Patents by Inventor Joseph D. Steinmeyer

Joseph D. Steinmeyer 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: 20090085427
    Abstract: A power generation system produces electrical power from the flow of a fluid, such as water. Particularly, the fluid flow may be driven by evaporation of the fluid. A conduit for conveying the fluid is defined through a substrate includes at least one opening for allowing evaporation of the fluid. A dielectric substance is disposed within the conduit and impelled through the conduit by the evaporation of the fluid. The dielectric substance has a permittivity different from the permittivity of the fluid. A variable capacitor has a first plate and a second plate separated by the conduit. As such, the capacitance of the variable capacitor varies as the fluid and the dielectric substance flow between the plates. A charge pump circuit is electrically connected to the variable capacitor to store charge generated by the variable capacitor into a storage capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Ruba T. Borno, Michel M. Maharbiz, Joseph D. Steinmeyer