Patents by Inventor Leonard M. Tender

Leonard M. Tender 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: 11881606
    Abstract: “Biocathode MCL,” designated for its main bacterial constituents (Marinobacter, Chromatiaceae, and Labrenzia), is a stable microbial community enriched from seawater that forms biofilms on the surfaces of electrodes. These biofilms are effective to perform carbon fixation without the need for external electrical power nor sunlight applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as repersented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Sarah M. Glaven, Lina Bird, Leonard M. Tender
  • Publication number: 20240006643
    Abstract: “Biocathode MCL,” designated for its main bacterial constituents (Marinobacter, Chromatiaceae, and Labrenzia), is a stable microbial community enriched from seawater that forms biofilms on the surfaces of electrodes. These biofilms are effective to perform carbon fixation without the need for external electrical power nor sunlight applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Sarah M. Glaven, Lina Bird, Leonard M. Tender
  • Publication number: 20210325333
    Abstract: A biocompatible electrochemical flow cell (eFC) for high resolution imaging of anode and cathode biofilms using laser scanning confocal microscopy employs optically transparent indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated electrode configured to allow observation of the flow chamber. This enables correlation of electrochemical signatures with biofilm development in real-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Sarah M. Glaven, Daniel A. Phillips, Matthew D. Yates, Leonard M. Tender
  • Publication number: 20210273250
    Abstract: “Biocathode MCL,” designated for its main bacterial constituents (Marinobacter, Chromatiaceae, and Labrenzia), is a stable microbial community enriched from seawater that forms biofilms on the surfaces of electrodes. These biofilms are effective to perform carbon fixation without the need for external electrical power nor sunlight applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Sarah M. Glaven, Lina Bird, Leonard M. Tender
  • Patent number: 10644341
    Abstract: A remotely-deployed benthic microbial fuel cell is provided, as well as a method for deploying the benthic microbial fuel cell. The remotely-deployed benthic microbial fuel cell has a mooring that includes a base unit, and a plurality of flukes mounted to a perimeter of a bottom portion of the base unit, the plurality of flukes being preconfigured to automatically move from a stored position to a deployed position. The benthic microbial fuel cell includes an anode that is mounted to the bottom portion of the base unit, and isolated from oxygenated water in an anoxic chamber by the plurality of flukes when in the deployed position. The benthic microbial fuel cell further includes a cathode that is attached to the base unit outside the anoxic chamber, where the cathode stays in oxygenated water when the remotely-deployed bottom mooring is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Book, Leonard M. Tender, Joel P. Golden, Andrew J. Quaid, Ian Martens
  • Patent number: 10396386
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for generating and storing electric power in which a microbial solar cell is provided in a sealed container with photosynthetic organisms that generate reactants of the microbial fuel cell and the products of the microbial fuel cell from sunlight received through the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leonard M. Tender
  • Publication number: 20190097250
    Abstract: A remotely-deployed benthic microbial fuel cell is provided, as well as a method for deploying the benthic microbial fuel cell. The remotely-deployed benthic microbial fuel cell has a mooring that includes a base unit, and a plurality of flukes mounted to a perimeter of a bottom portion of the base unit, the plurality of flukes being preconfigured to automatically move from a stored position to a deployed position. The benthic microbial fuel cell includes an anode that is mounted to the bottom portion of the base unit, and isolated from oxygenated water in an anoxic chamber by the plurality of flukes when in the deployed position. The benthic microbial fuel cell further includes a cathode that is attached to the base unit outside the anoxic chamber, where the cathode stays in oxygenated water when the remotely-deployed bottom mooring is deployed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Book, Leonard M. Tender, Joel P. Golden, Andrew J. Quaid, Ian Martens
  • Publication number: 20170062860
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for generating and storing electric power in which a microbial solar cell is provided in a sealed container with photosynthetic organisms that generate reactants of the microbial fuel cell and the products of the microbial fuel cell from sunlight received through the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leonard M. Tender
  • Patent number: 9531027
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for generating and storing electric power in which a microbial solar cell is provided in a sealed container with photosynthetic organisms that generate reactants of the microbial fuel cell and the products of the microbial fuel cell from sunlight received through the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leonard M. Tender
  • Patent number: 8148019
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating power from the voltage gradient naturally found in marine sediments. A pump flows sediment porewater to an anode, and a cathode is exposed to marine water. The arrangement can power a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leonard M Tender
  • Patent number: 8012616
    Abstract: An improved benthic microbial fuel cell for generating energy at the interface of aquatic sediment and seawater includes an anode electrode embedded within the aquatic sediment, a cathode electrode positioned within the seawater and above the aquatic sediment, a rig for maintaining the relative positions of the anode and cathode electrodes, electrical leads extending from the anode and cathode electrodes to a load, wherein the anode electrode comprises a bottlebrush electrode residing within a permeable tube. The apparatus is easier to deploy than previously-described fuel cells, while being lighter, more durable, and generating greater power density. Also disclosed are methods of generating power from such an apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leonard M. Tender
  • Publication number: 20110104518
    Abstract: An improved benthic microbial fuel cell for generating energy at the interface of aquatic sediment and seawater includes an anode electrode embedded within the aquatic sediment, a cathode electrode positioned within the seawater and above the aquatic sediment, a rig for maintaining the relative positions of the anode and cathode electrodes, electrical leads extending from the anode and cathode electrodes to a load, wherein the anode electrode comprises a bottlebrush electrode residing within a permeable tube. The apparatus is easier to deploy than previously-described fuel cells, while being lighter, more durable, and generating greater power density. Also disclosed are methods of generating power from such an apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leonard M. Tender
  • Publication number: 20100224246
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for generating and storing electric power in which a microbial solar cell is provided in a sealed container with photosynthetic organisms that generate reactants of the microbial fuel cell and the products of the microbial fuel cell from sunlight received through the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Leonard M. Tender
  • Publication number: 20100081014
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microbial fuel cell power system based on a microbe-based fuel cell such as a benthic microbial fuel cell (BMFCs). In accordance with the present invention, one or more BMFCs can be connected to one or more batteries such as a nickel metal hybrid (NiMH) or sealed lead acid (SLA) battery and can be used to charge the batteries for long-term persistent underwater use. At any time, some of the connected batteries are being charged by the BMFC, while the others are being used to power a connected device. By using electrically isolated fuel cell converters, the batteries can be charged while in circuit. With non-isolated converters, pairs of batteries can be switched between offline charging and online discharging. The battery system can be controlled by a control system that comprises a microcontroller that periodically measures system voltages and currents, swaps the batteries being charged, and records the system results for post-mission analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert C. Tyce, Jeffrey W. Book, Leonard M. Tender
  • Patent number: 6913854
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating power from voltage gradients at sediment-water interfaces or within stratified euxinic water-columns is provided. Natural voltage gradients typically exist at and about sediment-water interfaces or in isolated water bodies. One electrode (anode) is positioned in the sediment or water just below the redox boundary and the other electrode (cathode) is positioned in the water above the redox boundary over the first electrode. The anode is lower in voltage than the cathode. Current will flow when the electrodes are connected through a load, and near-perpetual generating of worthwhile power may be sustained by the net oxidation of organic matter catalyzed by microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignees: Rutgers, The State University of NJ, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Randall Alberte, Harold J. Bright, Clare Reimers, Leonard M. Tender
  • Patent number: 6482639
    Abstract: Molecular recognition-based electronic sensor, which is gateless, depletion mode field effect transistor consisting of source and drain diffusions, a depletion-mode implant, and insulating layer chemically modified by immobilized molecular receptors that enables miniaturized label-free molecular detection amenable to high-density array formats. The conductivity of the active channel modulates current flow through the active channel when a voltage is applied between the source and drain diffusions. The conductivity of the active channel is determined by the potential of the sample solution in which the device is immersed and the device-solution interfacial capacitance. The conductivity of the active channel modulates current flow through the active channel when a voltage is applied between the source and drain diffusions. The interfacial capacitance is determined by the extent of occupancy of the immobilized receptor molecules by target molecules. Target molecules can be either charged or uncharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eric S. Snow, Martin Peckerar, Leonard M. Tender, Stephanie J. Fertig, Frank K. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20020012937
    Abstract: Molecular recognition-based electronic sensor, which is gateless, depletion mode field effect transistor consisting of source and drain diffusions, a depletion-mode implant, and insulating layer chemically modified by immobilized molecular receptors that enables miniaturized label-free molecular detection amenable to high-density array formats. The conductivity of the active channel modulates current flow through the active channel when a voltage is applied between the source and drain diffusions. The conductivity of the active channel is determined by the potential of the sample solution in which the device is immersed and the device-solution interfacial capacitance. The conductivity of the active channel modulates current flow through the active channel when a voltage is applied between the source and drain diffusions. The interfacial capacitance is determined by the extent of occupancy of the immobilized receptor molecules by target molecules. Target molecules can be either charged or uncharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Leonard M. Tender, Martin Peckerar, F. Keith Perkins, Stephanie J. Fertig, Eric S. Snow