Patents Assigned to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12034376
    Abstract: Aspects of hybrid modulation control for DC-to-AC converters are described. In one embodiment, a hybrid modulation pattern is generated. The hybrid modulation pattern separates switch gating control into multiple control regions for a half cycle of the waveform. A first control region modulates according to a first modulation technique and a second control region modulates according to a second modulation technique. The switches of a resonant converter are controlled according to the hybrid modulation pattern to generate the waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jih-Sheng Lai, Chih-Shen Yeh
  • Patent number: 12025538
    Abstract: Various embodiments relating to methods for evaluating injury mitigation performance of helmets that are used for sports (e.g., whitewater kayaking and rafting) are described. In one embodiment, a method for evaluating injury mitigation performance of a helmet includes applying a first impact configuration to a first helmet and applying a second impact configuration to a second helmet of the same model as the first helmet. The method further includes generating acceleration data based on impacts that occur as part of the first impact configuration and the second impact configuration. The method further includes determining concussion risk values based on the generated acceleration data. The method also includes determining a concussion risk metric based on the concussion risk values and exposure values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Brock Duma, Stefan Duma, Mark Begonia, Steve Rowson
  • Patent number: 12018127
    Abstract: In various aspects, a polymer resin is provided for vat photopolymerization. The resin can include a polyamic acid salt formed from the addition of a photocrosslinkable amine to a polyamic acid. The resin can include a photoinitiator suitable for initiating crosslinking of the photocrosslinkable amine when exposed to a light source of a suitable wavelength and intensity. The polyamic acid can be formed, for instance, by the addition of a diamine to a suitable dianhydride. Methods of additive manufacturing using the resins are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jana Herzberger, Timothy E. Long, Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Christopher B. Williams
  • Patent number: 12019548
    Abstract: Provided is a data storage system including a host including a host cache portion of a mirror cache, the host cache portion for storing metadata indicating a location of a data node that is stored in a kernel cache portion of the mirror cache, and a storage device including the kernel cache portion located in a common memory area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, INC
    Inventors: Naga Sanjana Bikonda, Wookhee Kim, Madhava Krishnan Ramanathan, Changwoo Min, Vishwanath Maram
  • Patent number: 12015215
    Abstract: Coaxial collinear antenna examples are described. An example coaxial collinear antenna includes a first segment and a second segment of a coaxial cable. The second segment includes a second inner conductor and a second outer conductor. The first inner conductor of the first segment is coupled to the second outer conductor of the second segment. The first outer conductor of the first segment is coupled to the second inner conductor of the second segment. Further, a first wire mesh is attached to the first outer conductor of the first segment, and a second wire mesh is attached to the second outer conductor of the second segment. Additionally, the coaxial collinear antenna includes an end-fed port that is situated at a distal end of the coaxial collinear antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ali Hosseini-Fahraji, Majid Manteghi
  • Patent number: 12009146
    Abstract: Various examples of magnetic integration of matrix transformers with controllable leakage inductance are described. In one example, a transformer includes a magnetic core comprising a plurality of core legs and a leakage core leg. The leakage core leg is positioned among the plurality of core legs to control a leakage inductance of the transformer. The transformer also includes a planar winding structure. The planar winding structure includes a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. The primary winding and the plurality of secondary windings extend in a number of turns around the plurality of core legs, without a turn around the leakage core leg, to further control the leakage inductance of the matrix transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Nabih, Qiang Li, Fred C. Lee
  • Patent number: 11999097
    Abstract: Described herein are electroless material deposition methods and techniques that can be used to deposit one or more materials on a structure in a selective manner such that deposition can occur in predetermined areas. The methods and techniques of selective electroless material deposition methods described herein can be used to selectively deposit material(s) on 3D printed structures. In some aspects, the 3D structures can contain micro-features that can have one or more materials selectively deposited on their surface in one or more locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Hensleigh, Xiaoyu Zheng
  • Patent number: 12003114
    Abstract: Aspects of an efficient compensation network for reducing reactive power in a wireless power transfer (WPT) system are disclosed. The compensation network comprises a series/series (S/S) constant current (CC) source, a reactive power compensation capacitor, and a constant current (CC)-to-constant voltage (CV) network. In an example, the S/S CC source comprises a first capacitor connected in series with a first inductor on a primary side of a transformer and a second inductor on a secondary side of the transformer. The S/S CC source converts an input voltage signal of the WPT system into a constant alternating current (AC) current signal. In an example, the CC-to-CV network comprises at least a third capacitor and a third inductor. The CC-to-CV network converts the constant AC current signal into a constant AC voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Keyao Sun, Jun Wang, Rolando Burgos, Dushan Boroyevich
  • Patent number: 11986033
    Abstract: An assistive exoskeleton glove system for a hand of an individual is described. In one example, the system includes a brace mount and a finger brace including a seat platform mechanically coupled to the brace mount. The finger brace can include a plurality of brace links, a plurality of constraint links, and an actuation lever. The system can also include an actuator mechanically coupled to the actuation lever and configured to articulate the finger brace over a predetermined range of motion. The range of motion can be tailored for different purposes. The system can also include finger abduction and adduction mechanisms, a thumb brace, a thumb flexion actuator, and a control system. The control system can be configured to detect a relative difference in feedback signals provided from target and offset encoders on the finger brace, as an input to control the actuator, and real-time grasping forces among other inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Pinhas Ben-Tzvi, Bijo Sebastian, Eric M. Refour, Wenda Xu, Sarthak Pradhan, Yunfei Guo
  • Patent number: 11990849
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for multi-level inverters. A hybrid binary cascaded multilevel inverter (BCMLI) is discussed that includes a plurality of H-bridge cells connected in a cascaded formation. DC input voltages of some of the H-bridge cells are provided by DC voltage sources. But inputs of other H-bridge cells coupled with capacitors instead. The H-bridge cells are operated to provide an AC output voltage at the output terminals of the inverter. One or more floating capacitor voltage controllers are used to vary one or more switching instances of the H-bridge cells such that a desirable level or charge is maintained across the one or more capacitors coupled with the input terminals of the H-bridge cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jih-Sheng Lai, Moonhyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11983210
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods to enable generation of high-quality summaries of documents that have questions and answers. To help summarize such documents, parsing methods are disclosed that account for different document formats. Question-answer groups are transformed into declarative sentences. Sentence correction can be applied to the declarative sentences. Candidate summary sentences are identified from the declarative sentences, and a subset of the candidate summary sentences are selected for inclusion in a summary. Aspects, segmentation, and augmentation can help with generation and tailoring of summaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Edward A. Fox, Saurabh Chakravarty, Satvik Chekuri, Maanav Mehrotra, Aarohi Sumant
  • Patent number: 11974800
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of medical treatment of diseases and disorders, as well as the field of biomedical engineering. Embodiments of the invention relate to the delivery of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) through the vasculature of organs to treat tumors embedded deep within the tissue or organ, or to decellularize organs to produce a scaffold from existing animal tissue with the existing vasculature intact. In particular, methods of administering non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) in vivo are provided for the treatment of tumors located in vascularized tissues and organs. Embodiments of the invention further provide scaffolds and tissues from natural sources created using IRE ex vivo to remove cellular debris, maximize recellularization potential, and minimize foreign body immune response. The engineered tissues can be used in methods of treating subjects, such as those in need of tissue replacement or augmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Sano, Rafael V. Davalos, John L Robertson, Paulo A. Garcia, Robert E. Neal
  • Patent number: 11972896
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compact inductor having the required (predetermined) inductance and current rating, further designed to avoid substantial heat generation by avoiding saturation, winding(s) possessing a low DC resistance and copper loss, and minimizing the required volume or profile in order to conserve circuit board real-estate. The compact inductor design of the present invention includes both enclosed core as well as enclosed winding type of inductor designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Khai Doan The Ngo, Han Cui
  • Patent number: 11970573
    Abstract: Bifuran-modified polyester, polyethylene-terephthalate-co (2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate), prepared by esterifying or transesterifying a diacid component comprising from 2 to 10 mole percent 2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate and a diol component with a catalyst compound comprising metal present in an amount of from about 10 to about 450 ppm and polycondensation to form the polyester wherein the polyester has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.5 g/dL, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 82° C. or more, a semicrystalline melting peak (Tm) with ?Hf equal to or greater than 5 J/g on the second heating ramp, and melting temperature (Tm) between 229° C. and 246° C. Reinforced compositions and shaped articles comprising bifuran-modified polyethylene terephthalate and methods of their production are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc., Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica Lotz, S. Richard Turner, Hans Eliot Edling, Kapil Kandel, Michael Salciccioli, Stephen Cohn, Alan A. Galuska, Javier Guzman, Edward E. Paschke
  • Publication number: 20240131473
    Abstract: Described in certain example embodiments herein are methods of isolating exosomes from a biological fluid, such as those containing caseins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Spencer MARSH, Kevin J. PRIDHAM, Linda Jane JOURDAN, Robert G. GOURDIE
  • Patent number: 11966816
    Abstract: Aspects of generating error-resistant quantum control pulses from geometrical curves are described. In some embodiments, a closed space curve is parameterized for a target gate operation of a quantum computing device. The closed space curve corresponds to an evolution operator of a time-dependent Schrödinger equation associated with the target gate operation. A control field definition is identified for the target gate operation based at least in part on a geometrical analysis of the evolution operator of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The target gate operation is implemented for the quantum computing device based on the control field definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Edwin Barnes, Junkai Zeng
  • Patent number: 11968765
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices and methods for improving the power efficiency and control of an induction heating system. In particular, the induction heating system includes a series resonant bridge inverter circuit and a control circuit. The inverter circuit includes one or more induction coils that are structured to inductively couple to the cookware to heat the cookware and a current sensor structured to sense a coil current signal across the one or more inductor coils. In particular, the current sensor is structured to generate a positive sensed voltage signal corresponding to a positive portion of the coil current signal and a negative sensed voltage signal corresponding to a negative portion of the coil current. The control signal is structured to control switching of a first and a second set of switches based on the positive and negative sensed voltage signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C., Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah Kopiness, Andrew Amrhein, Jong-Woo Kim, Moonhyun Lee, Jih-Sheng Lai
  • Patent number: 11959858
    Abstract: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is characterized by the progressive loss of renal function which eventually leads to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). CKD affects roughly 30 million Americans, costs billions of dollars in healthcare spending annually, and leaves thousands of patients reliant on burdensome dialysis treatments while waiting for a transplant. Fortunately, CKD may be controllable if diagnosed early in the disease progression. RAMETRIX™ is a novel public health screening technology for early diagnosis and detection of CKD. This technology uses Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics to analyze the molecular composition of urine and other biological fluids. RAMETRIX™ is a fast, non-invasive, accurate, and inexpensive diagnostic tool that can revolutionize the way healthcare providers detect and treat CKD. The RAMETRIX™ AutoScanner is a system enabling more efficient sample processing in large-scale settings such as hospitals and medical laboratories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Robertson, Ryan Senger
  • Patent number: 11952568
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices for electroporation-based therapies (EBTs). Embodiments provide patient-specific treatment protocols derived by the numerical modeling of 3D reconstructions of target tissue from images taken of the tissue, and optionally accounting for one or more of physical constraints or dynamic tissue properties. The present invention further relates to systems, methods, and devices for delivering bipolar electric pulses for irreversible electroporation exhibiting reduced or no damage to tissue typically associated with an EBT-induced excessive charge delivered to the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Neal, II, Paulo A. Garcia, Rafael V. Davalos, John H. Rossmeisl, John L. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11956914
    Abstract: A number of different sealed interfaces for power modules are described. In one example, a sealed interface includes a printed circuit board including a contact pad for power conduction to a bus bar of the printed circuit board, a semiconductor module including at least one power transistor, a terminal pin electrically coupled to the power module, and a housing for the power module. The housing includes an open terminal aperture that extends through the housing. The printed circuit board is seated upon the open terminal aperture, to close and seal the open terminal aperture, with the contact pad positioned within the open terminal aperture. The terminal pin contacts the contact pad of the printed circuit board within the open terminal aperture, and the open terminal aperture comprises a transitional feature to abate electric field intensity around an interface between the open terminal aperture and the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
    Inventors: Christina DiMarino, Mark Cairnie, Dushan Boroyevich, Rolando Burgos, C. Mark Johnson