Patents by Inventor Marin Soljacic

Marin Soljacic 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: 20170064807
    Abstract: A technique to guide a micro- or nano-scale particle uses the wavelengths of light beams to control the direction of motion of the particle. In this technique, an optical asymmetry is introduced into the particle to form a composite particle. The composite particle includes two faces that preferentially absorb light of different wavelengths, independent of the particle orientation. The difference in absorption spectra of the two faces creates a bidirectional and local thermal gradient that is externally switchable by changing the wavelength of the incident light beams. This thermal gradient induces a thermophoretic drift that moves the composite particle. A two-faced nanoparticle can be guided using the optically induced thermophoretic drift as the propulsion mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ognjen Ilic, Ido Kaminer, Marin Soljacic, Yoav Lahini
  • Patent number: 9584189
    Abstract: A variable effective size magnetic resonator includes an array of resonators each being one of at least two substantially different characteristic sizes and a mechanism for detuning at least one of the resonators from the resonant frequency of the variable effective size magnetic resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Morris P. Kesler, Andrew J. Campanella, Katherine L. Hall, Konrad J. Kulikowski, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20170054319
    Abstract: Wireless energy transfer apparatus include, in at least one aspect, a device resonator configured to supply power for a load by receiving wirelessly transferred power from a source resonator; a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature of a component of the apparatus; a tunable component coupled to the device resonator to adjust a resonant frequency of the device resonator, an effective impedance the device resonator, or both; and control circuitry configured to, in response to detecting a temperature condition using the temperature sensor, (i) tune the tunable component to adjust the resonant frequency of the device resonator, the effective impedance of the device resonator, or both, and (ii) signal the source resonator regarding the temperature condition to cause an adjustment of a resonant frequency of the source resonator, a power output of the source resonator, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Katherine L. Hall, Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic, Andrew J. Campanella, David A. Schatz
  • Patent number: 9577436
    Abstract: Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer. Described are methods and designs for implantable electronics and devices. Wireless energy transfer is utilized to eliminate cords and power cables puncturing the skin to power an implantable device. Repeater resonators are employed to improve the power transfer characteristics between the source and the device resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Katherine L. Hall, Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic, Andrew J. Campanella, David A. Schatz
  • Publication number: 20160380481
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a source high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy source, a second high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. A third high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. The source resonator and at least one of the second resonator and third resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said source resonator to said at least one of the second resonator and third resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: John D. Joannopoulos, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 9515495
    Abstract: Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer for electronic devices that include at least one source magnetic resonator including a capacitively-loaded conducting loop coupled to a power source and configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field and at least one device magnetic resonator, distal from said source resonators, comprising a capacitively-loaded conducting loop configured to convert said oscillating magnetic fields into electrical energy, wherein at least one said resonator has a keep-out zone around the resonator that surrounds the resonator with a layer of non-lossy material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Katherine L. Hall, Morris P. Kesler, Marin Soljacic, Eric R. Giler
  • Patent number: 9509147
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured to transfer energy non-radiatively with a second resonator structure over a distance greater than a characteristic size of the second resonator structure. The non-radiative energy transfer is mediated by a coupling of a resonant field evanescent tail of the first resonator structure and a resonant field evanescent tail of the second resonator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Robert Moffatt, John D. Joannopoulos, Peter H. Fisher, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20160336803
    Abstract: A magnetic resonator includes an inductor comprising a conductive first loop having a first dipole moment and a conductive second loop having a second dipole moment wherein a direction of the first dipole moment is substantially opposite to a direction of the second dipole moment and at least one capacitor in series with at least one of the first loop and the second loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Morris P. Kesler, Katherine L. Hall, Aristeidis Karalis, Simon Verghese, Volkan Efe, Marin Soljacic, Alexander P. McCauley, Maria Empar Rollano Hijarrubia
  • Patent number: 9496719
    Abstract: Wireless energy transfer methods and designs for implantable electronics and devices include, in at least one aspect, a device resonator configured to be included in an implantable medical device and supply power for a load of the implantable medical device by receiving wirelessly transferred power from a source resonator coupled with a power source; temperature sensors positioned to measure temperatures of the device resonator at different locations; a tunable component coupled to the device resonator; and control circuitry configured and arranged to adjust the tunable component to detune the device resonator in response to a measurement from at least one of the temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Katherine L. Hall, Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic, Andrew J. Campanella, David A. Schatz
  • Publication number: 20160301253
    Abstract: Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer for electronic devices that include at least one source magnetic resonator including a capacitively-loaded conducting loop coupled to a power source and configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field and at least one device magnetic resonator, distal from said source resonators, comprising a capacitively-loaded conducting loop configured to convert said oscillating magnetic fields into electrical energy, wherein at least one said resonator has a keep-out zone around the resonator that surrounds the resonator with a layer of non-lossy material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Katherine L. Hall, Morris P. Kesler, Marin Soljacic, Eric R. Giler
  • Publication number: 20160301265
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured to transfer energy non-radiatively with a second resonator structure over a distance greater than a characteristic size of the second resonator structure. The non-radiative energy transfer is mediated by a coupling of a resonant field evanescent tail of the first resonator structure and a resonant field evanescent tail of the second resonator structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Aristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Robert Moffatt, John D. Joannopoulos, Peter H. Fisher, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 9458989
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are transparent color displays with nanoparticles made with nonlinear materials and/or designed to exhibit optical resonances. These nanoparticles are embedded in or hosted on a transparent substrate, such as a flexible piece of clear plastic or acrylic. Illuminating the nanoparticles with invisible light (e.g., infrared or ultraviolet light) causes them to emit visible light. For example, a rare-earth doped nanoparticle may emit visible light when illuminated simultaneoulsy with a first infrared beam at a first wavelength ?1 and a second infrared beam at a second wavelength ?2. And a frequency-doubling nanoparticle may emit visible light when illuminated with a single infrared beam at the nanoparticle's resonant frequency. Selectively addressing these nanoparticles with appropiately selected pump beams yields visible light emitted from the nanoparticles hosted by the transparent substrate in a desired pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Chia Wei Hsu, Wenjun Qiu, Bo Zhen, Ofer Shapira, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 9450421
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a source high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy source, a second high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. A third high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. The source resonator and at least one of the second resonator and third resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said source resonator to said at least one of the second resonator and third resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John D. Joannopoulos, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 9450422
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured to transfer energy non-radiatively with a second resonator structure over a distance greater than a characteristic size of the second resonator structure. The non-radiative energy transfer is mediated by a coupling of a resonant field evanescent tail of the first resonator structure and a resonant field evanescent tail of the second resonator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Robert Moffatt, John D. Joannopoulos, Peter H. Fisher, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 9444265
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured to transfer energy non-radiatively with a second resonator structure over a distance greater than a characteristic size of the second resonator structure. The non-radiative energy transfer is mediated by a coupling of a resonant field evanescent tail of the first resonator structure and a resonant field evanescent tail of the second resonator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Robert Moffatt, John D. Joannopoulos, Peter H. Fisher, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20160252652
    Abstract: A filter to transmit incident radiation at a predetermined incidence angle includes a plurality of photonic crystal structures disposed substantially along a surface normal direction of the filter. The photonic crystal structure includes a multilayer cell that comprises a first layer having a first dielectric permittivity, and a second layer having a second dielectric permittivity different from the first dielectric permittivity. The first layer and the second layer define a Brewster angle substantially equal to the predetermined incidence angle based on the first dielectric permittivity and the second permittivity. Each photonic crystal structure in the plurality of photonic crystal structures defines a respective bandgap, and the respective bandgaps of the plurality of photonic crystal structures, taken together, cover a continuous spectral region of about 50 nm to about 100 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yichen Shen, Dexin Ye, Ivan Celanovic, Steven G. Johnson, John D. Joannopoulos, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20160227639
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one conductive layer, an electromagnetic (EM) wave source, and an electron source. The conductive layer has a thickness less than 5 nm. The electromagnetic (EM) wave source is in electromagnetic communication with the at least one conductive layer and transmits a first EM wave at a first wavelength in the at least one conductive layer so as to generate a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) field near a surface of the at least one conductive layer. The electron source propagates an electron beam at least partially in the SPP field so as to generate a second EM wave at a second wavelength less than the first wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Ido Kaminer, Liang Jie Wong, Ognjen Ilic, Yichen Shen, John Joannopoulos, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20160216600
    Abstract: Transparent displays enable many useful applications, including heads-up displays for cars and aircraft as well as displays on eyeglasses and glass windows. Unfortunately, transparent displays made of organic light-emitting diodes are typically expensive and opaque. Heads-up displays often require fixed light sources and have limited viewing angles. And transparent displays that use frequency conversion are typically energy inefficient. Conversely, the present transparent displays operate by scattering visible light from resonant nanoparticles with narrowband scattering cross sections and small absorption cross sections. More specifically, projecting an image onto a transparent screen doped with nanoparticles that selectively scatter light at the image wavelength(s) yields an image on the screen visible to an observer. Because the nanoparticles scatter light at only certain wavelengths, the screen is practically transparent under ambient light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Chia Wei Hsu, Wenjun Qiu, Bo Zhen, Ofer Shapira, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20160197489
    Abstract: Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer for electronic devices that include at least one source magnetic resonator including a capacitively-loaded conducting loop coupled to a power source and configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field and at least one device magnetic resonator, distal from said source resonators, comprising a capacitively-loaded conducting loop configured to convert said oscillating magnetic fields into electrical energy, wherein at least one said resonator has a keep-out zone around the resonator that surrounds the resonator with a layer of non-lossy material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Katherine L. Hall, Morris P. Kesler, Marin Soljacic, Eric R. Giler
  • Patent number: 9369182
    Abstract: A variable type magnetic resonator includes an array of resonators each having one of at least two substantially different magnetic dipole moment orientations and at least one power and control circuit configured to selectively connect to and energize at least one of the array of resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Morris P. Kesler, Andrew J. Campanella, Katherine L. Hall, Konrad J. Kulikowski, Marin Soljacic