Patents Assigned to Sandia
  • Patent number: 10090826
    Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to a high-impedance current source are described herein. The current source outputs a substantially constant current by way of a first transistor that draws current from a supply. The current source is configured to feed back noise from the supply to a feedback resistor at an input of an operational amplifier (op-amp) by way of a second transistor. The feedback resistor and the op-amp are configured such that responsive to receiving the supply noise feedback, the op-amp drives a gate voltage of the first transistor to cause the first transistor to reject the supply noise and cause the output of the current source to remain substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Kurt O. Wessendorf
  • Patent number: 10090764
    Abstract: A Hamiltonian surface shaping power flow control (HSSPFC) method is used to analyze the meta-stability and adjust pulsed power loads on a DC electric power distribution network. Pulsed power loads are nonlinear, time-variant systems that cause nonlinear limit-cycles. During the on periods of a pulsed load, the system can be in an unstable state and is damped back to stability during the off state of the load. Therefore, over the entire period of the pulse the system may only be assessed as meta-stable. As shown through simulation, HIL and hardware results, the HSSPFC method is more accurate than the other small-signal approaches, such as Eigenvalues, Nyquist, and Floquet theory, and can reveal important details about the transient responses and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Michigan Technological University
    Inventors: David G. Wilson, Wayne W. Weaver, Rush D. Robinett, III, Ronald Matthews, Steven F. Glover
  • Patent number: 10086431
    Abstract: Disclosed here is a method for making a nanoporous material, comprising aerosolizing a solution comprising at least one metal salt and at least one solvent to obtain an aerosol, freezing the aerosol to obtain a frozen aerosol, and drying the frozen aerosol to obtain a nanoporous metal compound material. Further, the nanoporous metal compound material can be reduced to obtain a nanoporous metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermoe National Security, LLC, National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Bagge-Hansen, Patrick G. Campbell, Jeffrey D. Colvin, Sergei Kucheyev, Thomas E. Felter
  • Patent number: 10083080
    Abstract: An apparatus including a memory array comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. A switch electrically connects to a particular row of the plurality of rows of the memory array per cycle. An energy storage unit is electrically connected to the memory array through the switch, wherein the energy storage unit is electrically connected in a series with an effective capacitance between ground and the particular row of the plurality of rows of the memory array to which the switch is connected to recycle energy from the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Erik DeBenedictis
  • Patent number: 10084310
    Abstract: A DC power bus having reduced parasitic inductance and higher tolerable operating temperature is disclosed. In example embodiments, a bus structure overlies a printed circuit board, and an array of capacitors is arranged on a surface of the printed circuit board distal the bus structure. The bus structure comprises an upper metal plate, a lower metal plate, and a dielectric film interposed between the upper and lower metal plates. The capacitors are connected in parallel between conductive planes of the printed circuit board. The upper and lower metal plates of the bus structure are connected to respective conductive planes of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Jason C. Neely, Joshua Stewart, Jarod James Delhotal, Jack David Flicker, Geoff L. Brennecka
  • Patent number: 10077454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and system configured to convert algal biomass into biofuels, alcohols, nutrients, biochar, chemical building block compounds, and/or other useful by-products. Exemplary methods include an integrated biochemical and thermochemical process that provides high purity biofuels and mixed alcohols, while minimizing waste and/or maximizing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan W. Davis, Anthe George, Todd W. Lane, Ronald C. Pate, Benjamin C. Wu
  • Patent number: 10074522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for preparing reactively sputtered films. The films are generally thin transition metal oxide (TMO) films having an optimum stoichiometry for any useful device (e.g., a sub-stoichiometric thin film for a memristor device). Described herein are systems, methods, and calibrations processes that employ rapid control of partial pressures to obtain the desired film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: James E. Stevens, Patrick R. Mickel, Andrew Lohn, Matthew Marinella
  • Patent number: 10072879
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing heat from an object for the purpose of cooling or for the purpose of generating electrical power are disclosed. In an embodiment, at least two field-effect transistors (FETs) are operated under inversion. While the FETs are being operated, heat is conducted from the object through body portions of said FETs to an element configured for dissipating the conducted heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Ihab Fathy El-Kady, Charles M Reinke, Roy H. Olsson, Brian S. Swartzentruber, Collin J. Delker, Jinkyoung Yoo
  • Patent number: 10073764
    Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to computer-executable instruction sequence forensics are described herein. In a general embodiment, an application development framework supports a function library that includes a plurality of recording functions. Calls to these functions are inserted into source code or bytecode of the computer-executable instruction sequence. The source code is then compiled, resulting in formation of instrumented machine code of the computer-executable instruction sequence. Alternately, the runtime environment interprets instrumented bytecode for the instruction sequence. A processor executes the machine code, and the called functions cause the processor to generate forensic data pertaining to portions of the computer-executable instruction sequence that correspond to locations in the source code where the calls were inserted. An execution instance of the computer-executable instruction sequence is visualized based upon the forensic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Amy Sundermier, Bettina K. Arpin, David Karmol, Lawrence P. Ray, Kenneth Michael Munoz, William Lawry, Jamie L. Coram, Thomas Anthony Artale, Patrick DeMoss, Lucas Leighton Nunno, Aaron Easter
  • Patent number: 10066471
    Abstract: A method of increasing recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs, and particularly from those located in tight formations, is disclosed. One aspect includes calculating the in situ fractured formation wettability from real-time measurement of flowback volume and composition. Another aspect includes determining the composition of the fracturing fluid, the overflush or both, that will achieve higher liquid hydrocarbon recovery by increasing the water wettability of rock surfaces within the reservoir. Monitoring of rock-surface wettability through flowback volume and composition profiles allows the above mentioned injectates to be adjusted in the field to achieve maximal recovery. Other methods, apparatuses, and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick V. Brady, Charles R. Bryan, Helmuth J. Heneman
  • Patent number: 10067049
    Abstract: Various technologies for measurement of properties of a particulate suspended in a gas phase via laser-induced incandescence (LII) are described herein. A beam of light can be emitted into a multi-pass optical cell using a laser. The multi-pass optical cell comprises a system of one or more mirrors that repeatedly reflects the beam through a measurement region, stimulating incandescence of particulates present in the measurement region. An LII detection system having a field of view that encompasses the measurement region then receives blackbody or quasi-blackbody radiation emitted by the incandescing particles and outputs data indicative of one or more properties of the particulates in the measurement region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Bambha, Hope A. Michelsen
  • Patent number: 10068443
    Abstract: Systems, arrangements, barriers and methods for detecting illicit attempts to compromise or penetrate a physical barrier are disclosed. The systems, arrangements, barriers and methods detect illicit attempts to pry, remove or compromise a security barrier from the surface or location it protects, by insider/outsider adversaries, when any type of cabled continuity sensor (optical, electrical) is woven, embedded, or interlaced through the security barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Scott H. Brooks, Christian J. Hartwigsen
  • Patent number: 10059625
    Abstract: The present invention relates to glass-ceramic compositions, as well as methods for forming such composition. In particular, the compositions include various polymorphs of silica that provide beneficial thermal expansion characteristics (e.g., a near linear thermal strain). Also described are methods of forming such compositions, as well as connectors including hermetic seals containing such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Xunhu Dai, Mark A. Rodriguez, Nathanael L. Lyon
  • Patent number: 10062972
    Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to mitigating or reducing sidelobe levels during operation of an antenna array. Power coefficients operating across an antenna array are tapered to facilitate a power concentration at central region of the antenna array while power coefficients of a lower magnitude are generated at the periphery of the antenna array. Power coefficient variation can be effected by at least one of electrical path length, number of antennas being powered in a particular antenna subarray, a number of T-splitters incorporated into an electrical path servicing an antenna, etc. Electrical coupling of a pre-T/R stripline and a post-T/R stripline can be achieved in conjunction with operation with a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer acts as a dielectric at the Ku frequency band. Further, phase delay can be applied to at least one electrical signal to facilitate concurrent delivery of power across the antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Bernd H. Strassner, II
  • Patent number: 10058881
    Abstract: The invention provides pneumatic shuttering of a focused or collimated aerosol particle stream. The aerosol stream can be collimated by an annular sheath of inert or non-inert gas. The apparatus propagates a sheathed aerosol stream through a series of aerodynamic lenses along the axis of a flow cell. The final lens is typically positioned above a substrate, so that direct material deposition is provided. A substantially perpendicularly-flowing gas external to the aerodynamic lens system is used to redirect the particle stream away from the flow axis and through an exhaust port, thereby shuttering the collimated aerosol stream. The pneumatic shutter enables printing of discreet structures, with on/off shuttering times of approximately 1 to 100 milliseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Keicher, Adam Cook, Eloy Phillip Baldonado, Marcelino Essien
  • Patent number: 10062255
    Abstract: A system or method for a physical intrusion detection and assessment system is provided for determining a deliberate motion intrusion. The system includes first and second sensing device to sense physical data set within a predetermined space. A transducer module receives the first sensor physical data set and the second sensor physical data set and converts the first and second physical data sets into analog signals representative of the first and second physical data sets. A signal conditioning layer converts the first and second physical data analog signals to digital signals. A processor device correlates the first physical data set and the second physical data set and generates an alarm in response to identification of an intrusion in the space. A method and algorithms are applied to the data sets for determining whether a detected intrusion is associated with deliberate motion rather than random motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: John L. Russell, Daniel E. Small, Mark W. Koch, Robert J. Anderson, Jason Jann Andersen, Katrina Groth
  • Patent number: 10060973
    Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to identifying counterfeit integrated circuits (ICs) by way of allowing the origin of fabrication to be verified. An IC comprises a main circuit and a test circuit that is independent of the main circuit. The test circuit comprises at least one ring oscillator (RO) signal that, when energized, is configured to output a signal that is indicative of a semiconductor fabrication facility where the IC was manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Helinski, Lyndon G. Pierson, Jr., Edward I. Cole, Jr., Tan Q. Thai
  • Patent number: 10062135
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing operation of graphics processing units in a computer system. A processing thread in the computer system controls processing of a set of sinogram data by a graphics processing unit to form a set of graphics data. An output thread in the computer system controls writing of the set of graphics data to a storage system. The graphics processing unit is available to perform processing of another set of sonogram data while the set of graphics data is written to the storage system such that the increased availability of a plurality of graphics processing units is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Steven Jimenez, Jr., Laurel Jeffers Orr
  • Patent number: 10054839
    Abstract: A method of nonlinear wavelength generation uses a nonlinear optical medium. An input flux of pump energy is applied to one or more dielectric optical resonators. Each resonator has an optical cavity comprising the nonlinear optical medium. Each resonator has at least one Mie resonance that is excited by the input flux of pump energy. The pump energy causes the generation of converted light containing at least one converted component having a frequency attainable only through a non-linear process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Igal Brener, Sheng Liu, Michael B. Sinclair, Polina Vabishchevich
  • Patent number: 10053534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to functionalized polymers including a poly(phenylene) structure. The structure can include any useful modifications, such as the inclusion of one or more reactive handles having an aryl group. Methods and uses of such structures and polymers are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Cy Fujimoto