Patents Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE
  • Publication number: 20170085091
    Abstract: An energy storage system controller, including: an energy storage system coupled to a power distribution system; and a processor in communication with the energy storage system, wherein the processor executes: a renewables capacity firming algorithm operable for conditioning intermittent power of a renewable energy station using real time and historical input data such that it is made more stable and non-intermittent, optionally utilizing one or more parameter values associated with comparable time periods taking into account one or more factors comprising cloud state; and a peak load shaving algorithm operable for ensuring that the energy storage system is capable of transmitting full power capacity at a predicted feeder peak load time determined by the processor from real time and historical input data; wherein the performance of the renewables capacity firming algorithm and the performance of the peak load shaving algorithm are optimized in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Sukumar KAMALASADAN, Sherif Abdelmageed ABDELRAZEK, Johan H.R. ENSLIN, Daniel Blair SOWDER
  • Patent number: 9601579
    Abstract: Graphene is used as an interfacial layer to grow Si and other semiconductors or crystalline materials including two-dimensional Si and other structures on any foreign substrate that can withstand the growth temperature without the limitation matching condition typically required for epitaxial growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Yong Zhang, Raphael Tsu, Naili Yue
  • Publication number: 20170045442
    Abstract: A comparative discrimination spectral detection (CDSD) system for the identification of chemicals with overlapping spectral signatures, including: a radiation source for delivering radiation to a sample; a radiation collector for collecting radiation from the sample; a plurality of beam splitters for splitting the radiation collected from the sample into a plurality of radiation beams; a plurality of low-resolution optical filters for filtering the plurality of radiation beams; a plurality of radiation detectors for detecting the plurality filtered radiation beams; and a processor for: receiving a set of reference spectra related to a set of target chemicals and generating a set of base vectors for the set of target chemicals from the set of reference spectra, wherein the set of base vectors define a geometrical shape in a configuration space; receiving a set of filtered test spectra from the plurality of radiation detectors and generating a set of test vectors in the configuration space from the set of filte
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
    Inventors: Menelaos K. Poutous, Ishwar D. Aggarwal, Kevin J. Major, Jas S. Sanghera, Ken Ewing
  • Publication number: 20170041010
    Abstract: A method to implement circuits and circuit elements having one or more ports may include digitizing, using analog-to-digital converters, continuous-time input signals received from one or more ports of a circuit to form discrete-time input signals. At a digital signal processor, the discrete-time input signals are received and the discrete-time input signals are processed to calculate a desired discrete-time output signals. Using digital-to-analog converters, the calculated desired discrete-time output signal are calculated to form outputs of continuous-time output signals at the one or more ports of the circuit. The continuous-time output signals are output to the same one or more ports that receive the continuous-time input signals; and producing, thereby, a desired relationship between the continuous-time output signals and the continuous-time input signals at the one or more ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventor: Thomas P. WELDON
  • Patent number: 9559577
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like. The present invention also relates generally to a flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like that incorporates an outer stator assembly that converts a variable input to a constant output. The present invention further relates generally to an axially aligned flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like. The improved flux focusing magnetic gear assemblies of the present invention find applicability in traction, wind, and ocean power generation, among other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Jonathan Bird
  • Publication number: 20170010484
    Abstract: A semiconductor junction may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may include a first semiconductor material and the second layer may be deposited on the first layer and may include a second material. The valence band maximum of the second material is higher than a conduction band minimum of the first semiconductor material, thereby allowing a flow of a majority of free carriers across the semiconductor junction between the first and second layers to be diffusive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Raphael TSU, Michael FIDDY, Tsinghua HER
  • Publication number: 20170005560
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like. The present invention also relates generally to a flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like that incorporates an outer stator assembly that converts a variable input to a constant output. The present invention further relates generally to an axially aligned flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like. The improved flux focusing magnetic gear assemblies of the present invention find applicability in traction, wind, and ocean power generation, among other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
    Inventor: Jonathan BIRD
  • Publication number: 20160363726
    Abstract: A hollow-core waveguide structure for guiding an electromagnetic signal, comprising: a core material comprising a predetermined refractive index; and a cladding structure disposed about the core material, wherein the cladding structure has a refractive index that is less than unity; wherein the cladding structure comprises an Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterial. The core material comprises air or the like. The cladding structure comprises one of substantially planar sheets disposed about the core material and a substantially tubular structure disposed about the core material. Optionally, the ENZ metamaterial comprises a plurality of nanostructures disposed in a host medium. The plurality of nanostructures comprise a transparent conducting oxide. Alternatively, the cladding structure is manufactured via a self-assembly method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
    Inventors: Hossein ALISAFAEE, Michael FIDDY
  • Patent number: 9521133
    Abstract: A method, in a server, implementing a moving target defense against cross-site scripting includes receiving a request for a web page, wherein the server has N versions of the web page each with a mutated version of JavaScript; selecting a web page of the N versions; and sending an indication of the mutated version of JavaScript associated with the web page in response to the request. Another method, in a client device, using a moving target defense against cross-site scripting includes requesting a web page; receiving an indication of a mutated version of JavaScript for the web page; and adjusting a JavaScript interpreter based on the mutated version of JavaScript for the web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Bei-Tseng Chu, Joe Portner, Joel Kerr, Ehab Al-Shaer
  • Patent number: 9504404
    Abstract: A high-performance, broad-band antenna that is small enough to be used in an array for biomedical imaging, yet has an aperture large enough to allow operations in the 1 GHz to 2.7 GHz frequency range. The present antenna advantageously uses a Vivaldi antenna with unique lobe designs to provide a small antenna that provides excellent near field imaging. The ends of each lobe have a tilted half-disc shape that increases the aperture of the antenna without increasing overall size. Other unique features of the lobes include exponential structures and an impedance matching design. Multiple units of the present antipodal Vivaldi antenna can be used in an array of antennas. Such an array, or stack or multiple arrays, can be used in many microwave applications for biomedical imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Wenyi Shao, Ryan S. Adams
  • Publication number: 20160287088
    Abstract: Novel methods and systems to map the structure of blood vessels and monitor the flow of blood through these vascular networks using thermal imaging techniques. To obtain high contrast thermal images of the vascular structure in tissue, there must be a temperature difference between the blood/blood vessels and surrounding tissue. If the blood and blood vessels are warmer than the surrounding tissue, the vessels will appear brighter in thermal infrared images. A temperature contrast between blood vessels and the surrounding tissue can be achieved through selective heating of the blood. Hemoglobin has major absorption peaks near 420 and 530 nm, while absorption due to water (the dominant component of soft tissue) is significantly lower at these wavelengths. Irradiation of blood and tissue at these wavelengths produces selective heating of the blood compared to the surrounding soft tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
    Inventors: Jason CASE, Susan TRAMMELL
  • Publication number: 20160276837
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to a control system for an electrical energy outputting device are provided. The method may include receiving voltages from a plurality of power devices connected to a controller; identifying, by the controller in real time, relative levels of voltages output from each power devices; generating, by the system in real time, a waveform for each respective voltage of the power devices so that, for each cycle, power extracted from each generated waveform over a single waveform cycle is based the relative levels of voltages from each respective power device and so that the power level, for each cycle, from each waveform is higher than the power level of the other generated waveforms that have lower voltages; and summing, in real time, the generated waveforms to form an AC waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventor: Madhav MANJREKAR
  • Patent number: 9411103
    Abstract: A focusing microprobe system, comprising: one of a single-mode laser radiation source and a few-mode laser radiation source; a coupler coupled to the laser radiation source; one of a single-mode flexible laser radiation delivery system and a few-mode flexible laser radiation delivery system coupled to the coupler; and one or more focusing microlenses coupled to the flexible laser radiation delivery system and arranged in a focusing tip. The coupler comprises a focusing lens. The flexible laser radiation delivery system comprises one of a hollow-core fiber and a flexible waveguide. Optionally, the one or more focusing microlenses are bonded to seal a hollow internal cavity of the flexible laser radiation delivery system. The one or more focusing microlenses comprise one or more conventional lenses or one or more focusing spheres, hemispheres, or cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Vasily N. Astratov
  • Patent number: 9389105
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides distributed sensor grid, surface, and skin systems and methods that utilize compressive sampling systems and methods for reading and processing the outputs of sensor arrays (serial and/or parallel) such that increased speed can be achieved. These sensor arrays can be functionalized or sensitized in any desired manner and functions are derived from the outputs, as opposed to individual data points. The sensor arrays can be made in the form of a textile, a fiber optic network, a MEMS network, or a CMOS camera, for example. In general, in accordance with the systems and methods of the present disclosure, a Code is applied to a distributed sensor as part of the compressive sampling technique and derives the functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Faramarz Farahi, Mehrdad Abolbashari
  • Publication number: 20160190194
    Abstract: A photodetector focal plane array system, comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of photosensitive regions; and a microcomponent disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of photosensitive regions operable for receiving incident radiation and directing a photonic nanojet into the associated photosensitive region. Optionally, each of the microcomponents comprises one of a microsphere and a microcylinder. Each of the microcomponents has a diameter of between ˜? and ˜100?, where ? is the wavelength of the incident radiation. Each of the microcomponents is manufactured from a dielectric or semiconductor material. Each of the microcomponents has an index of refraction of between ˜1.4 and ˜3.5. Optionally, high-index components can be embedded in a lower index material. The microcomponents form an array of microcomponents disposed adjacent to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Vasily N. ASTRATOV, Kenneth W. ALLEN, JR., Nicholaos I. LIMBEROPOULOS, Augustine URBAS, Joshua M. DURAN
  • Patent number: 9375818
    Abstract: A manufacturing method, including: given a predetermined finished part geometry, providing a sacrificial structure preform that simultaneously contains the finished part geometry, minimizes material that must be removed from the sacrificial structure preform to achieve the finished part geometry during machining, and has a sufficient stiffness to resist a machining force that will be applied during machining without allowing the finished part geometry to be compromised; and machining the sacrificial structure preform to achieve the finished part geometry. The manufacturing method also includes preliminarily estimating a stiffness of the finished part geometry and the machining force that will be applied during machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Kevin Scott Smith, Robert G. Wilhelm, Brian S. Dutterer
  • Patent number: 9360590
    Abstract: A metamaterial-based dispersion compensator includes a plurality of layers arranged in a geometric structure; wherein the plurality of layers comprise engineered metamaterials; wherein the engineered metamaterials and the geometric structure are configured to compensate dispersion across a wavelength spectrum. The metamaterial-based dispersion compensator utilizes a specifically engineered frequency response, in a compact metamaterial form-factor, to correct for naturally occurring and problematic dispersion in physical systems such as in optical communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Hossein Alisafaee, Michael Fiddy
  • Patent number: 9362324
    Abstract: A photodetector focal plane array system, comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of photosensitive regions; and a microcomponent disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of photosensitive regions operable for receiving incident radiation and directing a photonic nanojet into the associated photosensitive region. Optionally, each of the microcomponents comprises one of a microsphere and a microcylinder. Each of the microcomponents has a diameter of between between ˜? and ˜100?, where ? is the wavelength of the incident radiation. Each of the microcomponents is manufactured from a dielectric or semiconductor material. Each of the microcomponents has an index of refraction of between ˜1.4 and ˜3.5. Optionally, high-index components can be embedded in a lower index material. The microcomponents form an array of microcomponents disposed adjacent to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Vasily N. Astratov, Kenneth W. Allen, Jr., Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos, Augustine Urbas, Joshua M. Duran
  • Patent number: 9354763
    Abstract: A video annotation interface includes a video pane configured to display a video, a video timeline bar including a video play-head indicating a current point of the video which is being played, a segment timeline bar including initial and final handles configured to define a segment of the video for playing, and a plurality of color-coded comment markers displayed in connection with the video timeline bar. Each of the comment markers is associated with a frame or segment of the video and corresponds to one or more annotations for that frame or segment made by one of a plurality of users. Each of the users can make annotations and view annotations made by other users. The annotations can include annotations corresponding to a plurality of modalities, including text, drawing, video, and audio modalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Celine Latulipe, Vikash Singh, David Wilson, Sybil Huskey
  • Publication number: 20160123725
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods of determining the shape of a sessile drop are described herein. In some embodiments, a method described herein comprises measuring a first shape parameter of a sessile drop to obtain a first shape parameter value, measuring a second shape parameter of the drop to obtain a second shape parameter value, and using the first and second shape parameter values to calculate a third shape parameter value of a third shape parameter of the drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Stuart T. SMITH, Jacob W. CHESNA, Tsing-Hua HER