Patents by Inventor Christopher M Spillmann

Christopher M Spillmann 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).

  • Graphene As An Alignment Layer And Electrode For Liquid Crystal Devices
    Publication number: 20180284518
    Abstract: A graphene and liquid crystal device comprising a substrate, a layer of graphene on the substrate, and a layer of liquid crystal on the layer of graphene. A method of making a graphene and liquid crystal device comprising the steps of providing a substrate, depositing a layer of graphene on the substrate, and depositing a layer of liquid crystals on the layer of graphene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Rajratan Basu, Daniel Kinnamon, Christopher M. Spillmann, Jakub Kolacz, Jesse A. Frantz, Jason D. Myers
  • LIQUID CRYSTAL ALIGNMENT ON CHALCOGENIDE GLASSES
    Publication number: 20180024413
    Abstract: A method for achieving alignment and optical switching of a liquid crystal (LC) layer that is deposited on chalcogenide glass (ChG). Direct brushing of ChG produces an effective LC alignment layer. Also disclosed is the related waveguide assembly for achieving alignment and optical switching of a liquid crystal (LC) layer deposited on chalcogenide glass (ChG).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Jesse A. Frantz, Jason D. Myers, Christopher M. Spillmann, Jawad Naciri, Banahalli R. Ratna, Leslie Brandon Shaw, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Robel Y. Bekele, Jakub Kolacz
  • Fluorescent organic nanoparticles
    Patent number: 9201010
    Abstract: A nanoparticle having a surfactant shell with a hydrophilic outer surface and a hydrophobic inner surface and an organic chromophore and a polymer having aromatic groups within the surfactant shell. A method of making nanoparticles by: emulsifying an aqueous composition of a surfactant and an organic solution of a monomer and an organic chromophore to form micelles of the monomer and the chromophore inside a surfactant shell; and polymerizing the monomer. A method of: reacting a ?-bromoalkyl acid with acryloyl acid lithium salt, and reacting the product with sodium hydride to produce an acryloyloxyalkyl carboxylic acid sodium salt. The compound shown below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jawad Naciri, Christopher M Spillmann, George P Anderson, Banahalli R Ratna
  • Method for stacking thermal actuators with liquid crystal elastomer
    Patent number: 8040443
    Abstract: A method comprising arranging a first heating element on a first liquid crystal elastomer, arranging a first layer of thermal paste on the first heating element, and arranging a second liquid crystal elastomer on the first layer of thermal paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Christopher M Spillmann, David A Cylinder, Banahalli R Ratna, Jawad Naciri, Brett D. Martin
  • Method for Stacking Thermal Actuators
    Publication number: 20110185557
    Abstract: A method comprising arranging a first heating element on a first liquid crystal elastomer, arranging a first layer of thermal paste on the first heating element, and arranging a second liquid crystal elastomer on the first layer of thermal paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher M. Spillmann, David Cylinder, Banahalli R. Ratna, Jawad Naciri, Brett D. Martin
  • Method for stacking thermal actuators with liquid crystal elastomer
    Patent number: 7936404
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first liquid crystal elastomer, a first heating element, a first layer of thermal paste, and a second liquid crystal elastomer. The apparatus further comprising a second heating element, a second layer of thermal paste, and a third liquid crystal elastomer. The heating element can be a nickel-chromium heating element. A method comprising arranging a first heating element on a first liquid crystal elastomer, arranging a first layer of thermal paste on the first heating element, and arranging a second liquid crystal elastomer on the first layer of thermal paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Christopher M. Spillmann, David Cylinder, Banahalli R. Ratna, Jawad Naciri, Brett D. Martin
  • Controlled actuated membranes and methods of making same
    Patent number: 7628935
    Abstract: The invention describes shape changing membranes that can be precisely controlled using the unique approach of smectic liquid-crystalline elastomers (LCEs) with patterned electrodes and a process of preparing and creating the elastomers. The methods to create the shape changing membranes is based on the electroclinic effect of smectic layers in a polymer network and provides a novel material for actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jawad Naciri, Christopher M Spillmann, Jonathan Selinger, Banahalli R Ratna
  • FLUORESCENT ORGANIC NANOPARTICLES
    Publication number: 20090272913
    Abstract: A nanoparticle having a surfactant shell with a hydrophilic outer surface and a hydrophobic inner surface and an organic chromophore and a polymer having aromatic groups within the surfactant shell. A method of making nanoparticles by: emulsifying an aqueous composition of a surfactant and an organic solution of a monomer and an organic chromophore to form micelles of the monomer and the chromophore inside a surfactant shell; and polymerizing the monomer. A method of: reacting a ?-bromoalkyl acid with acryloyl acid lithium salt, and reacting the product with sodium hydride to produce an acryloyloxyalkyl carboxylic acid sodium salt. The compound shown below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jawad Naciri, Christopher M. Spillmann, George P. Anderson, Banahalli R. Ratna
  • Method for stacking thermal actuators
    Publication number: 20080079858
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first liquid crystal elastomer, a first heating element, a first layer of thermal paste, and a second liquid crystal elastomer. The apparatus further comprising a second heating element, a second layer of thermal paste, and a third liquid crystal elastomer. The heating element can be a nickel-chromium heating element. A method comprising arranging a first heating element on a first liquid crystal elastomer, arranging a first layer of thermal paste on the first heating element, and arranging a second liquid crystal elastomer on the first layer of thermal paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher M. Spillmann, David Cylinder, Banahalli R. Ratna, Jawad Naciri, Brett D. Martin