Patents by Inventor Alan OLVERA

Alan OLVERA 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).

  • Stabilized copper selenide thermoelectric materials and methods of fabrication thereof
    Patent number: 11482654
    Abstract: A thermoelectric composition is provided that includes a nanocomposite comprising a copper selenide (Cu2Se) matrix having a plurality of nanoinclusions comprising copper metal selenide (CuMSe2) distributed therein. M may be selected from the group consisting of: indium (In), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and combinations thereof. The thermoelectric composition has an average figure of merit (ZT) of greater than or equal to about 1.5 at a temperature of less than or equal to about 850K (about 577° C.). Methods of making such a thermoelectric nanocomposite material by a sequential solid-state transformation of a CuSe2 precursor are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Pierre Ferdinand Poudeu-Poudeu, Alan Olvera
  • STABILIZED COPPER SELENIDE THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREOF
    Publication number: 20210111328
    Abstract: A thermoelectric composition is provided that includes a nanocomposite comprising a copper selenide (Cu2Se) matrix having a plurality of nanoinclusions comprising copper metal selenide (CuMSe2) distributed therein. M may be selected from the group consisting of: indium (In), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and combinations thereof. The thermoelectric composition has an average figure of merit (ZT) of greater than or equal to about 1.5 at a temperature of less than or equal to about 850K (about 577° C.). Methods of making such a thermoelectric nanocomposite material by a sequential solid-state transformation of a CuSe2 precursor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Pierre Ferdinand POUDEU-POUDEU, Alan OLVERA
  • Stabilized copper selenide thermoelectric materials and methods of fabrication thereof
    Patent number: 10892396
    Abstract: A thermoelectric composition is provided that includes a nanocomposite comprising a copper selenide (Cu2Se) matrix having a plurality of nanoinclusions comprising copper metal selenide (CuMSe2) distributed therein. M may be selected from the group consisting of: indium (In), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and combinations thereof. The thermoelectric composition has an average figure of merit (ZT) of greater than or equal to about 1.5 at a temperature of less than or equal to about 850K (about 577° C.). Methods of making such a thermoelectric nanocomposite material by a sequential solid-state transformation of a CuSe2 precursor are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Pierre Ferdinand Poudeu-Poudeu, Alan Olvera
  • STABILIZED COPPER SELENIDE THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREOF
    Publication number: 20200028052
    Abstract: A thermoelectric composition is provided that includes a nanocomposite comprising a copper selenide (Cu2Se) matrix having a plurality of nanoinclusions comprising copper metal selenide (CuMSe2) distributed therein. M may be selected from the group consisting of: indium (In), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and combinations thereof. The thermoelectric composition has an average figure of merit (ZT) of greater than or equal to about 1.5 at a temperature of less than or equal to about 850K (about 577° C.). Methods of making such a thermoelectric nanocomposite material by a sequential solid-state transformation of a CuSe2 precursor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Pierre Ferdinand POUDEU-POUDEU, Alan OLVERA
  • Electric guitar circuit control and switching module
    Patent number: 6781050
    Abstract: An interchangeable passive electric guitar circuit control and switching module is integrated into an existing guitar to dynamically alter the electronic relationship of the guitar's electric components (i.e. the existing pickups, volume and tone controls, at least one tonality select switch, and output jack) which are connected to the module through a wiring harness. Individual interchangeable modules connected through the wiring harness establish finite and discrete electronic relationships through the guitar's existing electric components to produce a plurality of selectable desired tonality sounds from a single guitar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventors: John Charles Olvera, Gordon Alan Olvera
  • Electric guitar circuit control and switching module
    Publication number: 20040107822
    Abstract: An interchangeable passive electric guitar circuit control and switching module is integrated into an existing guitar to dynamically alter the electronic relationship of the guitar's electric components (i.e. the existing pickups, volume and tone controls, at least one tonality select switch, and output jack) which are connected to the module through a wiring harness. Individual interchangeable modules connected through the wiring harness establish finite and discrete electronic relationships through the guitar's existing electric components to produce a plurality of selectable desired tonality sounds from a single guitar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: John Charles Olvera, Gordon Alan Olvera