Patents by Inventor James P. Blanchard

James P. Blanchard 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).

  • DIRECT CHARGE RADIOISTOPE ACTIVATION AND POWER GENERATION
    Publication number: 20030006668
    Abstract: An activator has a base on which is mounted an elastically deformable micromechanical element that has a section that is free to be displaced toward the base. An absorber of radioactively emitted particles is formed on the base or the displaceable section of the deformable element and a source is formed on the other of the displaceable section or the base facing the absorber across a small gap. The radioactive source emits charged particles such as electrons, resulting in a buildup of charge on the absorber, drawing the absorber and source together and storing mechanical energy as the deformable element is bent. When the force between the absorber and the source is sufficient to bring the absorber into effective electrical contact with the source, discharge of the charge between the source and absorber allows the deformable element to spring back, releasing the mechanical energy stored in the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Hui Li, James P. Blanchard, Douglass L. Henderson
  • Direct charge radioisotope activation and power generation
    Patent number: 6479920
    Abstract: An activator has a base on which is mounted an elastically deformable micromechanical element that has a section that is free to be displaced toward the base. An absorber of radioactively emitted particles is formed on the base or the displaceable section of the deformable element and a source is formed on the other of the displaceable section or the base facing the absorber across a small gap. The radioactive source emits charged particles such as electrons, resulting in a buildup of charge on the absorber, drawing the absorber and source together and storing mechanical energy as the deformable element is bent. When the force between the absorber and the source is sufficient to bring the absorber into effective electrical contact with the source, discharge of the charge between the source and absorber allows the deformable element to spring back, releasing the mechanical energy stored in the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Hui Li, James P. Blanchard, Douglass L. Henderson