Patents by Inventor Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos

Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos 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: 10585238
    Abstract: A photodetector focal plane array system having enhanced sensitivity and angle-of-view, including: a substrate including a plurality of photosensitive regions; and a microcomponent disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of photosensitive regions operable for receiving incident radiation from a relatively wider area and directing the incident radiation into a relatively smaller area of the associated photosensitive region by, in part, one or more of waveguiding and scattering; wherein each of the microcomponents is centered with respect to a photodetector mesa of each of the plurality of photosensitive regions. Each of the microcomponents includes one of a microcone, a microcuboid, a micropillar, a core-shell micropillar, a microtubule, a pyramid, an inverted pyramid, and an arbitrary shape microcomponent—with a top surface having a a selected or arbitrary cross-sectional shape and a selected or arbitrary profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Vasily N. Astratov, Aaron Brettin, Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos, Augustine Urbas
  • Publication number: 20190004212
    Abstract: A photodetector focal plane array system having enhanced sensitivity and angle-of-view, including: a substrate including a plurality of photosensitive regions; and a microcomponent disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of photosensitive regions operable for receiving incident radiation from a relatively wider area and directing the incident radiation into a relatively smaller area of the associated photosensitive region by, in part, one or more of waveguiding and scattering; wherein each of the microcomponents is centered with respect to a photodetector mesa of each of the plurality of photosensitive regions. Each of the microcomponents includes one of a microcone, a microcuboid, a micropillar, a core-shell micropillar, a microtubule, a pyramid, an inverted pyramid, and an arbitrary shape microcomponent—with a top surface having a a selected or arbitrary cross-sectional shape and a selected or arbitrary profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Vasily N. ASTRATOV, Aaron BRETTIN, Nicholaos I. LIMBEROPOULOS, Augustine URBAS
  • Patent number: 9835870
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the super-resolution imaging can make visible strongly subwavelength feature sizes (even below 100 nm) in the optical images of biomedical or any nanoscale structures. The main application of the proposed methods and systems is related to label-free imaging where biological or other objects are not stained with fluorescent dye molecules or with fluorophores. This label-free microscopy is more challenging as compared to fluorescent microscopy because of the poor optical contrast of images of objects with subwavelength dimensions. However, these methods and systems are also applicable to fluorescent imaging. Their use is extremely simple, and it is based on application of the microspheres or microcylinders or, alternatively, elastomeric slabs with embedded microspheres or microcylinders to the objects which are deposited on the surfaces covered with thin metallic layers or metallic nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventors: Vasily N. Astratov, Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos, Augustine M. Urbas
  • Publication number: 20160357026
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the super-resolution imaging can make visible strongly subwavelength feature sizes (even below 100 nm) in the optical images of biomedical or any nanoscale structures. The main application of the proposed methods and systems is related to label-free imaging where biological or other objects are not stained with fluorescent dye molecules or with fluorophores. This label-free microscopy is more challenging as compared to fluorescent microscopy because of the poor optical contrast of images of objects with subwavelength dimensions. However, these methods and systems are also applicable to fluorescent imaging. Their use is extremely simple, and it is based on application of the microspheres or microcylinders or, alternatively, elastomeric slabs with embedded microspheres or microcylinders to the objects which are deposited on the surfaces covered with thin metallic layers or metallic nanostructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Vasily N. ASTRATOV, Nicholaos I. LIMBEROPOULOS, Augustine M. URBAS
  • Publication number: 20160190194
    Abstract: A photodetector focal plane array system, comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of photosensitive regions; and a microcomponent disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of photosensitive regions operable for receiving incident radiation and directing a photonic nanojet into the associated photosensitive region. Optionally, each of the microcomponents comprises one of a microsphere and a microcylinder. Each of the microcomponents has a diameter of between ˜? and ˜100?, where ? is the wavelength of the incident radiation. Each of the microcomponents is manufactured from a dielectric or semiconductor material. Each of the microcomponents has an index of refraction of between ˜1.4 and ˜3.5. Optionally, high-index components can be embedded in a lower index material. The microcomponents form an array of microcomponents disposed adjacent to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Vasily N. ASTRATOV, Kenneth W. ALLEN, JR., Nicholaos I. LIMBEROPOULOS, Augustine URBAS, Joshua M. DURAN
  • Patent number: 9362324
    Abstract: A photodetector focal plane array system, comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of photosensitive regions; and a microcomponent disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of photosensitive regions operable for receiving incident radiation and directing a photonic nanojet into the associated photosensitive region. Optionally, each of the microcomponents comprises one of a microsphere and a microcylinder. Each of the microcomponents has a diameter of between between ˜? and ˜100?, where ? is the wavelength of the incident radiation. Each of the microcomponents is manufactured from a dielectric or semiconductor material. Each of the microcomponents has an index of refraction of between ˜1.4 and ˜3.5. Optionally, high-index components can be embedded in a lower index material. The microcomponents form an array of microcomponents disposed adjacent to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Vasily N. Astratov, Kenneth W. Allen, Jr., Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos, Augustine Urbas, Joshua M. Duran