Patents by Inventor Joan Vila

Joan Vila 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: 11881408
    Abstract: Elements of photonic devices with high aspect ratio patterns are fabricated. A stabilizing catalyst that forms a stable metal-semiconductor alloy allows to etch a substrate in vertical direction even at very low oxidant concentration without external bias or magnetic field. A metal layer on the substrate reacts with the oxidant contained in air and catalyzes the semiconductor etching by the etchant. Air in continuous flow at the metal layer allows to maintain constant the oxidant concentration in proximity of the metal layer. The process can continue for a long time in order to form very high aspect ratio structures in the order of 10,000:1. Once the etched semiconductor structure is formed, the continuous air flow supports the reactant species diffusing through the etched semiconductor structure to maintain a uniform etching rate. The continuous air flow supports the diffusion of reaction by-products to avoid poisoning of the etching reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Lucia Romano, Konstantins Jefimovs, Matias Kagias, Joan Vila Comamala, Marco Stampanoni
  • Publication number: 20220293427
    Abstract: Elements of photonic devices with high aspect ratio patterns are fabricated. A stabilizing catalyst that forms a stable metal-semiconductor alloy allows to etch a substrate in vertical direction even at very low oxidant concentration without external bias or magnetic field. A metal layer on the substrate reacts with the oxidant contained in air and catalyzes the semiconductor etching by the etchant. Air in continuous flow at the metal layer allows to maintain constant the oxidant concentration in proximity of the metal layer. The process can continue for a long time in order to form very high aspect ratio structures in the order of 10,000:1. Once the etched semiconductor structure is formed, the continuous air flow supports the reactant species diffusing through the etched semiconductor structure to maintain a uniform etching rate. The continuous air flow supports the diffusion of reaction by-products to avoid poisoning of the etching reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Lucia Romano, Konstantins Jefimovs, Matias Kagias, Joan Vila Comamala, Marco Stampanoni
  • Publication number: 20220214094
    Abstract: There is disclosed a transport refrigeration unit comprising an enclosed cargo space, an outer refrigeration cycle configured to transfer heat from the cargo space exteriorly of the cargo space, to cool the cargo space; a container installed within the cargo space; and an inner refrigeration cycle configured to transfer heat from an interior of the container, to cool the interior of the container. There is also disclosed a portable refrigeration device for use in such nested cooling arrangements, methods of adapting a transport refrigeration unit and/or portable refrigeration device for such use, a refrigeration module for such use, and an associated method of operating a transport refrigeration unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Inaki FERNANDEZ BLANCO, Santiago MARTINEZ BALLESTER, Joan VILA SOLER
  • Patent number: 11260723
    Abstract: A method for power and load management of a transport climate control system using a vehicle electrical system is provided. The method includes a controller determining a power draw of the transport climate control load network, determining an amount of power available from the vehicle electrical system, and determining whether the power draw of the transport climate control load network exceeds the amount of power available from the vehicle electrical system. Also, the method includes shedding one or more loads of the transport climate control load network to reduce the power draw of the transport climate control load network until the power draw of the transport climate control load network matches the power available from the vehicle electrical system. Further, the method includes supplying power from the vehicle electrical system to the transport climate control load network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Frantisek Zebra, Joan Vila Soler, Jordi Garcia Farran, Vikram Madineni
  • Patent number: 11192451
    Abstract: A method for managing energy to a transport climate control system from a vehicle electrical system is provided. The vehicle electrical system includes a vehicle power network and an auxiliary power network connected to a transport climate control load network via a DC regulated bus. The method includes monitoring a vehicle voltage of the vehicle power network and determining whether the vehicle power network requires holdover assistance based on the vehicle voltage. Also, the method includes the bus sending vehicle power energy generated by the vehicle power network to the transport climate control load network without assistance of the auxiliary power network when the controller determines that the vehicle power network has sufficient power capacity available, and the bus sending the vehicle power energy and auxiliary power energy stored by the auxiliary power network to the transport climate control load network when the controller determines that the vehicle power network requires holdover assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Jordi Garcia Farran, Joan Vila, Terence O'Shea, Frantisek Zebra, Vikram Madineni
  • Publication number: 20200406705
    Abstract: There is disclosed a climate controlled vehicle 11 comprising: a prime mover 21; a transport climate control unit 14; a vehicle power network 204 comprising: an alternator 205 configured to be driven by the prime mover when the prime mover is active, a primary battery 210 electrically connected to the alternator for charging; a secondary battery 211 electrically connected to the alternator for charging; power supply terminals 207 connecting the vehicle power network to the transport climate control unit; a switch 206 having a closed configuration in which the primary battery and the second battery are electrically coupled to the alternator for charging and an open configuration in which the secondary battery and the power supply terminals are isolated from the primary battery to prevent power supply from the primary battery to the transport climate control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Joan VILA SOLER, Inaki FERNANDEZ BLANCO, Jordi GARCIA FARRAN, Josep RAFECAS SABATE
  • Patent number: 10750626
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector, a circuit board, a housing. The connector may include a first portion, a second portion, and/or a third portion. The circuit board may include a first circuit board portion and/or a second circuit board portion. The connector may be configured to connect the first circuit board portion and/or the second circuit board portion to the housing. The first portion may be connected to the housing; the second portion may be connected to the first portion of the circuit board, and/or the third portion may be connected to the second portion of the circuit board. The first portion may include a first engagement portion, the second portion may include a second engagement portion, and/or the third portion may include a third engagement portion. The first engagement portion, the second engagement portion, and/or the third engagement portion may be disposed substantially perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Xavier Blas Morales, Ramón Piñana López, Joan Vila, Joan Ignasi Ferran Palau, Angel Molinero Benitez, Jose Gabriel Fernández Bañares
  • Publication number: 20200086744
    Abstract: A method for managing energy to a transport climate control system from a vehicle electrical system is provided. The vehicle electrical system includes a vehicle power network and an auxiliary power network connected to a transport climate control load network via a DC regulated bus. The method includes monitoring a vehicle voltage of the vehicle power network and determining whether the vehicle power network requires holdover assistance based on the vehicle voltage. Also, the method includes the bus sending vehicle power energy generated by the vehicle power network to the transport climate control load network without assistance of the auxiliary power network when the controller determines that the vehicle power network has sufficient power capacity available, and the bus sending the vehicle power energy and auxiliary power energy stored by the auxiliary power network to the transport climate control load network when the controller determines that the vehicle power network requires holdover assistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne SCHUMACHER, Jordi GARCIA FARRAN, Joan VILA, Terence O'SHEA, Frantisek ZEBRA, Vikram MADINENI
  • Publication number: 20200086712
    Abstract: A method for power and load management of a transport climate control system using a vehicle electrical system is provided. The method includes a controller determining a power draw of the transport climate control load network, determining an amount of power available from the vehicle electrical system, and determining whether the power draw of the transport climate control load network exceeds the amount of power available from the vehicle electrical system. Also, the method includes shedding one or more loads of the transport climate control load network to reduce the power draw of the transport climate control load network until the power draw of the transport climate control load network matches the power available from the vehicle electrical system. Further, the method includes supplying power from the vehicle electrical system to the transport climate control load network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne SCHUMACHER, Frantisek ZEBRA, Joan VILA SOLER, Jordi GARCIA FARRAN, Vikram MADINENI
  • Patent number: 10557170
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a more appropriate thromboembolic event risk assessment based on the presence of different genetic variant. The invention also relates to a method for determining the risk of suffering a thromboembolism disease by combining the absence or presence of one or more polymorphic markers in a sample from the subject with conventional risk factors for thromboembolism as well as computer-implemented means for carrying out said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Gendiag.exe, S.L.
    Inventors: Eduardo Salas, José Manuel Soria, Miroslava Ogorelkova, Roberto Elosua Llanos, Joan Vila, Sergio Castillo Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20180066313
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a more appropriate thromboembolic event risk assessment based on the presence of different genetic variant. The invention also relates to a method for determining the risk of suffering a thromboembolism disease by combining the absence or presence of one or more polymorphic markers in a sample from the subject with conventional risk factors for thromboembolism as well as computer-implemented means for carrying out said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Gendiag.exe, S.L.
    Inventors: Eduardo Salas, José Manuel Soria, Miroslava Ogorelkova, Roberto Elosua Llanos, Joan Vila, Sergio Castillo Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9613729
    Abstract: An enhanced mechanical design of multiple zone plates precision alignment apparatus for hard x-ray focusing in a twenty-nanometer scale is provided. The precision alignment apparatus includes a zone plate alignment base frame; a plurality of zone plates; and a plurality of zone plate holders, each said zone plate holder for mounting and aligning a respective zone plate for hard x-ray focusing. At least one respective positioning stage drives and positions each respective zone plate holder. Each respective positioning stage is mounted on the zone plate alignment base frame. A respective linkage component connects each respective positioning stage and the respective zone plate holder. The zone plate alignment base frame, each zone plate holder and each linkage component is formed of a selected material for providing thermal expansion stability and positioning stability for the precision alignment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC
    Inventors: Deming Shu, Jie Liu, Sophie C. Gleber, Joan Vila-Comamala, Barry Lai, Jorg M. Maser, Christian Roehrig, Michael J. Wojcik, Franz Stefan Vogt
  • Patent number: 9518297
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a more appropriate thromboembolic event risk assessment based on the presence of different genetic variant. The invention also relates to a method for determining the risk of suffering a thromboembolism disease by combining the absence or presence of one or more polymorphic markers in a sample from the subject with conventional risk factors for thromboembolism as well as computer-implemented means for carrying out said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Gendiag.exe, S.L.
    Inventors: Eduardo Salas, José Manuel Soria, Miroslava Ogorelkova, Roberto Elosua Llanos, Joan Vila, Sergio Castillo
  • Publication number: 20160102355
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a more appropriate thromboembolic event risk assessment based on the presence of different genetic variant. The invention also relates to a method for determining the risk of suffering a thromboembolism disease by combining the absence or presence of one or more polymorphic markers in a sample from the subject with conventional risk factors for thromboembolism as well as computer-implemented means for carrying out said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: Gendiag.exe, S.L.
    Inventors: Eduardo Salas, José Manuel Soria, Miroslava Ogorelkova, Roberto Elosua Llanos, Joan Vila, Sergio Castillo Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20150340114
    Abstract: An enhanced mechanical design of multiple zone plates precision alignment apparatus for hard x-ray focusing in a twenty-nanometer scale is provided. The precision alignment apparatus includes a zone plate alignment base frame; a plurality of zone plates; and a plurality of zone plate holders, each said zone plate holder for mounting and aligning a respective zone plate for hard x-ray focusing. At least one respective positioning stage drives and positions each respective zone plate holder. Each respective positioning stage is mounted on the zone plate alignment base frame. A respective linkage component connects each respective positioning stage and the respective zone plate holder. The zone plate alignment base frame, each zone plate holder and each linkage component is formed of a selected material for providing thermal expansion stability and positioning stability for the precision alignment apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Deming Shu, Jie Liu, Sophie C. Gleber, Joan Vila-Comamala, Barry Lai, Jorg M. Maser, Christian Roehrig, Michael J. Wojcik, Franz Stefan Vogt
  • Publication number: 20140221230
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a more appropriate thromboembolic event risk assessment based on the presence of different genetic variant. The invention also relates to a method for determining the risk of suffering a thromboembolism disease by combining the absence or presence of one or more polymorphic markers in a sample from the subject with conventional risk factors for thromboembolism as well as computer-implemented means for carrying out said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Gendiag.exe, S.L.
    Inventors: Eduardo Salas, José Manuel Soria, Miroslava Ogorelkova, Roberto Elosua Llanos, Joan Vila, Sergio Castillo
  • Patent number: 6890196
    Abstract: An extraction and opening system of vehicle distribution box lids applicable to electric distribution boxes in vehicles of the type having an opening system by means of hinges or by means of its complete extraction, since the box has a cylindrical pin on one of its sides being introduced into the hinges arranged on the box lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Lear Automotive (EEDS) Spain, S.L.
    Inventor: Joan Vila
  • Publication number: 20040077195
    Abstract: An extraction and opening system of vehicle distribution box lids applicable to electric distribution boxes in vehicles of the type having an opening system by means of hinges or by means of its complete extraction, since the box has a cylindrical pin on one of its sides being introduced into the hinges arranged on the box lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Joan Vila