Patents by Inventor Nicol McGruer
Nicol McGruer 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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Patent number: 9787340Abstract: A zero power radio frequency (RF) activated wake up device is provided. The device is based on a high-Q MEMS demodulator that filters an amplitude-modulated RF tone of interest from the entire spectrum while producing a much higher voltage signal suitable to trigger a high-Q MEMS resonant switch tuned to the modulation frequency of the RF tone.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignees: Northeastern University, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Matteo Rinaldi, Nicol McGruer, Amy Duwel, Marc S. Weinberg, Robert Egri, Cristian Cassella
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Publication number: 20170126263Abstract: A zero power radio frequency (RF) activated wake up device is provided. The device is based on a high-Q MEMS demodulator that filters an amplitude-modulated RF tone of interest from the entire spectrum while producing a much higher voltage signal suitable to trigger a high-Q MEMS resonant switch tuned to the modulation frequency of the RF tone.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2016Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Matteo RINALDI, Nicol McGRUER, Amy DUWEL, Marc S. WEINBERG, Robert EGRI, Cristian CASSELLA
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Patent number: 9117601Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2013Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Northeastern UniversityInventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
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Publication number: 20140202860Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Northeastern UniversityInventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
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Patent number: 8637356Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Northeastern UniversityInventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
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Publication number: 20120267223Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
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Patent number: 8211765Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Northeastern UniversityInventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
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Publication number: 20120052649Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
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Patent number: 8031514Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Northeastern UniversityInventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
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Publication number: 20100116631Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
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Publication number: 20100001355Abstract: An RF MEMS switch having a beam composed of a material having a high resistivity and a large Young's modulus may provide a large restoring force, a large electrostatic force at a low actuation voltage, and good isolation between signal input and output. RF MEMS switch reliability may be improved by reducing failures due to stiction by providing a large restoring force. A reliable contact may be provided with a large electrostatic force.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2008Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicants: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Andrzej Peczalski, James F. Detry, Paul E. Bauhahn, Nicol McGruer
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Publication number: 20050249605Abstract: A miniature pump has at least one controllable expansion-and-contraction chamber, and associated pair of tiny ducts interconnecting a fluid source and destination. The ducts communicate with the chamber(s); an linking tunnel links the ducts. Valves interact with fluid pressures due to expansion and contraction, imposing directionality on flow in the ducts and tunnel. Preferences: making the valve a passive flapper, implanting the pump in a creature, making the source a medication reservoir for supplying the creature; making the source a fuel tank and destination a tiny engine; making the source provide a specimen for assay and destination an observation slide; human or automatic examination of the slide under a microscope (e. g. electron microscope); making the source a reagent and destination a process stream; making the source a colorant and destination a colorant application system. Preferably included is an optical channel with intersecting fluid duct for optically monitoring pumped fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2002Publication date: November 10, 2005Inventors: David Kane, Nicol McGruer
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Patent number: 6856718Abstract: A gap in an optical guideway is occupied, when the switch is in its diverting condition, by a quantity of air or other gas. To change the switch to its through condition, an actuator forces a column of liquid against the gas to compress (and thereby displace) the gas in the gap with the liquid. The actuator includes a preferably wide reservoir of the liquid and a diaphragm which is flexed to force the liquid up the column against the gas. When the actuator is deactivated the compressed gas forces the column of liquid out of the gap to return the switch to the diverting condition.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2002Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Areteā² AssociatesInventors: David Kane, Nicol McGruer
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Publication number: 20030081302Abstract: A gap in an optical guideway is occupied, when the switch is in its diverting condition, by a quantity of air or other gas. To change the switch to its through condition, an actuator forces a column of liquid against the gas to compress (and thereby displace) the gas in the gap with the liquid. The actuator includes a preferably wide reservoir of the liquid and a diaphragm which is flexed to force the liquid up the column against the gas. When the actuator is deactivated the compressed gas forces the column of liquid out of the gap to return the switch to the diverting condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: David Kane, Nicol McGruer
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Patent number: 5872010Abstract: A microscale fluid handling system that permits the efficient transfer of nanoliter to picoliter quantities of a fluid sample from the spatially concentrated environment of a microfabricated chip to "off-chip" analytical or collection devices for further off-chip sample manipulation and analysis is disclosed. The fluid handling system is fabricated in the form of one or more channels, in any suitable format, provided in a microchip body or substrate of silica, polymer or other suitable non-conductive material, or of stainless steel, noble metal, silicon or other suitable conductive or semi-conductive material. The microchip fluid handling system includes one or more exit ports integral with the end of one or more of the channels for consecutive or simultaneous off-chip analysis or collection of the sample. The exit port or ports may be configured, for example, as an electrospray interface for transfer of a fluid sample to a mass spectrometer.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Northeastern UniversityInventors: Barry L. Karger, Frantisek Foret, Paul M. Zavracky, E. Nicol McGruer, Qifeng Xue, Yuriy M. Dunayevskiy