Patents Assigned to ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20200194809
    Abstract: A cell plate assembly of a redox flow battery has a frame body and a cell plate in fluidic communication. Cell plates, electrolyte pathways and other components of the frame plate assembly may be overmolded inside a frame. Plates, frames and tubes may all be robustly sealed. One piece bonded plug and frames enable reduced use of O-rings and other wear items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Garrett Scott Kato
  • Publication number: 20190165342
    Abstract: A thin-film battery that includes an adhesive layer is provided. The thin-film battery may have active layer (such as an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, an anode current collector, and a cathode current collector) and a thin-film substrate made of ceramic or glass. The adhesive layer may be deposited over a portion of the active layer and the substrate. This may provide for a more stable, flexible, and mechanically sound thin-film battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian BERLAND, John OLENICK, Kathy OLENICK, David CAREY
  • Publication number: 20190109334
    Abstract: A cell plate of a redox flow battery adapted to provide laminar flow. The cell plate may have a flow frame including a plurality of feed channels interdigitated with a plurality of exhaust channels so as to channel the electrolyte solution through the cell plate and induce proton exchange between a catholyte portion and an anolyte portion. The feed channels and exhaust channels are sized and spaced to manipulate the flowrate and pressure of the electrolyte solution channeled therethrough. In some aspects, the flowrate and pressure are controlled such that the fluid pumps may have a reduced size and speed, thereby reducing the parasitic load on the system and increasing system efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Garrett Scott Kato, Brian Berland
  • Patent number: 10044028
    Abstract: Selectively annealing one or more materials of a composite cathode occurs through selection of composite cathode material composition, particle shape and size of composite cathode material, microwave waveform, microwave duration, and environment. Electron conductor material and ion conducting material may be annealed in a staged process to substantially reduce cross contamination of resulting electron and ion conducting pathways while increasing the number or electron and ion conducting pathways in a composite cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Colclasure
  • Patent number: 9881775
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for regulating the density and kinetic energy of ions in a sputtering deposition chamber. A pulsed DC waveform with a modulated RF signal is generated and applied to the sputtering chamber. Upon termination of a cycle of the pulsed DC waveform, a reverse voltage spike is generated. This reverse voltage spike reverses the polarity of the cathode and anode of the sputtering chamber for some period of time. A reverse voltage limiting circuit is provided so as to limit the reverse voltage spike to a selected reverse voltage threshold. A controller may be employed to control the timing and duration of the application of the DC waveform, the timing and duration of the RF waveform, and the engagement of the reverse limiting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Wayne Stowell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9849025
    Abstract: A clinical grid electrode system for seizure control through local cooling, mapping brain function and me provision of reversible functional ablation. The system includes a modular, scalable, cooling and sensing array composed of a plurality of cooling sensing elements. The system also includes a control system to which die cooling and sensing array is coupled for providing for control and monitoring of die cooling sensing elements making up the cooling and sensing array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: YALE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE, ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: Hitten P Zaveri, Dennis D Spencer, Bharat Joshi, David M Binkley, Bruce Lanning, Mohan S Misra
  • Patent number: 9777365
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a module web coating system and components thereof including a more uniform atmospheric control pumping mechanism and gas curtain separation system. A modular web coating system may include an unwind module, any number of process modules, and a rewind module. The process modules are interchangeable and independently operable. In addition, this disclosure describes a more uniform pumping system in which process gas is removed from multiple locations or slits spaced around a process chamber and, in an example, around a process device such as a deposition source. The gas curtain system utilizes a zone between process chambers into which separation gas is injected. Gas from the chambers is continuously removed thereby operating the chambers under negative pressure and preventing process gas from one chamber bleeding into an adjacent chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Stowell, Jr., Garrett Scott Kato
  • Patent number: 9606409
    Abstract: An electrochromic insert adapted to be fitted into an existing window frame allowing an existing window to be retrofit to have the benefits of electrochromics. The insert may have a scaffold that fits into a window frame. Securing the insert to the frame may occur through a variety of ways including a bracket, a flexible tab, a brace, a screw, a bolt, a projection, a detent, and an adhesive. The technology allows for the electrochromic insert to include an electrochromic device, energy collection device, an energy storage device, and an electrochromic device controller. Such a configuration may be considered autonoumous such that it need not draw power from another source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spencer Berland, Michael Wayne Stowell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9581741
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating an infrared-control coated thin film device with certain visible light transmittance and infrared reflectance properties are disclosed. The device may be made using various techniques including physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, thermal evaporation, pulsed laser deposition, sputter deposition, and sol-gel processes. In particular, a pulsed energy microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process may be used. Production of the device may occur at speeds greater than 50 Angstroms/second and temperatures lower than 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Spencer Berland, Michael Wayne Stowell, Jr., Russell Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 9472814
    Abstract: The technology relates to depositing free-standing electrical devices on a substrate and electrically connecting two or more of the free-standing electrical devices with the aid of a bendable scoring lines. These bendable scoring lines allow the thin-film substrate to be bended, or folded, to form a specific shape. Electrical devices include electrochromic devices or solid state batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Spencer Berland, Michael Wayne Stowell, Jonathan Michael Banks, Calvin Roger Sprangers, Andrew Colclasure
  • Patent number: 9326726
    Abstract: A wireless system for brain monitoring/mapping of neurological-disorder patients includes a plurality of electrodes each configured for surface abutment of brain tissue and main circuitry for placement outside a body of a patient and configured to transmit power at radio frequencies and send and receive data using infrared energy. Remote circuitry is provided for subcutaneous implantation in a head of the patient. The remote circuitry is connected to the plurality of electrodes and includes a multiplexer sampling signals from the plurality of electrodes. The multiplexer outputs electrode signals to an amplifier and A/D converter for transmission to the main circuitry. The remote circuitry is configured to (a) receive transmitted power at radio frequencies from the main circuitry, (b) capture and digitize full-bandwidth EEG signals from each of the electrodes, and (c) send data to and receive data from the main circuitry using infrared energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: YALE UNIVERSITY, ITN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Lanning, James A Nolan, Gregory J Nuebel, Dennis D Spencer, Hitten P Zaveri
  • Patent number: 9293796
    Abstract: This disclosure describes metal air battery devices with an anode structure having a plurality of electrodes. An anode is disclosed having a metal source as well as a current collector that together function as an active, reversible, working anode. The source is used for metal-ions that are stripped and stored in the current collector. At this point the current collector contains the metal-ions to be propagated through the rest of the device. Metal-ions may be stripped from and deposited on the current collector, while metal-ions may only be stripped from the source. Upon use of the device metal-ions may be lost to the system for a variety of reasons. To counteract the loss of metal-ions, the current collector is replenished of metal-ions from the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Lanning, Andrew Colclasure
  • Patent number: 9217198
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of inserting lithium into an electrochromic device after completion. In the disclosed methods, an ideal amount of lithium can be added post-fabrication to maximize or tailor the free lithium ion density of a layer or the coloration range of a device. Embodiments are directed towards a method to insert lithium into the main device layers of an electrochromic device as a post-processing step after the device has been manufactured. In an embodiment, the methods described are designed to maximize the coloration range while compensating for blind charge loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spencer Berland, Bruce Roy Lanning, Jonathan Mack Frey, Kathryn Suzanne Barrett, Paul Damon DuPont, Ronald William Schaller
  • Patent number: 9064805
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for combining two or more thin-film electronic devices use a hot-press method. Two or more thin-film batteries, electrochromic devices, and/or a fuel cells may be combined. A thin-film conductive substrate is positioned between the thin-film electronic device. Sufficient heat is applied to the thin film conductive substrate and/or the connecting surface of the one or more devices to cause a material, such as lithium, to flow and bind the thin-film electronic devices together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Mack Frey
  • Patent number: 9013777
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for creating monolithically integrated electrochromic devices which may be a flexible electrochromic device. Monolithic integration of thin film electrochromic devices may involve the electrical interconnection of multiple individual electrochromic devices through the creation of specific structures such as conductive pathway or insulating isolation trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Mack Frey, Brian Spencer Berland
  • Patent number: 8980485
    Abstract: This disclosure describes metal-air battery devices that are rechargeable, thin film, and all solid-state. The disclosure further describes methods of manufacturing rechargeable, thin film, all solid-state, metal-air batteries. The devices disclosed include a porous cathode structure with an electrolyte incorporated therein. The porous cathode structure may be designed to contain pores of at least two distinct sizes (i.e., having bimodal pore size distribution), a smaller one to increase the active surface area of the cathode and a larger to facilitate the transport of gas-phase oxygen through the cathode. The methods disclosed include using pulsed microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (p-?PECVD) to dynamically grow an electrolyte layer on the surface of the carbon within, or a desired portion of, the cathode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Roy Lanning, Michael Wayne Stowell, Jr., Brian Spencer Berland, Andrew Colclasure
  • Patent number: 8976440
    Abstract: This disclosure describes system and methods for creating an autonomous electrochromic assembly, and systems and methods for use of the autonomous electrochromic assembly in combination with a window. Embodiments described herein include an electrochromic assembly that has an electrochromic device, an energy storage device, an energy collection device, and an electrochromic controller device. These devices may be combined into a unitary electrochromic insert assembly. The electrochromic assembly may have the capability of generating power sufficient to operate and control an electrochromic device. This control may occur through the application of a voltage to an electrochromic device to change its opacity state. The electrochromic assembly may be used in combination with a window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spencer Berland, Bruce Roy Lanning, Michael Wayne Stowell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8637996
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for increasing the usable surface area of electrical contacts within a device, such as a thin film solid state device, through the implementation of electrically conductive interconnects. Embodiments described herein include the use of a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects that penetrate through a top contact layer, through one or more multiple layers, and into a bottom contact layer. The plurality of conductive interconnects may form horizontal and vertical cross-sectional patterns. The use of lasers to form the plurality of electrically conductive interconnects from reflowed layer material further aids in the manufacturing process of a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Frey
  • Publication number: 20130201545
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for creating monolithically integrated electrochromic devices which may be a flexible electrochromic device. Monolithic integration of thin film electrochromic devices may involve the electrical interconnection of multiple individual electrochromic devices through the creation of specific structures such as conductive pathway or insulating isolation trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130201546
    Abstract: This disclosure describes system and methods for creating an autonomous electrochromic assembly, and systems and methods for use of the autonomous electrochromic assembly in combination with a window. Embodiments described herein include an electrochromic assembly that has an electrochromic device, an energy storage device, an energy collection device, and an electrochromic controller device. These devices may be combined into a unitary electrochromic insert assembly. The electrochromic assembly may have the capability of generating power sufficient to operate and control an electrochromic device. This control may occur through the application of a voltage to an electrochromic device to change its opacity state. The electrochromic assembly may be used in combination with a window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.