Patents by Inventor Jeffrey H. Lang

Jeffrey H. Lang 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: 20240372470
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an electrical-to-electrical power converter includes an energy storage component including a transducer material and a second material for mechanical energy storage, the second material attached to the transducer material. In some embodiments, the transducer material and the second material are both configured to store mechanical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Lang, David J. Perreault, Jessica Boles, Joseph Bonavia
  • Patent number: 12126324
    Abstract: Described are structures and techniques for providing high-efficiency, high-power-density piezoelectric resonators (PRs) for use in power converters. In some embodiments, a power converter can include a PR for energy transfer, where the PR substantially satisfies geometry conditions disclosed herein for achieving high-efficiency and high-power-density. The geometry conditions can be defined in terms of the converter's specified (e.g., rated) voltage and power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David J. Perreault, Jessica Boles, Jeffrey H. Lang, Joseph Bonavia
  • Publication number: 20240322789
    Abstract: Described are structures and techniques for providing high-efficiency. high-power-density piezoelectric resonators (PRs) for use in power converters. In some embodiments. a power converter can include a PR for energy transfer. where the PR substantially satisfies geometry conditions disclosed herein for achieving high-efficiency and high-power-density. The geometry conditions can be defined in terms of the converter's specified (e.g., rated) voltage and power level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David J. Perreault, Jessica Boles, Jeffrey H. Lang, Joseph Bonavia
  • Patent number: 12085591
    Abstract: A multi-sensor, real-time, in-process current and voltage estimation system is disclosed including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that allow accurate estimation of currents and voltages from magnetic and electric field measurements, respectively. Aspects of the system may be embodied in a detector that is readily attachable to conductors of an energized system for contactless current and/or voltage sensing of the conductors without requiring the conductors to be disconnected from the energized system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignees: HARTING Electric Stiftung & Co. KG, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, Felix Loske, Enger Knop, Lutz Tröger, Alan E. Casallas, Jeffrey H. Lang
  • Publication number: 20240213883
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, a converter having a first port and a second port, the converter comprises: a piezoelectric transformer (PT) having a first port and a second port; one or more first switches configured to operate in accordance with a first switching sub-sequence to transfer energy from the first port of the converter to the first port of the PT, the first switching sub-sequence having at least six (6) stages; and one or more second switches configured to operate in accordance with a second switching sub-sequence to transfer energy from the second port of the PT to the second port of the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jessica Boles, Elaine Ng, Jeffrey H. Lang, David J. Perreault
  • Patent number: 11998207
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating an anastomosis or fistula between the gallbladder and an adjacent organ are disclosed. First, a parent magnet, typically a permanent magnet, is deployed in the stomach, small intestine, or another organ adjacent to the gallbladder, and a mating daughter material is deployed in the gallbladder in order to create a magnet-compression anastomosis. The gallbladder may then be ablated or otherwise functionally inactivated through the anastomosis. Another aspect of the invention relates to an all-in-one surgical kit that contains all the necessary specialized tools for a surgeon to perform the procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: G.I. Windows, Inc.
    Inventors: John McWeeney, Marvin Ryou, Padraig Cantillon-Murphy, Jeffrey H. Lang, Christopher Thompson
  • Publication number: 20240080630
    Abstract: An active acoustic system includes a thin-film sheet having an array of piezoelectric microstructures embossed in the film. Each piezoelectric microstructure may act as a speaker and/or a microphone. A control circuit is configured to individually address the piezoelectric microstructures to provide a separate voltage signal to, or receive a separate voltage signal from, each piezoelectric microstructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jinchi HAN, Jeffrey H. LANG, Vladimir BULOVIC
  • Patent number: 11843915
    Abstract: An active acoustic system includes a thin-film sheet having an array of piezoelectric microstructures embossed in the film. Each piezoelectric microstructure may act as a speaker and/or a microphone. A control circuit is configured to individually address the piezoelectric microstructures to provide a separate voltage signal to, or receive a separate voltage signal from, each piezoelectric microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jinchi Han, Jeffrey H. Lang, Vladimir Bulovic
  • Publication number: 20230280375
    Abstract: A multi-sensor, real-time, in-process current and voltage estimation system is disclosed including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that allow accurate estimation of currents and voltages from magnetic and electric field measurements, respectively. Aspects of the system may be embodied in a detector that is readily attachable to conductors of an energized system for contactless current and/or voltage sensing of the conductors without requiring the conductors to be disconnected from the energized system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, Felix Loske, Enger Knop, Lutz Tröger, Alan E. Casallas, Jeffrey H. Lang
  • Publication number: 20230247376
    Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor and amplifier for use with an auditory aid device are disclosed. The piezoelectric sensor includes a top sensor and a bottom sensor disposed on opposite surfaces of a flex printed circuit board. The top and bottom sensors are made of a piezoelectric material, such as PVDF. Further, the piezoelectric sensor is adapted to be implanted into a subject's ear, where the piezoelectric sensor is cantilevered with the free, or distal end, touching the umbo. The proximal end is held in place by a support that is affixed to the ear. Additionally, the piezoelectric sensor is shaped so that the width of the distal end is less than the width at the proximal end. Further, the piezoelectric sensor generates differential signals, which are then amplified using a differential amplifier circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Lang, Aaron J. Yeiser, Hideko Heidi Nakajima, Ioannis Kymissis, Elizabeth Olson, Christopher I. McHugh, Lukas Graf
  • Publication number: 20230165585
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating an anastomosis or fistula between the gallbladder and an adjacent organ are disclosed. First, a parent magnet, typically a permanent magnet, is deployed in the stomach, small intestine, or another organ adjacent to the gallbladder, and a mating daughter material is deployed in the gallbladder in order to create a magnet-compression anastomosis. The gallbladder may then be ablated or otherwise functionally inactivated through the anastomosis. Another aspect of the invention relates to an all-in-one surgical kit that contains all the necessary specialized tools for a surgeon to perform the procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: John McWeeney, Marvin Ryou, Padraig Cantillon-Murphy, Jeffrey H. Lang, Christopher Thompson
  • Publication number: 20230054412
    Abstract: An active acoustic system includes a thin-film sheet having an array of piezoelectric microstructures embossed in the film. Each piezoelectric microstructure may act as a speaker and/or a microphone. A control circuit is configured to individually address the piezoelectric microstructures to provide a separate voltage signal to, or receive a separate voltage signal from, each piezoelectric microstructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Jinchi HAN, Jeffrey H. LANG, Vladimir BULOVIC
  • Publication number: 20220155159
    Abstract: Described embodiments provide an electromechanical transducer including a mechanically compliant, elastically deformable array of dielectric shells. A first electrically conductive electrode is disposed on a first surface of the array. A second electrically conductive electrode is disposed on a second surface of the array, where the second surface opposes the first surface. The array is configured to be mechanically compliant and elastically deformable in response to one or more incident forces applied to the electromechanical transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Vladimir BULOVIC, Apoorva MURARKA, Damien REARDON, Jeffrey H. LANG, Jinchi HAN
  • Patent number: 11190868
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a headphone device, comprises at least one ear muff comprising a structure to hold the at least one ear muff against an ear of a user, and at least one driver disposed in the at least one ear muff. An earbud comprises an earbud housing having a protrusion to fit into an external acoustic meatus or ear canal of a user, and a driver disposed in the earbud housing. The driver comprises an electrostatic acoustic transducer comprising a substrate comprising a first material to function as a first electrode, a dielectric layer coupled with the first material, wherein the dielectric layer has one or more cavities formed therein, and a membrane coupled with the dielectric layer to cover the one or more cavities and to function as a second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Apoorva Murarka, Vladimir Bulovic, Jeffrey H. Lang
  • Patent number: 11152227
    Abstract: A method includes encapsulating structures disposed on or over a surface of a substrate in an encapsulant. The method also includes separating the encapsulant from the substrate. An apparatus includes a composite film having structures embedded in an encapsulant. The composite film has a surface with a surface roughness of less than one nm. An apparatus includes an encapsulant film having a surface with indentations formed therein. The surface has a surface roughness apart from the indentations of less than one nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard Swartwout, Farnaz Niroui, Vladimir Bulovic, Jeffrey H. Lang, Joel Jean
  • Publication number: 20210231709
    Abstract: A multi-sensor, real-time, in-process current and voltage estimation system is disclosed including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that allow accurate estimation of currents and voltages from magnetic and electric field measurements, respectively. Aspects of the system may be embodied in a detector that is readily attachable to conductors of an energized system for contactless current and/or voltage sensing of the conductors without requiring the conductors to be disconnected from the energized system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, Felix Loske, Enger Knop, Lutz Tröger, Alan E. Casallas, Jeffrey H. Lang
  • Patent number: 10986435
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a hearing aid comprises a housing and an audio processing system disposed in the housing, the audio processing system comprising at least one amplifier, an earbud formed as part of the housing or coupled to the housing to fit into an external acoustic meatus or ear canal of a user, one or more microphones coupled to an input of the amplifier, and one or more drivers coupled to an output of the amplifier to reproduce an amplified version of an input acoustic wave impinging on the one or more microphones. The audio processing system including a processor coupled between the microphone and the driver, wherein the processor is to provide one or more hearing correction functions. At least one of the one or more drivers or the one or more microphones, or a combination thereof, comprises an electrostatic acoustic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Apoorva Murarka, Vladimir Bulovic, Jeffrey H. Lang
  • Publication number: 20200222049
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating an anastomosis or fistula between the gallbladder and an adjacent organ are disclosed. First, a parent magnet, typically a permanent magnet, is deployed in the stomach, small intestine, or another organ adjacent to the gallbladder, and a mating daughter material is deployed in the gallbladder in order to create a magnet-compression anastomosis. The gallbladder may then be ablated or otherwise functionally inactivated through the anastomosis. Another aspect of the invention relates to an all-in-one surgical kit that contains all the necessary specialized tools for a surgeon to perform the procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: John McWeeney, Marvin Ryou, Padraig Cantillon-Murphy, Jeffrey H. Lang, Christopher Thompson
  • Patent number: 10566492
    Abstract: Light-emitting devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may emit light when a tunneling current is generated within the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Massachuesetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Farnaz Niroui, Thomas Stephen Mahony, Vladimir Bulovic, Jeffrey H. Lang
  • Patent number: 10475601
    Abstract: Devices comprising at least two electrodes with a layer disposed therebetween are disclosed. In some embodiments, the layer disposed therebetween may be an insulator. In some embodiments, the layer may be capable of being deformed. Deforming the layer may cause a change in one or more materials properties of the device, such as the electrical properties and/or the optical properties of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Lang, Timothy M. Swager, Vladimir Bulovic, Farnaz Niroui, Ellen Sletten