Patents by Inventor Alexander F. Vakakis

Alexander F. Vakakis 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).

  • Cantilever for atomic force microscopy
    Patent number: 10656175
    Abstract: A cantilever system for use in an atomic force microscope (AFM) is disclosed. The cantilever system comprises a base cantilever portion and a paddle connected to the base cantilever portion with one end free to move relative to the base cantilever portion. The base cantilever portion has an effective bending stiffness, k1, and the paddle has an effective bending stiffness, k2. The ratio of the effective bending stiffness, k1, to the bending stiffness, k2, is at least greater than 4. Such a cantilever system provides a stable, i.e., invariant contact resonant frequency, independent of the changes in the local contact stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: Ohio State Innovation Foundation, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Sajith M. Dharmasena, Seok Kim, Lawrence A. Bergman, Alexander F. Vakakis, Hanna Cho
  • CANTILEVER FOR ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
    Publication number: 20180231581
    Abstract: A cantilever system for use in an atomic force microscope (AFM) is disclosed. The cantilever system comprises a base cantilever portion and a paddle connected to the base cantilever portion with one end free to move relative to the base cantilever portion. The base cantilever portion has an effective bending stiffness, k1, and the paddle has an effective bending stiffness, k2. The ratio of the effective bending stiffness, k1, to the bending stiffness, k2, is at least greater than 4. Such a cantilever system provides a stable, i.e., invariant contact resonant frequency, independent of the changes in the local contact stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Sajith M. Dharmasena, Seok Kim, Lawrence A. Bergman, Alexander F. Vakakis, Hanna Cho
  • Device, a system and a method for transferring vibrational energy
    Patent number: 7568565
    Abstract: A nonlinear attachment induces energy to be transferred and/or to be pumped from a primary system or primary structure to the nonlinear attachment. The nonlinear attachment is an essentially nonlinear device and functions as a nonlinear energy sink. The nonlinear attachment attaches to the primary system or primary structure as a module and does not require connection to a ground. The energy is irreversibly pumped from the primary system or primary structure to the nonlinear attachment during transient resonance capture between the nonlinear attachment and the primary system or primary structure. The nonlinear attachment attenuates the energy of the primary system or primary structure. The nonlinear attachment locally confines the energy and/or dissipates the energy through a passive means and/or an active means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: NES Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: D. Michael McFarland, Lawrence A. Bergman, Alexander F. Vakakis