Patents by Inventor Kent R. Mann

Kent R. Mann 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: 6578406
    Abstract: A sandwich device was prepared by electrodeposition of an insoluble layer of oligomerized tris(4-(2-thienyl)phenyl)amine onto conducting indium-tin oxide coated glass, spin coating the stacked platinum compound, tetrakis(p-decylphenylisocyano)platinum tetranitroplatinate, from toluene onto the oligomer layer, and then coating the platinum complex with aluminum by vapor deposition. This device showed rectification of current and gave electroluminescence. The electroluminescence spectrum (&lgr;max=545 nm) corresponded to the photoluminescence spectrum of the platinum complex. Exposure of the device to acetone vapor caused the electroemission to shift to 575 nm. Exposure to toluene vapor caused a return to the original spectrum. These results demonstrate a new type of sensor that reports the arrival of organic vapors with an electroluminescent signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Yoshihito Kunugi, Kent R. Mann, Larry L. Miller, Christopher L. Exstrom
  • Patent number: 6417923
    Abstract: A sandwich-type, organic p-n junction photodiode is prepared by electrode-position of an insoluble layer of oligomerized tris(4-(2-thienyl)phenyl)amine onto conducting indium-tin oxide coated glass, spin-coating the stacked platinum compound, bis(cyanide)-bis(para-dodecylphenylisocyanide)platinum (II), from chloroform onto the oligomer layer, and then coating the platinum complex with a micro-array of aluminum electrodes by vapor deposition. This device shows rectification of current and gives a measurable photocurrent. The photocurrent action spectrum follows the absorption spectrum of the platinum complex; changes in the action spectrum with layer thickness point to a p-n junction formed at the interface of the molecular layers as the site of rectification. Exposure of the device to acetone vapor causes the action spectrum to shift dramatically to longer wavelength. Exposure to chloroform vapor causes a return to the original spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Yoshihito Kunugi, Kent R. Mann, Larry L. Miller, Marie K. Pomije
  • Publication number: 20020042174
    Abstract: A sandwich device was prepared by electrodeposition of an insoluble layer of oligomerized tris(4-(2-thienyl)phenyl)amine onto conducting indium-tin oxide coated glass, spin coating the stacked platinum compound, tetrakis(p-decylphenylisocyano)platinum tetranitroplatinate, from toluene onto the oligomer layer, and then coating the platinum complex with aluminum by vapor deposition. This device showed rectification of current and gave electroluminescence. The electroluminescence spectrum (&lgr;max=545 nm) corresponded to the photoluminescence spectrum of the platinum complex. Exposure of the device to acetone vapor caused the electroemission to shift to 575 nm. Exposure to toluene vapor caused a return to the original spectrum. These results demonstrate a new type of sensor that reports the arrival of organic vapors with an electroluminescent signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshihito Kunugi, Kent R. Mann, Larry L. Miller, Christopher L. Exstrom
  • Patent number: 6338977
    Abstract: A sandwich device was prepared by electrodeposition of an insoluble layer of oligomerized tris(4-(2-thienyl)phenyl)amine onto conducting indium-tin oxide coated glass, spin coating the stacked platinum compound, tetrakis(p-decylphenylisocyano)platinum tetranitroplatinate, from toluene onto the oligomer layer, and then coating the platinum complex with aluminum by vapor deposition. This device showed rectification of current and gave electroluminescence. The electroluminescence spectrum (&mgr;max=545 nm) corresponded to the photoluminescence spectrum of the platinum complex. Exposure of the device to acetone vapor caused the electroemission to shift to 575 nm. Exposure to toluene vapor caused a return to the original spectrum. These results demonstrate a new type of sensor that reports the arrival of organic vapors with an electroluminescent signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Yoshihito Kunugi, Kent R. Mann, Larry L. Miller, Christopher L. Exstrom
  • Patent number: 6160267
    Abstract: A sandwich device was prepared by electrodeposition of an insoluble layer of oligomerized tris(4-(2-thienyl)phenyl)amine onto conducting indium-tin oxide coated glass, spin coating the stacked platinum compound, tetrakis(p-decylphenylisocyano)platinum tetranitroplatinate, from toluene onto the oligomer layer, and then coating the platinum complex with aluminum by vapor deposition. This device showed rectification of current and gave electroluminescence. The electroluminescence spectrum (.lambda..sub.max =545 nm) corresponded to the photoluminescence spectrum of the platinum complex. Exposure of the device to acetone vapor caused the electroemission to shift to 575 nm. Exposure to toluene vapor caused a return to the original spectrum. These results demonstrate a new type of sensor that reports the arrival of organic vapors with an electroluminescent signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Yoshihito Kunugi, Kent R. Mann, Larry L. Miller, Christopher L. Exstrom
  • Patent number: 6137118
    Abstract: A sandwich-type, organic p-n junction photodiode is prepared by electrode-position of an insoluble layer of oligomerized tris(4-(2-thienyl)phenyl)amine onto conducting indium-tin oxide coated glass, spin-coating the stacked platinum compound, bis(cyanide)-bis(para-dodecylphenylisocyanide)platinum (II), from chloroform onto the oligomer layer, and then coating the platinum complex with a micro-array of aluminum electrodes by vapor deposition. This device shows rectification of current and gives a measurable photocurrent. The photocurrent action spectrum follows the absorption spectrum of the platinum complex; changes in the action spectrum with layer thickness point to a p-n junction formed at the interface of the molecular layers as the site of rectification. Exposure of the device to acetone vapor causes the action spectrum to shift dramatically to longer wavelength. Exposure to chloroform vapor causes a return to the original spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Yoshihito Kunugi, Kent R. Mann, Larry L. Miller, Marie K. Pomije
  • Patent number: 5766952
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for indicating the presence of organic vapors comprising the steps of determining the color, absorption or emission spectra of a Pt--Pt double-complex salt of platinum or a neutral platinum complex in the absence of organic vapor, exposing said double-complex salt of platinum or a neutral platinum complex to a gaseous environment, determining the color, absorption or emission spectra of said double-complex salt of platinum or a neutral platinum complex after exposure to said gaseous environment, and comparing the color, absorption and/or emission spectra of said double-complex salt of platinum or a neutral platinum complex in the absence of organic vapor with the color, absorption and/or emission spectra of said double-complex salt of platinum or a neutral platinum complex after exposure to said gaseous environment to determine if there is a difference in the color, absorption and/or emission spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Kent R. Mann, Charles A. Daws, Christopher L. Exstrom, Daron E. Janzen, Marie Pomije
  • Patent number: 4271033
    Abstract: Substrates are oxidized by means of two-oxidative addition reactions of a dimeric, dinuclear transition metal complex oxidant containing four binucleating diisocyanide bridge ligands. The complex is reoxidized by means of a secondary oxidant which is a stronger oxidizing agent than the complex which in turn is oxidized by molecular oxygen. Though the direct oxidation of the complex by oxygen involves a large energy barrier and is relatively slow, the kinetics of the two stage oxidation of the complex by the secondary oxidant and of the oxidant by oxygen permit regeneration of the oxidant at reasonable rate. Substrates, such as the olefins, ethylene or propylene, have been continuously oxidized by bubbling oxygen and the olefin through a solution of a dimeric, dirhodium complex containing four 1,3-diisocyanopropane bridge ligands and a secondary oxidant such as a cerium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry B. Gray, Kent R. Mann