Patents by Inventor David G. Grier

David G. Grier 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: 7973275
    Abstract: Holographic optical traps using the forces exerted by computer-generated holograms to trap, move and otherwise transform mesoscopically textured materials. The efficacy of the present invention is based upon the quality and nature of the diffractive optical element used to create the traps and dynamically use them. Further a landscape of potential energy sites can be created and used to manipulate, sort and process objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: David G. Grier, Marco Polin, Sang-Hyuk Lee, Yael Roichman, Kosta Ladavac
  • Publication number: 20110114831
    Abstract: A method and system for micromanipulation of objects of any shape. The method and system creates various forms of holographic optical traps for a variety of commercial purposes. Some alternate forms of traps include a dark form of optical traps, optical vortices with different helical winding numbers and optical traps with variable phase profiles imprinted thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: David G. Grier
  • Patent number: 7897910
    Abstract: A method and system for establishing extended optical traps for commercial use. The method and system employs a diffractive optical element (DOE) to process a light beam wherein the DOE includes phase information and amplitude information to create the extended optical trap. Such extended traps can be line traps and can be further expanded to two and three dimensional configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Yohai Roichman, David G. Grier, Ilias Cholis
  • Publication number: 20110043607
    Abstract: In-line holography to create images of a specimen, such as one or more particles dispersed in a transparent medium. Analyzing these images with results from light scattering theory yields the particles' sizes with nanometer resolution, their refractive indexes to within one part in a thousand, and their three dimensional positions with nanometer resolution. This procedure can rapidly and directly characterize mechanical, optical and chemical properties of the specimen and its medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: David G. Grier, Sang-Hyuk Lee, Fook C. Cheong
  • Patent number: 7847238
    Abstract: A method and system for micromanipulation of objects of any shape. The method and system creates various forms of holographic optical traps for a variety of commercial purposes. Some alternate forms of traps include a dark form of optical traps, optical vortices with different helical winding numbers and optical traps with variable phase profiles imprinted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventor: David G. Grier
  • Patent number: 7839551
    Abstract: A method and system for performing three-dimensional holographic microscopy of an optically trapped structure. The method and system use an inverted optical microscope, a laser source which generates a trapping laser beam wherein the laser beam is focused by an objective lens into a plurality of optical traps. The method and system also use a collimated laser at an imaging wavelength to illuminate the structure created by the optical traps. Imaging light scattered by the optically tapped structure forms holograms that are imaged by a video camera and analyzed by optical formalisms to determine light field to reconstruct 3-D images for analysis and evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Sang-Hyuk Lee, David G. Grier
  • Publication number: 20100288914
    Abstract: A method and system for manipulating object using a three dimensional optical trap configuration. By use of selected hologram on optical strap can be configured as a preselected three dimensional configuration for a variety of complex uses. The system can include various optical train components, such as partially transmissive mirrors and Keplerian telescope components to provide advantageously three dimensional optical traps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Yohai ROICHMAN, Ilias Cholis, David G. Grier
  • Patent number: 7835051
    Abstract: A method and system for manipulating object using a three dimensional optical trap configuration. By use of selected hologram on optical strap can be configured as a preselected three dimensional configuration for a variety of complex uses. The system can include various optical train components, such as partially transmissive mirrors and Keplerian telescope components to provide advantageously three dimensional optical traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Yohai Roichman, Ilias Cholis, David G. Grier
  • Publication number: 20100253762
    Abstract: A method and system for performing three-dimensional holographic microscopy of an optically trapped one dimensional structure. The method and system use an inverted optical microscope, a laser source which generates a trapping laser beam wherein the laser beam is focused by an objective lens into a plurality of optical traps. The method and system also use a collimated laser at an imaging wavelength to illuminate the structure created by the optical traps. Imaging light scattered by the optically tapped structure forms normalized intensity holograms that are imaged by a video camera and analyzed by optical formalisms to determine light field to reconstruct 3-D images for analysis and evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Fook Chiong CHEONG, David G. Grier, Sang-Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 7772543
    Abstract: A system and method for manipulating and processing nanowires in solution with arrays of holographic optical traps. The system and method of the present invention is capable of creating hundreds of individually controlled optical traps with the ability to manipulate objects in three dimensions. Individual nanowires with cross-sections as small as 20 nm and lengths exceeding 20 ?m are capable of being isolated, translated, rotated and deposited onto a substrate with holographic optical trap arrays under conditions where single traps have no discernible influence. Spatially localized photothermal and photochemical processes induced by the well-focused traps can also be used to melt localized domains on individual nanowires and to fuse nanowire junctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignees: New York University, Harvard University
    Inventors: David G. Grier, Ritesh Agarwal, Guihua Yu, Charles M. Lieber, Kosta Ladavac, Yael Roichman
  • Publication number: 20100196004
    Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding information in the topology of superpositions of helical modes of light, and retrieving information from each of the superposed modes individually or in parallel. These methods can be applied to beams of light that already carry information through other channels, such as amplitude modulation or wavelength dispersive multiplexing, enabling such beams to be multiplexed and subsequently demultiplexed. The systems and methods of the present invention increase the number of data channels carried by a factor of the number of superposed helical modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: David G. Grier
  • Patent number: 7759020
    Abstract: A method and system for providing multi-color holographic optical traps and patterns. The method and system employs a laser beam which interacts with a diffractive optical element with a hologram and for optics which acts to selectively pass or attenuate different light color wavelengths and to position the particular color light at selected different locations to form the different color holographic optical trap patterns and to use these patterns for various commercial purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: David G. Grier, Sang-Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 7742700
    Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding information in the topology of superpositions of helical modes of light, and retrieving information from each of the superposed modes individually or in parallel. These methods can be applied to beams of light that already carry information through other channels, such as amplitude modulation or wavelength dispersive multiplexing, enabling such beams to be multiplexed and subsequently demultiplexed. The systems and methods of the present invention increase the number of data channels carried by a factor of the number of superposed helical modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventor: David G. Grier
  • Publication number: 20100147456
    Abstract: A system and method for bonding and unbonding of small objects using small adhesive particles. The system and method includes the use of a plurality of optical tweezers to manipulate objects to be bonded and adhesive particles suspended in a fluid. The objects to be bonded (or unbonded) and the adhesive particles are positioned by lower power optical tweezers and then an intense bonding optical tweezer is activated to cause the adhesive to join the objects together (or used to unbond objects).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: David G. GRIER, Kosta Ladavac, Joy M. Barker
  • Publication number: 20100090180
    Abstract: The invention provides micron and sub-micron scale particles designed to recognize and selectively interact with each other by exploiting the recognition and specificity enabled by DNA-sequence-encoded coatings. Such materials possess sufficient information coded in their chemical and physical interactions to self assemble and self replicate. The invention further provides methods of using such materials to create self replicating and organizing materials. Replicated copies are permanently linked and then thermally detached, freeing them to act as templates for further growth. This new class of condensed matter systems, provides means to design and control the structure and function of materials and machines from the microscopic to life-size. In another aspect of the invention, depletion type forces and depletion zones can be utilized in the implementation of the self assembly and self replication of materials, including without limitation colloidal particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: PAUL MICHAEL CHAIKIN, DAVID PINE, NADRIAN C. SEEMAN, DAVID G. GRIER
  • Patent number: 7678222
    Abstract: A system and method for bonding and unbonding of small objects using small adhesive particles. The system and method includes the use of a plurality of optical tweezers to manipulate objects to be bonded and adhesive particles suspended in a fluid. The objects to be bonded (or unbonded) and the adhesive particles are positioned by lower power optical tweezers and then an intense bonding optical tweezer is activated to cause the adhesive to join the objects together (or used to unbond objects).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards & Technology, New York University
    Inventors: David G. Grier, Kosta Ladavac, Joy M. Barker
  • Publication number: 20100032556
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a specific fraction from a heterogeneous fluid-borne sample using optical gradient forces in a microfluidic or fluidic system are presented. Samples may range in size from a few nanometers to at least tens of micrometers, may be dispersed in any fluid medium, and may be sorted on the basis of size, shape, optical characteristics, charge, and other physical properties. The selection process involves passive transport through optical intensity field driven by flowing fluid, and so offers several advantages over competing techniques. These include continuous rather than batch-mode operation, continuous and dynamic tunability, operation over a wide range of samples, compactness, and low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: David G. GRIER
  • Publication number: 20090250601
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device able to reduce the number of manufacturing steps and attain the rationalization of a manufacturing line is disclosed. The semiconductor device is a high-frequency module assembled by mounting chip parts (22) and semiconductor pellets (21) onto each of wiring substrates (2) formed on a matrix substrate (27) after inspection. A defect mark (2e) is affixed to a wiring substrate (2) as a block judged to be defective in the inspection of the matrix substrate (27), then in a series of subsequent assembling steps the defect mark (e) is recognized and the assembling work for the wiring substrate (2) with the defect mark (2e) thereon is omitted to attain the rationalization of a manufacturing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
    Inventors: David G. Grier, Eric R. Dufresne
  • Publication number: 20090238570
    Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding information in the topology of superpositions of helical modes of light, and retrieving information from each of the superposed modes individually or in parallel. These methods can be applied to beams of light that already carry information through other channels, such as amplitude modulation or wavelength dispersive multiplexing, enabling such beams to be multiplexed and subsequently demultiplexed. The systems and methods of the present invention increase the number of data channels carried by a factor of the number of superposed helical modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: David G. Grier
  • Publication number: 20090231651
    Abstract: A system and method for creating extended optical traps for applying optical forces to a material to be manipulated for a commercial application. The system and method include applying a hologram of appropriate characteristics to a beam of light wherein the hologram characteristics include a transverse optical component to apply optical forces transverse to an optical axis of the system. A shape phase component achieves this transverse optical component and also intensity gradient components can be applied via the hologram to provide programmable extended optical traps for a selectable commercial application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Yohai ROICHMAN, Bo Sun, Yael Roichman, Jesse Amato-Grill, David G. Grier