Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. Shepard

Kenneth L. Shepard 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: 20130224879
    Abstract: DNA-based temperature sensor for measuring temperature through a transition of one or more strands of DNA from a coupled configuration to a decoupled configuration at a temperature threshold, and a fluorescent dye adapted to emit fluorescence when the DNA is in the coupled configuration, includes a receptacle adapted to receive the DNA and the fluorescent dye in a solution, an imaging device adapted to acquire an image of fluorescence emitted from the solution, the image having a plurality of regions, and a processor adapted to determine a plurality of fluorescence levels corresponding to each of the plurality of regions of the image and to generate a temperature map based on the determined fluorescence levels. A method for measuring temperature and a DNA-based temperature sensing solution are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Shepard, Ioannis Kymissis, Haig Norian
  • Patent number: 7880551
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing a clock signal are disclosed. In some embodiments, systems for distributing a clock signal include a plurality of resonant oscillators, each comprising an inductor; and a differential clock grid that distributes the clock signal. The differential clock grid is coupled to the plurality of resonant oscillators and the clock signal, and the inductances of the inductors are configured such that a resonant frequency of the plurality of resonant oscillators is substantially equal to the frequency of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Steven Chan, Kenneth L. Shepard, Zheng Xu
  • Publication number: 20100300899
    Abstract: Electrochemical sensing of biomolecules eliminates the need for bulky optical instruments required in traditional fluorescence-based sensing assays. Integration of the sensor interface electrodes and active electrochemical detection circuitry on CMOS substrates miniaturizes the sensing platform, enhancing portability for point-of-care applications, while enabling high-throughput, highly-parallel analysis. One embodiment includes a four-by-four active sensor array for multiplexed electrochemical biomolecular detection in a standard 0.25-?m CMOS process. Integrated potentiostats, including control amplifiers and dual-slope ADCs, stimulate the electrochemical cell and detect the current flowing through on-chip gold electrodes at each sensor site resulting from biomolecular reactions occurring on the chip surface. Post-processing techniques for fabricating biologically-compatible surface-electrode arrays in CMOS that can withstand operation in harsh electrochemical environments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Peter M. Levine, Kenneth L. Shepard, Ping Gong, Levicky Rastislav
  • Patent number: 7738086
    Abstract: An active CMOS biosensor chip for fluorescent-based detection is provided that enables time-gated, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In one embodiment, analytes are loaded with fluorophores that are bound to probe molecules immobilized on the surface of the chip. Photodiodes and other circuitry in the chip are used to measure the fluorescent intensity of the fluorophore at different times. These measurements are then averaged to generate a representation of the transient fluorescent decay response unique to the fluorophores. In addition to its low-cost, compact form, the biosensor chip provides capabilities beyond those of macroscopic instrumentation by enabling time-gated operation for background rejection, easing requirements on optical filters, and by characterizing fluorescence lifetime, allowing for a more detailed characterization of fluorophore labels and their environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Shepard, Rastislav Levicky, George Patounakis
  • Publication number: 20090302952
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing a clock signal are disclosed. In some embodiments, systems for distributing a clock signal include a plurality of resonant oscillators, each comprising an inductor; and a differential clock grid that distributes the clock signal. The differential clock grid is coupled to the plurality of resonant oscillators and the clock signal, and the inductances of the inductors are configured such that a resonant frequency of the plurality of resonant oscillators is substantially equal to the frequency of the clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Steven Chan, Kenneth L. Shepard, Zheng Xu
  • Patent number: 7548094
    Abstract: Systems and methods for on-chip signaling are disclosed. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit having on-chip signaling between a first component and a second component includes, a differential interconnect capable of coupling the first component to the second component, a driver capable of being coupled to the first component that sends data on the differential interconnect, a receiver capable of being coupled to the second component that receives the data, and a plurality of negative impedance converters capable of being coupled to the differential interconnect that provide loss compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Shepard, Anup P. Jose
  • Patent number: 6975705
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus is disclosed for capturing call processing failures in a telecommunication system occurring at a telecommunication switch control processor as the failures occur. The system includes a computing system adapted for communicating with the telecommunication system. The computing system includes one or more computers having one or more processors for executing logic instructions; a memory associated with the computing system for storing the instructions; a storage device adapted for communicating with the computing system for storing data; and a communication device associated with the computing system for establishing a communication link between the computing system and the telecommunication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventors: Yuergen Boehmke, Kenneth L. Shepard
  • Patent number: 6788933
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus is disclosed for capturing call processing failures in a telecommunication system occurring at a telecommunication digital cellular switch as the failures occur. The system includes a computing system adapted for communicating with the telecommunication system, the computing system including one or more computers having one or more processors for executing logic instructions; a memory associated with the computing system for storing the instructions; a storage device adapted for communicating with the computing system for storing data; and a communication device associated with the computing system for establishing a communication link between the computing system and the telecommunication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Yuergen Boehmke, Kenneth L. Shepard
  • Patent number: 6453444
    Abstract: Disclosed is an approximate inductance extraction method that can be practically applied to full-chip inductance extraction of complex integrated circuits. The method results in a positive semi-definite inductance matrix and achieves sparsity of the inductance matrix by breaking inductive couplings between power-ground lines and signal lines and by using a set of geometry based decomposition rules to eliminate insignificant coupling interactions between signal lines. By taking advantage of the ever-present availability of power-ground lines as high frequency current returns while preserving inductive coupling between signal lines, the disclosed method has demonstrated higher efficiency and accuracy than other inductance matrix sparsification techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20020126822
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus is disclosed for capturing call processing failures in a telecommunication system occurring at a telecommunication switch control processor as the failures occur. The system includes a computing system adapted for communicating with the telecommunication system. The computing system includes one or more computers having one or more processors for executing logic instructions; a memory associated with the computing system for storing the instructions; a storage device adapted for communicating with the computing system for storing data; and a communication device associated with the computing system for establishing a communication link between the computing system and the telecommunication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Yuergen Boehmke, Kenneth L. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20020119771
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus is disclosed for capturing call processing failures in a telecommunication system occurring at a telecommunication digital cellular switch as the failures occur. The system includes a computing system adapted for communicating with the telecommunication system, the computing system including one or more computers having one or more processors for executing logic instructions; a memory associated with the computing system for storing the instructions; a storage device adapted for communicating with the computing system for storing data; and a communication device associated with the computing system for establishing a communication link between the computing system and the telecommunication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Yuergen Boehmke, Kenneth L. Shepard
  • Patent number: 5334591
    Abstract: Conformationally constrained tricyclic thienothiopyran compounds are topically effective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors useful in the treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baldwin, Kenneth L. Shepard, Gerald S. Ponticello, Theresa M. Williams
  • Patent number: 5216020
    Abstract: Substituted 4,5-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]thiophene-2-sulfonamides and 6,6-dioxides thereof are topically effective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors useful in the treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baldwin, Kenneth L. Shepard, Ronald J. Hudcosky, Theresa M. Williams
  • Patent number: 5175284
    Abstract: Intermediates are described for preparing conformationally constrained tricyclic thienothiopyran compounds that are topically effective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors useful in the treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baldwin, Gerald S. Ponticello, Kenneth L. Shepard, Theresa M. Williams
  • Patent number: 5093332
    Abstract: Thieno[2,3-b][1,4]thiazine-6-sulfonamides having the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein Z, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and n are as hereinafter defined, are carbonic anhydrase inhibitors useful in the topical treatment of elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Shepard, Cecilia A. Hunt
  • Patent number: 5091409
    Abstract: 4-Alkylamino-6-(C.sub.3-5 -hydrocarbyl)thieno[2,3-b]thiopyran-2-sulfonamide-7,7-dioxides wherein the 4-alkylamino group is an ethylamino or propylamino are powerful carbonic anhydrase inhibitors useful in the treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baldwin, Gerald S. Ponticello, Kenneth L. Shepard, Theresa M. Williams
  • Patent number: 4847289
    Abstract: Aryl (or aralkyl)-sulfonylthiophene-2-sulfonamides containing a basic functional group as a substituent are efficacious in the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma following topical ocular administration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baldwin, Charles M. Habecker, Samuel L. Graham, Wasyl Halczenko, George D. Hartman, Harvey Schwam, Gerald S. Ponticello, Kenneth L. Shepard
  • Patent number: 4840963
    Abstract: Novel 2-sulfamoyl-1H-indoles and derivatives thereof are shown to be useful for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in pharmaceutical compositions designed for systemic or topical ophthalmic administration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Shepard, Samuel L. Graham
  • Patent number: 4788192
    Abstract: Novel 2-sulfamoylbenzo[b]thiopenes and derivatives thereof are shown to be useful for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in compositions including ophthalmic drops and inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Shepard, Samuel L. Graham
  • Patent number: 4731368
    Abstract: Thienopyridine sulfonamides are carbonic anhydrase inhibitors useful in the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure and disorders associated therewith such as glaucoma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob M. Hoffman, Jr., Kenneth L. Shepard