Patents by Inventor Min-Chu Chen

Min-Chu Chen 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: 7696729
    Abstract: A plurality of supercapacitor elements is arranged in rows and columns within a single housing. The elements have no physical connection until they are configured into series, parallel or combinatory matrix by a configuration circuit composing of switches, a driver and a controller. Under the manipulation of the configuration circuit, the elements can be assembled in a broad voltage range to deliver the desired powers to automobiles, heavy machineries, power tools, appliances, or consumer electronics in real-time responses. When the loads present energy for recovery, the elements can also be immediately grouped in the voltage and capacity ranges corresponding to the power levels of the energy to be harvested. Using the present invention, the efficiency of DC and AC energy utilization can be significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Desalination Inc.
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Min-Chu Chen, Harumoto Nishikawa, Willis F. Chen
  • Publication number: 20080129253
    Abstract: An energy-reclamation apparatus of the present invention including at least a supercapacitor element connected with a charging source and a controlled circuit. After the supercapacitor element is charged to the potential of the charging source, the supercapacitor element and the charging source will work in series to conduct a repetitive polarity reversal of the supercapacitor element through a controlled circuit. As the supercapacitor element discharges, it is reversely charged concurrently. In other words, while the voltage of the supercapacitor element is decreasing on the side, a negative potential is complementarily developing on the other side. By repeatedly reversing the polarity of the supercapacitor element, more energy from the serially connected charging source can be reclaimed and reused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Thomas Li Chen, Min-Chu Chen, Harumoto Nishikawa, Masami Goto
  • Publication number: 20070272550
    Abstract: All pollutants dissolved or existed in water can be grossly classified as ionized and neutral species. The former includes inorganic and organic ions, while the latter contains inorganic molecules, organic molecules and organisms. Using flow through capacitor for performing capacitive deionization (CDI), the ionic contaminants can be effectively and economically removed from water. Whereas the neutral contaminants are not retained in the static electric field of CDI, they can be decomposed upon flowing through an electrolytic ozonator. Either gaseous or ionic products will be generated at the ozone treatment, and the ionic byproducts can be subsequently removed by CDI. By integrating the electrolytic ozone reactor with flow through capacitor, the O3/CDI hybrid technique becomes a total solution for eliminating hazardous materials in water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Min-Chu Chen, Mu-Fa Chen
  • Publication number: 20070258188
    Abstract: A plurality of supercapacitor elements is arranged in rows and columns within a single housing. The elements have no physical connection until they are configured into series, parallel or combinatory matrix by a configuration circuit composing of switches, an driver and a controller. Under the manipulation of the configuration circuit, the elements can be assembled in a broad voltage range to deliver the desired powers to automobiles, heavy machineries, power tools, appliances, or consumer electronics in real-time responses. When the loads present energy for recovery, the elements can also be immediately grouped in the voltage and capacity ranges corresponding to the power levels of the energy to be harvested. Using the present invention, the efficiency of DC and AC energy utilization can be significantly improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Min-Chu Chen, Harumoto Nishikawa, Willis Chen
  • Publication number: 20010000441
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sending faxes over the Internet, in which the sender gets a confirmation immediately after sending the facsimile message over a regular, uncontrolled Internet connection, and using standard modems or a Local Area Network (LAN) connection to the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: April 26, 2001
    Inventors: Ivo Zinkov, Garrison G. Zong, Mike Min-Chu Chen
  • Publication number: 20010000301
    Abstract: The present invention is an expansion of the IFB device that provides a means to enable multiple devices to access a global computer network (such as the “Internet”) from a single network connection. The present invention comprises an input modem for communicating directly with a personal computer. This device can have a second input modem that communicates directly with a second device such as a facsimile machine. The invention has an output modem that communicates with the Internet or computing network. The present invention also contains a Central Processing Unit (“CPU”) to run various application software programs, a ROM that will store the software and a RAM that can store information sent or received over the computer network. The invention also contains software utility programs that will establish a dial-up connection with the computer network that will enable a personal computer to access the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: April 19, 2001
    Inventors: Garrison G. Zong, Shuh C. Chang, Ivo Zinkov, Mike Min-Chu Chen