Patents by Inventor Alexander J. Smits

Alexander J. Smits 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).

  • Patent number: 11933334
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein to implement transverse momentum injection at low frequencies to directly modify large-scale eddies in a turbulent boundary layer on a surface of an object. A set of transverse momentum injection actuators may be positioned on the surface of the object to affect large-scale eddies in the turbulent boundary layer. The system may include a controller to selectively actuate the transverse momentum injection actuators with an actuation pattern to affect the large-scale eddies to modify the drag, fluid mixing, heat transfer, and/or other interactions of the fluid flow with the surface. In various embodiments, the transverse momentum injection actuators may be operated at frequencies less than 10,000 Hertz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Smits, Ivan Marusic, David Wine, Brian Holloway
  • Publication number: 20230304516
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein to implement transverse momentum injection at low frequencies to directly modify large-scale eddies in a turbulent boundary layer on a surface of an object. A set of transverse momentum injection actuators may be positioned on the surface of the object to affect large-scale eddies in the turbulent boundary layer. The system may include a controller to selectively actuate the transverse momentum injection actuators with an actuation pattern to affect the large-scale eddies to modify the drag, fluid mixing, heat transfer, and/or other interactions of the fluid flow with the surface. In various embodiments, the transverse momentum injection actuators may be operated at frequencies less than 10,000 Hertz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander J. Smits, Ivan Marusic, David Wine, Brian Holloway
  • Patent number: 11692566
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein to implement transverse momentum injection at low frequencies to directly modify large-scale eddies in a turbulent boundary layer on a surface of an object. A set of transverse momentum injection actuators may be positioned on the surface of the object to affect large-scale eddies in the turbulent boundary layer. The system may include a controller to selectively actuate the transverse momentum injection actuators with an actuation pattern to affect the large-scale eddies to modify the drag of the fluid flow on the surface. In various embodiments, the transverse momentum injection actuators may be operated at frequencies less than 10,000 Hertz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander J. Smits, Ivan Marusic, David Wine, Brian Holloway
  • Publication number: 20230044837
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein to implement transverse momentum injection at low frequencies to directly modify large-scale eddies in a turbulent boundary layer on a surface of an object. A set of transverse momentum injection actuators may be positioned on the surface of the object to affect large-scale eddies in the turbulent boundary layer. The system may include a controller to selectively actuate the transverse momentum injection actuators with an actuation pattern to affect the large-scale eddies to modify the drag of the fluid flow on the surface. In various embodiments, the transverse momentum injection actuators may be operated at frequencies less than 10,000 Hertz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander J. Smits, Ivan Marusic, David Wine, Brian Holloway
  • Publication number: 20230012961
    Abstract: A system includes a surface, an actuator, and processing circuitry. The surface includes one or more non-actuating zones and one or more actuatable zones. The actuator is configured to a flow property of a fluid that flows over the one or more actuatable zones of the surface. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain a value of a parameter of the fluid that flows over the surface, and operate the actuator to adjust the flow property of the fluid that flows over the one or more actuatable zones based on the value of the parameter of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Deep Science, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Marusic, Alexander J. Smits, David William Wine
  • Patent number: 11519433
    Abstract: A system includes a surface having a fluid flowing over the surface. The fluid includes a flow regime having a streamwise length scale greater than about 100 times ? and less than about 100,000 times ?, where ? is a viscous length scale of the flow regime, and a convective time scale greater than about 10?? and less than about 10,000??, where ?? is a viscous time scale of the flow regime. The system includes a controller that causes at least one of motion the surface to modify fluid flow in the flow regime based on the streamwise length scale and the convective time scale or motion of the flow regime based on the streamwise length scale and the convective time scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Deep Science, LLC
    Inventors: David William Wine, Ivan Marusic, Alexander J. Smits, Brian C. Holloway
  • Patent number: 11466709
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein to implement transverse momentum injection at low frequencies to directly modify large-scale eddies in a turbulent boundary layer on a surface of an object. A set of transverse momentum injection actuators may be positioned on the surface of the object to affect large-scale eddies in the turbulent boundary layer. The system may include a controller to selectively actuate the transverse momentum injection actuators with an actuation pattern to affect the large-scale eddies to modify the drag of the fluid flow on the surface. In various embodiments, the transverse momentum injection actuators may be operated at frequencies less than 10,000 Hertz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Deep Science, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Smits, Ivan Marusic, David Wine, Brian Holloway
  • Publication number: 20220260098
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein to implement transverse momentum injection at low frequencies to directly modify large-scale eddies in a turbulent boundary layer on a surface of an object. A set of transverse momentum injection actuators may be positioned on the surface of the object to affect large-scale eddies in the turbulent boundary layer. The system may include a controller to selectively actuate the transverse momentum injection actuators with an actuation pattern to affect the large-scale eddies to modify the drag of the fluid flow on the surface. In various embodiments, the transverse momentum injection actuators may be operated at frequencies less than 10,000 Hertz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander J. Smits, Ivan Marusic, David Wine, Brian Holloway
  • Publication number: 20200191177
    Abstract: A system includes a surface having a fluid flowing over the surface. The fluid includes a flow regime having a streamwise length scale greater than about 100 times ? and less than about 100,000 times ?, where ? is a viscous length scale of the flow regime, and a convective time scale greater than about 10?? and less than about 10,000??, where ?? is a viscous time scale of the flow regime. The system includes a controller that causes at least one of motion the surface to modify fluid flow in the flow regime based on the streamwise length scale and the convective time scale or motion of the flow regime based on the streamwise length scale and the convective time scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: David William Wine, Ivan Marusic, Alexander J. Smits, Brian C. Holloway
  • Patent number: 8187256
    Abstract: A system and method for providing multi-photon processing treatment to a patient. A localized, multi-photon processing event is initiated within a vicinity of an unwanted pigment in order to remove the pigment. The multi-photon processing event requires a relatively low energy, but very intense, pulse of light. The low amount of energy per pulse allows ablation of the material to be highly localized, with negligible thermal damage to surrounding material. The multi-photon event may be initiated by focusing a suitable electromagnetic pulse, such as a 2 mJ laser pulse having a 100 to 300 femtoseconds pulse duration, into a focal volume small enough that the intensity exceeds 1011 Watts/cm2. A suitably configured Ti:Sapphire solid state laser may provide such pulses at 1-10 kHz. By repeating the multi-photon processing event along the location of a tattoo, the tattoo may be removed with no damage to the surrounding tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander J Smits, Szymon Suckewer
  • Patent number: 6186002
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining at least one of the coefficient of lift and the coefficient of drag of a golf ball for a given range of velocities and a given range of spin rates from launch. A method is also described for simulating the flight of a golf ball in a computer. A ball is launched at a selected velocity, spin rate and launch angle. Calculations are made of the x and y coordinates of the ball during flight and the coefficients of lift and/or drag are calculated mathematically in dependence on the launch velocity, spin rate, angle and calculated x and y coordinates. Repeated launchings are made to obtain a plurality of mathematically calculated values of the coefficient(s). Thereafter, an aerodynamic model for the flight of the ball is mathematically determined in dependence upon the mathematically calculated values of at least one of the coefficients relative to the velocity and spin rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: United States Golf Associates
    Inventors: Burton B. Lieberman, Alexander J. Smits, Steven J. Quintavalla, Frank W. Thomas, Douglas Winfield
  • Patent number: 5682230
    Abstract: The test range is provided with a calibration system for calibrating the exact position of a light curtain formed by a ballistic screen. The calibration system uses a model ball which can be moved through a light screen at high speed in order to simulate the actual passage of a driven golf ball through the light screen. Positioning of the model golf ball at a point at which the golf ball just contacts the light screen serves to determine the exact location of the light screen. A laser ranging device is used to locate the calibration system relative to a launch point. Thus, the precise distance of the curtain of light from the launch point can be readily determined. The calibration system may also be used to determine if a ballistic screen is mounted in a true vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: United States Golf Association
    Inventors: Leonard F. Anfinsen, Burton B. Lieberman, Alexander J. Smits, Bernard C. Soriano, Frank W. Thomas, Henry Thumm-Borst, Robert A. Tygar, Stanley E. Chrapowicki, Mark Zagarola