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: 20150043602
    Abstract: A photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (PCSEL) includes a gain medium electromagnetically coupled to a photonic crystal whose energy band structure exhibits a Dirac cone of linear dispersion at the center of the photonic crystal's Brillouin zone. This Dirac cone's vertex is called a Dirac point; because it is at the Brillouin zone center, it is called an accidental Dirac point. Tuning the photonic crystal's band structure (e.g., by changing the photonic crystal's dimensions or refractive index) to exhibit an accidental Dirac point increases the photonic crystal's mode spacing by orders of magnitudes and reduces or eliminates the photonic crystal's distributed in-plane feedback. Thus, the photonic crystal can act as a resonator that supports single-mode output from the PCSEL over a larger area than is possible with conventional PCSELs, which have quadratic band edge dispersion. Because output power generally scales with output area, this increase in output area results in higher possible output powers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Song Liang Chua, Ling Lu, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8933594
    Abstract: A vehicle powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply. The wireless receiver includes a load configured to power the drive system of a vehicle using electrical power, and a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed upon the vehicle and configured to be coupled to the load, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator; and wherein the field of at least one of the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator is shaped using a conducting surface to avoid a loss-inducing object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic, Katherine L. Hall, Morris P. Kesler, Andrew J. Campanella
  • Publication number: 20150008761
    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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Katherine L. Hall, Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic, Andrew J. Campanella, David A. Schatz
  • Patent number: 8928543
    Abstract: A gyrotropic metamaterial structure that include a plurality of chiral metamaterials forming one or more pairs of dipole structures. A plurality of lumped circuits are positioned between the one or more pairs of dipole structures. The lumped circuits have a plurality of subwavelengths antennas that are combined to change the polarization states of an incident polarized wave by producing Faraday-like rotation allowing for nomeciprocal propagation of the incident polarized wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Zheng Wang, Marin Soljacic, Zhiyu Wang, John D. Joannopoulos, Lixin Ran
  • Patent number: 8928276
    Abstract: A wireless power receiving system for a mobile electronic device that includes a high-Q repeater resonator comprising at least an inductor and a capacitor and having a Q-factor Q1. The inductor of the repeater resonator is enclosed in a removable sleeve of the mobile electronic. The system also includes a high-Q device resonator comprising at least an inductor and a capacitor and having a Q-factor Q2. The device resonator is integrated in the mobile device and electrically connected to the mobile electronic device, and the square root of the product Q1 and Q2 is greater than 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic, Katherine L. Hall, Eric R. Giler
  • Patent number: 8912687
    Abstract: A vehicle powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply includes a load configured to power the drive system of a vehicle using electrical power, a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed upon the vehicle and configured to be coupled to the load, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator; and an authorization facility to confirm compatibility of the resonators and provide authorization for initiation of transfer of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic, Katherine L. Hall, Andrew J. Campanella, Konrad Kulikowski
  • Publication number: 20140361627
    Abstract: A variable effective size magnetic resonator includes an array of resonators each being one of at least two substantially different characteristic sizes and at least one power and control circuit configured to selectively connect to and energize at least one of the array of resonators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Morris P. Kesler, Andrew J. Campanella, Katherine L. Hall, Konrad J. Kulikowski, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8907531
    Abstract: A medical device-powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply. The wireless receiver includes a load configured to power an implantable medical device using electrical power, and a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed within the medical device and configured to be coupled to the load, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator, the area circumscribed by the inductive element of at least one of the electromagnetic resonators can be varied to improve performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Katherine L. Hall, Volkan Efe, Morris P. Kesler, Andrew J. Campanella, Aristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Marin Soljacic, Konrad Kulikowski
  • Publication number: 20140354071
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transferring energy wirelessly including transferring energy wirelessly from a first resonator structure to an intermediate resonator structure, wherein the coupling rate between the first resonator structure and the intermediate resonator structure is ?1B, transferring energy wirelessly from the intermediate resonator structure to a second resonator structure, wherein the coupling rate between the intermediate resonator structure and the second resonator structure is ?B2, and during the wireless energy transfers, adjusting at least one of the coupling rates ?1B and ?B2 to reduce energy accumulation in the intermediate resonator structure and improve wireless energy transfer from the first resonator structure to the second resonator structure through the intermediate resonator structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Rafif E. Hamam, Aristeidis Karalis, John D. Joannopoulos, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8902946
    Abstract: A photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (PCSEL) includes a gain medium electromagnetically coupled to a photonic crystal whose energy band structure exhibits a Dirac cone of linear dispersion at the center of the photonic crystal's Brillouin zone. This Dirac cone's vertex is called a Dirac point; because it is at the Brillouin zone center, it is called an accidental Dirac point. Tuning the photonic crystal's band structure (e.g., by changing the photonic crystal's dimensions or refractive index) to exhibit an accidental Dirac point increases the photonic crystal's mode spacing by orders of magnitudes and reduces or eliminates the photonic crystal's distributed in-plane feedback. Thus, the photonic crystal can act as a resonator that supports single-mode output from the PCSEL over a larger area than is possible with conventional PCSELs, which have quadratic band edge dispersion. Because output power generally scales with output area, this increase in output area results in higher possible output powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Song Liang Chua, Ling Lu, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8901778
    Abstract: A medical device-powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply. The wireless receiver including a load is configured to power the medical device using electrical power, and a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed within the medical device and configured to be coupled to the load, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator, the area circumscribed by the inductive element of at least one of the electromagnetic resonators can be varied to improve performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Katherine L. Hall, Konrad Kulikowski, Aristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Marin Soljacic, Andrew J. Campanella, Volkan Efe
  • Patent number: 8901779
    Abstract: A medical device-powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply. The wireless receiver includes a load configured to power the medical device using electrical power, and a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed within the medical device and configured to be coupled to the load, at least one other electromagnetic resonator configured with the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator in an array of electromagnetic resonators to distribute power over an area, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the array to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Katherine L. Hall, Andrew J. Campanella, Aristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Marin Soljacic, Konrad Kulikowski
  • Patent number: 8847548
    Abstract: Wireless energy transfer methods and designs for implantable electronics and devices include, in at least one aspect, a source resonator external to a patient, a device resonator coupled to an implantable device and being internal to the patient, a temperature sensor, and a tunable component coupled to the device resonator, wherein the tunable component is adjusted to detune a resonant frequency in response to measurement from the temperature sensor, and wherein a strength of the oscillating magnetic fields generated by the source resonator is adjusted to increase power output to maintain a level of power captured by the device resonator, thereby compensating for reduced efficiency resulting from detuning of the device resonator via the tunable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Morris P. Kesler, Katherine L. Hall, Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic, Andrew J. Campanella, David A. Schatz
  • Patent number: 8836172
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transferring energy wirelessly including transferring energy wirelessly from a first resonator structure to an intermediate resonator structure, wherein the coupling rate between the first resonator structure and the intermediate resonator structure is ?1B, transferring energy wirelessly from the intermediate resonator structure to a second resonator structure, wherein the coupling rate between the intermediate resonator structure and the second resonator structure is ?B2, and during the wireless energy transfers, adjusting at least one of the coupling rates ?1B and ?B2 to reduce energy accumulation in the intermediate resonator structure and improve wireless energy transfer from the first resonator structure to the second resonator structure through the intermediate resonator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Rafif E. Hamam, Aristeidis Karalis, John D. Joannopoulos, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8837550
    Abstract: An organic dye laser produces a continuous-wave (cw) output without any moving parts (e.g., without using flowing dye streams or spinning discs of solid-state dye media to prevent photobleaching) and with a pump beam that is stationary with respect to the organic dye medium. The laser's resonant cavity, organic dye medium, and pump beam are configured to excite a lasing transition over a time scale longer than the associated decay lifetimes in the organic dye medium without photobleaching the organic dye medium. Because the organic dye medium does not photobleach when operating in this manner, it may be pumped continuously so as to emit a cw output beam. In some examples, operation in this manner lowers the lasing threshold (e.g., to only a few Watts per square centimeter), thereby facilitating electrical pumping for cw operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ofer Shapira, Song-Liang Chua, Bo Zhen, Jeongwon Lee, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8823250
    Abstract: Incandescent lighting structure. The structure includes a thermal emitter that can, but does not have to, include a first photonic crystal on its surface to tailor thermal emission coupled to, in a high-view-factor geometry, a second photonic filter selected to reflect infrared radiation back to the emitter while passing visible light. This structure is highly efficient as compared to standard incandescent light bulbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Peter Bermel, Ognjen Ilic, Walker R. Chan, Ahmet Musabeyoglu, Aviv Ruben Cukierman, Michael Robert Harradon, Ivan Celanovic, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8791599
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a first resonator with a quality factor, Q1, greater than 100, coupled to an energy source, generating an oscillating near field region, and a second resonator, with a quality factor, Q2, greater than 100, optionally coupled to an energy drain, and moving freely within the near field region of the first resonator. The first resonator and the second resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said first resonator to said second resonator as the second resonator moves freely within the near field region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John D. Joannopoulos, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8772971
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of at least one source resonator coupled to an energy source generating an oscillating near field region, and at least one device resonator optionally coupled to an electronic device located at a variable distance within the at least one source resonator's near-field region, where at least two of the resonators comprise high-Q capacitively-loaded conducting-wire loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John D. Joannopoulos, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8772972
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a first resonator coupled to an energy source generating an oscillating near field region, and a second resonator optionally coupled to an energy drain and moving freely within the near field region of the first resonator. The first resonator and the second resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said first resonator to said second resonator as the second resonator moves freely within the near field region, and where the region may include distances greater than the characteristic size of the smaller of the first resonator and the second resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John D. Joannopoulos, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20140185282
    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: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: CHIA WEI HSU, WENJUN QIU, BO ZHEN, OFER SHAPIRA, MARIN SOLJACIC