Patents Examined by Bijan Ahvazi
  • Patent number: 9461203
    Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture, and methods of designing and making the article. The article permits or prohibits waves of energy, especially photonic/electromagnetic energy, to propagate through it, depending on the energy band gaps built into it. The structure of the article may be reduced to a pattern of points having a hyperuniform distribution. The point-pattern may exhibit a crystalline symmetry, a quasicrystalline symmetry or may be aperiodic. In some embodiments, the point pattern exhibits no long-range order. Preferably, the point-pattern is isotropic. In all embodiments, the article has a complete, TE- and TM-optimized band-gap. The extraordinary transmission phenomena found in the disordered hyperuniform photonic structures of the invention find use in optical micro-circuitry (all-optical, electronic or thermal switching of the transmission), near-field optical probing, thermophotovoltaics, and energy-efficient incandescent sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Paul J. Steinhardt, Salvatore Torquato, Marian Florescu
  • Patent number: 9447107
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to multichromophoric assemblies comprising metalloporphyrin scaffolds. The present disclosure also relates, in part, to methods for generating electric-field-stabilized geminate polaron pairs comprising applying electric fields to the multichromophoric assemblies described herein, or alternatively, directly to the metalloporphyrins provided by the present disclosure. The present disclosure further relates, in part, to multichromophoric assemblies comprising metalloporphyrin scaffolds, which exhibit enhanced energy transfer properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Mark E. Thompson, Matthew T. Whited, Peter I. Djurovich
  • Patent number: 9449731
    Abstract: Organic charge-transfer (CT) co-crystals in a mixed stack system are disclosed, wherein a donor molecule (D) and an acceptor molecule (A) occupy alternating positions (DADADA) along the CT axis. A platform is provided which amplifies the molecular recognition of donors and acceptors and produces co-crystals at ambient conditions, wherein the platform comprises (i) a molecular design of the first constituent (?-complement), (ii) a molecular design of the second compound (?-complement), and (iii) a solvent system that promotes co-crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Samuel I. Stupp, J. Fraser Stoddart, Alex K. Shveyd, Alok S. Tayi, Andrew C. H. Sue, Ashwin Narayanan
  • Patent number: 9447282
    Abstract: Electrowetting apparatus including a compound comprising a plurality of colorant moieties and a linker. The plurality of colorant moieties includes a first colorant moiety having a first net dipole and a second colorant moiety having a second net dipole, wherein the plurality of colorant moieties are linked by and disposed around the linker so that the first net dipole and the second net dipole at least partially cancel each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Leguijt, Romaric Mathieu Massard, Jurriën Mans, Muhammad Arief Adityaputra
  • Patent number: 9443636
    Abstract: Organic charge-transfer (CT) co-crystals in a crossed stack system are disclosed. The co-crystals exhibit bidirectional charge transfer interactions where one donor molecule shares electrons with two different acceptors, one acceptor face-to-face and the other edge-to-face. The assembly and charge transfer interaction results in a pleochroic material whereby the optical absorption continuously changes depending on the polarization angle of incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Samuel I. Stupp, J. Fraser Stoddart, Alexander K. Shveyd, Alok S. Tayi, Chi-Hau Sue, Ashwin Narayanan
  • Patent number: 9441122
    Abstract: Pigment based inks are provided. The inks include a non-polar carrier fluid; and a surface-functionalized pigment particle including a nitrogen-inked moiety to the surface of the pigment particle through a nitrogen link at one end of the nitrogen-linked moiety and a segment copolymer having at least two blocks attached at another end, the pigment particle suspended in the non-polar carrier fluid. A combination of an electronic display and an electronic ink employing the pigment and a process for making the pigment-based inks are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhang-Lin Zhou, Qin Liu
  • Patent number: 9434642
    Abstract: A flexible substrate are disclosed comprising an amorphous inorganic composition, wherein the substrate has a thickness of less than about 250 ?m and has at least one of: a) a brittleness ratio less than about 9.5 (?m)?1/2, or b) a fracture toughness of at least about 0.75 MPa·(m)1/2. Electronic devices comprising such flexible devices are also disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for making a flexible substrate comprising selecting an amorphous inorganic material capable of forming a substrate having a thickness of less than about 250 ?m and having at least one of: a) a brittleness ratio of less than about 9.5 (?m)?1/2, or b) a fracture toughness of at least about 0.75 MPa·(m)1/2; and then forming a substrate from the selected inorganic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Sean Matthew Garner, Gregory Scott Glaesemann, James Joseph Price
  • Patent number: 9434138
    Abstract: A heat-sealable polymer-based multilayer film for peelably and releasably packaging pasty or fatty foods comprising a polymer-based core layer having a food-facing side and an exterior-facing side, a peelable layer on the food-facing side of the core layer, the peelable layer having a food-facing side and a core-facing side, and the peelable layer containing a peeling agent, and an interior skin layer on the food-facing side of the peelable layer, the interior skin layer having a food-facing side and a core-facing side. The core layer contains a release agent for diffusion toward the interior skin layer, and the release agent is present in the core layer in a quantity which is greater than the saturation capacity of peeling agent in the peelable layer for the release agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Inteplast Group Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael E. Bayona P., Gregory G. Gillis, Paul T. Alder
  • Patent number: 9428649
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic dispersion comprising pigment particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture, wherein said pigment particles comprises at least one polymer chain comprising a terminal thiocarbonylthio group, attached to the particle surface. The invention also relates to pigment particles suitable for use in an electrophoretic dispersion and methods for their preparation through a RAFT polymerization technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: E INK CALIFORNIA, LLC
    Inventors: Yu Li, Hui Du, Yayong Liu, Haiyan Gu, HongMei Zang
  • Patent number: 9423542
    Abstract: A polarizer includes a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin film in which iodine is oriented by adsorption, wherein an iodine orientation ratio, represented by the following Equation I, is about 20% to about 30%, Iodine ? ? orientation ? ? ratio = R I R PVA , ( I ) RI being an average in-plane retardation value of iodine in infrared regions of 845.1 nm, 903.3 nm, 952.1 nm, 1000.0 nm, 1046.5 nm, and 1092.7 nm, and RPVA being an average in-plane retardation value of a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin in infrared regions of 845.1 nm, 903.3 nm, 952.1 nm, 1000.0 nm, 1046.5 nm, and 1092.7 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: CHEIL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Chang Seok Bae, Han Soo Park, In Seok Oh, Hae Ryong Chung
  • Patent number: 9417545
    Abstract: A charge director material for charging a liquid toner, the charge director material comprising (a) nanoparticles of a simple salt and (b) a sulfosuccinate salt of the general formula MAn, wherein M is a metal, n is the valence of M, and A is an ion of the general formula (I) [R1—O—C(O)CH2CH(SO3?)C(O)—O—R2],??(I) wherein each of R1 and R2 is an alkyl group; said charge director material being substantially free of acids of the general formula (I), wherein one or both of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, and if only one of them is hydrogen, the other is an alkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Yaacov Almog, Avi Koller, Elliad Silcoff, Albert Teishev, Yaffa Israeli, Gary Larson, Lufei Lin
  • Patent number: 9416244
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing an aqueous dispersion of zirconium oxide that includes: reacting a zirconium salt with an alkali in water to obtain a slurry of particles of zirconium oxide; filtering, washing, and repulping the slurry; adding an organic acid to the resulting slurry in an amount of one mole part or more per mole part of the zirconium in the slurry; hydrothermally treating the resulting mixture at a temperature of 170° C. or higher; and washing the resulting aqueous dispersion of particles of zirconium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAKAI CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakagawa, Takanori Morita
  • Patent number: 9417360
    Abstract: Disclosed is a stretched optical compensation film which is a phase difference film containing a cellulose-based resin and having excellent optical properties. The stretched optical compensation film of the present invention contains 0.5 to 30 parts by mass of a ?-diketone compound represented by Formula (I) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the cellulose-based resin. Positions R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted. Position R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ADEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Harada, Yuki Tanaka, Takashi Murakami, Yuki Endo, Masaki Segawa
  • Patent number: 9411209
    Abstract: An electrochromic cell includes a minimally color changing polymer (MCCP) and a non-color changing polymer (NCCP), where the neutral state or the oxidized state is highly transmissive in the NIR and the oxidized state or the neutral state, respectively, is significantly less transmissive in the NIR. An electrochromic device (ECD) can include the electrochromic cell, or a combination of electrochromic cells. The ECD can be part of a window or a laminate for a window to permit the control of IR transmittance through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: John R. Reynolds, Aubrey Lynn Dyer
  • Patent number: 9409817
    Abstract: The invention relates to inorganic glass sheets coated on both sides thereof, the coating on a first side being formed by at least one hard layer and that on the other side by at least one silver-free durable reflecting layer, and to a process for manufacturing them by deposition of the hard layer via a CVD technique and that of the reflecting layer by magnetron vacuum sputtering. The sheets are used for the production of thermal insulating glazing and decorative glazing that reflects visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: AGC GLASS EUROPE
    Inventor: Laurent Dusoulier
  • Patent number: 9403987
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a charged particle of volume 5 nm3 to 50 million nm3 preferably having an inorganic core of SiO2, AI2O3, and/or TiO2, or a core essentially consisting of an organic pigment and/or pigment derivative, and a counter ion which is separable from the particle and is not covalently linked to the particle, said counter ion comprising a silicon atom which is directly bound to a carbon atom. Preferably, said charged particle comprises a dye attached to said inorganic core and said counter ion comprises a (poly)siloxane moiety linked via suitable bridge members to a quaternary, positively charged, nitrogen or phosphorus atom, or to a moiety carrying an anionic functional group. Said composition may be used e.g. in the form of a homogenous dispersion in an electrophoretic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Pascal Hayoz, Bernd Lamatsch, Achim Lamatsch, Margherita Fontana, Stephan Burkhardt, Laurent Michau, Urs Lehmann, Philippe Bugnon
  • Patent number: 9404001
    Abstract: A photochromic latex ink includes an organic polymer; optionally a colorant, and a photochromic compound. The photochromic ink composition has an average particle size from about 20 nm to about 600 nm. The photochromic ink composition is capable of reversibly converting from a first color to a second color in response to a predetermined wavelength scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Jennifer L. Belelie, Paul F. Smith, Adela Goredema
  • Patent number: 9405047
    Abstract: An electrochromic device including a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes: at least one solvent; at least one anodic electroactive material; at least one cathodic electroactive material; wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a creep resistant crosslinked polyelectrolyte gel matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Punam Giri, Rongguang Lin, David A. Theiste
  • Patent number: 9395467
    Abstract: A solid solution-based optical material capable of transmitting infrared light, the solid solution-based optical material comprising at least two nano-sized phases intermixed in one another, wherein at least one of the at least two nano-sized phases is a solid solution containing a dissolved dopant, the dissolved dopant present in an amount sufficient to reduce a refractive index difference between the at least two nano-sized phases to about 0.2 or less when infrared light is being transmitted. Various embodiments are directed to related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the infrared light is visible infrared light, short-wave infrared light, eye safe infrared light, medium wave infrared light, long wave infrared red light, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Zelinski, Richard Gentilman, Christopher Scott Nordahl, Thomas M. Hartnett
  • Patent number: 9388259
    Abstract: To provide a photosensitive polymer, a phase difference film using the photosensitive polymer, and an optical film using the phase difference film. A solution is a photosensitive polymer having a constitutional unit represented by formula (1): wherein, in formula (1), for example, R1 is hydrogen or methyl; a is 2 or 3; p is an integer from 1 to 12; X1 is —O—, —COO— or —OCO—; b is an integer from 0 to 3; A1 is a divalent group selected from 1,4-phenylene or naphthalene-2,6-diyl, and in the divalent group, at least one of hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine or chlorine; Z1 is a single bond, —COO—, —CH?CH—COO—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —CH2O— or —CONH—; W1 and W2 are hydrogen, fluorine or 1-5C alkyl or alkoxy; Y1 is —O—; and R2 is 1-20C alkyl, and at least one of —CH2— in the alkyl may be replaced by —O—.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: JNC CORPORATION, JNC PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Ootsuki