Patents by Inventor Brian Piorek
Brian Piorek 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: 11883762Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid from a liquid source into the surrounding environment, are disclosed, where the apparatus comprises at least one manifold comprising at least one liquid port formed by a through-hole and at least one ridge structure, wherein the liquid port is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the one ridge structure At least one vaporization port is included in a planar structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, in fluid communication with the at least one ridge structure and the surrounding environment, wherein fluid flow through the liquid and vaporization ports is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the structure, and the ridge structures are substantially parallel to the plane of the structure. At least one heating element is present that is in thermal communication to the at least one vaporization port and at least one ridge structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Patent number: 11821623Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Publication number: 20230214550Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Publication number: 20230086810Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Patent number: 11596176Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source through an inverse-opal wicking structure to a vaporization port where the vaporization port is formed by a through-hole in a structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, with all dimensions ranging from 10 um to 300 um, that is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the vaporization port between the first and the second side. The methods and apparatus includes plurality of heating elements that may be individually and/or selectively addressable by at least three electrode leads.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Patent number: 11408607Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Publication number: 20220203258Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid from a liquid source into the surrounding environment, are disclosed, where the apparatus comprises at least one manifold comprising at least one liquid port formed by a through-hole and at least one ridge structure, wherein the liquid port is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the one ridge structure At least one vaporization port is included in a planar structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, in fluid communication with the at least one ridge structure and the surrounding environment, wherein fluid flow through the liquid and vaporization ports is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the structure, and the ridge structures are substantially parallel to the plane of the structure. At least one heating element is present that is in thermal communication to the at least one vaporization port and at least one ridge structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Patent number: 11117068Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid from a liquid source into the surrounding environment, are disclosed, where the apparatus comprises at least one manifold comprising at least one liquid port formed by a through-hole and at least one ridge structure, wherein the liquid port is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the one ridge structure. At least one vaporization port is included in a planar structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, in fluid communication with the at least one ridge structure and the surrounding environment, wherein fluid flow through the liquid and vaporization ports is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the structure, and the ridge structures are substantially parallel to the plane of the structure. At least one heating element is present that is in thermal communication to the at least one vaporization port and at least one ridge structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Numerical Designs, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Publication number: 20200191378Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source through an inverse-opal wicking structure to a vaporization port where the vaporization port is formed by a through-hole in a structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, with all dimensions ranging from 10 um to 300 um, that is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the vaporization port between the first and the second side. The methods and apparatus includes plurality of heating elements that may be individually and/or selectively addressable by at least three electrode leads.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2020Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Publication number: 20200173648Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Patent number: 10612770Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source through an inverse-opal wicking structure to a vaporization port where the vaporization port is formed by a through-hole in a structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, with all dimensions ranging from 10 um to 300 um, that is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the vaporization port between the first and the second side. The methods and apparatus includes plurality of heating elements that may be individually and/or selectively addressable by at least three electrode leads.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Patent number: 10502409Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Patent number: 10416082Abstract: Provided are methods, devices and systems that utilize free-surface fluidics and SERS for analyte detection with high sensitivity and specificity. The molecules can be airborne agents, including but not limited to explosives, narcotics, hazardous chemicals, or other chemical species. The free-surface fluidic architecture is created using an open microchannel, and exhibits a large surface to volume ratio. The free-surface fluidic interface can filter interferent molecules, while concentrating airborne analyte molecules. The microchannel flow enables controlled aggregation of SERS-active probe particles in the flow, thereby enhancing the detector's sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Seung Joon Lee, Martin Moskovits, Sanjoy Banerjee, Juan Santiago
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Publication number: 20180024067Abstract: Provided are methods, devices and systems that utilize free-surface fluidics and SERS for analyte detection with high sensitivity and specificity. The molecules can be airborne agents, including but not limited to explosives, narcotics, hazardous chemicals, or other chemical species. The free-surface fluidic architecture is created using an open microchannel, and exhibits a large surface to volume ratio. The free-surface fluidic interface can filter interferent molecules, while concentrating airborne analyte molecules. The microchannel flow enables controlled aggregation of SERS-active probe particles in the flow, thereby enhancing the detector's sensitivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Seung Joon Lee, Martin Moskovits, Sanjoy Banerjee, Juan Santiago
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Publication number: 20180015385Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid from a liquid source into the surrounding environment, where the apparatus comprises at least one manifold comprising at least one liquid port formed by a through-hole and at least one flow channel, wherein the liquid port is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the flow channel. The methods and apparatus includes at least one vaporization port in a planar structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, that is in fluid communication with the at least one flow channel and the surrounding environment, wherein fluid flow through the liquid and vaporization ports is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the structure, and the flow channels are substantially parallel to the plane of the structure. The methods and apparatus further includes at least one heating element that is in thermal communication to the at least one vaporization port and at least one flow channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Patent number: 9719930Abstract: Provided are methods, devices and systems that utilize free-surface fluidics and SERS for analyte detection with high sensitivity and specificity. The molecules can be airborne agents, including but not limited to explosives, narcotics, hazardous chemicals, or other chemical species. The free-surface fluidic architecture is created using an open microchannel, and exhibits a large surface to volume ratio. The free-surface fluidic interface can filter interferent molecules, while concentrating airborne analyte molecules. The microchannel flow enables controlled aggregation of SERS-active probe particles in the flow, thereby enhancing the detector's sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Seung Joon Lee, Martin Moskovits, Sanjoy Banerjee, Juan Santiago
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Publication number: 20170106113Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source through an inverse-opal wicking structure to a vaporization port where the vaporization port is formed by a through-hole in a structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, with all dimensions ranging from 10 um to 300 um, that is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the vaporization port between the first and the second side. The methods and apparatus includes plurality of heating elements that may be individually and/or selectively addressable by at least three electrode leads.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Publication number: 20170108210Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source through an inverse-opal wicking structure to a vaporization port where the vaporization port is formed by a through-hole in a structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, with all dimensions ranging from 10 um to 300 um, that is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the vaporization port between the first and the second side. The methods and apparatus includes plurality of heating elements that may be individually and/or selectively addressable by at least three electrode leads.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Publication number: 20160205727Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, by magnetically inductive heating a liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one inductive heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: Numerical Design, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy
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Publication number: 20160138795Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: NUMERICAL DESIGN, INC.Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian Piorek, Nicholas B. Judy