Patents Assigned to Sandia
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Patent number: 9662632Abstract: A method including exposing a gas mixture comprising a noble gas to a metal organic framework (MOF), including an organic electron donor and an adsorbent bed operable to adsorb a noble gas from a mixture of gases, the adsorbent bed including a metal organic framework (MOF) including an organic electron donor.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Mark D. Allendorf, Jeffery A. Greathouse, Chad Staiger
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Patent number: 9659797Abstract: Wafer scale oblique angle etching of a semiconductor substrate is performed in a conventional plasma etch chamber by using a fixture that supports a multiple number of separate Faraday cages. Each cage is formed to include an angled grid surface and is positioned such that it will be positioned over a separate one of the die locations on the wafer surface when the fixture is placed over the wafer. The presence of the Faraday cages influences the local electric field surrounding each wafer die, re-shaping the local field to be disposed in alignment with the angled grid surface. The re-shaped plasma causes the reactive ions to follow a linear trajectory through the plasma sheath and angled grid surface, ultimately impinging the wafer surface at an angle. The selected geometry of the Faraday cage angled grid surface thus determines the angle at with the reactive ions will impinge the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: David Bruce Burckel, Robert L. Jarecki, Jr., Patrick Sean Finnegan
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Patent number: 9661733Abstract: Switching devices are provided. The switching devices include an input electrode, having a main electrode and a trigger electrode, and an output electrode. The main electrode and the trigger electrode are separated from the output electrode by a main gap and a trigger gap, respectively. During operation, the trigger electrode compresses and amplifies a trigger voltage signal causing the trigger electrode to emit a pulse of energy. This pulse of energy form plasma near the trigger electrode, either by arcing across the trigger gap, or by arcing from the trigger electrode to the main electrode. This plasma decreases the breakdown voltage of the main gap. Simultaneously, or near simultaneously, a main voltage signal propagates through the main electrode. The main voltage signal emits a main pulse of energy that arcs across the main gap while the plasma formed by the trigger pulse is still present.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: Juan M. Elizondo-Decanini
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Patent number: 9660026Abstract: There is provided an electronic device and a method for its manufacture. The device comprises an elongate silicon nanowire less than 0.5 ?m in cross-sectional dimensions and having a hexagonal cross-sectional shape due to annealing-induced energy relaxation. The method, in examples, includes thinning the nanowire through iterative oxidation and etching of the oxidized portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Murat Okandan, Bruce L. Draper, Paul J. Resnick
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Patent number: 9656926Abstract: A self-consuming structure is disclosed that is formed from a self-consuming composition based on an epoxy or polyurethane having fuel and/or oxidizer molecularly dispersed and/or as particulates in the epoxy or polyurethane. The composition may be used to form self-consuming structural components.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2013Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Steven G. Thoma, Mark C Grubelich, Mathias C. Celina, Mark R. Vaughn, Steven D. Knudsen
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Patent number: 9653230Abstract: A push plate that includes springs in the form of cantilever flexures and an inspection window is disclosed. The push plate provides a known, uniform, down force and minimal torque to a package to be tested. The cantilevers have a known, calculable down force producing stiffness. The window provides for viewing of the package during testing.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Mark R. Vaughn, Stephen Montague
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Patent number: 9651464Abstract: A spring performance tester and method of testing a spring are disclosed that has improved accuracy and precision over prior art spring testers. The tester can perform static and cyclic testing. The spring tester can provide validation for product acceptance as well as test for cyclic degradation of springs, such as the change in the spring rate and fatigue failure.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Bradley Salzbrenner, Brad Boyce
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Patent number: 9651648Abstract: Geolocation is performed by receiving, at a plurality of non-earthbound platforms each moving in a known manner within a spatial coordinate system, a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted from a transmitter at an unknown location on earth within the spatial coordinate system. For each of the platforms, a phase change of the received frequency carrier is measured over the same duration of time. The measured phase changes are combined to determine the transmitter location.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: John J. Mason, Louis Romero
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Patent number: 9652703Abstract: A tamper resistant seal including a population of particles embedded in an adhesive, the population including at least one micromachine artifact of a predetermined physical shape.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: Peter B. Merkle
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Patent number: 9654035Abstract: A motor control system for deployment in high temperature environments includes a controller; a first half-bridge circuit that includes a first high-side switching element and a first low-side switching element; a second half-bridge circuit that includes a second high-side switching element and a second low-side switching element; and a third half-bridge circuit that includes a third high-side switching element and a third; low-side switching element. The motor controller is arranged to apply a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme to switch the first half-bridge circuit, second half-bridge circuit, and third half-bridge circuit to power a motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Crzegorz Cieslewski, Scott C. Lindblom, Frank J. Maldonado, Michael Nathan Eckert
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Patent number: 9645227Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to incorporating one or more notches into a radar spectrum, whereby the notches relate to one or more frequencies for which no radar transmission is to occur. An instantaneous frequency is monitored and if the frequency is determined to be of a restricted frequency, then a radar signal can be modified. Modification can include replacing the signal with a signal having a different instantaneous amplitude, a different instantaneous phase, etc. The modification can occur in a WFS prior to a DAC, as well as prior to a sin ROM component and/or a cos ROM component. Further, the notch can be dithered to enable formation of a deep notch. The notch can also undergo signal transitioning to enable formation of a deep notch. The restricted frequencies can be stored in a LUT against which an instantaneous frequency can be compared.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Armin W. Doerry, John Andrews
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Patent number: 9645258Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to incorporating a wavelength-shifting material in a scintillator to facilitate absorption of a first electromagnetic particle (e.g., a first photon) having a first wavelength and subsequent generation and emission of a second electromagnetic particle (e.g., a second photon) having a second wavelength. The second electromagnetic particle can be emitted isotropically, with a high probability that the direction of emission of the second electromagnetic particle is disparate to the direction of travel of the first electromagnetic particle (and according angle of incidence). Isotropic emission of the second electromagnetic particle enables the second electromagnetic particle to be retained in the scintillator owing to internal reflection. Accordingly, longer length scintillators can be constructed, and accordingly, the scintillator array has a greater area (and volume) over which to detect electromagnetic particles (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: David Reyna
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Patent number: 9645228Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to generation of a desired waveform profile in the form of a spectrum of apparently random noise (e.g., white noise or colored noise), but with precise spectral characteristics. Hence, a waveform profile that could be readily determined (e.g., by a spoofing system) is effectively obscured. Obscuration is achieved by dividing the waveform into a series of chips, each with an assigned frequency, wherein the sequence of chips are subsequently randomized. Randomization can be a function of the application of a key to the chip sequence. During processing of the echo pulse, a copy of the randomized transmitted pulse is recovered or regenerated against which the received echo is correlated. Hence, with the echo energy range-compressed in this manner, it is possible to generate a radar image with precise impulse response.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Armin W. Doerry, Brandeis Marquette
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Patent number: 9646874Abstract: Thermally isolated devices may be formed by performing a series of etches on a silicon-based substrate. As a result of the series of etches, silicon material may be removed from underneath a region of an integrated circuit (IC). The removal of the silicon material from underneath the IC forms a gap between remaining substrate and the integrated circuit, though the integrated circuit remains connected to the substrate via a support bar arrangement that suspends the integrated circuit over the substrate. The creation of this gap functions to release the device from the substrate and create a thermally-isolated integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Kenneth Wojciechowski, Roy H. Olsson, Peggy J. Clews, Todd Bauer
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Patent number: 9641154Abstract: A single crystal micromechanical resonator includes a suspended plate of lithium niobate or lithium tantalate. The suspended plate and a support structure are formed from a single crystal.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Roy H. Olsson, Thomas A. Friedmann, Sara Jensen Homeijer, Michael Wiwi, Khalid Mikhiel Hattar, Blythe Clark, Todd Bauer, Stuart B. Van Deusen
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Patent number: 9632261Abstract: An optoelectronic device package and a method for its fabrication are provided. The device package includes a lid die and an active die that is sealed or sealable to the lid die and in which one or more optical waveguides are integrally defined. The active die includes one or more active device regions, i.e. integral optoelectronic devices or etched cavities for placement of discrete optoelectronic devices. Optical waveguides terminate at active device regions so that they can be coupled to them. Slots are defined in peripheral parts of the active dies. At least some of the slots are aligned with the ends of integral optical waveguides so that optical fibers or optoelectronic devices inserted in the slots can optically couple to the waveguides.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: William A. Zortman, Michael David Henry, Robert L. Jarecki, Jr.
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Patent number: 9628339Abstract: Embodiments of network testbed creation and validation processes are described herein. A “network testbed” is a replicated environment used to validate a target network or an aspect of its design. Embodiments describe a network testbed that comprises virtual testbed nodes executed via a plurality of physical infrastructure nodes. The virtual testbed nodes utilize these hardware resources as a network “fabric,” thereby enabling rapid configuration and reconfiguration of the virtual testbed nodes without requiring reconfiguration of the physical infrastructure nodes. Thus, in contrast to prior art solutions which require a tester manually build an emulated environment of physically connected network devices, embodiments receive or derive a target network description and build out a replica of this description using virtual testbed nodes executed via the physical infrastructure nodes. This process allows for the creation of very large (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Tan Q. Thai, Vincent Urias, Brian P. Van Leeuwen, Kristopher K. Watts, Andrew John Sweeney
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Patent number: 9625785Abstract: A photonic device is provided for impressing a modulation pattern on an optical carrier. The device includes a unit in which a photodetector and an optical microresonator are monolithically integrated. The device further includes an optical waveguide evanescently coupled to the optical microresonator and having at least an upstream portion configured to carry at least one optical carrier toward the microresonator. The optical microresonator is tunable so as to resonate with the optical carrier frequency. The optical microresonator and the photodetector are mutually coupled such that in operation, charge carriers photogenerated in the photodetector are injected into the microresonator, where the photocurrent changes the resonant conditions. In some embodiments the device is operable as an optical-to-optical frequency converter. In other embodiments the device is operable as an oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: William A. Zortman, Anthony L. Lentine
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Patent number: 9624482Abstract: The present invention provides for a composition comprising a polypeptide comprising a first amino acid sequence having at least 70% identity with the amino acid sequence of Csac GH5 wherein said first amino acid sequence has a thermostable or thermophilic cellobiohydrolase (CBH) or exoglucanase activity.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Rajat Sapra, Joshua I. Park, Supratim Datta, Blake A. Simmons
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Patent number: 9624793Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cascaded recompression closed Brayton cycle (CRCBC) system and method of operation thereof, where the CRCBC system includes a compressor for compressing the system fluid, a separator for generating fluid feed streams for each of the system's turbines, and separate segments of a heater that heat the fluid feed streams to different feed temperatures for the system's turbines. Fluid exiting each turbine is used to preheat the fluid to the turbine. In an embodiment, the amount of heat extracted is determined by operational costs.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: James Jay Pasch