Patents by Inventor Michael T. Gallagher
Michael T. Gallagher 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).
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Publication number: 20100108588Abstract: A method of converting biological material into energy resources includes transmitting biological material to a pulsed electric field (PEF) station, and applying a PEF to the biological material within a treatment zone in the PEF station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transmitting the treated biological material to a biogenerator, and processing the treated biological material in the biogenerator to produce an energy resource. A converter may carry out this process, and may include the PEF station and the biogenerator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: OPENCEL LLCInventors: Michael T. Gallagher, Jeffrey Held, Satya P. Chauhan, Anthony J. Tomasello
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Patent number: 7695621Abstract: A method of supporting denitrification includes receiving biological material at a pulsed electric field station and applying a pulsed electric field to the biological material within a treatment zone in the pulse electric field station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transporting at least a portion of the treated biological material to an anoxic bioreactor in substitution, at least in part, for an external source of electron donor. A system for supporting denitrification is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2009Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Opencel LLCInventors: Michael T. Gallagher, James Banaszak
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Publication number: 20100025326Abstract: A method of supporting denitrification includes receiving biological material at a pulsed electric field station and applying a pulsed electric field to the biological material within a treatment zone in the pulse electric field station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transporting at least a portion of the treated biological material to an anoxic bioreactor in substitution, at least in part, for an external source of electron donor. A system for supporting denitrification is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2009Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: OpenCEL LLCInventors: Michael T. Gallagher, James Banaszak
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Patent number: 7645382Abstract: A method of converting biological material into energy resources includes transmitting biological material to a pulsed electric field (PEF) station, and applying a PEF to the biological material within a treatment zone in the PEF station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transmitting the treated biological material to a biogenerator, and processing the treated biological material in the biogenerator to produce an energy resource. A converter may carry out this process, and may include the PEF station and the biogenerator.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: OPENCELL LLCInventors: Michael T. Gallagher, Jeffrey Held, Satya P. Chauhan, Anthony J. Tomasello
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Publication number: 20090247706Abstract: A continuous extrusion process for the functionalization of polymers through reactive extrusion. The process uses a continuous extrusion reactor comprising at least two sequential, very closely-coupled, independently driven screw extruders having a total effective length to diameter ratio greater than 60 to 1 and as high as 112 to 1 and providing greatly extended reaction times for efficiently producing a grafted polymer having a high level of functionalization. Drying of the polymer feed is performed in the continuous extrusion reactor. Multiple injections of reactants may be provided. Shear modification of the molecular weight of the grafted polymer is performed in the continuous extrusion reactor after the functionalization reactions. A continuous extrusion reactor and a grafted polymer having a high level of functionalization are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2005Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Rayner Krista, John Joseph Decair, James Nicholas Fowler, Michael T. Gallagher, John Lovegrove, Shrikant V. Phadke
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Patent number: 7572369Abstract: A method of supporting denitrification includes receiving biological material at a pulsed electric field station and applying a pulsed electric field to the biological material within a treatment zone in the pulse electric field station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transporting at least a portion of the treated biological material to an anoxic bioreactor in substitution, at least in part, for an external source of electron donor. A system for supporting denitrification is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: OpenCEL LLCInventors: Michael T. Gallagher, James Banaszak
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Publication number: 20090176300Abstract: A method of converting biological material into energy resources includes transmitting biological material to a pulsed electric field (PEF) station, and applying a PEF to the biological material within a treatment zone in the PEF station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transmitting the treated biological material to a biogenerator, and processing the treated biological material in the biogenerator to produce an energy resource. A converter may carry out this process, and may include the PEF station and the biogenerator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2009Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Michael T. Gallagher, Jeffrey Held, Satya P. Chauhan, Anthony J. Tomasello
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Patent number: 7507341Abstract: A method of converting biological material into energy resources includes transmitting biological material to a pulsed electric field (PEF) station, and applying a PEF to the biological material within a treatment zone in the PEF station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transmitting the treated biological material to a biogenerator, and processing the treated biological material in the biogenerator to produce an energy resource. A converter may carry out this process, and may include the PEF station and the biogenerator.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Opencel LLCInventors: Michael T. Gallagher, Jeffrey Held, Satya P. Chauhan, Anthony J. Tomasello
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Publication number: 20080197074Abstract: A method of supporting denitrification includes receiving biological material at a pulsed electric field station and applying a pulsed electric field to the biological material within a treatment zone in the pulse electric field station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transporting at least a portion of the treated biological material to an anoxic bioreactor in substitution, at least in part, for an external source of electron donor. A system for supporting denitrification is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: OpenCEL LLCInventors: Michael T. Gallagher, James Banaszak
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Patent number: 7082242Abstract: The present invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber including a photonic band gap-guided core; and at least one index-guided core. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber including a set of main cores; a microstructured region surrounding the set of main cores; and at least alignment core, the alignment cores having substantially different optical propagation properties than the main cores. The present invention also includes methods for coupling, monitoring, and locating discontinuities in the fibers of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: James C. Fajardo, Michael T. Gallagher, James A. West
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Patent number: 6987783Abstract: An optically-active air-clad fiber (30) includes a core (34, 84) that facilitates doping with an ion optically excitable and having a three-level optical transition when pumped at a first end (28) of an optical cavity (46) by a multimode pump source (72) at a pump wavelength (64) for lasing at a signal wavelength (66) different than the pump wavelength (64) at a second end (29) of the optical cavity (46), the core (34, 84) having a refractive index, wherein the core (34, 84) is transformed from the first end to proximate the second end (29) thereof such that the optically-active fiber (30) is multimode at the pump wavelength proximate to the first end (28), and is single-mode at the signal wavelength proximate to the second end (29). An air-clad (36, 86) surrounds at least one portion of the core (34, 84) and has a lower effective refractive index than the refractive index of the core (34, 84).Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: James C. Fajardo, Michael T. Gallagher, Anping Liu, (Ying) Lisa Peng, Carlton M. Truesdale, Luis A. Zenteno
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Patent number: 6917741Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing microstructured optical fibers having an arbitrary core size and shape. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a photonic band gap fiber includes the steps of forming an assembly of stacked elongate elements, the assembly including a first set of elongate elements, the first set of elongate elements defining and surrounding a core volume, and a second set of elongate elements surrounding the first set of elongate elements, wherein the core volume defined by the first set of elongate elements has a shape that is not essentially an integer multiple of the external shape of the elongate elements of the second set of elongate elements; including the assembly in a photonic band gap fiber preform; and drawing the photonic band gap fiber preform into the photonic band gap fiber.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2002Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Curtis R. Fekety, Michael T. Gallagher, Daniel W. Hawtof, Karl W. Koch, III, Natesan Venkataraman
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Patent number: 6847771Abstract: A microstructured optical fiber is described. The microstructured optical fiber comprises an inner region and an outer region. The inner region includes an inner material and a plurality of holes formed in the inner material. The outer region surrounds the inner region, and includes an outer material. The softening point temperature of the inner material is greater than the softening point temperature of the outer material by at least about 50° C. Microstructured optical fiber preforms and methods for making the microstructured optical fibers are also described. The microstructured optical fiber may be made to have substantially undistorted holes in the inner region.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: James C. Fajardo, Michael T. Gallagher, James A. West, Natesan Venkataraman
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Publication number: 20040233941Abstract: An optically-active air-clad fiber (30) includes a core (34, 84) that facilitates doping with an ion optically excitable and having a three-level optical transition when pumped at a first end (28) of an optical cavity (46) by a multimode pump source (72) at a pump wavelength (64) for lasing at a signal wavelength (66) different than the pump wavelength (64) at a second end (29) of the optical cavity (46), the core (34, 84) having a refractive index, wherein the core (34, 84) is transformed from the first end to proximate the second end (29) thereof such that the optically-active fiber (30) is multimode at the pump wavelength proximate to the first end (28), and is single-mode at the signal wavelength proximate to the second end (29). An air-clad (36, 86) surrounds at least one portion of the core (34, 84) and has a lower effective refractive index than the refractive index of the core (34, 84).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: James C. Fajardo, Michael T. Gallagher, Anping Liu, (Ying)Lisa Peng, Carlton M. Truesdale, Luis A. Zenteno
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Publication number: 20040228592Abstract: The present invention is directed toward photonic band gap optical fibers having low optical loss and low optical nonlinearity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a photonic band gap fiber includes a cladding region formed from a photonic band gap structure, the optical energy having a wavelength within the photonic band gap of the photonic band gap structure; and a core region surrounded by the photonic band gap structure. The photonic band gap fiber guides the optical energy substantially within the core region with a loss of less than about 300 dB/km. According to another embodiment of the invention, an optical fiber guides optical energy in a mode having a nonlinear index of refraction of less than about 10−18 cm2/W. According to another embodiment of the invention, an optical fiber supports a soliton having a peak power of greater than about 1 MW.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: Alexander L. Gaeta, Michael T. Gallagher, Karl W. Koch, Dmitre G. Ouzounov, Natesan Venkataraman, James A. West
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Publication number: 20040151454Abstract: The present invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber including a photonic band gap-guided core; and at least one index-guided core. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber including a set of main cores; a microstructured region surrounding the set of main cores; and at least alignment core, the alignment cores having substantially different optical propagation properties than the main cores. The present invention also includes methods for coupling, monitoring, and locating discontinuities in the fibers of the present invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: James C. Fajardo, Michael T. Gallagher, James A. West
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Publication number: 20040096173Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing microstructured optical fibers having an arbitrary core size and shape. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a photonic band gap fiber includes the steps of forming an assembly of stacked elongate elements, the assembly including a first set of elongate elements, the first set of elongate elements defining and surrounding a core volume, and a second set of elongate elements surrounding the first set of elongate elements, wherein the core volume defined by the first set of elongate elements has a shape that is not essentially an integer multiple of the external shape of the elongate elements of the second set of elongate elements; including the assembly in a photonic band gap fiber preform; and drawing the photonic band gap fiber preform into the photonic band gap fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2002Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Curtis R. Fekety, Michael T. Gallagher, Daniel W. Hawtof, Karl W. Koch, Natesan Venkataraman
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Publication number: 20040050110Abstract: The present invention provides methods for fabricating optical fiber preforms and optical fibers. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for making an optical fiber preform includes the steps of providing at least one sacrificial rod having an outside surface; forming a material on the outside surface of each sacrificial rod to yield a structured body, the structured body including a structured material in substantial contact with the at least one sacrificial rod; removing each sacrificial rod from the structured body; and including the structured body in the optical fiber preform. The preform may be drawn into an optical fiber. The methods of the present invention are especially useful in the fabrication of microstructured optical fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2002Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventors: George E. Berkey, Dennis W. Buckley, Michael T. Gallagher, Daniel W. Hawtof, Carlton M. Truesdale, Natesan Venkataraman
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Publication number: 20030231846Abstract: A microstructured optical fiber is described. The microstructured optical fiber comprises an inner region and an outer region. The inner region includes an inner material and a plurality of holes formed in the inner material. The outer region surrounds the inner region, and includes an outer material. The softening point temperature of the inner material is greater than the softening point temperature of the outer material by at least about 50° C. Microstructured optical fiber preforms and methods for making the microstructured optical fibers are also described. The microstructured optical fiber may be made to have substantially undistorted holes in the inner region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2002Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: James C. Fajardo, Michael T. Gallagher, James A. West, Natesan Venkataraman
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Publication number: 20030230118Abstract: The present invention provides a method for drawing microstructured fibers. A preform having a first set of holes and a second set of holes is provided, and the first set of holes is coupled to a first pressure system, while the second set of holes remains substantially uncoupled to the first pressure system. The pressures of the sets of holes may be independently set or controlled to yield a desired hole geometry in the drawn microstructured optical fiber. The present invention also provides preforms suitable for use with the methods of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2002Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: Steven B. Dawes, Michael T. Gallagher, Daniel W. Hawtof, Natesan Venkataraman