Patents by Inventor Erik J. Brandon

Erik J. Brandon 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: 20160170417
    Abstract: A wirelessly controlled active inflow control valve system. The valve system includes at least one downhole zonal production control unit. The at least one zonal production control unit includes a valve configured to control an inflow of fluid, at least one sensor configured to sense at least one parameter, and a central downhole control and data acquisition unit communicatively coupled to the valve and the at least one sensor. The central downhole control and data acquisition unit sends an actuation signal to the valve and receives at least one data output from the at least one sensor. The central downhole control and data acquisition unit transmits the at least one data output to a surface control and data acquisition unit via a wireless communication protocol and receives a control command from the surface downhole control and data acquisition unit via the wireless communication protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicants: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Kai Sun, JR., Namhyo Kim, Luis Phillipe Costa Ferreira Tosi, Krystian K. Maskos, Jeffery Lawrence Hall, Stewart Sherrit, Harish M. Manohara, Mohammad Mehdi Mojarradi, Eric Dean Archer, Allen Roy Sirota, Erik J. Brandon
  • Patent number: 9324507
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement high-temperature tolerant supercapacitors. In one embodiment, a high-temperature tolerant super capacitor includes a first electrode that is thermally stable between at least approximately 80° C. and approximately 300° C.; a second electrode that is thermally stable between at least approximately 80° C. and approximately 300° C.; an ionically conductive separator that is thermally stable between at least approximately 80° C. and 300° C.; an electrolyte that is thermally stable between approximately at least 80° C. and approximately 300° C.; where the first electrode and second electrode are separated by the separator such that the first electrode and second electrode are not in physical contact; and where each of the first electrode and second electrode is at least partially immersed in the electrolyte solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erik J. Brandon, William C. West, Ratnakumar V. Bugga
  • Publication number: 20140362495
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement high-temperature tolerant supercapacitors. In one embodiment, a high-temperature tolerant super capacitor includes a first electrode that is thermally stable between at least approximately 80° C. and approximately 300° C.; a second electrode that is thermally stable between at least approximately 80° C. and approximately 300° C.; an ionically conductive separator that is thermally stable between at least approximately 80° C. and 300° C.; an electrolyte that is thermally stable between approximately at least 80° C. and approximately 300° C.; where the first electrode and second electrode are separated by the separator such that the first electrode and second electrode are not in physical contact; and where each of the first electrode and second electrode is at least partially immersed in the electrolyte solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Erik J. Brandon, William C. West, Ratnakumar V. Bugga
  • Patent number: 8804309
    Abstract: Double-layer capacitors capable of operating at extremely low temperatures (e.g., as low as ?80° C.) are disclosed. Electrolyte solutions combining a base solvent (e.g., acetonitrile) and a cosolvent are employed to lower the melting point of the base electrolyte. Example cosolvents include methyl formate, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, propionitrile, butyronitrile, and 1,3-dioxolane. A quaternary ammonium salt including at least one of triethylmethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEMATFB) and spiro-(1,1?)-bipyrrolidium tetrafluoroborate (SBPBF4), is used in an optimized concentration (e.g., 0.10 M to 0.75 M), dissolved into the electrolyte solution. Conventional device form factors and structural elements (e.g., porous carbon electrodes and a polyethylene separator) may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erik J. Brandon, Marshall C. Smart, William C. West
  • Patent number: 8081418
    Abstract: Double-layer capacitors capable of operating at extremely low temperatures (e.g., as low as ?75° C.) are disclosed. Electrolyte solutions combining a base solvent (e.g., acetonitrile) and a cosolvent are employed to lower the melting point of the base electrolyte. Example cosolvents include methyl formate, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, propionitrile, butyronitrile, and 1,3-dioxolane. An optimized concentration (e.g., 0.10 M to 0.75 M) of salt, such as tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate, is dissolved into the electrolyte solution. In some cases (e.g., 1,3-dioxolane cosolvent) additives, such as 2% by volume triethylamine, may be included in the solvent mixture to prevent polymerization of the solution. Conventional device form factors and structural elements (e.g., porous carbon electrodes and a polyethylene separator) may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erik J. Brandon, Marshall C. Smart, William C. West
  • Publication number: 20110170237
    Abstract: Double-layer capacitors capable of operating at extremely low temperatures (e.g., as low as ?80° C.) are disclosed. Electrolyte solutions combining a base solvent (e.g., acetonitrile) and a cosolvent are employed to lower the melting point of the base electrolyte. Example cosolvents include methyl formate, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, propionitrile, butyronitrile, and 1,3-dioxolane. A quaternary ammonium salt including at least one of triethylmethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEMATFB) and spiro-(1,1?)-bipyrrolidium tetrafluoroborate (SBPBF4), is used in an optimized concentration (e.g., 0.10 M to 0.75 M), dissolved into the electrolyte solution. Conventional device form factors and structural elements (e.g., porous carbon electrodes and a polyethylene separator) may be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erik J. Brandon, Marshall C. Smart, William C. West
  • Publication number: 20100243018
    Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation device using molybdenum metallization to a Zintl thermoelectric material in a thermoelectric power generation device operating at high temperature, e.g. at or above 1000° C., is disclosed. The Zintl thermoelectric material may comprise Yb14MnSb11. A thin molybdenum metallization layer of approximately 5 microns or less may be employed. The thin molybdenum layer may be applied in a foil under high pressure, e.g. 1800 psi, at high temperature, e.g. 1000° C. The metallization layer may then be bonded or brazed to other components, such as heat collectors or current carrying electrodes, of the thermoelectric power generation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Billy Chun-Yip Li, Erik J. Brandon, Vilupanur A. Ravi, Thierry Caillat, Richard C. Ewell, Samad A. Firdosy, Jeff S. Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20080304207
    Abstract: Double-layer capacitors capable of operating at extremely low temperatures (e.g., as low as ?75° C.) are disclosed. Electrolyte solutions combining a base solvent (e.g., acetonitrile) and a cosolvent are employed to lower the melting point of the base electrolyte. Example cosolvents include methyl formate, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, propionitrile, butyronitrile, and 1,3-dioxolane. An optimized concentration (e.g., 0.10 M to 0.75 M) of salt, such as tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate, is disolved into the electrolyte solution. In some cases (e.g., 1,3-dioxolane cosolvent) additives, such as 2% by volume triethylamine, may be included in the solvent mixture to prevent polymerization of the solution. Conventional device form factors and structural elements (e.g., porous carbon electrodes and a polyethylene separator) may be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erik J. Brandon, Marshall C. Smart, William C. West
  • Publication number: 20040006264
    Abstract: A neural prosthetic micro system includes an electrode array coupled to an integrated circuit (IC) which may include signal conditioning and processing circuitry. The IC may include a high pass filter that passes signals representative of local field potential (LFP) activity in a subject's brain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Mohammad M. Mojarradi, Erik J. Brandon, Jay F. Whitacre, Linda Y. Del Castillo, Richard A. Andersen, Travis W. Johnson, William C. West