Patents by Inventor Francois Lenouvel

Francois Lenouvel 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: 9127651
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (22) for changing the pH of a solvent in which a substance is dissolved. The device includes a housing (24) in contact with the solvent through a housing wall (26) that is permissive to the solvent and the substance. The housing contains enzymes adapted for converting the substance in order to provide hydrogen or hydroxyle ions; the housing wall being non-permissive to the enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE JOSEPH FOURIER
    Inventors: Philippe Cinquin, François Lenouvel, Vanessa Durrieu, Stéphane Mathe, Pierre Mozer
  • Patent number: 8962196
    Abstract: A novel cell including first and second chambers containing a solvent and separated by a wall permeable to the solvent and impermeable to hydronium and/or hydroxyl ions; a first electrode in the first chamber; a second electrode in the second chamber; a first redox couple in the first chamber comprising a first oxidizer and a first reducer taking part in first oxidation-reduction reactions resulting in an electron exchange with the first electrode; a second redox couple in the second chamber comprising a second oxidizer and a second reducer taking part in second oxidation-reduction reactions resulting in an electron exchange with the second electrode, the wall being impermeable to the first and second redox couples; and first enzymes or first microorganisms placed in the first or second chamber and promoting a third oxidation-reduction reaction resulting transforming a first substance to a second substance comprising acid or alkaline species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Universite Joseph Fourier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, InstitutNational des Sciences Appliquees de Toulouse
    Inventors: Aymeric Pellissier, Chantal Gondran, Francois Lenouvel, Philippe Cinquin, Serge Cosnier, Stephane Mathe
  • Patent number: 8859269
    Abstract: An actuator that includes an enclosure having a wall impermeable to a first solute and permeable to a solvent and containing, at least temporarily, a catalyst capable of promoting the transformation of at least one second solute into the first solute to vary the osmotic pressure in the enclosure; and a deformable chamber connected to the enclosure, the chamber being capable of increasing in volume under the action of the solvent moving from the enclosure into the chamber by osmosis or the enclosure being designed to be arranged in contact with the solvent, the chamber being capable of increasing in volume under the action of the solvent penetrating into the enclosure by osmosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Universite Joseph Fourier, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble
    Inventors: François Lenouvel, Vanessa Durrieu, Naceur Belgacem, Philippe Cinquin
  • Publication number: 20110135967
    Abstract: A novel cell including first and second chambers containing a solvent and separated by a wall permeable to the solvent and impermeable to hydronium and/or hydroxyl ions; a first electrode in the first chamber; a second electrode in the second chamber; a first redox couple in the first chamber comprising a first oxidizer and a first reducer taking part in first oxidation-reduction reactions resulting in an electron exchange with the first electrode; a second redox couple in the second chamber comprising a second oxidizer and a second reducer taking part in second oxidation-reduction reactions resulting in an electron exchange with the second electrode, the wall being impermeable to the first and second redox couples; and first enzymes or first microorganisms placed in the first or second chamber and promoting a third oxidation-reduction reaction resulting transforming a first substance to a second substance comprising acid or alkaline species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicants: Universite Joseph Fourier, Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, Institut National Des Sciences Appliquees De Toulouse
    Inventors: Aymeric Pellissier, Chantal Gondran, Francois Lenouvel, Philippe Cinquin, Serge Cosnier, Stephane Mathe
  • Publication number: 20100145318
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (22) for changing the pH of a solvent in which a substance is dissolved. The device includes a housing (24) in contact with the solvent through a housing wall (26) that is permissive to the solvent and the substance. The housing contains enzymes adapted for converting the substance in order to provide hydrogen or hydroxyle ions; the housing wall being non-permissive to the enzymes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE JOSEPH FOURIER
    Inventors: Philippe Cinquin, Francois Lenouvel, Vanessa Durrieu, Stephane Mathe, Pierre Mozer
  • Publication number: 20090120082
    Abstract: An actuator comprising an enclosure having a wall impermeable to a first solute and permeable to a solvent and containing, at least temporarily, a catalyst capable of promoting the transformation of at least one second solute into the first solute to vary the osmotic pressure in the enclosure; and a deformable chamber connected to the enclosure, said chambre being capable of increasing in volume under the action of the solvent moving from the enclosure into the chamber by osmosis or said enclosure being designed to be arranged in contact with the solvent, said chamber being capable of increasing in volume under the action of the solvent penetrating into the enclosure by osmosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Francois Lenouvel, Vanessa Durrieu, Naceur Belgacem, Philippe Cinquin