Patents by Inventor Dale K. Kotter
Dale K. Kotter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210351723Abstract: Spectral tuning of heat source to emit radiation at a desired frequency or frequency band is accomplished using metamaterials. The metamaterials include a structured geometry having holes with dimensions and spacing chosen such that the resulting surface will emit radiation in the desired spectrum. A collector can be made of a similar metamaterial or antenna array to detect the emitted radiation and transfer it to a converter device that converts the detected radiation to electricity. Embodiments also provide efficient coupling to the converter device for energy harvesting. Cooling of the converter devices can be accomplished using a cooling sink or deep space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Redwave Energy, Inc.Inventors: Patrick K. Brady, Dale K. Kotter, Wounjhang Park
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Patent number: 11070149Abstract: Spectral tuning of heat source to emit radiation at a desired frequency or frequency band is accomplished using metamaterials. The metamaterials include a structured geometry having holes with dimensions and spacing chosen such that the resulting surface will emit radiation in the desired spectrum. A collector can be made of a similar metamaterial or antenna array to detect the emitted radiation and transfer it to a converter device that converts the detected radiation to electricity. Embodiments also provide efficient coupling to the converter device for energy harvesting. Cooling of the converter devices can be accomplished using a cooling sink or deep space.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Redwave Energy, Inc.Inventors: Patrick K. Brady, Dale K. Kotter, Wounjhang Park
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Publication number: 20190356247Abstract: Spectral tuning of heat source to emit radiation at a desired frequency or frequency band is accomplished using metamaterials. The metamaterials include a structured geometry having holes with dimensions and spacing chosen such that the resulting surface will emit radiation in the desired spectrum. A collector can be made of a similar metamaterial or antenna array to detect the emitted radiation and transfer it to a converter device that converts the detected radiation to electricity. Embodiments also provide efficient coupling to the converter device for energy harvesting. Cooling of the converter devices can be accomplished using a cooling sink or deep space.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicant: Redwave Energy, Inc.Inventors: Patrick K. Brady, Dale K. Kotter, Wounjhang Park
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Patent number: 10374524Abstract: Spectral tuning of heat source to emit radiation at a desired frequency or frequency band is accomplished using metamaterials. The metamaterials include a structured geometry having holes with dimensions and spacing chosen such that the resulting surface will emit radiation in the desired spectrum. A collector can be made of a similar metamaterial or antenna array to detect the emitted radiation and transfer it to a converter device that converts the detected radiation to electricity. Embodiments also provide efficient coupling to the converter device for energy harvesting. Cooling of the converter devices can be accomplished using a cooling sink or deep space.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2015Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Redwave Energy, Inc.Inventors: Patrick K Brady, Dale K. Kotter, Wounjhang Park
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Patent number: 10283225Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignees: The Penn State Research Foundation, U.S. Department of EnergyInventors: Steven L. Garrett, James A. Smith, Dale K. Kotter
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Publication number: 20180076376Abstract: A metamaterial coupled antenna includes a metamaterial and a rectenna that has an antenna element and a diode coupled by a transmission line. The metamaterial generates a spoof surface plasmon in the presence of heat. The antenna element resonates in the presence of the spoof surface plasmon as terahertz frequencies and generates a voltage that is coupled to the diode via the transmission line. The diode rectifies the voltage to produce electricity. The transmission line is configured to provide a voltage boost to the voltage signal delivered by the antenna element and to compensation for diode capacitance.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Patrick K. Brady, Scott Brad Herner, Dale K. Kotter, Wounjhang Park, Pallab Midya
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Publication number: 20170206988Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventors: Steven L. Garrett, James A. Smith, Dale K. Kotter
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Patent number: 9646723Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Steven L. Garrett, James A. Smith, Dale K. Kotter
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Patent number: 9494464Abstract: Terahertz imaging devices may comprise a focal plane array including a substrate and a plurality of resonance elements. The plurality of resonance elements may comprise a conductive material coupled to the substrate. Each resonance element of the plurality of resonance elements may be configured to resonate and produce an output signal responsive to incident radiation having a frequency between about a 0.1 THz and 4 THz range. A method of detecting a hazardous material may comprise receiving incident radiation by a focal plane array having a plurality of discrete pixels including a resonance element configured to absorb the incident radiation at a resonant frequency in the THz, generating an output signal from each of the discrete pixels, and determining a presence of a hazardous material by interpreting spectral information from the output signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventor: Dale K. Kotter
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Patent number: 9472699Abstract: Energy harvesting devices include a substrate and a plurality of resonance elements coupled to the substrate. Each resonance element is configured to collect energy in the visible and infrared light spectra and to reradiate energy having a wavelength in the range of about 0.8 ?m to about 0.9 ?m. The resonance elements are arranged in groups of two or more resonance elements. Systems for harvesting electromagnetic radiation include a substrate, a plurality of resonance elements including a conductive material carried by the substrate, and a photovoltaic material coupled to the substrate and to at least one resonance element. The resonance elements are arranged in groups, such as in a dipole, a tripole, or a bowtie configuration. Methods for forming an energy harvesting device include forming groups of two or more discrete resonance elements in a substrate and coupling a photovoltaic material to the groups of discrete resonance elements.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventor: Dale K. Kotter
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Publication number: 20150372621Abstract: Spectral tuning of heat source to emit radiation at a desired frequency or frequency band is accomplished using metamaterials. The metamaterials include a structured geometry having holes with dimensions and spacing chosen such that the resulting surface will emit radiation in the desired spectrum. A collector can be made of a similar metamaterial or antenna array to detect the emitted radiation and transfer it to a converter device that converts the detected radiation to electricity. Embodiments also provide efficient coupling to the converter device for energy harvesting. Cooling of the converter devices can be accomplished using a cooling sink or deep space.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Patrick K. Brady, Dale K. Kotter, Wounjhang Park
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Publication number: 20150303335Abstract: Energy harvesting devices include a substrate and a plurality of resonance elements coupled to the substrate. Each resonance element is configured to collect energy in the visible and infrared light spectra and to reradiate energy having a wavelength in the range of about 0.8 ?m to about 0.9 ?m. The resonance elements are arranged in groups of two or more resonance elements. Systems for harvesting electromagnetic radiation include a substrate, a plurality of resonance elements including a conductive material carried by the substrate, and a photovoltaic material coupled to the substrate and to at least one resonance element. The resonance elements are arranged in groups, such as in a dipole, a tripole, or a bowtie configuration. Methods for forming an energy harvesting device include forming groups of two or more discrete resonance elements in a substrate and coupling a photovoltaic material to the groups of discrete resonance elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventor: Dale K. Kotter
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Patent number: 8901507Abstract: Radiation sensitive devices include a substrate comprising a radiation sensitive material and a plurality of resonance elements coupled to the substrate. Each resonance element is configured to resonate responsive to non-ionizing incident radiation. Systems for detecting radiation from a special nuclear material include a radiation sensitive device and a sensor located remotely from the radiation sensitive device and configured to measure an output signal from the radiation sensitive device. In such systems, the radiation sensitive device includes a radiation sensitive material and a plurality of resonance elements positioned on the radiation sensitive material. Methods for detecting a presence of a special nuclear material include positioning a radiation sensitive device in a location where special nuclear materials are to be detected and remotely interrogating the radiation sensitive device with a sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventor: Dale K. Kotter
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Patent number: 8847824Abstract: An energy conversion device may include a first antenna and a second antenna configured to generate an AC current responsive to incident radiation, at least one stripline, and a rectifier coupled with the at least one stripline along a length of the at least one stripline. An energy conversion device may also include an array of nanoantennas configured to generate an AC current in response to receiving incident radiation. Each nanoantenna of the array includes a pair of resonant elements, and a shared rectifier operably coupled to the pair of resonant elements, the shared rectifier configured to convert the AC current to a DC current. The energy conversion device may further include a bus structure operably coupled with the array of nanoantennas and configured to receive the DC current from the array of nanoantennas and transmit the DC current away from the array of nanoantennas.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventors: Dale K. Kotter, Steven D. Novack
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Publication number: 20140231648Abstract: Terahertz imaging devices may comprise a focal plane array including a substrate and a plurality of resonance elements. The plurality of resonance elements may comprise a conductive material coupled to the substrate. Each resonance element of the plurality of resonance elements may be configured to resonate and produce an output signal responsive to incident radiation having a frequency between about a 0.1 THz and 4 THz range. A method of detecting a hazardous material may comprise receiving incident radiation by a focal plane array having a plurality of discrete pixels including a resonance element configured to absorb the incident radiation at a resonant frequency in the THz, generating an output signal from each of the discrete pixels, and determining a presence of a hazardous material by interpreting spectral information from the output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLCInventor: DALE K. KOTTER
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Publication number: 20140050293Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Steven L. Garrett, James A. Smith, Dale K. Kotter
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Publication number: 20130249771Abstract: An energy conversion device may include a first antenna and a second antenna configured to generate an AC current responsive to incident radiation, at least one stripline, and a rectifier coupled with the at least one stripline along a length of the at least one stripline. An energy conversion device may also include an array of nanoantennas configured to generate an AC current in response to receiving incident radiation. Each nanoantenna of the array includes a pair of resonant elements, and a shared rectifier operably coupled to the pair of resonant elements, the shared rectifier configured to convert the AC current to a DC current. The energy conversion device may further include a bus structure operably coupled with the array of nanoantennas and configured to receive the DC current from the array of nanoantennas and transmit the DC current away from the array of nanoantennas.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLCInventors: Dale K. Kotter, Steven D. Novack
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Patent number: 8338772Abstract: Energy harvesting devices include a substrate coupled with a photovoltaic material and a plurality of resonance elements associated with the substrate. The resonance elements are configured to collect energy in at least visible and infrared light spectra. Each resonance element is capacitively coupled with the photovoltaic material, and may be configured to resonate at a bandgap energy of the photovoltaic material. Systems include a photovoltaic material coupled with a feedpoint of a resonance element. Methods for harvesting energy include exposing a resonance element having a resonant electromagnetic radiation having a frequency between approximately 20 THz and approximately 1,000 THz, absorbing at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation with the resonance element, and resonating the resonance element at a bandgap energy of an underlying photovoltaic material.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventors: Dale K. Kotter, Steven D. Novack
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Patent number: 8283619Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for harvesting energy from electromagnetic radiation are provided including harvesting energy from electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate and one or more resonance elements disposed in or on the substrate. The resonance elements are configured to have a resonant frequency, for example, in at least one of the infrared, near-infrared and visible light spectra. A layer of conductive material may be disposed over a portion of the substrate to form a ground plane. An optical resonance gap or stand-off layer may be formed between the resonance elements and the ground plane. The optical resonance gap extends a distance between the resonance elements and the layer of conductive material approximately one-quarter wavelength of a wavelength of the at least one resonance element's resonant frequency. At least one energy transfer element may be associated with the at least one resonance element.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventors: Steven D. Novack, Dale K. Kotter, Patrick J. Pinhero
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Publication number: 20120080073Abstract: Energy harvesting devices include a substrate coupled with a photovoltaic material and a plurality of resonance elements associated with the substrate. The resonance elements are configured to collect energy in at least visible and infrared light spectra. Each resonance element is capacitively coupled with the photovoltaic material, and may be configured to resonate at a bandgap energy of the photovoltaic material. Systems include a photovoltaic material coupled with a feedpoint of a resonance element. Methods for harvesting energy include exposing a resonance element having a resonant electromagnetic radiation having a frequency between approximately 20 THz and approximately 1,000 THz, absorbing at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation with the resonance element, and resonating the resonance element at a bandgap energy of an underlying photovoltaic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLCInventors: Dale K. Kotter, Steven D. Novack