Patents by Inventor L. Catherine Brinson

L. Catherine Brinson 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: 11060214
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide artificial whisker filaments are disclosed and described. An example artificial whisker is tapered to include a tip diameter smaller than a base diameter of the artificial whisker, the artificial whisker formed from a polymer arranged to permit elastic deformation of the artificial whisker, the deformation of the artificial whisker to transmit force to a sensor associated with a base of the artificial whisker. An example method of manufacturing an artificial whisker includes removably affixing a first end of a filament to a heated, non-stick surface; drawing the filament across the surface to form a first, tapered portion, a second portion of the filament remaining on the surface, wherein the filament is to be drawn until the first portion is disengaged from the surface; and separating the first, tapered portion of the filament from the second portion of the filament to form a tapered artificial whisker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: David W. Collinson, Mitra J. Hartmann, L. Catherine Brinson
  • Publication number: 20190048495
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide artificial whisker filaments are disclosed and described. An example artificial whisker is tapered to include a tip diameter smaller than a base diameter of the artificial whisker, the artificial whisker formed from a polymer arranged to permit elastic deformation of the artificial whisker, the deformation of the artificial whisker to transmit force to a sensor associated with a base of the artificial whisker. An example method of manufacturing an artificial whisker includes removably affixing a first end of a filament to a heated, non-stick surface; drawing the filament across the surface to form a first, tapered portion, a second portion of the filament remaining on the surface, wherein the filament is to be drawn until the first portion is disengaged from the surface; and separating the first, tapered portion of the filament from the second portion of the filament to form a tapered artificial whisker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: David W. Collinson, Mitra J. Hartmann, L. Catherine Brinson
  • Patent number: 8709213
    Abstract: A macroscale, self-supporting, composite laminate sheet includes individual, layered graphene oxide sheets and a polymer in spaces between the sheets. This composite product can be fabricated by combining a suspension of individual graphene oxide sheets and a solution of polymer, passing the resulting fluid through a fluid-permeable support, and assembling the graphene oxide sheets and polymer as a laminate sheet by flow-directed assembly. The laminate is dried and released from the membrane filter as a self-supporting thin films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Owen C. Compton, Karl W. Putz, L. Catherine Brinson, SonBinh T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20110256376
    Abstract: A macroscale, self-supporting, composite laminate sheet includes individual, layered graphene oxide sheets and a polymer in spaces between the sheets. This composite product can be fabricated by combining a suspension of individual graphene oxide sheets and a solution of polymer, passing the resulting fluid through a fluid-permeable support, and assembling the graphene oxide sheets and polymer as a laminate sheet by flow-directed assembly. The laminate is dried and released from the membrane filter as a self-supporting thin films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Owen C. Compton, Karl W. Putz, L. Catherine Brinson, SonBinh T. Nguyen