Patents Assigned to Rice University
  • Publication number: 20180120390
    Abstract: An active cancellation system may be utilized to cancel interference, such as from transmitter leakage or self-interference in a transceiver of an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer. The active cancellation system may be inserted between the transmitter and receiver. The active cancellation system may receive the output of the transmitter, and generate a cancellation signal with the same amplitude, but phase shifted relative to the self-interference signal. The cancellation system may include an attenuator/amplitude tuner, buffer, VQ generator, and phase shifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Aydin Babakhani, Xuebei Yang
  • Patent number: 9947918
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to porous silicon particulates and anode materials that contain them. In some embodiments, each of the porous silicon particulates include a plurality of macropores, mesopores and micropores such that the micropores and mesopores are within the macropores. The porous silicon particulates also contain: a coating associated with the porous silicon particulates; and a binding material associated with the porous silicon particulates. The binding material can include binders, carbon materials, polymers, metals, additives, carbohydrates, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY, LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sibani Lisa Biswal, Michael S. Wong, Madhuri Thakur, Steven L. Sinsabaugh
  • Patent number: 9936880
    Abstract: A system for estimating a photoplethysmogram waveform of a target includes an image processor configured to obtain images of the target and a waveform analyzer. The waveform analyzer is configured to determine a weight of a portion of the target. The weight is based on a time variation of a light reflectivity of the portion of the target. The time variation of the light reflectivity of the target is based on the images. The waveform analyzer is further configured to estimate a PPG waveform of the target based on the weight of the portion and the time variation of the light reflectivity of the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Mayank Kumar, Ashok Veeraraghavan, Ashutosh Sabharwal
  • Patent number: 9919927
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of making graphene quantum dots from a carbon source (e.g., coal, coke, and combinations thereof) by exposing the carbon source to an oxidant. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure further comprise a step of separating the formed graphene quantum dots from the oxidant. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure further comprise a step of reducing the formed graphene quantum dots. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure further comprise a step of enhancing a quantum yield of the graphene quantum dots. In further embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of controlling the diameter of the formed graphene quantum dots by selecting the carbon source. In some embodiments, the formed graphene quantum dots comprise oxygen addends or amorphous carbon addends on their edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Ruquan Ye, Changsheng Xiang, Jian Lin, Zhiwei Peng, Gabriel Ceriotti
  • Publication number: 20180065976
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides new analogs of uncialamycin. The present disclosure also provides novel synthetic pathways to obtaining uncialamycin and analogs thereof. Additionally, the present disclosure also describes methods of use of uncialamycin and analogs thereof. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides antibody-drug conjugates which may be used to treat cancer or another disease or disorder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicants: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY, BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY, THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kyriacos C. NICOLAOU, Min LU, Debashis MANDAL, Sanjeev GANGWAR, Naidu S. CHOWDARI, Yam B. POUDEL
  • Patent number: 9909116
    Abstract: Systems and methods generally useful in medicine, cellular biology, nanotechnology, and cell culturing are discussed. In particular, at least in some embodiments, systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of cells and materials are discussed. Some specific applications of these systems and methods may include levitated culturing of cells away from a surface, making and manipulating patterns of levitated cells, and patterning culturing of cells on a surface. Specifically, a method of culturing cells is presented. The method may comprise providing a plurality of cells, providing a magnetic field, and levitating at least some of the plurality of cells in the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of cells comprise magnetic nanoparticles. The method may also comprise maintaining the levitation for a time sufficient to permit cell growth to form an assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Glauco R Souza, Renata Pasqualini, Wadih Arap, Thomas Charles Killian, Robert M. Raphael, Daniel Joshua Stark
  • Patent number: 9910411
    Abstract: The controller includes a differentiating engine configured to receive an input signal value (ISV), wherein the ISV corresponds to state information for one selected from a group consisting of a controlled process and a user interface. The differentiating engine is further configured to determine an error between the ISV and an estimated input signal (EIS), estimate a frequency of the IS, select a plurality of pre-determined gains using the frequency, wherein at least one plurality of pre-determined gains is a suction control gain, determine a first estimated derivative of the input signal (EDIS) using the plurality of pre-determined gains and the error, and to output the first EDIS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ozkan Celik, Vinay Chawda, Marcia K. O'Malley
  • Publication number: 20180057444
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of preparing a primary or secondary amine and hydroxylated aromatic compounds. In some embodiments, the aromatic compound may be unsubstituted, substituted, or contain one or more heteroatoms within the rings of the aromatic compound. The methods described herein may be carried out without the need for transition metal catalysts or harsh reaction conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: HONGYIN GAO, Zhe ZHOU, Laszlo KURTI
  • Patent number: 9896340
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming a reinforcing material by: (1) depositing a first material onto a catalyst surface; and (2) forming a second material on the catalyst surface, where the second material is derived from and associated with the first material. In some embodiments, the first material includes, without limitation, carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoribbons, boron nitride nanotubes, chalcogenide nanotubes, carbon onions, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the formed second material includes, without limitation, graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, chalcogenides, and combinations thereof. In additional embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of separating the formed reinforcing material from the catalyst surface, and transferring the separated reinforcing material onto a substrate without the use of polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Zheng Yan, Zhiwei Peng, Robert H. Hauge, Yilun Li
  • Publication number: 20180047519
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making electrically conductive materials by applying nanowires and graphene nanoribbons onto a surface to form a network layer with interconnected graphene nanoribbons and nanowires. In some embodiments, the methods include the following steps: (a) applying graphene nanoribbons onto a surface to form a graphene nanoribbon layer; (b) applying nanowires and graphene nanoribbons onto the graphene nanoribbon layer to form the network layer; and (c) optionally applying graphene nanoribbons onto the formed network layer to form a second graphene nanoribbon layer on the network layer. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the formed electrically conductive materials and their use as components of electronic devices, such as energy storage devices. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to electronic devices that contain the electrically conductive materials of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Rodrigo V. Salvatierra, Abdul-Rahman O. Raji
  • Patent number: 9881746
    Abstract: Mechanically flexible and optically transparent thin film solid state supercapacitors are fabricated by assembling nano-engineered carbon electrodes in porous templates. The electrodes have textured graphitic surface films with a morphology of interconnected arrays of complex shapes and porosity. The graphitic films act as both electrode and current collector, and when integrated with solid polymer electrolyte function as thin film supercapacitors. The nanostructured electrode morphology and conformal electrolyte packaging provide enough energy and power density for electronic devices in addition to possessing excellent mechanical flexibility and optical transparency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: Northeastern University, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Yung Joon Jung, Hyun Young Jung, Pulickel M. Ajayan
  • Publication number: 20180027201
    Abstract: A lens-free imaging system for generating an image of a scene includes an electromagnetic (EM) radiation sensor; a mask disposed between the EM radiation sensor and the scene; an image processor that obtains signals from the EM radiation sensor while the EM radiation sensor is exposed to the scene; and estimates the image of the scene based on, at least in part, the signals and a transfer function between the scene and the EM radiation sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Aswin Sankaranarayanan, Ashok Veeraraghavan, Lisa A. Hendricks, Richard Baraniuk, Ali Ayremlou, M. Salman Asif
  • Publication number: 20180008957
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of capturing CO2 from an environment by hydrating a porous material with water molecules to the extent thereby to define a preselected region of a plurality of hydrated pores and yet to the extent to allow the preselected region of a plurality of pores of the porous material to uptake gas molecules; positioning the porous material within a CO2 associated environment; and capturing CO2 by the hydrated porous material. In some embodiments, the pore volume of the hydrated porous material includes between 90% and 20% of the pre-hydrated pore volume to provide unhydrated pore volume within the porous material for enhanced selective uptake of CO2 in the CO2 associated environment. In some embodiments, the step of capturing includes forming CO2-hydrates within the pores of the porous material, where the CO2·n/H2O ratio is n<4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Almaz S. Jalilov
  • Publication number: 20180008730
    Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) enhancement agent includes a plurality of particles, each particle including: a metal core; a dielectric shell disposed on the metal core comprising at least one MRI contrast agent; and a metal shell disposed on the exterior surface of the dielectric shell that encapsulates the dielectric shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Nancy J. Halas, Ciceron Ayala-Orozco, Sandra Bishnoi, Luke Henderson, Oara Neumann, Robia Pautler
  • Patent number: 9863662
    Abstract: A vessel including a concentrator configured to concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source and a complex configured to absorb EM radiation to generate heat. The vessel is configured to receive a cool fluid from the cool fluid source, concentrate the EM radiation using the concentrator, apply the EM radiation to the complex, and transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the cool fluid to the heated fluid. The complex is at least one of consisting of copper nanoparticles, copper oxide nanoparticles, nanoshells, nanorods, carbon moieties, encapsulated nanoshells, encapsulated nanoparticles, and branched nanostructures. Further, the EM radiation is at least one of EM radiation in an ultraviolet region of an electromagnetic spectrum, in a visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and in an infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Nancy J. Halas, Peter Nordlander, Oara Neumann
  • Patent number: 9857447
    Abstract: A method includes generating, from an integrated oscillator circuit, an oscillating output signal and generating, by an integrated power amplifier (PA) circuit, an amplified oscillating output signal based on the oscillating output signal. The method further includes receiving, by integrated receiver amplifier circuit, an electron spin resonance (ESR) signal from biological samples that include a magnetic species and generating, by the integrated receiver amplifier circuit, an amplified ESR signal based on the received ESR signal. The method further includes receiving, by the integrated receiver amplifier circuit, an electron spin resonance (ESR) signal from magnetic nanoparticles that are loaded with drugs or attached to human cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xuebei Yang, Charles Chen, Payam Seifi, Aydin Babakhani
  • Patent number: 9856499
    Abstract: Method of cell culture, comprising adding a redox active compound with a redox potential of between ?0.116 to ?0.253 to a culture capable of forming hydrogen via a hydrogenase so that the redox potential is diverted from hydrogen to form a longer chain acids, e.g., butryic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: George N. Bennett, Xianpeng Cai
  • Patent number: 9856412
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to compositions for enhanced oil recovery. In some embodiments, such compositions include: (1) a first agent, wherein the first agent acts as a foam booster; (2) a second agent, wherein the second agent includes a sulfonated or sulfated anionic surfactant; a (3) a third agent, wherein the third agent includes an alkoxylated and anionic surfactant; and (4) a base liquid. In some embodiments, the compositions of the present disclosure further include a gas, such as nitrogen. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of formulating the aforementioned compositions for enhanced oil recovery. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of recovering oil from a reservoir by utilizing the aforementioned compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Maura Puerto, José Luis López Salinas, Clarence A. Miller, George Hirasaki
  • Patent number: 9845551
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming single-crystal graphenes by: (1) cleaning a surface of a catalyst; (2) annealing the surface of the catalyst; (3) applying a carbon source to the surface of the catalyst; and (4) growing single-crystal graphene on the surface of the catalyst from the carbon source. Further embodiments of the present disclosure also include a step of separating the formed single-crystal graphene from the surface of the catalyst. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of transferring the formed single-crystal graphene to a substrate. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure also include a step of growing stacks of single crystals of graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Zheng Yan
  • Publication number: 20170357220
    Abstract: Ultra-short pulse detection. At least some example embodiments are methods including: receiving by an antenna a series of ultra-short pulses of electromagnetic energy at a repetition frequency, the receiving creates a pulse signal; self-mixing or intermodulating the pulse signal by applying the pulse signal to a non-linear electrical device, thereby creating a modulated signal; and filtering the modulated signal to recover a filtered signal having an intermodulated frequency being the repetition frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Aydin Babakhani, Babak Jamali