Patents by Inventor Craig A. Grimes

Craig A. Grimes 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).

  • Publication number: 20230079926
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for the separation of gas or gas-vapor, as well as simultaneous product transformation or conversion of one or more of the separated gas or gas-vapor species, includes modification of a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube to include an electric field internal to the vortex tube, created either by an applied potential or induced by temperature-dependent triboelectric effects, or a combination of both. The electric field is used to enhance separation of gaseous components, with particular emphasis on separation of CO2 from a gaseous mixture, and to promote subsequent conversion of the resulting separated gaseous product or products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventor: Craig A. Grimes
  • Publication number: 20220401942
    Abstract: A photoreactor having computer actuated input/output ports is operated by introducing reactant through an input port and collecting product through an output port, and upon closure of the input and output ports, treating photocatalyst within the photoreactor to remove intermediates limiting performance of the photocatalyst. Once the photocatalyst is regenerated, introduction of reactant to the photoreactor through the input port and collection of product from the output port can be resumed. The automated process does not require removal of catalyst from the photoreactor and significantly improves process economics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventor: Craig A. Grimes
  • Publication number: 20220401879
    Abstract: Systems for separating and concentrating CO2 from air or a gas include a vortex tube designed for separating and concentrating CO2 from a gaseous input stream. The vortex tube has an operating design pressure of between 105 psi and 280 psi above atmospheric pressure and produces a concentrated CO2 outlet stream. The concentrated CO2 outlet stream is in fluid connection with a conversion system capable of converting the separated CO2 into another chemical compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Craig A. Grimes, Kevin Kreisler
  • Publication number: 20220387929
    Abstract: An integrated system for harvesting water from air includes an air propelling unit, a water condensation unit, and a fog harvester. The water condensation unit receives propelled air from the air propelling unit, and includes an airfoil designed to locally reduce pressure and temperature, thereby promoting water vapor condensation within the received propelled air. The fog harvester receives the propelled air with condensed water from the water condensation unit and collects the condensed water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Craig A. Grimes, Kevin Kreisler, Scott C. Kreisler
  • Patent number: 11482631
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the design and fabrication of a device able to efficiently convert broad-spectrum, microwave to X-ray, electromagnetic energy into electricity. Exciton Scavenger fabrication requires intercalation of rare earth ion containing crystallites, quantum-dots, or nanoparticles within a one-dimensional semiconducting material nanoarchitecture, such as arrays of nanowires or nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Comstock IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Craig A Grimes, Kevin Kreisler
  • Patent number: 11211458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the design and fabrication of a device able to efficiently convert broad-spectrum electromagnetic radiation, including but not limited to microwave, millimeter wave, infrared, visible, and ultraviolet, into charge carriers, then separate and direct said charge carriers to promote photosynthetic or photocatalytic reactions, such as the photoconversion of CO2 and water vapor to hydrocarbon fuels. Device fabrication requires intercalation of rare-earth ion containing crystallites, be they nanoparticles or quantum-dots, bound by an electrically insulating organic or inorganic shell, within a one-dimensional semiconducting material nanoarchitecture such as arrays of nanowires or nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: Craig A Grimes, Kevin Kreisler
  • Patent number: 10426871
    Abstract: Compositions including a surface or film comprising nanofibers, nanotubes or microwells comprising a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon placement of the composition in a subject are disclosed. The compositions are useful in medical implants and methods of treating a patient in need of an implant, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, neurological implants, neurovascular implants, gastrointestinal implants, muscular implants, and ocular implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Tejal A. Desai, Ketul C. Popat, Craig A. Grimes
  • Publication number: 20180185549
    Abstract: Compositions including a surface or film comprising nanofibers, nanotubes or microwells comprising a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon placement of the composition in a subject are disclosed. The compositions are useful in medical implants and methods of treating a patient in need of an implant, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, neurological implants, neurovascular implants, gastrointestinal implants, muscular implants, and ocular implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Tejal A. Desai, Ketul C. Popat, Craig A. Grimes
  • Patent number: 9775932
    Abstract: Compositions including a surface or film comprising nanofibers, nanotubes or microwells comprising a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon placement of the composition in a subject are disclosed The compositions are useful in medical implants and methods of treating a patient in need of an implant, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, neurological implants, neurovascular implants, gastrointestinal implants, muscular implants, and ocular implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Tejal A. Desai, Ketal C. Popat, Craig A. Grimes
  • Patent number: 8835285
    Abstract: The present invention relates to growth of vertically-oriented crystalline nanowire arrays upon a transparent conductive or other substrate for use in 3rd generation photovoltaic and other applications. A method of growing crystalline anatase nanowires includes the steps of: deposition of titania onto a substrate; conversion of the titania into titanate nanowires; and, treatment of the titanate nanowires to produce crystalline anatase nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Flux Photon Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Grimes, Xinjian Feng, Kevin E. Kreisler
  • Publication number: 20130048947
    Abstract: The present invention relates to growth of vertically-oriented crystalline nanowire arrays upon a transparent conductive or other substrate for use in 3rd generation photovoltaic and other applications. A method of growing crystalline anatase nanowires includes the steps of: deposition of titania onto a substrate; conversion of the titania into titanate nanowires; and, treatment of the titanate nanowires to produce crystalline anatase nanowires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Craig A. Grimes, Xinjian Feng, Kevin E. Kreisler
  • Publication number: 20120114734
    Abstract: Compositions including a surface or film comprising nanofibers, nanotubes or microwells comprising a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon placement of the composition in a subject are disclosed The compositions are useful in medical implants and methods of treating a patient in need of an implant, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, neurological implants, neurovascular implants, gastrointestinal implants, muscular implants, and ocular implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Tejal A. Desai, Ketal C. Popat, Craig A. Grimes
  • Patent number: 7912661
    Abstract: Circuitry and program code adapted for carrying out an associated technique for characterizing the response of one or more magnetoelastic sensor elements during exposure to an excitation field generated by an interrogation coil: including: (a) measuring a total sensor signal from the coil with the sensor element positioned within the excitation field within a spacing created by a winding of the coil; and (b) automatically determining: (i) a total measured impedance spectrum from said total sensor signal so measured, and (ii) a plurality of magnitude values representing the real part of a reconstructed impedance spectrum for the sensor element. The reconstructed impedance spectrum for the sensor element, having been calculated by subtracting an impedance generally attributable to the coil during the time an AC excitation signal is provided, from the total measured impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: KMG2 Sensors Corporation
    Inventors: Kefeng Zeng, Keat Ghee Ong, Xiping Yang, Craig A. Grimes
  • Publication number: 20100213046
    Abstract: Nitrogen-doped titania nanotubes exhibiting catalytic activity on exposure to any one or more of ultraviolet, visible, and/or infrared radiation, or combinations thereof are disclosed. The nanotube arrays may be co-doped with one or more nonmetals and may further include co-catalyst nanoparticles. Also, methods are disclosed for use of nitrogen-doped titania nanotubes in catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide alone or in admixture with hydrogen-containing gases such as water vapor and/or other reactants as may be present or desirable into products such as hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon-containing products, hydrogen and hydrogen-containing products, carbon monoxide and other carbon-containing products, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Craig A. Grimes, Oomman K. Varghese, Maggie Paulose
  • Publication number: 20100139747
    Abstract: A method of making semiconducting oxide nanowire arrays on such as rutile is disclosed wherein a substrate is heated in the presence of a reaction mixture of non-polar solvent, semi-conductor metal oxide precursor source and strong acid to produce a nanowire array of a semiconducting oxide on the substrate. Dye sensitized solar cells that employ these nanowire arrays also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Xinjian Feng, Karthik Shankar, Craig A. Grimes
  • Publication number: 20080261261
    Abstract: A system/analyzer-unit and method/platform—using information obtained from at least one, adapted for a plurality of, magnetoelastic sensor elements in contact with one or more samples comprising blood from a patient—for automatically quantifying one or more parameters of the patient's blood. Information obtained from emissions measured from each of the sensor elements is uniquely processed to determine a quantification about the patient's blood, such as, quantifying platelet aggregation to determine platelet contribution toward clot formation; quantifying fibrin network contribution toward clot formation; quantifying platelet-fibrin clot interactions; quantifying kinetics of thrombin clot generation; quantifying platelet-fibrin clot strength; and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Craig A. Grimes, Kefeng Zeng, Keat Ghee Ong, Xiping Yang
  • Patent number: 7319411
    Abstract: A network of remote sensing node assemblies, a first and second of which each has a sensor element, as well as associated technique and program code for transmitting information collected about a liquid environment. The network provides the capability of sensing the liquid to collect a wide variety of types of information/data about the liquid and any surrounding environments, and transmitting from the originating node assembly to a different node within acoustic transmission range, and then transmitting further to a third node assembly where the information may be processed and communicated to a user, or further transmitted by way of suitable medium, preferably as electromagnetic signals, to a host location for processing into a compilation of data. Each of at least two sensing node assemblies has at least one sensor element adapted for operation while immersed within the liquid, a source of power, and a transducer for receiving acoustic waves/signals transmitted from another node assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: KMG2 Sensors Corporation
    Inventors: Keat Ghee Ong, Craig A. Grimes
  • Patent number: 7113876
    Abstract: Circuitry adapted for carrying out associated techniques for: (a) calculating a damping factor, e.g., a damping ratio represented by ?, or a quality factor Q, where ??1/2Q, for a transient signal received, having been emitted from a resonator-type sensor element; (b) determining amplitude, A, of the transient signal; or (c) generating a frequency response dataset of interrelated points for the transient signal. A threshold comparison circuit is included for converting the transient signal received into a first and second digital waveform; the first digital waveform represents cycle crossings of the transient signal associated with a first threshold value, and the second digital waveform represents cycle crossings of the transient signal associated with a second threshold value. The transient signal may be converted, likewise, into third, and so on, digital waveforms, whereby the third digital waveform represents cycle crossings of the transient signal associated with a third threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: SenTech Biomed Corporation
    Inventors: Kefeng Zeng, Keat G. Ong, Craig A. Grimes
  • Patent number: 7011737
    Abstract: An electrical resistive device, including: an array of titania nanotubes open at an outwardly-directed end formed by anodizing at least a portion of a titanium layer; a plurality of palladium (or other noble metal) clusters having been deposited atop the nanotube array; and the nanotube array mechanically supported by an integral support member. The array of titania nanotubes may include a dopant. An exposure of titania nanotube array to radiant energy emitted within a range of frequencies from visible to ultraviolet, in the presence of oxygen, removes a contaminant, if present. The titanium layer may be deposited atop the integral support; or the unique doped titanium layer can be produced, prior to the anodizing thereof, by depositing titanium along with dopant atop the integral support member by a co-deposition process. Also, supported: method(s) of producing the electrical resistive devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Oomman K. Varghese, Gopal Mor, Maggie Paulose, Craig A. Grimes
  • Publication number: 20040066313
    Abstract: A network of remote sensing node assemblies, a first and second of which each has a sensor element, as well as associated technique and program code for transmitting information collected about a liquid environment. The network provides the capability of sensing the liquid to collect a wide variety of types of information/data about the liquid and any surrounding environments, and transmitting from the originating node assembly to a different node within acoustic transmission range, and then transmitting further to a third node assembly where the information may be processed and communicated to a user, or further transmitted by way of suitable medium, preferably as electromagnetic signals, to a host location for processing into a compilation of data. Each of at least two sensing node assemblies has at least one sensor element adapted for operation while immersed within the liquid, a source of power, and a transducer for receiving acoustic waves/signals transmitted from another node assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: SenTech Corporation
    Inventors: Keat Ghee Ong, Craig A. Grimes