Patents Assigned to The Massachusetts Institute Technology
  • Patent number: 10516195
    Abstract: An anaerobic aluminum-water electrochemical cell is provided. The electrochemical cell includes: a plurality of electrode stacks, each electrode stack featuring an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, and at least one cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode; one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode; a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, an electrolyte, and the physical separators; a water injection port, in the housing, configured to introduce water into the housing; and an amount of hydroxide base sufficient to form an electrolyte having a hydroxide base concentration of at least 0.5% to at most 13% of the saturation concentration when water is introduced between the anode and the least one cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ian Salmon McKay, Ruaridh R. Macdonald, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Patent number: 10513089
    Abstract: A self-transforming structure is formed from a flexible, fibrous composite having a weave pattern of fibers woven at intersecting angles, the weave pattern having a boundary and one or more axes for the fibers, and an added material coupled to the flexible, fibrous composite to form a structure, wherein the flexible, fibrous composite and the added material have different expansion or contraction rates in response to an external stimulus to cause the structure to self-transform, and wherein the added material has a grain pattern oriented relative the weave pattern of the flexible, fibrous composite. Applications of the self-transforming structures include aviation, automotive, apparel/footwear, furniture, and building materials. One particular example is for providing adaptive control of fluid flow, such as in a jet engine air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carbitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Skylar J. E. Tibbits, Athina Papadopoulou, Junus Ali Khan
  • Patent number: 10514534
    Abstract: The information budget of a light field microscope is increased by increasing the field of view and image circle diameter of the microscope, while keeping the ratio of overall magnification of the microscope to the numerical aperture of the microscope unchanged. Alternatively, the information budget is increased by increasing the field of view and image circle diameter of the microscope by a first factor, while increasing the ratio of overall magnification of the microscope to the numerical aperture of the microscope by a smaller, second factor. In some cases, an infinity-corrected light field microscope has an overall magnification that is greater than the nominal magnification of the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Moshe Ben Ezra, Edward Boyden, Christopher Rowlands, Young Gyu Yoon
  • Publication number: 20190386363
    Abstract: A metal-oxygen battery and components of a metal-oxygen battery can include sulfamide, sulfoxy, carbonyl, phosphoramide or heterocyclic groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yang Shao-Horn, Jeremiah Johnson, Wenxu Zhang, Mingjun Huang, Shuting Feng, Livia Giordano
  • Publication number: 20190386044
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a curved focal plane array (FPA) includes forming an epitaxial layer including a semiconductor on a release layer. The release layer includes a two-dimensional (2D) material and is disposed on a first substrate. The method also includes forming a metal layer on the epitaxial layer and transferring the epitaxial layer and the metal layer to a second substrate including an elastomer. The method also includes fabricating a plurality of photodetectors from the epitaxial layer and bending the second substrate to form the curved FPA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kyusang Lee, Jeehwan Kim
  • Patent number: 10508043
    Abstract: A superstructure for thermal desalination is optimized by controlling various parameters, wherein the variable parameters include a feed routing for flow of a liquid feed; brine routings for flow of concentrated brine from the liquid feed; vapor routings for vapor generated from the liquid feed; a series of multi-effect distillation effects, each of the effects coupled with at least one routing selected from the feed routing and the brine routings and with one of the vapor routings; and a series of multi-stage flash stages coupled with at least one routing selected from the feed routing and the brine routings and with one of the vapor routings. The superstructure may or may not contain a thermal vapor compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen
    Inventors: Tawfiq Hanna Dahdah, Alexander Mitsos
  • Patent number: 10509138
    Abstract: A system and method for accurately detecting contact between two objects in a medium comprises at least one sensor for detecting vibration of a first of the two objects and a central processing unit (CPU) for receiving an output of the at least one sensor, wherein the CPU performs the steps: converting the output of the sensor into digital form; during a calibration phase, changing the data from time domain to frequency domain; and during the calibration phase, determining a first frequency range associated with actual contact between the two objects, and a second frequency range associated with a false positive contact between the two objects. A signal processor is provided for filtering all data except that which falls within the first frequency range so as to confirm actual contact between the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jacob Pretorius, Sanjay Sarma, Stephen Sai-Wung Ho
  • Patent number: 10509186
    Abstract: There is provided herein a fiber including a fiber body with a fiber body material having a longitudinal axis along a fiber body length. A plurality of devices is disposed as a linear sequence of devices within the fiber body. Each device includes at least one electrical contact pad. At least one electrical conductor is disposed within the fiber body. The electrical conductor is electrically connected to an electrical contact pad of devices in the plurality of devices. A weavable device includes at least one device material arranged in a planar device configuration and connected to an electrical contact pad. An electrically insulating, mechanically flexible fiber body material encapsulates the planar device configuration and contact pad and has a fiber body length greater than 10 m. An electrical conductor is electrically connected to a device contact pad and extends the fiber body length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yoel Fink, Michael Rein
  • Patent number: 10506979
    Abstract: Analysis of keystroke dynamics performed by an individual can be used for assessment and monitoring of the individual's motor function. Keystroke events related to a user pressing one or more keys on a keyboard or regions on a touch screen may be analyzed to identify a plurality of distributions of keystroke event intervals. The plurality of distributions may be analyzed to identify one or more features indicative of variation among the distributions and indicative of the user's motor function. Monitoring of a user's motor function may include comparing a value for a feature for one plurality of distribution to a second value for the same feature for another plurality of distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Luca Giancardo, Alvaro Sanchez Ferro, Ian Butterworth, Carlos Sanchez Mendoza
  • Patent number: 10510560
    Abstract: A method of encapsulating a substrate is disclosed, in which the substrate has at least the following layers: a CMOS device layer, a layer of first semiconductor material different to silicon, and a layer of second semiconductor material, the layer of first semiconductor material arranged intermediate the CMOS device layer and the layer of second semiconductor material. The method comprises: (i) circumferentially removing a portion of the substrate at the edges; and (ii) depositing a dielectric material on the substrate to replace the portion removed at step (i) for encapsulating at least the CMOS device layer and the layer of first semiconductor material. A related substrate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: Nanyang Technological University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kwang Hong Lee, Eng Kian Kenneth Lee, Chuan Seng Tan, Eugene A. Fitzgerald, Viet Cuong Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10512152
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an array backframe with integral manifolding for high performance fluid cooling of devices. The integral manifolding of the array backframe is designed to perform three functions. First, the array backframe parallelizes the fluid paths to provide uniform, cool supply fluid to every device in the array. Second, the array backframe minimizes the parasitic heat losses between supply and exhaust by use of an isolation cavity. Third, the array backframe collapses hundreds of fluid lines into a single internal manifold to enhance modularity while also serving as a structural support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James Paul Smith, Bernard A. Malouin, Jr., Eric A. Browne, Kenneth L. Smith
  • Patent number: 10509559
    Abstract: A computer produces a digital model that efficiently describes a dense array of many micro-pillars. The digital model achieves this efficiency by describing an entire micro-pillar with only a few parameters. For example, an entire micro-pillar may be described by two of more of the following parameters: height, base thickness, profile and tilt. The computer outputs instructions to fabricate the micro-pillar array, in accordance with the digital model. A 3D printer fabricates the micro-pillar array, based on the instructions. Applying vibration to a directional array of micro-pillars may cause the array of micro-pillars to actuate motion of a passive object that is touching the array. Also, a sensor may measure sounds caused by swipes against a micro-pillar array, and output signals indicative of the measurements. A computer performs a machine learning algorithm that takes the measurements as an input, and classifies the swipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jifei Ou, Gershon Dublon, Chin-Yi Cheng, Liang Zhou, Hiroshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 10510971
    Abstract: Described are materials and methods for fabricating low-voltage MHz ion-gel-gated thin film transistor devices using patternable defect-free ionic liquid gels. Ionic liquid gels made by the initiated chemical vapor deposition methods described herein exhibit a capacitance of about 1 ?F cm?2 at about 1 MHz, and can be as thin as about 20 nm to about 400 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Andong Liu, Karen K. Gleason, Minghui Wang
  • Publication number: 20190375887
    Abstract: Porous compositions such as flexible polymers with side chain porosity are generally provided. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a flexible polymer backbone and a plurality of rigid side chains. In some embodiments, the rigid side chains form pores. In some embodiments, the rigid side chains may comprise two or more [2.2.2] bicyclic cores (e.g., formed by a ring opening metathesis polymerization. The compounds and methods described herein may be useful in various applications including, for example, gas separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Yuan He, Zachary Smith, Sharon Lin, Francesco Maria Benedetti
  • Publication number: 20190378595
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for quantitatively identifying a patient's sedation level and predicting adverse events, based on one or more capnograms or outputs from a pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, or ventilatory model. A sensor measures a carbon dioxide concentration of air exhaled by a patient into a breath receiver. A processor processes the sensor data to generate a capnogram including one or more respiratory cycles, computes the outputs of pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, or ventilatory models, and extracts one or more of the resulting features from the capnogram and pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, or ventilatory model outputs. A multi-parameter metric is computed based on the one or more extracted features and estimates the current or predicted sedation level of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Children's Medical Center Corporation
    Inventors: George Cheeran Verghese, Margaret Gan Guo, Rebecca Mieloszyk, Thomas Heldt, Baruch Shlomo Krauss
  • Patent number: 10505281
    Abstract: A coincident phase centered antenna and a mechanism for feeding electrical signals to the antenna is disclosed. Each of the four prongs is fed by a respective conductor. Each respective conductor is in electrical communication with a connector or trace located on the bottom surface of the base or supporting printed circuit board. This configuration allows independent signals to be supplied to each of the four prongs in the coincident phase centered antenna. In some embodiments, the prongs are mounted on a metal base. In other embodiments, the prongs are mounted on a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Glenn A. Brigham
  • Patent number: 10500317
    Abstract: Orthopedic and dental implants coated with an antibacterial coating and methods of making and using, are described herein. The implant can be coated with a hydrophobic, polycationic antibacterial polymer. The polymer can be covalently or non-covalently associated with the surface; however, in particular embodiments, the polymer is non-covalently associated with the surface. As shown in the examples below, clinical observations, digital radiography, and a battery of well-accepted ex vivo analytical methods show that the presence of a hydrophobic polycationic polymer coating, such as N,N-dodecyl,methyl-PEI coating on the surface of a metal implant, was effective in eliminating the clinical signs of infection in vivo in a large animal infection model. Moreover, the coated plates supported bone healing, and in fact decreased healing times, even in the presence of significant bacterial contamination compared to a control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Thomas P. Schaer, Suzanne Stewart, Alexander M. Klibanov
  • Patent number: 10505213
    Abstract: Extruder feed system. The system includes a pair of spaced-apart, internally and oppositely threaded rotatable elements for receiving and engaging a plastic filament material. An electric motor rotates the rotatable elements in opposite directions thereby to drive the filament into a liquefier chamber for subsequent discharge through a nozzle. The system provides very accurate layer-by-layer build up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Alfonso Alexander Perez, Christopher Michael Haid, Mateo Pena Doll, Forrest W. Pieper
  • Patent number: 10502757
    Abstract: The accelerometers disclosed herein provide excellent sensitivity, long-term stability, and low SWaP-C through a combination of photonic integrated circuit technology with standard micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Examples of these accelerometers use optical transduction to improve the scale factor of traditional MEMS resonant accelerometers by accurately measuring the resonant frequencies of very small (e.g., about 1 ?m) tethers attached to a large (e.g., about 1 mm) proof mass. Some examples use ring resonators to measure the tether frequencies and some other examples use linear resonators to measure the tether frequencies. Potential commercial applications span a wide range from seismic measurement systems to automotive stability controls to inertial guidance to any other application where chip-scale accelerometers are currently deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Suraj Deepak Bramhavar, Paul William Juodawlkis
  • Patent number: 10504614
    Abstract: Computerized analysis methods and systems to implement the computerized analysis methods are disclosed herein. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining an unknown characteristic of a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY, TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Catherine M. Grgicak, Desmond S. Lun, Muriel Medard, Harish Swaminathan