Patents by Inventor Francesca SERRA

Francesca SERRA 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).

  • System and method for manipulating a colloidal particle
    Patent number: 11708532
    Abstract: Methods for colloidal particle manipulation mediated by an elastic fluid responsive to changes in boundary conditions, including methods of controlling motion of colloidal particles using wavy wall boundary conditions. Methods for driving transitions in topological defect configurations of colloidal particles using wavy wall boundary conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Kathleen J Stebe, Francesca Serra, Yimin Luo
  • Direct mapping of local director field of nematic liquid crystals at the nanoscale
    Patent number: 11680207
    Abstract: Mesogenic compounds having a structure of Formula (I), (II) or (III): where A, B, X1, L, TG, m, and n are defined as in claim 1. Compositions containing these compounds, articles made from these polymerized and prepolymerized compositions, and methods of estimating the elastic constants and anchoring constants of a liquid crystal materials and mapping topological defect structures in liquid crystals using these compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Shu Yang, Yu Xia, Francesca Serra, Randall D. Kamien, Kathleen J. Stebe
  • Microrobots In Nematic Liquid Crystals
    Publication number: 20210087470
    Abstract: Methods for colloidal particle manipulation mediated by an elastic fluid responsive to changes in boundary conditions, including methods of controlling motion of colloidal particles using wavy wall boundary conditions are provided. Additionally, methods for driving transitions in topological defect configurations of colloidal particles using wavy wall boundary conditions are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kathleen J. Stebe, Francesca Serra, Yimin Luo
  • DIRECT MAPPING OF LOCAL DIRECTOR FIELD OF NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS AT THE NANOSCALE
    Publication number: 20180244995
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to mesogenic compounds having a structure of Formula (I), (II) or (III): where A, B, X1, L, TG, m, and n are defined herein, and compositions containing these compounds, as well as articles made from such polymerized and prepolymerized compositions and methods of estimating the elastic constants and anchoring constants of a liquid crystal materials and mapping topological defect structures in liquid crystals using these compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Yu XIA, Randall D. KAMIEN, Shu YANG, Francesca SERRA, Kathleen J. Stebe