Patents by Inventor Douglas P. Hart
Douglas P. Hart 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: 11884543Abstract: Flow through reactors and related methods for use with slurries including water reactive particles are generally described.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jason Fischman, Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart, EthelMae Victoria Dydek, Theodore Bloomstein, Andrew Whitehead, Jean Sack, Eric Morgan
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Patent number: 11772965Abstract: A stable aluminum slurry fuel and related systems and methods of use are provided herein. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are related to an aluminum slurry fuel comprising a plurality of aluminum particles dispersed in a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the aluminum particles comprise an activating composition comprising gallium and/or indium. Additionally, methods of making and using the aluminum slurry fuel are presented herein. For instance, the resultant aluminum slurry fuel may react exothermically with water over a wide range of temperatures to produce hydrogen. The resulting slurry fuel may be used as an energy source for various applications and/or for generating hydrogen for other applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jason Fischman, Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart, Andrew Whitehead, Jean Sack, Eric Morgan
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Patent number: 11434149Abstract: The devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are generally directed to using an increase in gas pressure (e.g., through an increase in heat) to move an actuator that at least partially defines a volume containing a feed fluid in fluid communication with a membrane. As the increase in gas pressure moves the actuator, pressure on the feed fluid in the volume may increase beyond a threshold pressure sufficient to move the feed fluid through the membrane. Movement of the feed fluid through the membrane may reduce a volumetric concentration of one or more components of the feed fluid to form a permeate. For example, the increase in pressure may drive the actuator to increase pressure on salt-water in the volume and, ultimately, move the salt-water through the membrane to form the permeate as part of a reverse osmosis process achieved without the use of a mechanical pump.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart
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Patent number: 11374226Abstract: Corrosion mitigation in a battery may include displacing a first flowable medium with a second flowable medium along a first electrode to interrupt fluid communication of the first flowable medium with the first electrode—thus interrupting operation of the battery—while a second electrode remains in contact with a flowable medium (e.g., one or more of the first flowable medium or another flowable medium, such as a gel). For example, a membrane (e.g., an underwater oleophobic material) may be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. An oil may displace an aqueous electrolyte on a first side of the membrane toward a metallic electrode while the aqueous form of the electrolyte remains in contact with an air electrode on a second side of the separator membrane disposed toward the air electrode.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Brandon James Hopkins, Douglas P. Hart, Yang Shao-Horn
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Patent number: 11251475Abstract: Corrosion mitigation in a metal-air battery includes displacing an electrolyte within a gap of the metal-air battery with a liquid. The liquid may be substantially nonreactive with the electrolyte, and the anode of the metal-air battery is less reactive with the liquid than with the electrolyte. Upon displacement of the electrolyte from the gap, the liquid may remain in the gap of the metal-air battery to reduce the likelihood of corrosion of the anode and, therefore, reduce the power drain of the battery resulting from such corrosion. To return the metal-air battery to an activated state for generating power, the electrolyte may be moved back into the gap to displace the liquid. A fluid circuit may be in fluid communication with the gap and may displace one of the liquid and the electrolyte in the gap with the other one of the liquid and the electrolyte from the fluid circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Brandon James Hopkins, Douglas P. Hart
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Publication number: 20210316987Abstract: A stable aluminum slurry fuel and related systems and methods of use are provided herein. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are related to an aluminum slurry fuel comprising a plurality of aluminum particles dispersed in a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the aluminum particles comprise an activating composition comprising gallium and/or indium. Additionally, methods of making and using the aluminum slurry fuel are presented herein. For instance, the resultant aluminum slurry fuel may react exothermically with water over a wide range of temperatures to produce hydrogen. The resulting slurry fuel may be used as an energy source for various applications and/or for generating hydrogen for other applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2020Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jason Fischman, Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart, Andrew Whitehead, Jean Sack, Eric Morgan
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Publication number: 20210269306Abstract: Flow through reactors and related methods for use with slurries including water reactive particles are generally described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2020Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jason Fischman, Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart, EthelMae Victoria Dydek, Theodore Bloomstein, Andrew Whitehead, Jean Sack, Eric Morgan
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Publication number: 20210053847Abstract: The devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are generally directed to using an increase in gas pressure (e.g., through an increase in heat) to move an actuator that at least partially defines a volume containing a feed fluid in fluid communication with a membrane. As the increase in gas pressure moves the actuator, pressure on the feed fluid in the volume may increase beyond a threshold pressure sufficient to move the feed fluid through the membrane. Movement of the feed fluid through the membrane may reduce a volumetric concentration of one or more components of the feed fluid to form a permeate. For example, the increase in pressure may drive the actuator to increase pressure on salt-water in the volume and, ultimately, move the salt-water through the membrane to form the permeate as part of a reverse osmosis process achieved without the use of a mechanical pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2019Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart
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Publication number: 20190341637Abstract: Methods and systems for generating electricity from a fuel are generally described. In some embodiments, a first container is used to house a fluid that is capable of reacting to form a fuel, and a second container is used to house a reactant capable of reacting with the fluid to form the fuel. In some embodiments, valves are used to control the flow of fluid between the first container and the second container. In some embodiments, the valve(s) can be configured such that fluid is only transported between the first container and the second container when the pressure within the second container is below a threshold level.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nicholas W. Fine, Erik M. Gest, Jade A. Hardacker, Camille Henrot, Roger D. Lo, Jacob Wachlin, Yi Zhong, Kabir Abiose, Dakota Freeman, Wesley Lau, Jared McKeon, Douglas P. Hart
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Publication number: 20190326603Abstract: Corrosion mitigation in a battery may include displacing a first flowable medium with a second flowable medium along a first electrode to interrupt fluid communication of the first flowable medium with the first electrode—thus interrupting operation of the battery—while a second electrode remains in contact with a flowable medium (e.g., one or more of the first flowable medium or another flowable medium, such as a gel). For example, a membrane (e.g., an underwater oleophobic material) may be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. An oil may displace an aqueous electrolyte on a first side of the membrane toward a metallic electrode while the aqueous form of the electrolyte remains in contact with an air electrode on a second side of the separator membrane disposed toward the air electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Brandon James Hopkins, Douglas P. Hart, Yang Shao-Horn
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Publication number: 20190123407Abstract: Corrosion mitigation in a metal-air battery includes displacing an electrolyte within a gap of the metal-air battery with a liquid. The liquid may be substantially nonreactive with the electrolyte, and the anode of the metal-air battery is less reactive with the liquid than with the electrolyte. Upon displacement of the electrolyte from the gap, the liquid may remain in the gap of the metal-air battery to reduce the likelihood of corrosion of the anode and, therefore, reduce the power drain of the battery resulting from such corrosion. To return the metal-air battery to an activated state for generating power, the electrolyte may be moved back into the gap to displace the liquid. A fluid circuit may be in fluid communication with the gap and may displace one of the liquid and the electrolyte in the gap with the other one of the liquid and the electrolyte from the fluid circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Brandon James Hopkins, Douglas P. Hart
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Patent number: 9820636Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Davide M. Marini
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Publication number: 20170258305Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Davide M. Marini
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Publication number: 20170071459Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Davide M. Marini
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Patent number: 9504546Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Davide M. Marini
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Patent number: 9448061Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9291565Abstract: Various improvements to inflatable membranes for use in three-dimensional imaging of interior spaces are disclosed. These improvements include, among other things, equipping the inflatable membrane with desirable optical features, such as fiducials, optical coatings, etc., that can be used to improve data acquisition.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9175945Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9170200Abstract: Various improvements to inflatable membranes are disclosed. These improvements include, among other things, features on the membrane that can mitigate hazards such as bubble formation or frictional damage during inflation of the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9170199Abstract: Various improvements to three dimensional imaging systems having inflatable membranes are disclosed. These improvements include, among other things, a proximity sensor that can be used to warn a user of the device when approaching a feature in a cavity, such as an eardrum in an ear canal; or optical sensors with an optical coating matching the refractive index of the medium in which the optical sensors are deployed, to improve data acquisition.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic