Patents by Inventor Ian L. Winger

Ian L. Winger 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).

  • Inflatable solar energy collector apparatus
    Patent number: 8235035
    Abstract: An inflatable solar energy collector. The device uses two elongated and pressure-stabilized air chambers with a trough-shaped reflecting surface in between. The curvature of the reflecting surface is adjusted by adjusting the differential pressure between the two air chambers. The device can be configured to provide a focal point outside the air chambers or inside the air chambers. For the version using the external focal point an external energy receiver is appropriately positioned. For the version using the internal focal point, the receiver is mounted inside one of the air chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ian L. Winger, Sean A. Barton
  • Inflatable solar energy collector apparatus
    Publication number: 20090260620
    Abstract: An inflatable solar energy collector. The device uses two elongated and pressure-stabilized air chambers with a trough-shaped reflecting surface in between. The curvature of the reflecting surface is adjusted by adjusting the differential pressure between the two air chambers. The device can be configured to provide a focal point outside the air chambers or inside the air chambers. For the version using the external focal point an external energy receiver is appropriately positioned. For the version using the internal focal point, the receiver is mounted inside one of the air chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Ian L. Winger, Sean A. Barton