Patents by Inventor Kristen Constant

Kristen Constant 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).

  • Publication number: 20130115434
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a photonic crystal is provided. In the method, a high-refractive-index material is conformally deposited on an exposed portion of a periodic template composed of a low-refractive-index material by an atomic layer deposition process so that a difference in refractive indices or dielectric constants between the template and adjacent air becomes greater, which makes it possible to form a three-dimensional photonic crystal having a superior photonic bandgap. Herein, the three-dimensional structure may be prepared by a layer-by-layer method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicants: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Rana Biswas, Kristen Constant, Kai-Ming Ho, Jae-Hwang Lee, In Sung Park, Tae l lo Lee, Jin Ho Ahn
  • Patent number: 7625515
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing photonic band gap structures operable in the optical spectrum has been presented. The method comprises the steps of filling a plurality of grooves of an elastomeric mold with a UV curable first polymer, each groove in parallel with each other and partially curing the first polymer. A second polymer is coated on the first polymer. A substrate or a multi-layer polymer structure is placed on the filled mold and the resulting structure is exposed to UV light (i.e., is UV cured). The mold is peeled away from the first and second polymers such that a layer of polymer rods is formed on the substrate/multi-layer polymer structure. The process is repeated until a desired number of layers have been formed. The multi-layer structure can be used to create ceramic and metallic photonic band gaps by infiltration, electro-deposition, and/or metal coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Hwang Lee, Kai-Ming Ho, Yong-Sung Kim, Kristen Constant, Chang-Hwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20070289119
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing photonic band gap structures operable in the optical spectrum has been presented. The method comprises the steps of filling a plurality of grooves of an elastomeric mold with a UV curable first polymer, each groove in parallel with each other and partially curing the first polymer. A second polymer is coated on the first polymer. A substrate or a multi-layer polymer structure is placed on the filled mold and the resulting structure is exposed to UV light (i.e., is UV cured). The mold is peeled away from the first and second polymers such that a layer of polymer rods is formed on the substrate/multi-layer polymer structure. The process is repeated until a desired number of layers have been formed. The multi-layer structure can be used to create ceramic and metallic photonic band gaps by infiltration, electro-deposition, and/or metal coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Hwang Lee, Kai-Ming Ho, Yong-Sung Kim, Kristen Constant, Chang-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 6555406
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing photonic band gap structures operable in the optical spectrum has been presented. The method comprises the steps of creating a patterned template for an elastomeric mold, fabricating an elastomeric mold from poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or other suitable polymer, filling the elastomeric mold with a second polymer such as epoxy or other suitable polymer, stamping the second polymer by making contact with a substrate or multilayer structure, removing the elastomeric mold, infiltrating the multilayer structure with ceramic or metal, and heating the multilayer structure to remove the second polymer to form a photonic band gap structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Wai Leung, Kristen Constant, Kai-Ming Ho, Mihail Sigalas, Henry Kang, Chang Hwan Kim, David Cann, Jae Hwang Lee
  • Patent number: 6339030
    Abstract: A method for forming a periodic dielectric structure exhibiting photonic band gap effects includes forming a slurry of a nano-crystalline ceramic dielectric or semiconductor material and monodisperse polymer microspheres, depositing a film of the slurry on a substrate, drying the film, and calcining the film to remove the polymer microspheres therefrom. The film may be cold-pressed after drying and prior to calcining. The ceramic dielectric or semiconductor material may be titania, and the polymer microspheres may be polystyrene microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Kristen Constant, Ganapathi S. Subramania, Rana Biswas, Kai-Ming Ho