Patents Assigned to The University of Memphis
  • Patent number: 9566576
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel metal complexes useful as catalysts in redox reactions (such as, hydrogen (H2) production). In particular, the invention provides novel transition metal (e.g., cobalt (Co) or nickel (Ni)) complexes, in which the transition metal is coupled with N,N-Bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-2,2?-Bipyridine-6-methanamine (DPA-Bpy), 6?-((bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2,2?-bipyridin-6-amine (DPA-ABpy), N,N-bis((isoquinolin-1-yl)methyl)(6-(pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl)methanamine (DIQ-Bpy), or a derivative thereof. The invention also relates to a method of producing H2 from an aqueous solution by using the metal complex as a catalyst. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a metal complex of the formulae as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Xuan Zhao, Charles E. Webster
  • Patent number: 9557413
    Abstract: A system for detecting object movement including a sensory network having at least one sensory device using modulated radar for detecting an object in proximity to the sensory network. The sensory network including a wireless transmission system and a base station having a computer processing system located remote from the sensory network and including a wireless transmission system to communicate with the sensory network. The base station having a computer readable program code for causing the computer processing system to analyze data received from the sensory network to determine motion characteristics of the object in proximity to the sensory network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert Kozma, Lan Wang, Khan M. Iftekharuddin, Ross Deming, Orges Furxhi, Sergi Consul
  • Patent number: 9297693
    Abstract: The invention provides a spatially-selective reflective structure for the detection of submillimeter electromagnetic waves and systems and methods incorporating spatially-selective reflective structures. One aspect of the invention provides a spatially-selective reflective structure including a partially-conducting slab and a modulating reflector disk adjacent to the partially-conducting slab. The modulating reflector disk includes a plurality of modulations. Another aspect of the invention provides a submillimeter imaging device including submillimeter wave optics, a spatially-selective reflective structure located in the focal plane of the submillimeter wave optics, a submillimeter wave receiver positioned to capture waves reflected from the spatially-selective reflective structure, and a motor configured to rotate the spatially-selective reflective structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Orges Furxhi, Eddie L. Jacobs, Thomas Layton
  • Patent number: 9183927
    Abstract: Various aspects of the invention provide memory devices, methods of storing and reading data, and silver/molecular-layer/metal (SMM) junctions. One aspect of the invention provides a memory device including a plurality of SMM junctions and an electrical structure configured to permit application of electricity across one or more of the plurality of SMM junctions. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of storing data on a memory device including a plurality of SMM junctions. The method includes applying electrical energy across a subset of the SMM junctions to switch the junction to a more conductive state. Another aspect of the invention provides an SMM junction including a silver layer, a copper layer, and a molecular layer positioned between the silver layer and the copper layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventor: Lam H. Yu
  • Patent number: 9158841
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method of evaluating semantic differences between a first item in a first semantic space and a second item in a second semantic space. The method includes: calculating a first ordered list of N nearest neighbors of the first item within the first semantic space; calculating a second ordered list of N nearest neighbors of the second item within the second semantic space; and computing a plurality of similarity measures between the first n nearest neighbors of the first item and the first n nearest neighbors of the second item, wherein n and N are positive integers and 1?n?N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Xiangen Hu, Zhiqiang Cai, Arthur C. Graesser, Scotty Craig
  • Patent number: 8780345
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a spatially-selective disk including a plurality of holes arranged such that a matrix having a plurality of rows, each row having elements corresponding to a fraction of a pixel in a viewing window projected onto the disk that is backed by a hole at a distinct rotational position of the disk, has linearly independent rows. Another aspect of the invention provides a spectrometry device including: a disk having one or more holes; a motor configured to rotate the disk; one or more beam-shaping optics arranged to map one or more spectral components of radiation of interest onto a plurality of locations on the disk; and a receiver positioned to capture the one or more spectral components passing through the one or more holes as the disk is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Orges Furxhi, Eddie L. Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20130321642
    Abstract: The invention provides a spatially-selective reflective structure for the detection of submillimeter electromagnetic waves and systems and methods incorporating spatially-selective reflective structures. One aspect of the invention provides a spatially-selective reflective structure including a partially-conducting slab and a modulating reflector disk adjacent to the partially-conducting slab. The modulating reflector disk includes a plurality of modulations. Another aspect of the invention provides a submillimeter imaging device including submillimeter wave optics, a spatially-selective reflective structure located in the focal plane of the submillimeter wave optics, a submillimeter wave receiver positioned to capture waves reflected from the spatially-selective reflective structure, and a motor configured to rotate the spatially-selective reflective structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Orges Furxhi, Eddie L. Jacobs, Thomas Layton
  • Publication number: 20130241765
    Abstract: A system for detecting object movement including a sensory network having at least one sensory device using modulated radar for detecting an object in proximity to the sensory network. The sensory network including a wireless transmission system and a base station having a computer processing system located remote from the sensory network and including a wireless transmission system to communicate with the sensory network. The base station having a computer readable program code for causing the computer processing system to analyze data received from the sensory network to determine motion characteristics of the object in proximity to the sensory network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: The University of Memphis
    Inventors: Robert Kozma, Lan Wang, Khan M. Iftekharuddin, Ross Deming, Orges Furxhi, Sergi Consul
  • Patent number: 8508592
    Abstract: The invention provides a spatially-selective reflective structure for the detection of submillimeter electromagnetic waves and systems and methods incorporating spatially-selective reflective structures. One aspect of the invention provides a spatially-selective reflective structure including a partially-conducting slab and a modulating reflector disk adjacent to the partially-conducting slab. The modulating reflector disk includes a plurality of modulations. Another aspect of the invention provides a submillimeter imaging device including submillimeter wave optics, a spatially-selective reflective structure located in the focal plane of the submillimeter wave optics, a submillimeter wave receiver positioned to capture waves reflected from the spatially-selective reflective structure, and a motor configured to rotate the spatially-selective reflective structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Orges Furxhi, Eddie L. Jacobs, Thomas Layton
  • Patent number: 8404256
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process to facilitate osteochondral bone remodeling in a subject by inducing regeneration of this bone to a healthy, vascularized state capable of supporting the underlying hyaline cartilage of articular joints and spinal discs, both biomechanically and metabolically and to deliver a bioactive agent. This process involves the steps of: administering an effective amount of an injectable in situ curing biomaterial composite to a site. The biomaterial composite product is prepared by a process involving the steps: admixing an alginate solution with a nonporous aggregate of ?-tricalcium phosphate, in a sufficient amount to initiate polymerization of the alginate solution, to form a hydrogel having from between 10 to 20 percent by volume of ?-tricalcium phosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jonathan Dempsey McCanless, Warren Ollver Haggard
  • Patent number: 8195580
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are provided for the detection of propagating phase gradients using model field theory of non-Gaussian mixtures. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for identifying phase cones in a data set. The method includes generating an initial set of values of parameters (?A,?A,tA) for a preset number of cones, initializing a covariance matrix with high values, evaluating the ratio of volume of a phase cone over total observed space-time volume, comparing the data set with a model, estimating a class probability density function, and generating a revised set of values of parameters (?A,?A,tA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: The University of Memphis Research Foundation, The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Robert Kozma, Leonid Perlovsky
  • Patent number: 8076652
    Abstract: Post-column reaction-ion chromatography (PCR-IC) analysis of drinking water samples for quantity measurements and species identification of haloacetic acid contaminants therein is provided. With the necessity to chlorinate drinking water to remove harmful bacteria and other potential toxins, haloacetic acid byproducts are generated that may harm humans after consumption as well. A reliable manner of measuring such drinking water supplies for haloacetic acids at locations far from the source and closer to dispensers is highly desirable. The PCR-IC analysis method of the invention has been found to be nearly as reliable as source measuring methods for the same purpose, but with the versatility to measure for such haloacetic acid contaminants anywhere along the drinking water supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Gary Lynn Emmert, Paul Steven Simone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8022239
    Abstract: A novel class of compounds to inactivate autotaxin enzymes is provided. Such compounds include mono- and di-fluoromethylphenyl C12-C18 phosphodiesters and exhibit reactivity with autotaxin to ultimately reduce the size of the reactive sites thereon to prevent conversion of lysophosphatidyl choline to lysophophatidic acid. Furthermore, such compounds are non-cytotoxic, and can be incorporated within delivery forms for human ingestion. As such, these compounds accord an excellent manner of potentially reducing generation of certain cancers attributable to the presence of naturally occurring autotaxin within the human body. Methods of producing such novel compounds are encompassed within this invention as well as methods of inactivating autotaxin to certain degrees therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Abby Louise Parrill-Baker, Daniel Lee Baker, Louis Edward Montedonico
  • Patent number: 7829155
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new monomer and methods of using the monomer to fabricate robust polymer surface coatings with controlled thicknesses between 1 and 5 nanometers. The coatings are composed of a new material containing polymerized monomers of 4-vinylbenzenepropanethiol. The polymer surface coating may be applied to metal and silicon. The method includes exposing a metal substrate to a solution of the monomer in hexanes in order to deposit a monolayer of the monomer onto the metal surface. The substrate is then irradiated with ultraviolet radiation in order to graft a thin polymer coating onto the surface. The procedure can be repeated in order to control the thickness of the coating between about 1 nm and 5 nm. Alternatively, thermally initiated polymerization or deposition of partially oligomerized monomers onto the surface provides nanothin coatings with identical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Evgueni Pinkhassik, Larry Todd Banner, Benjamin T. Clayton
  • Patent number: 5942255
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of enhancing lean tissue mass in a subject by administering calcium to the subject, thereby enhancing the lean tissue mass in the subject. The invention is also directed to a method of enhancing bone mineral content in a physically active subject comprising administering calcium to the subject, thereby enhancing the bone mineral content in the subject. The invention is also directed to a method of enhancing bone mineral content and of enhancing lean tissue mass in a subject comprising administering calcium to the subject, thereby enhancing the bone mineral content and enhancing the lean tissue mass in the subject. The invention is further directed to a milk-free composition for enhancing bone mineral content and/or for enhancing lean tissue mass in a physically active subject, comprising an effective amount of calcium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: The University of Memphis
    Inventor: Robert C. Klesges
  • Patent number: 5601534
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable hypodermic syringe which has an elongate, rigid, hollow chamber with a longitudinal axis, a posterior opening and an anterior opening smaller than the posterior opening. The syringe also has a hollow needle axially disposed within the anterior opening. The first end of the needle is outside the chamber in fluid communication with an opposed second end. The second end of the needle is disposed within the chamber and in fluid communication therewith. The syringe also includes an axially slidable plunger in a fluid-tight seal within the chamber for drawing a fluid into the chamber through the first end of the needle and for expelling the fluid from the chamber through the second end of the needle. The plunger has a anterior end and a posterior end and comprises a grip for the user which extends out of the posterior opening of the chamber and a sloped surface for deflecting the second end of the needle during operation of the syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: The University of Memphis
    Inventor: Raymond A. Turner