Patents Assigned to Sandia
  • Method to fabricate functionalized conical nanopores
    Patent number: 9387444
    Abstract: A pressure-based chemical etch method is used to shape polymer nanopores into cones. By varying the pressure, the pore tip diameter can be controlled, while the pore base diameter is largely unaffected. The method provides an easy, low-cost approach for conically etching high density nanopores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Leo J. Small, Erik David Spoerke, David R. Wheeler
  • Methods and apparatus for use with extreme ultraviolet light having contamination protection
    Patent number: 9389180
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light comprising A) a duct having a first end opening, a second end opening and an intermediate opening intermediate the first end opening the second end opening, B) an optical component disposed to receive EUV light from the second end opening or to send light through the second end opening, and C) a source of low pressure gas at a first pressure to flow through the duct, the gas having a high transmission of EUV light, fluidly coupled to the intermediate opening. In addition to or rather than gas flow the apparatus may have A) a low pressure gas with a heat control unit thermally coupled to at least one of the duct and the optical component and/or B) a voltage device to generate voltage between a first portion and a second portion of the duet with a grounded insulative portion therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: KLA-Tencor Corporation, Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Francis C. Chilese, John R. Torczynski, Rudy Garcia, Leonard E. Klebanoff, Gildardo R. Delgado, Daniel J. Rader, Anthony S. Geller, Michail A. Gallis
  • Silicon force sensor
    Patent number: 9383270
    Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to a sensor for measurement of high forces and/or high load shock rate(s), whereby the sensor utilizes silicon as the sensing element. A plate of Si can have a thinned region formed therein on which can be formed a number of traces operating as a Wheatstone bridge. The brittle Si can be incorporated into a layered structure comprising ductile and/or compliant materials. The sensor can have a washer-like configuration which can be incorporated into a nut and bolt configuration, whereby tightening of the nut and bolt can facilitate application of a compressive preload upon the sensor. Upon application of an impact load on the bolt, the compressive load on the sensor can be reduced (e.g., moves towards zero-load), however the magnitude of the preload can be such that the load on the sensor does not translate to tensile stress being applied to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Paul C. Galambos, Thomas B. Crenshaw, Erik E. Nishida, Damon J. Burnett, Jeffrey W. Lantz
  • Useful halophilic, thermostable and ionic liquids tolerant cellulases
    Patent number: 9376728
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an isolated or recombinant polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 70% identity with the amino acid sequence of a Halorhabdus utahensis cellulase, such as Hu-CBH1, wherein said amino acid sequence has a halophilic thermostable and/or thermophilic cellobiohydrolase (CBH) activity. In some embodiments, the polypeptide has a CBH activity that is resistant to up to about 20% of ionic liquids. The present invention also provides for compositions comprising and methods using the isolated or recombinant polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Supratim Datta, Blake A. Simmons, Edward M. Rubin
  • Single-resonator double-negative metamaterial
    Patent number: 9374887
    Abstract: Resonances can be tuned in dielectric resonators in order to construct single-resonator, negative-index metamaterials. For example, high-contrast inclusions in the form of metallic dipoles can be used to shift the first electric resonance down (in frequency) to the first magnetic resonance, or alternatively, air splits can be used to shift the first magnetic resonance up (in frequency) near the first electric resonance. Degenerate dielectric designs become especially useful in infrared- or visible-frequency applications where the resonator sizes associated with the lack of high-permittivity materials can become of sufficient size to enable propagation of higher-order lattice modes in the resulting medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Larry K. Warne, Lorena I. Basilio, William L. Langston, William A. Johnson, Jon Ihlefeld, James C. Ginn, III, Paul G. Clem, Michael B. Sinclair
  • Selective layer disordering in III-nitrides with a capping layer
    Patent number: 9368677
    Abstract: Selective layer disordering in a doped III-nitride superlattice can be achieved by depositing a dielectric capping layer on a portion of the surface of the superlattice and annealing the superlattice to induce disorder of the layer interfaces under the uncapped portion and suppress disorder of the interfaces under the capped portion. The method can be used to create devices, such as optical waveguides, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, solar cells, modulators, laser, and amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Wierer, Jr., Andrew A. Allerman
  • Thermo-optically tuned photonic resonators with concurrent electrical connection and thermal isolation
    Patent number: 9366822
    Abstract: A photonic resonator system is designed to use thermal tuning to adjust the resonant wavelength of each resonator in the system, with a separate tuning circuit associated with each resonator so that individual adjustments may be made. The common electrical ground connection between the tuning circuits is particularly formed to provide thermal isolation between adjacent resonators by including a capacitor along each return path to ground, where the presence of the capacitor's dielectric material provides the thermal isolation. The use of capacitively coupling necessarily requires the use of an AC current as an input to the heater element (conductor/resistor) of each resonator, where the RMS value of the AC signal is indicative of the amount of heat that is generated along the element and the degree of wavelength tuning that is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony L. Lentine, Rohan Deodatta Kekatpure, William A. Zortman, Daniel J. Savignon
  • Dynamically reconfigurable photovoltaic system
    Patent number: 9356173
    Abstract: A PV system composed of sub-arrays, each having a group of PV cells that are electrically connected to each other. A power management circuit for each sub-array has a communications interface and serves to connect or disconnect the sub-array to a programmable power grid. The power grid has bus rows and bus columns. A bus management circuit is positioned at a respective junction of a bus column and a bus row and is programmable through its communication interface to connect or disconnect a power path in the grid. As a result, selected sub-arrays are connected by selected power paths to be in parallel so as to produce a low system voltage, and, alternately in series so as to produce a high system voltage that is greater than the low voltage by at least a factor of ten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Murat Okandan, Gregory N. Nielson
  • Tunable electrical conductivity in metal-organic framework thin film devices
    Patent number: 9346831
    Abstract: A composition including a porous metal organic framework (MOF) including an open metal site and a guest species capable of charge transfer that can coordinate with the open metal site, wherein the composition is electrically conductive. A method including infiltrating a porous metal organic framework (MOF) including an open metal site with a guest species that is capable of charge transfer; and coordinating the guest species to the open metal site to form a composition including an electrical conductivity greater than an electrical conductivity of the MOF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Alec Talin, Mark D. Allendorf, Vitalie Stavila, Francois Leonard
  • Colorometric detection of water using MOF-polymer films and composites
    Patent number: 9347923
    Abstract: A method including exposing a mixture of a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer to a predetermined molecular species, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for the predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species; and detecting a color change of the MOF in the presence of the predetermined molecular species. A method including combining a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for a predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species. An article of manufacture including a mixture of a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for a predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Allendorf, Albert Alec Talin
  • Wideband unbalanced waveguide power dividers and combiners
    Patent number: 9343795
    Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to waveguide dividers and waveguide combiners for application in radar systems, wireless communications, etc. Waveguide dividers-combiners can be manufactured in accordance with custom dimensions, as well as in accordance with waveguide standards such that the input and output ports are of a defined dimension and have a common impedance. Various embodiments are presented which can incorporate one or more septum(s), one or more pairs of septums, an iris, an input matching region, a notch located on the input waveguide arm, waveguide arms having stepped transformer regions, etc. The various divider configurations presented herein can be utilized in high fractional bandwidth applications, e.g., a fractional bandwidth of about 30%, and RF applications in the Ka frequency band (e.g., 26.5-40 GHz).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Halligan, Jacob Jeremiah McDonald, Bernd H. Strassner, II
  • Densified waste form and method for forming
    Patent number: 9343192
    Abstract: Materials and methods of making densified waste forms for temperature sensitive waste material, such as nuclear waste, formed with low temperature processing using metallic powder that forms the matrix that encapsulates the temperature sensitive waste material. The densified waste form includes a temperature sensitive waste material in a physically densified matrix, the matrix is a compacted metallic powder. The method for forming the densified waste form includes mixing a metallic powder and a temperature sensitive waste material to form a waste form precursor. The waste form precursor is compacted with sufficient pressure to densify the waste precursor and encapsulate the temperature sensitive waste material in a physically densified matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Garino, Tina M. Nenoff, Dorina Florentina Sava Gallis
  • Methods for resistive switching of memristors
    Patent number: 9336870
    Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to resistive random-access memory (RRAM or ReRAM) devices and systems, as well as methods of employing a thermal resistive model to understand and determine switching of such devices. In particular example, the method includes generating a power-resistance measurement for the memristor device and applying an isothermal model to the power-resistance measurement in order to determine one or more parameters of the device (e.g., filament state).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick R. Mickel, Conrad D. James, Andrew Lohn, Matthew Marinella, Alexander H. Hsia
  • Sorohalide scintillators, phosphors, and uses thereof
    Patent number: 9334444
    Abstract: The present invention relates to sorohalide compounds having formula A3B2X9, where A is an alkali metal, B is a rare earth metal, and X is a halogen. Optionally, the sorohalide includes a dopant D. Such undoped and doped sorohalides are useful as scintillation materials or phosphors for any number of uses, including for radiation detectors, solid-state light sources, gamma-ray spectroscopy, medical imaging, and drilling applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Pin Yang, Haoran Deng, F. Patrick Doty, Xiaowang Zhou
  • Microresonator electrode design
    Patent number: 9337800
    Abstract: A microresonator with an input electrode and an output electrode patterned thereon is described. The input electrode includes a series of stubs that are configured to isolate acoustic waves, such that the waves are not reflected into the microresonator. Such design results in reduction of spurious modes corresponding to the microresonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Roy H. Olsson, III, Kenneth Wojciechowski, Darren W. Branch
  • Method and apparatus of highly linear optical modulation
    Patent number: 9329413
    Abstract: In a new optical intensity modulator, a nonlinear change in refractive index is used to balance the nonlinearities in the optical transfer function in a way that leads to highly linear optical intensity modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher DeRose, Michael R. Watts
  • Devices and methods to detect and quantify trace gases
    Patent number: 9329154
    Abstract: Sensing devices based on a surface acoustic wave (“SAW”) device coated with an absorbent crystalline or amorphous layer for detecting at least one chemical analyte in a gaseous carrier. Methods for detecting the presence of a chemical analyte in a gaseous carrier using such devices are also disclosed. The sensing devices and methods for their use may be configured for sensing chemical analytes selected from the group consisting of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methanol, ethanol, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, organic amines, organic compounds containing NO2 groups, halogenated hydrocarbons, acetone, hexane, toluene, isopropanol, alcohols, alkanes, alkenes, benzene, functionalized aromatics, ammonia (NH3), phosgene (COCl2), sulfur mustard, nerve agents, sulfur dioxide, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and methyltertbutyl ether (MTBE) and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Allendorf, Alex Robinson
  • Multiplexed microfluidic approach for nucleic acid enrichment
    Patent number: 9322014
    Abstract: A system for enhancing a nucleic acid sample may include a one pump, a denaturing chamber; a microfluidic hydroxyapatite chromatography device configured for performing hydroxyapatite chromatography on the nucleic acid sample, a sample collector, and tubing connecting the pump with the denaturing chamber, the hydroxyapatite chromatography device and the sample collector such that the pump may be used to move the nucleic acid sample from the denaturing chamber to the hydroxyapatite chromatography device and then to the sample collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Victoria A. VanderNoot, Stanley Alan Langevin, Zachary Bent, Ronald F. Renzi, Scott M. Ferko, James L. Van De Vreugde, Todd Lane, Kamlesh Patel, Steven Branda
  • Self-shielding flex-circuit drift tube, drift tube assembly and method of making
    Patent number: 9324550
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an ion mobility drift tube fabricated using flex-circuit technology in which every other drift electrode is on a different layer of the flex-circuit and each drift electrode partially overlaps the adjacent electrodes on the other layer. This results in a self-shielding effect where the drift electrodes themselves shield the interior of the drift tube from unwanted electro-magnetic noise. In addition, this drift tube can be manufactured with an integral flex-heater for temperature control. This design will significantly improve the noise immunity, size, weight, and power requirements of hand-held ion mobility systems such as those used for explosive detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: David Alexander Jones
  • Thermostable cellulases, and mutants thereof, capable of hydrolyzing cellulose in ionic liquid
    Patent number: 9322042
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a composition comprising an ionic liquid and a thermostable cellulose, and a method of hydrolyzing a cellulose, comprising: (a) providing a composition comprising a solution comprising an ionic liquid and a cellulose, and (b) introducing a thermostable cellulase to the solution, such that the cellulose is hydrolyzed by the cellulase. The present invention also provides for a Thermatoga maritima thermostable cellulase mutant with increased cellulase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Rajat Sapra, Supratim Datta, Zhiwei Chen, Bradley M. Holmes, Blake A. Simmons, Harvey W. Blanch