Patents by Inventor Nels P. Ostrom

Nels P. Ostrom 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).

  • AC-excited microcavity discharge device and method
    Patent number: 7477017
    Abstract: A method for fabricating microcavity discharge devices and arrays of devices. The devices are fabricated by layering a dielectric on a first conducting layer. A second conducting layer or structure is overlaid on the dielectric layer. In some devices, a microcavity is created that penetrates the second conducting layer or structure and the dielectric layer. In other devices, the microcavity penetrates to the first conducting layer. The second conducting layer or structure together with the inside face of the microcavity is overlaid with a second dielectric layer. The microcavities are then filled with a discharge gas. When a time-varying potential of the appropriate magnitude is applied between the conductors, a microplasma discharge is generated in the microcavity. These devices can exhibit extended lifetimes since the conductors are encapsulated, shielding the conductors from degradation due to exposure to the plasma. Some of the devices are flexible and the dielectric can be chosen to act as a mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: J. Gary Eden, Kuo-Feng Chen, Nels P. Ostrom, Sung-Jin Park
  • AC-EXCITED MICROCAVITY DISCHARGE DEVICE AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20080290799
    Abstract: A method for fabricating microcavity discharge devices and arrays of devices. The devices are fabricated by layering a dielectric on a first conducting layer. A second conducting layer or structure is overlaid on the dielectric layer. In some devices, a microcavity is created that penetrates the second conducting layer or structure and the dielectric layer. In other devices, the microcavity penetrates to the first conducting layer. The second conducting layer or structure together with the inside face of the microcavity is overlaid with a second dielectric layer. The microcavities are then filled with a discharge gas. When a time-varying potential of the appropriate magnitude is applied between the conductors, a microplasma discharge is generated in the microcavity. These devices can exhibit extended lifetimes since the conductors are encapsulated, shielding the conductors from degradation due to exposure to the plasma. Some of the devices are flexible and the dielectric can be chosen to act as a mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: J. Gary Eden, Kuo-Feng Chen, Nels P. Ostrom, Sung-Jin Park