Patents Assigned to The University of Alabama in Huntsville
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Patent number: 9367677Abstract: A system for eye movement and pupil size change matching for user authentication includes an ocular sensor that is configured to sense eyes of a user and collect data indicative of the user's eye movement and pupil size changes. When a user's eyes are detected, the logic analyzes data collected by the ocular sensor in order to determine whether the sensed data match data extracted from a template defined by the eye movement and pupil size changes of an authorized user. If so, the user is authenticated and is permitted to access at least one restricted resource. As an example, the user may be permitted to access an application or sensitive data stored on a computer system or to access a restricted area, such as a room of a building.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: Reza Adhami, Ali Alhaj Darwish
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Patent number: 9358183Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining whether and/or when a patient is taking his or her medication and, when appropriate, providing reminders and/or alerts to the patient to improve adherence to a medication regimen. In some embodiments, a medication container is provided that includes a capacitance sensor for sensing the contents of the medication container (e.g., pill count or quantity of liquid medication). The capacitance sensor may include interleaved or interdigitated electrodes oriented vertically, horizontally, or angularly (e.g., diagonally) relative to an axis of the medication container. Reminders and/or alerts to the patient may be triggered based at least in part on the contents of the medication container, when a cap of the container was last opened and/or closed, the location of the medication container, and/or the container's surroundings.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignees: AdhereTech Inc., The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of The University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: Joshua Stein, John Langhauser, Michael Morena, Emil Jovanov
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Patent number: 9182228Abstract: An image capture system comprises a plurality of cameras and a camera mount. The camera mount has a curved portion, and the plurality of cameras are secured to the curved portion. The cameras are oriented radially inward relative to the curved portion of the camera mount, such that the lines of sight of the cameras intersect. Images are captured substantially simultaneously with the plurality of cameras. The captured images are stitched together to form a collective image. The image capture system may be positioned in an aerial vehicle to provide overhead views of an environment, and captured images may be transmitted to a remote location for viewing in substantially real time. A remote user may indicate a region of interest within the collective image, and the image capture system may render a portion of the collective image in accordance with the user's indications.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignees: Sony Corporation, University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: David Boyd Pollock, Patrick John Reardon, Theodore Earl Rogers, Christopher N. Underwood, Geoffrey Egnal, Bennett Sampson Wilburn, Stephen Kenneth Pitalo
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Patent number: 9038957Abstract: A system has a plurality of spacecraft in orbit around the earth for collecting energy from the Sun in space, using stimulated emission to configure that energy as well defined states of the optical field and delivering that energy efficiently throughout the region of space surrounding Earth.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventor: Richard Fork
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Patent number: 8976359Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to metal or dielectric nanostructures of the subwavelength scale within the grating lines of optical diffraction gratings. The nanostructures have surface plasmon resonances or non-plasmon optical resonances. A linear photodetector array is used to capture the resonance spectra from one of the diffraction orders. The combined nanostructure super-grating and photodetector array eliminates the use of external optical spectrometers for measuring surface plasmon or optical resonance frequency shift caused by the presence of chemical and biological agents. The nanostructure super-gratings can be used for building integrated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrometers. The nanostructures within the diffraction grating lines enhance Raman scattering signal light while the diffraction grating pattern of the nanostructures diffracts Raman scattering light to different directions of propagation according to their wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventor: Junpeng Guo
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Patent number: 8953318Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to passive cooling systems and methods for electronics. An exemplary passive cooling system for electronics has a circuit package and dielectric liquid. The circuit package has a cover positioned over a circuit element coupled to a substrate. The cover is attached to the substrate and creates a water-tight seal around the circuit element. The circuit package further has a porous media. The dielectric liquid directly contacts the circuit element, and heat from the circuit element is transferred to the dielectric liquid. As the liquid reaches its boiling point, vapor from the liquid is passed through the porous media for further cooling.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: James E. Smith, William Bishop
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Patent number: 8879065Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing. A system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an optical fiber having a metallic dot array on a tip of the optical fiber, a light source coupled to the optical fiber via a light coupler, and a spectrometer coupled to the optical fiber via the coupler. The light source is configured to transmit light within a range of wavelengths along the optical fiber. When the light reaches the dot array, the light excites surface plasmons of the dot array and causes the surface plasmons of the dots to resonate. The dots are chemically functionalized to have a specific affinity for a particular substance, and the resonance frequency of the dots changes when the substance is present thereby changing an absorption peak of the light.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: Yongbin Lin, Robert Lindquist, Yang Zou
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Patent number: 8818029Abstract: A weather forecasting system has weather forecasting logic that receives raw image data from a satellite. The raw image data has values indicative of light and radiance data from the Earth as measured by the satellite, and the weather forecasting logic processes such data to identify cumulus clouds within the satellite images. For each identified cumulus cloud, the weather forecasting logic applies interest field tests to determine a score indicating the likelihood of the cumulus cloud forming precipitation and/or lightning in the future within a certain time period. Based on such scores, the weather forecasting logic predicts in which geographic regions the identified cumulus clouds will produce precipitation and/or lighting within during the time period. Such predictions may then be used to provide a weather map thereby providing users with a graphical illustration of the areas predicted to be affected by precipitation within the time period.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: John Mecikalski, Wayne M. MacKenzie, Jr., John Robert Walker
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Patent number: 8817271Abstract: A fiber optic directional sensor has a substantially hemispherical dome surface and a substantially flat surface. The sensor is formed from a plurality of optical fibers fused to one another, and each optical fiber extends from the dome surface to the flat surface. One end of each optical fiber is substantially perpendicular to the sensor's dome surface, and the opposite end of the fiber is substantially perpendicular to the sensor's flat surface such that an end face of the fiber is substantially tangent to the dome surface, and another end face of the fiber is substantially tangent to the flat surface. Using the sensor, light from projectiles, such as missiles, bullets, and other weaponry, can be detected, and the locations of the projectiles can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventor: Joseph M. Geary
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Patent number: 8754769Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining whether and/or when a patient is taking his or her medication and, when appropriate, providing reminders and/or alerts to the patient to improve adherence to a medication regimen. In some embodiments, a medication container is provided that includes a capacitance sensor for sensing the contents of the medication container (e.g., pill count or quantity of liquid medication). The capacitance sensor may include interleaved or interdigitated electrodes oriented vertically, horizontally, or angularly (e.g., diagonally) relative to an axis of the medication container. Reminders and/or alerts to the patient may be triggered based at least in part on the contents of the medication container, when a cap of the container was last opened and/or closed, the location of the medication container, and/or the container's surroundings.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignees: AdhereTech Inc., The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Alabama, For And On Behalf Of The University Of Alabama In HuntsvilleInventors: Joshua Stein, John Langhauser, Michael Morena, Emil Jovanov
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Patent number: 8735844Abstract: A dispersed release of neutrons is generated from a source. A portion of this dispersed neutron release is reflected by surfaces of a plurality of nested, axisymmetric mirrors in at least an inner mirror layer and an outer mirror layer, wherein the neutrons reflected by the inner mirror layer are incident on at least one mirror surface of the inner mirror layer N times, wherein N is an integer, and wherein neutrons reflected by the outer mirror are incident on a plurality of mirror surfaces of the outer layer N+i times, where i is a positive integer, to redirect the neutrons toward a target. The mirrors can be formed by a periodically reversed pulsed-plating process.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, The University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: Boris Khaykovich, David E. Moncton, Mikhail V. Gubarev, Brian D. Ramsey, Darell E. Engelhaupt
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Patent number: 8706178Abstract: A method and device for accurately determining oxygen saturation of hemoglobin by the measurement of the optical density of a sample, such as a blood vessel, in response to illumination by light having at least three wavelengths (?1, ?2, ?3, . . . ) within a range of about 460 nm to about 523 nm. The hematocrit of a sample may be determined from optical density measurements at the three or more wavelengths in conjunction with a known path length. The device may be an intravenous or intra-arterial fiber optic catheter used to deliver the interrogating light signal to the blood and to detect the reflected signal. A method and device of determining the thickness of the retinal well using spectroscopic information are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignees: UAB Research Foundation, The University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: Kurt R. Denninghoff, Sharon Hillman
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Publication number: 20130222135Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining whether and/or when a patient is taking his or her medication and, when appropriate, providing reminders and/or alerts to the patient to improve adherence to a medication regimen. In some embodiments, a medication container is provided that includes a capacitance sensor for sensing the contents of the medication container (e.g., pill count or quantity of liquid medication). The capacitance sensor may include interleaved or interdigitated electrodes oriented vertically, horizontally, or angularly (e.g., diagonally) relative to an axis of the medication container. Reminders and/or alerts to the patient may be triggered based at least in part on the contents of the medication container, when a cap of the container was last opened and/or closed, the location of the medication container, and/or the container's surroundings.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicants: AdhereTech Inc., University of Alabama In HuntsvilleInventors: AdhereTech Inc., The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on Behalf of the University of Alabama In Huntsville
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Patent number: 8256203Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to rocket based combined cycle (RBCC) propulsion units. In one exemplary embodiment, at least one rocket thruster is integrated with a jet engine but is external to the flow path of the jet engine, forming an altitude compensating plug nozzle. Since the rocket thruster is external to such flow path, the rocket flow from the rocket thruster interacts with the jet flow from the jet engine aft of the nozzle of the jet engine. Such interaction occurs without a significant performance penalty in the operation of the jet engine. In fact, it is possible that the interaction of the rocket flow with the jet flow may actually improve the efficiency of the jet engine under some conditions. Moreover, having the rocket thrusters positioned external to the flow path of the jet engine helps to avoid many of the problems plaguing conventional RBCC propulsion units.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: The University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: James B. Blackmon, David B. Landrum, Sean Entrekin
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Patent number: 7928835Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for drug compliance monitoring. A drug compliance monitoring system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a portable drug containment unit, which has a drug container, such as a pill bottle, for holding prescription or non-prescription drugs. The drug containment unit also comprises at least one sensor and control logic. The sensor is configured to automatically sense a parameter indicating when a drug, such as one or more pills or an amount of liquid, has been or is about to be removed from the drug container. The system, based on the sensor, automatically estimates and tracks drug consumption and provides a patient with reminders when a dosage is currently due. If the patient deviates from an expected drug regime, the system automatically senses this event and provides a notification to the patient or caregiver.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: Emil Jovanov, Robert Gold
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Patent number: 7583882Abstract: The disclosure relates to surface plasmon-polariton waveguides, which can guide ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waves. The attenuation of an ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waves is much lower than the attenuation of the conventional long range surface plasmon-polariton waves guided with the same kind of metal film or metal strip at the same plasmon-polariton frequency. An exemplary ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waveguide disclosed in this disclosure comprises a metal layer, such as a metal film or finite width metal strip, intermediate dielectric layers adjacent to the metal layer, and outer cladding dielectric material. The intermediate dielectric layers redistribute the electromagnetic energy distribution of the surface plasmon-polariton waves so that less of the energy propagates in the metal layer. Therefore, the attenuation of the surface plasmon-polariton wave is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventor: Junpeng Guo
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Publication number: 20090137785Abstract: The present invention relates to crystalline Rab9 in complex with either GDP or the GTP analog Guanosine 5?-(?,?-imido) triphosphate (GppNHp), the three dimensional coordinates and structures of Rab9 in Rab9-GDP and Rab9-GppNHp complexes, and uses thereof for drug design. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for producing Rab9 crystals of sufficient quality to obtain a determination of the three dimensional structure of Rab9 to a high resolution in both its GTP-bound (on/active) and GDP-bound (off/inactive) conformations. The present invention also relates to a computer-readable medium encoded with the three dimensional coordinates of Rab9 in Rab9-GDP and Rab9-GppNHp complexes wherein, using a graphical display software program, the three dimensional coordinates create an electronic file that can be visualized on a computer capable of representing the electronic file as a three dimensional image.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLEInventors: Edward J. Meehan, Liqing Chen, Enrico L. DiGiammarino, Thomas W. Hodge
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Patent number: 7291459Abstract: A nucleic acid detector and a method of using the detector are disclosed for detecting the presence of target nucleic acid sequences within a sample. The nucleic acid detector comprises a substrate-bound, hairpin-shaped nucleic acid captor in conjunction with a labeled universal nucleic acid detector probe. The captor has a segment that is complementary to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid and is denatured and hybridized to the target under test conditions. Hybridization of the captor to the target maintains the captor in an open conformation which exposes an end portion of the captor to the universal detector probe. The detector probe is able to hybridize with the exposed end portion of the captor if the captor has hybridized with a target. The labeled detector probe is detectable by external detection methods. Detector probes having identical universal detector probe sequences may be used to identify the presence of multiple targets having various target sequences within a sample.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: University of Alabama at HuntsvilleInventors: Marc L. Pusey, Krishnan K. Chittur, Jeffrey J. Dowell, Joseph D. Ng
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Patent number: 7206470Abstract: A planar lightwave circuit has a waveguide having a bend and plurality of multiple trenches with parallel front and back interfaces. The trench and waveguide refractive indexes are different such that a refractive interface is defined between the waveguide and the trench. The trench may include a material of higher refractive index than the waveguide, such as silicon, or alternatively a material having a lower refractive index than the waveguide, such as an air void. The trench is disposed on the waveguide bend such that the front and back planar interfaces have an angle of incidence to a direction of the lightwave propagation from the waveguide. The invention also includes beamsplitters that include trenches that reflect a portion of a lightwave in a first direction and a portion of a lightwave in a second direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2004Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: Lixia Li, Gregory P. Nordin, Jianhua Jiang, Jennifer M. English
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Patent number: 7189362Abstract: A microcantilever sensing system includes a waveguide cantilever that permits an optical signal to propagate through an endface of the cantilever. The propagated signal is received by a receiver waveguide across a gap from the cantilever. The receiver waveguide provides the optical signal to a differential beamsplitter. The signal is differentially split according to the position of the optical signal incident upon the receiving waveguide. A method of determining a deflection waveguide microcantilever is also disclosed. An optical signal is transmitted from the endface of a waveguide microcantilever and received by the receiver waveguide. The optical signal is differentially split and then each split signal is compared to determine beam deflection. A method of fabricating a microcantilever sensor provides a differential beamsplitter in optical communication with a waveguide cantilever.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: University of Alabama in HuntsvilleInventors: Gregory Nordin, Jaime Cardenas Gonzalez, Michael A. George