Patents by Inventor Mary Cunningham Boyce

Mary Cunningham Boyce 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: 20140030487
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to materials and devices with interface layers with geometries which transform upon the direct or indirect application of load or displacement. The interface layers may transform from straight or flat shapes to wavy or hierarchically wavy morphologies or the waviness can be altered by load or displacement to tailor wavelength and amplitude of the interface geometry. Methods of predictably altering the interfacial morphology are also described. The ability to control material interface transformation can be used to regulate and to tune mechanical, chemical, thermal, swelling, photonic, phononic, electrical and optical functions, including color and reflectivity of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Mary Cunningham Boyce, Yaning Li, Narges Kaynia, Stephan Rudykh
  • Publication number: 20140017454
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of forming a micro- or nano-pattern on the surface of a composite material. The pattern may be a herringbone pattern with a jog angle of greater than or less than 90° or a graded wrinkled pattern. The micro- or nano-patterns on composite materials produced by the methods may be used to modulate, confer or control thin film material properties; as the basis for thickness measurements; to enhance light extraction in OLED; to enhance light harvest in opto-electronic devices; to tune adhesion properties, wetting, and friction of surfaces; to reduce fluid flow drag; and for anti-fouling purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Mary Cunningham Boyce, Karen K. Gleason, Jose Luis Yague, Jie Yin, Shabnam Raayai Ardakani