Patents by Inventor Alan Jankowski
Alan Jankowski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7993534Abstract: A method for forming a chemical microreactor includes forming at least one capillary microchannel in a substrate having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, integrating at least one heater into the chemical microreactor, interfacing the capillary microchannel with a liquid chemical reservoir at the inlet of the capillary microchannel, and interfacing the capillary microchannel with a porous membrane near the outlet of the capillary microchannel, the porous membrane being positioned beyond the outlet of the capillary microchannel, wherein the porous membrane has at least one catalyst material imbedded therein.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski
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Patent number: 7931993Abstract: Described herein are processes for fabricating microfluidic fuel cell systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are formed by bonding layers of DuPont Kapton™ polyimide laminate. A microfluidic fuel cell system fabricated using this process is also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2005Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski, Robert T. Graff, Kerry Bettencourt
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Patent number: 7732086Abstract: Described herein are processes for fabricating microfluidic fuel cell systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are formed by bonding layers of DuPont Kapton™ polyimide laminate. A microfluidic fuel cell system fabricated using this process is also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski, Robert T. Graff, Kerry Bettencourt
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Publication number: 20090223925Abstract: A method for forming a chemical microreactor includes forming at least one capillary microchannel in a substrate having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, integrating at least one heater into the chemical microreactor, interfacing the capillary microchannel with a liquid chemical reservoir at the inlet of the capillary microchannel, and interfacing the capillary microchannel with a porous membrane near the outlet of the capillary microchannel, the porous membrane being positioned beyond the outlet of the capillary microchannel, wherein the porous membrane has at least one catalyst material imbedded therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2009Publication date: September 10, 2009Inventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski
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Patent number: 7534402Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical microreactor that provides a means to generate hydrogen fuel from liquid sources such as ammonia, methanol, and butane through steam reforming processes when mixed with an appropriate amount of water. The microreactor contains capillary microchannels with integrated resistive heaters to facilitate the occurrence of catalytic steam reforming reactions. Two distinct embodiment styles are discussed. One embodiment style employs a packed catalyst capillary microchannel and at least one porous membrane. Another embodiment style employs a porous membrane with a large surface area or a porous membrane support structure containing a plurality of porous membranes having a large surface area in the aggregate, i.e., greater than about 1 m2/cm3. Various methods to form packed catalyst capillary microchannels, porous membranes and porous membrane support structures are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski
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Patent number: 7186352Abstract: Described herein is a process for fabricating microfluidic systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are molded into the polymeric material polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Micromachining is used to create a mold master and the liquid precursors for PDMS are poured over the mold and allowed to cure. The PDMS is then removed form the mold and bonded to another material such as PDMS, glass, or silicon after a simple surface preparation step to form sealed microchannels.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Klint A Rose, Mariam Maghribi, William Benett, Peter Krulevitch, Julie Hamilton, Robert T. Graff, Alan Jankowski
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Publication number: 20070031586Abstract: Disclosed herein is a metal hydride fuel storage cartridge having integrated resistive heaters that can be used in conjunction with fuel cells such as MEMS-based fuel cells. The cartridge is fabricated using micromachining methods and thin/thick film materials synthesis techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2006Publication date: February 8, 2007Inventors: Jeffrey Morse, Alan Jankowski, Conrad Yu
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Publication number: 20060057039Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical microreactor that provides a means to generate hydrogen fuel from liquid sources such as ammonia, methanol, and butane through steam reforming processes when mixed with an appropriate amount of water. The microreactor contains capillary microchannels with integrated resistive heaters to facilitate the occurrence of catalytic steam reforming reactions. Two distinct embodiment styles are discussed. One embodiment style employs a packed catalyst capillary microchannel and at least one porous membrane. Another embodiment style employs a porous membrane with a large surface area or a porous membrane support structure containing a plurality of porous membranes having a large surface area in the aggregate, i.e., greater than about 1 m2/cm3. Various methods to form packed catalyst capillary microchannels, porous membranes and porous membrane support structures are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Inventors: Jeffrey Morse, Alan Jankowski
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Publication number: 20060029857Abstract: A fuel cell or battery comprises a fuel cell or battery having an anode component. The anode component comprises an aerogel or xerogel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2004Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventors: Nerine Cherepy, Alan Jankowski, Thomas Tillotson, Kyle Fiet
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Publication number: 20060000548Abstract: Described herein are processes for fabricating microfluidic fuel cell systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are formed by bonding layers of DuPont Kapton™ polyimide laminate. A microfluidic fuel cell system fabricated using this process is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2005Publication date: January 5, 2006Inventors: Jeffrey Morse, Alan Jankowski, Robert Graff, Kerry Bettencourt
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Publication number: 20050255369Abstract: Described herein are processes for fabricating microfluidic fuel cell systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are formed by bonding layers of DuPont Kapton™ polyimide laminate. A microfluidic fuel cell system fabricated using this process is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2005Publication date: November 17, 2005Inventors: Jeffrey Morse, Alan Jankowski, Robert Graff, Kerry Bettencourt
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Patent number: 6960235Abstract: A chemical microreactor suitable for generation of hydrogen fuel from liquid sources such as ammonia, methanol, and butane through steam reforming processes when mixed with an appropriate amount of water contains capillary microchannels with integrated resistive heaters to facilitate the occurrence of catalytic steam reforming reactions. One such microreactor employs a packed catalyst capillary microchannel and at least one porous membrane. Another employs a porous membrane with a large surface area or a porous membrane support structure containing a plurality of porous membranes having a large surface area in the aggregate, i.e., greater than about 1 m2/cm3. The packed catalyst capillary microchannels, porous membranes and porous membrane support structures may be formed by a variety of methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2001Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski
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Patent number: 6960403Abstract: Described herein are processes for fabricating microfluidic fuel cell systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are formed by bonding layers of DuPont Kapton™ polyimide laminate. A microfluidic fuel cell system fabricated using this process is also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski, Robert T. Graff, Kerry Bettencourt
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Patent number: 6921603Abstract: Described herein is a process for fabricating microfluidic systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are molded into the polymeric material polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Micromachining is used to create a mold master and the liquid precursors for PDMS are poured over the mold and allowed to cure. The PDMS is then removed form the mold and bonded to another material such as PDMS, glass, or silicon after a simple surface preparation step to form sealed microchannels.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2002Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Klint A Rose, Mariam Maghribi, William Benett, Peter Krulevitch, Julie Hamilton, Robert T. Graff, Alan Jankowski
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Publication number: 20050064256Abstract: A MEMS-based fuel cell package and method thereof is disclosed. The fuel cell package comprises seven layers: (1) a sub-package fuel reservoir interface layer, (2) an anode manifold support layer, (3) a fuel/anode manifold and resistive heater layer, (4) a Thick Film Microporous Flow Host Structure layer containing a fuel cell, (5) an air manifold layer, (6) a cathode manifold support structure layer, and (7) a cap. Fuel cell packages with more than one fuel cell are formed by positioning stacks of these layers in series and/or parallel. The fuel cell package materials such as a molded plastic or a ceramic green tape material can be patterned, aligned and stacked to form three dimensional microfluidic channels that provide electrical feedthroughs from various layers which are bonded together and mechanically support a MEMS-based miniature fuel cell. The package incorporates resistive heating elements to control the temperature of the fuel cell stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Inventors: Jeffrey Morse, Alan Jankowski
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Publication number: 20050016832Abstract: Metallic films are grown with a “spongelike” morphology in the as-deposited condition using planar magnetron sputtering. The morphology of the deposit is characterized by metallic continuity in three dimensions with continuous and open porosity on the submicron scale. The stabilization of the spongelike morphology is found over a limited range of the sputter deposition parameters, that is, of working gas pressure and substrate temperature. This spongelike morphology is an extension of the features as generally represented in the classic zone models of growth for physical vapor deposits. Nickel coatings were deposited with working gas pressures up 4 Pa and for substrate temperatures up to 1000 K. The morphology of the deposits is examined in plan and in cross section views with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: January 27, 2005Inventors: Alan Jankowski, Jeffrey Hayes, Jeffrey Morse
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Publication number: 20040211054Abstract: Described herein is a process for fabricating microfluidic systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are molded into the polymeric material polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Micromachining is used to create a mold master and the liquid precursors for PDMS are poured over the mold and allowed to cure. The PDMS is then removed form the mold and bonded to another material such as PDMS, glass, or silicon after a simple surface preparation step to form sealed microchannels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Klint A. Rose, Mariam Maghribi, William Benett, Peter Krulevitch, Julie Hamilton, Robert T. Graff, Alan Jankowski
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Publication number: 20040062965Abstract: Described herein are processes for fabricating microfluidic fuel cell systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are formed by bonding layers of DuPont Kapton™ polyimide laminate. A microfluidic fuel cell system fabricated using this process is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski, Robert T. Graff, Kerry Bettencourt
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Publication number: 20030203271Abstract: Described herein is a process for fabricating microfluidic systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are molded into the polymeric material polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Micromachining is used to create a mold master and the liquid precursors for PDMS are poured over the mold and allowed to cure. The PDMS is then removed form the mold and bonded to another material such as PDMS, glass, or silicon after a simple surface preparation step to form sealed microchannels.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Klint A. Rose, Mariam Maghribi, William Benett, Peter Krulevitch, Julie Hamilton, Robert T. Graff, Alan Jankowski
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Publication number: 20030103878Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical microreactor that provides a means to generate hydrogen fuel from liquid sources such as ammonia, methanol, and butane through steam reforming processes when mixed with an appropriate amount of water. The microreactor contains capillary microchannels with integrated resistive heaters to facilitate the occurrence of catalytic steam reforming reactions. Two distinct embodiment styles are discussed. One embodiment style employs a packed catalyst capillary microchannel and at least one porous membrane. Another embodiment style employs a porous membrane with a large surface area or a porous membrane support structure containing a plurality of porous membranes having a large surface area in the aggregate, i.e., greater than about 1 m2/cm3. Various methods to form packed catalyst capillary microchannels, porous membranes and porous membrane support structures are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2001Publication date: June 5, 2003Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan Jankowski