where the active bridge section operates at a fixed switching frequency. The power supply includes a resonant section with a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor. The resonant section is connected to an output of the active bridge section. The power supply includes an output rectifier that receives power from the resonant section and includes output terminals for connection to a load and a controller that regulates output current to the load where the controller regulates output current to the load by controlling switching of the active bridge section. The fixed switching frequency of the active bridge section matches a resonant frequency of the resonant section.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventors: Hongjie Wang, Regan A Zane, Tarak Saha
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Patent number: 10770932Abstract: A magnetizable concrete wireless power transfer pad can include a base, an inductive coil and a pillar. The base can comprise a magnetizable base concrete including concrete and first magnetizable particles, the first magnetizable particles having a magnetic permeability and a magnetic saturation. The inductive coil can be positioned directly adjacent and centered over the base, the inductive coil forming an inductive coil gap at its center inner perimeter between a conductive wire that form the inductive coil, the inductive coil having an outer perimeter, a lateral width, and a longitudinal length.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventors: Zeljko Pantic, Marc Maquire, Reza Tavakoli
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Patent number: 10760919Abstract: For evaluating navigation information based on line-of-sight measurements, a method measures a line-of-sight measurement with an imager. The method further calculates an information metric based on the line-of-sight measurement. The information metric is a function of imager pixel measurement noise and a relative position vector for an imager frame aligned with a focal plane frame for the imager. The method evaluates navigation information using the information metric.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Utah State University Research FoundationInventor: Ryan Lamoreaux
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Patent number: 10742127Abstract: An apparatus includes power blocks. Each power block includes converter modules. Each converter module includes a positive and a negative bidirectional converter and a battery module. The bidirectional converters are connected to the battery module and outputs are connected in parallel. Paralleled positive bidirectional converters are connected in series between a positive connection and a neutral connection and the paralleled negative bidirectional converters of each power block are connected in series between the neutral connection and a negative connection. A DC-link controller controls a positive output voltage between the positive and neutral connections to follow a positive voltage reference and controls a negative output voltage between the neutral and negative connections to follow a negative voltage reference.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventors: Baljit S. Riar, Regan A. Zane, Prasanth Thummala, Weilun Chen, Muhammad Muneeb Ur Rehman
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Patent number: 10727693Abstract: A power transmitter module is disclosed. In embodiments, a power transmitter module includes a module LC input filter configured to receive regulated DC current, a module transmitter circuit configured to receive the regulated DC current from the module LC input filter and generate a high-frequency AC current. A power transmitter module further includes a module transmitter coil and compensation circuit comprising a transmitter coil, and a first capacitor in parallel with the transmitter coil. The module transmitter coil and compensation circuit are configured to receive the high-frequency AC current from the module transmitter circuit and generate a time-varying magnetic field emitted from the transmitter coil. Additionally, a power transmitter module further includes a module controller configured to receive a power transmission input signal and further configured to control a state of the module transmitter circuit based on the power transmission input signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventors: Hongjie Wang, Regan A. Zane
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Patent number: 10718673Abstract: A fiber-based thermal property probe is disclosed. In embodiments, the thermal property probe is a modulated optical reflectance system and includes a pump beam source configured to transmit a pump beam through a pump fiber, the pump beam configured to heat a sample and the pump fiber having a pump fiber sample end. The fiber-based thermal property probe further includes a probe beam source configured to transmit a probe beam through a probe fiber, the probe beam configured to measure the temperature of the sample and the probe fiber having a probe fiber sample end. Additionally, the system includes a ferrule configured to hold the pump fiber sample end and the probe fiber sample end at a fixed, known separation distance from each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventors: Austin Fleming, Charles Folsom, Colby Jensen, Heng Ban
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Publication number: 20200228053Abstract: In embodiments, a mechanical solar tracker for energy and shade disclosed herein includes a positioning cam comprising one or more paths being configured as a function of a latitude location of the mechanical solar tracker; a sleeve coupled to an adjustment arm, the adjustment arm operable to rotate the sleeve about a vertical axis; a cam follower coupled to the sleeve, the cam follower configured to translate a selected path of the one or more paths as the sleeve rotates about the vertical axis, and a surface coupled to the cam follower. In embodiments, the selected path is configured such that as the sleeve rotates about the vertical axis, the cam follower maintains the surface normal to a vector defined by an azimuth angle and elevation angle, wherein the azimuth angle may be the sun azimuth angle and the elevation angle may be the sun elevation angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: Utah State UniversityInventor: Nicholas Simon Flann
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Publication number: 20200168910Abstract: Described herein are redox active materials based on functionalization of 2,5-di(pyridine-4-yl)thiazolo-[5,4-d]thiazole (Py2TTz). Also described herein are aqueous organic redox flow batteries that include a first redox active material and a second redox active material comprising a viologen compound or a salt thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Applicant: Utah State UniversityInventor: Tianbiao Liu
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Patent number: 10619139Abstract: Disclosed are nucleotide sequences encoding thioesterase enzymes, methods for their production, their use in methods to form thioesters, and their use in methods of screening for other wild type bacteria capable of producing said thioesterase enzymes. Also disclosed are compositions comprising thioesters produced by the methods disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignees: Givaudan SA, Utah State University, Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Tarun Bhowmik, Jeff Broadbent, Dennis Welker, James Steele, Mateo Budinich
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Publication number: 20200025151Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various devices, systems and methods of providing a restartable, hybrid-rocket system that uses Acylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and compressed air containing oxygen levels up to 40% as a propellant. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention includes restartable hybrid rocket system that uses a heterogeneous matrix of ABS and a solid oxidizing agent in addition to compressed air as a propellant. When the ABS is exposed to an electrical potential field, the electrical field's effect on the ABS produces localized arcing between multiple layers of the ABS resulting in joule heating and pyrolysis of the ABS. The pyrolysis produces spontaneous combustion of the ABS once the oxidizer flow provides a local oxygen partial pressure greater than two atmospheres at the surface of the ABS.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Applicant: Utah State UniversityInventors: Stephen Whitmore, Anthony Marc Bulcher, Zachary Lewis, Nathan Inkley
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Patent number: 10531554Abstract: A three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D GMOT) configured to trap a cold-atom cloud is disclosed. The 3D GMOT includes a single input light beam having its direction along a first axis, an area along a second and third axis that are both normal to the first axis, and a substantially flat input light beam intensity profile extending across its area. The 3D GMOT may also include a circular, diffraction-grating surface positioned normal to the first axis and having closely adjacent grooves arranged concentrically around a gap formed in its center. The circular, diffraction-grating surface is configured to diffract first-order light beams that intersect within an intersection region that lies directly above the gap and suppresses reflections and diffractions of all other orders. The 3D GMOT may further include a quadrupole magnetic field with its magnitude being zero within the intersection region.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2019Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Utah State University Space Dynamics LaboratoryInventor: Eric Imhof
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Patent number: 10527004Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for providing a restartable ignition system for a hybrid rocket system. In one embodiment, an ignition device includes a housing and at least two electrodes. The housing includes a first side and a second side and defines a bore with an axis extending therethrough between the first and second sides, the bore defining an internal surface of the housing. The at least two electrodes extend through the housing to the internal surface. The at least two electrodes are configured to be spaced apart so as to provide an electrical potential field along the internal surface between the at least two electrodes. Such housing is formed with and includes multiple flat layers such that the multiple flat layers provide ridges along the internal surface. With this arrangement, the internal surface with the ridges are configured to concentrate an electrical charge upon being subjected to the electrical potential field.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventors: Stephen A. Whitmore, Nathan Inkley, Daniel P. Merkley
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Patent number: 10519537Abstract: An alkali-metal dispenser to dispense highly pure rubidium in a high-vacuum environment while not negatively impacting the high-vacuum pressure level. The alkali-metal dispenser is operable in various vapor-deposition applications or to provide a highly pure elemental-alkali metal in cold-atom magneto-optical traps.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: David Hostutler, Matthew Bigelow, Rudolph N. Kohn, Jr., Spencer Olson, Matthew Squires, Daniel R. Blakley, Eric Imhof, Brian Kasch, Mary Spanjers
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Publication number: 20190335781Abstract: The disclosure generally provides for lipid compositions, foodstuffs, and methods for reducing lipid migration in a food product, the methods comprise sonicating a low saturated lipid with a high intensity ultrasound, and incorporating the sonicated low saturated lipid to a food composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: Utah State UniversityInventor: Silvana Martini
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Publication number: 20190280642Abstract: In embodiments, a mechanical solar tracker disclosed herein includes a frame, an elevation cam with an elevation cam surface attached to the frame, and a rotation drive mechanically coupled to the frame. A collector carriage is coupled to the rotation drive and configured to rotate circumferentially around a vertical axis. Also, a collector is connected to the collector carriage and a hinge is coupled between the collector and the collector carriage wherein the hinge is configured to rotate the collector about a horizontal plane at a pivot point. Additionally, a cam follower is coupled between the collector and the elevation cam and the cam follower is configured to translate, based on a surface input from the elevation cam surface, rotation of the collector about the pivot point to track the sun's direction, by tracing the elevation cam surface with the cam follower.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: Utah State UniversityInventor: Nicholas Simon Flann
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Patent number: 10369209Abstract: A group of mosquito-borne flaviviruses that cause fatal encephalitis in humans is among the most important of all emerging human pathogens of global significance. This group includes Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and Murray Valley encephalitis virus. In the present disclosure, the first reverse genetics system has been developed for SA14-14-2, a live JE vaccine that is most commonly used in most JE-endemic areas, by constructing an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome that contains the full-length SA14-14-2 cDNA. Using this infectious SA 14-14-2 cDNA, combined with a mouse model for JEV infection, a key viral neurovirulence factor has been discovered that is a conserved single amino acid in the ij hairpin adjacent to the fusion loop of the viral E glycoprotein, which regulates viral infectivity into neurons within the central nervous system.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Utah State UniversityInventor: Young-Min Lee