Patents by Inventor Edwin L. Thomas
Edwin L. Thomas 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: 11827751Abstract: A nanonetwork with controlled chirality prepared via self-assembly of triblock terpolymers, wherein each of the triblock terpolymers includes a first block, a second block and a third block. The first block is connected to the second block, and the third block is connected to the second block. The first block, the second block and the third block are incompatible. The third block has a homochiral characteristic, and a chirality of the nanonetwork with controlled chirality is determined by the homochiral characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITYInventors: Hsiao-Fang Wang, Po-Ting Chiu, Chih-Ying Yang, Zhi-Hong Xie, Yu-Chueh Hung, Jing-Yu Lee, Jing-Cherng Tsai, Ishan Prasad, Hiroshi Jinnai, Edwin L. Thomas, Rong-Ming Ho
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Publication number: 20220411590Abstract: A nanonetwork with controlled chirality prepared via self-assembly of triblock terpolymers, wherein each of the triblock terpolymers includes a first block, a second block and a third block. The first block is connected to the second block, and the third block is connected to the second block. The first block, the second block and the third block are incompatible. The third block has a homochiral characteristic, and a chirality of the nanonetwork with controlled chirality is determined by the homochiral characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Hsiao-Fang WANG, Po-Ting CHIU, Chih-Ying YANG, Zhi-Hong XIE, Yu-Chueh HUNG, Jing-Yu LEE, Jing-Cherng TSAI, Ishan PRASAD, Hiroshi JINNAI, Edwin L. THOMAS, Rong-Ming HO
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Patent number: 10370477Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric materials arranged as photonic crystals, or portions of photonic crystals, having properties which can be easily tuned over a large range of wavelengths upon exposure to an external stimulus. In some embodiments, the photonic crystals comprise at least one portion which can undergo a change in a physical, chemical, dielectric, or other property upon exposure to an altering stimulus, resulting in a change in a diffracted wavelength of electromagnetic radiation (e.g, light) by the photonic crystal. Embodiments of the invention may advantageously exhibit large stop band tunability and rapid response times. Photonic crystals of the invention may be useful in a wide variety of applications, such as colorimetric sensors, active components of simple display devices, electrically controlled tunable optically pumped laser, photonic switches, multiband filters, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2016Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Youngjong Kang, Joseph Walish, Edwin L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20160326295Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric materials arranged as photonic crystals, or portions of photonic crystals, having properties which can be easily tuned over a large range of wavelengths upon exposure to an external stimulus. In some embodiments, the photonic crystals comprise at least one portion which can undergo a change in a physical, chemical, dielectric, or other property upon exposure to an altering stimulus, resulting in a change in a diffracted wavelength of electromagnetic radiation (e.g, light) by the photonic crystal. Embodiments of the invention may advantageously exhibit large stop band tunability and rapid response times. Photonic crystals of the invention may be useful in a wide variety of applications, such as colorimetric sensors, active components of simple display devices, electrically controlled tunable optically pumped laser, photonic switches, multiband filters, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Youngjong Kang, Joseph Walish, Edwin L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20160187536Abstract: A photonic material capable of reflecting part of the light rays in a wavelength region from near-ultraviolet light to near-infrared light. The photonic material contains a block copolymer including a plurality of different polymer chains connected to one another. Each polymer chain independently forms a portion of an aggregated nanophase separated structure. At least one of the plurality of polymer chains is swelled with a non-volatile solvent. An example of such a photonic material may be a polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymer whose poly(2-vinylpyridine) phase is swelled with an ionic liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Atsushi NORO, Yusuke TOMITA, Satoru MATSUSHIMA, Yoshio SAGESHIMA, Yushu MATSUSHITA, Joseph J. WALISH, Edwin L. THOMAS
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Patent number: 9360604Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric materials arranged as photonic crystals, or portions of photonic crystals, having properties which can be easily tuned over a large range of wavelengths upon exposure to an external stimulus. In some embodiments, the photonic crystals comprise at least one portion which can undergo a change in a physical, chemical, dielectric, or other property upon exposure to an altering stimulus, resulting in a change in a diffracted wavelength of electromagnetic radiation (e.g, light) by the photonic crystal. Embodiments of the invention may advantageously exhibit large stop band tunability and rapid response times. Photonic crystals of the invention may be useful in a wide variety of applications, such as colorimetric sensors, active components of simple display devices, electrically controlled tunable optically pumped laser, photonic switches, multiband filters, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Youngjong Kang, Joseph Walish, Edwin L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20130015417Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric materials arranged as photonic crystals, or portions of photonic crystals, having properties which can be easily tuned over a large range of wavelengths upon exposure to an external stimulus. In some embodiments, the photonic crystals comprise at least one portion which can undergo a change in a physical, chemical, dielectric, or other property upon exposure to an altering stimulus, resulting in a change in a diffracted wavelength of electromagnetic radiation (e.g, light) by the photonic crystal. Embodiments of the invention may advantageously exhibit large stop band tunability and rapid response times. Photonic crystals of the invention may be useful in a wide variety of applications, such as colorimetric sensors, active components of simple display devices, electrically controlled tunable optically pumped laser, photonic switches, multiband filters, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Youngjong Kang, Joseph Walish, Edwin L. Thomas
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Patent number: 8273848Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric materials having enhanced properties. In some cases, the materials may comprise polymers having shape-persistent portions which may enhance the mechanical properties of the material. The materials may exhibit higher stiffness or strength and ductility values, resulting in higher energy absorption and enhanced protection, as well as, longer lifetimes for product usage. In some cases, the materials may be optically transparent and lightweight, making them suitable for various applications including protective materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nicholas T. Tsui, Edwin L. Thomas, Timothy M. Swager
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Patent number: 8252517Abstract: Stop flow interference lithography system for high throughput synthesis of 3-dimensionally patterned polymer particles. The system includes a microfluidic channel containing a stationary oligomer film and a phase mask located adjacent to the microfluidic channel. A source of collimated light is provided for passing the collimated light through the phase mask and into the microfluidic channel for interaction with the oligomer. The passage of the collimated light through the phase mask generates a 3-dimensional distribution of light intensity to induce crosslinking of the oligomer in high intensity regions thereby forming 3-dimensional structures.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Edwin L. Thomas, Patrick Seamus Doyle, Dhananjay Dendukuri, Ji-Hyun Jang, Chaitanya K. Ullal
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Publication number: 20120070627Abstract: Nanolithography and nanoscale device features based on a self-assembled film comprising an ABC triblock terpolymer disposed on a substrate surface are provided. The self-assembled film has a controlled pattern of features over the entire film. Each feature comprises block A, block B, or block C of the ABC triblock terpolymer. One or more blocks (A, B, or C) of the self-assembled film can be transformed by, for example, being removed, to provide a particular pattern geometry for nanolithography.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Peng-Wei Chuang, Caroline A. Ross, Edwin L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20110190457Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric materials having enhanced properties. In some cases, the materials may comprise polymers having shape-persistent portions which may enhance the mechanical properties of the material. The materials may exhibit higher stiffness or strength and ductility values, resulting in higher energy absorption and enhanced protection, as well as longer lifetimes for product usage. In some cases, the materials may be optically transparent and lightweight, making them suitable for in various applications including protective materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2008Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nicholas T. Tsui, Edwin L. Thomas, Timothy M. Swager
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Patent number: 7799416Abstract: The current invention involves periodically ordered nanostructured materials and methods of using and modifying the materials. In some embodiments, the invention provides periodically structured microphase separated polymeric articles that include periodically occurring separate domains. The polymeric species comprising one or more of the domains, for some embodiments, contains an inorganic species capable of forming an inorganic oxide ceramic. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for modifying the polymeric articles by oxidation and/or radiation to form periodically structured porous and relief articles that, in some embodiments, include a ceramic oxide in their structure. The invention also provides methods of use for the novel articles and novel structures constructed utilizing the articles.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Vanessa Z. H. Chan, Edwin L. Thomas, Victor Y. Lee, Robert D. Miller, Apostolos Avgeropoulos, Nikos Hadjichristidis
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Publication number: 20100099048Abstract: Stop flow interference lithography system for high throughput synthesis of 3-dimensionally patterned polymer particles. The system includes a microfluidic channel containing a stationary oligomer film and a phase mask located adjacent to the microfluidic channel. A source of collimated light is provided for passing the collimated light through the phase mask and into the microfluidic channel for interaction with the oligomer. The passage of the collimated light through the phase mask generates a 3-dimensional distribution of light intensity to induce crosslinking of the oligomer in high intensity regions thereby forming 3-dimensional structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2009Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Edwin L. Thomas, Patrick Seamus Doyle, Dhananjay Dendukuri, Ji-Hyun Jang, Chaitanya K. Ullal
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Publication number: 20090092803Abstract: The present invention provides articles and methods for affecting the self-assembly of materials. In some cases, the invention provides an approach for facilitating the self-assembly of various materials, including polymeric materials (e.g., block polymers), nanoparticles, other materials capable of self-assembly, and the like, over relatively large surface areas. Some embodiments of the invention provide articles (e.g., substrates) which, when contacted with a material capable of self-assembly, may produce greater control of self-assembly through the bulk of the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ion Bita, Edwin L. Thomas, Joel Kwang Wei Yang, Yeon Sik Jung, Caroline A. Ross, Karl K. Berggren
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Publication number: 20090086208Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric materials arranged as photonic crystals, or portions of photonic crystals, having properties which can be easily tuned over a large range of wavelengths upon exposure to an external stimulus. In some embodiments, the photonic crystals comprise at least one portion which can undergo a change in a physical, chemical, dielectric, or other property upon exposure to an altering stimulus, resulting in a change in a diffracted wavelength of electromagnetic radiation (e.g, light) by the photonic crystal. Embodiments of the invention may advantageously exhibit large stop band tunability and rapid response times. Photonic crystals of the invention may be useful in a wide variety of applications, such as colorimetric sensors, active components of simple display devices, electrically controlled tunable optically pumped laser, photonic switches, multiband filters, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Youngjong Kang, Joseph Walish, Edwin L. Thomas
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Patent number: 7329377Abstract: Methods are provided for producing a shrunken replica or a shrunken inverse replica of a multicontinuous structure. In one embodiment, the method comprises (1) infiltrating a first multicontinuous structure with a first fluid material which can be immobilized and shrunken, wherein the first multicontinuous structure comprises at least a first phase and a second phase which is immiscible with the first phase, and the infiltration displaces the second phase in the first multicontinuous structure to form a second multicontinuous structure which comprises at least the first phase and a third phase which consists of the first fluid material; (2) immobilizing the infiltrated first fluid material in the second multicontinuous structure; (3) removing the first phase from the second multicontinuous structure; and (4) shrinking (e.g., by a pyrolysis process) the third phase of the second multicontinuous structure, to produce an isotropically shrunken inverse replica of the first multicontinuous structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Yung-Hoon Ha, Edwin L. Thomas
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Patent number: 7106918Abstract: A structured material is disclosed with magneto-gyrotropic characteristics including at least one continuous structurally-chiral material. The structured material has an electric permittivity and a magnetic permeability at least one of which varies within the structured material along a first direction in a repetitious fashion wherein a repetition unit includes a chiral component and is at least 25 nm in length. The structured material exhibits non-reciprocal electromagnetic wave propagation velocity characteristics along a second direction that includes a non-zero component along the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ion Bita, Edwin L. Thomas
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Patent number: 6893705Abstract: A method and apparatus for orientation of block copolymer microdomains via rapid solidification. Rapid solidification from a solvent may include directional solidification and/or epitaxy to form patterns of microdomains in a film of block copolymer. Microdomains may include various structures formed by components of a block copolymer, such as vertical lamellae, in-plane cylinders, and vertical cylinders, and may depend on film thickness. Orientation of structures in microdomains may be controlled to be approximately uniform, and spatial arrangement of microdomains may be controlled.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2002Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Edwin L. Thomas, Claudio DeRosa, Cheolmin Park, Michael Fasolka, Bernard Lotz, Anne M. Mayes, Jongsesung Yoon
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Patent number: 6716475Abstract: A materials system or dielectric structure, for example a photonic crystal, of the invention includes a plurality of materials that are biocompatible. The materials have different indices of refraction for the wavelength of operation and are assembled into a dielectric structure having a photonic band gap in one or more directions. The assembly process yields a structure with a particular spatial arrangement of materials with different indices of refraction which is completely biocompatible and has the property of reflecting light at a particular predetermined range of frequencies, as well as other properties associated with photonic band gaps. These structures can exhibit photonic band gaps that can be engineered to be broad or narrow and be centered on different parts of the spectrum UV, visible IR or longer wavelengths. The materials used can have microwave transparency or be made to reflect microwaves.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2000Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Yoel Fink, John D. Joannopoulos, Edwin L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20040041742Abstract: A multiple-range omnidirectional reflector includes a plurality of bilayers. Each of the bilayers includes a first layer comprising of a low absorption and low refractive index material and a second layer comprising of a high refractive index and low absorption material. Varying the thickness of one or more of the bilayers produces multiple omnidirectional reflecting ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Inventors: Yoel Fink, Burak Temelkuran, Shandon Hart, Edwin L. Thomas, John D. Joannopoulos, Mihai Ibanescu, Marin Soljacic