Patents by Inventor Patrick Shin

Patrick Shin 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).

  • Methods and Apparatus for Processing Droplets
    Publication number: 20210170391
    Abstract: An electrowetting-on-dielectric actuator may include an array of electrodes and a dielectric layer. The actuator may modulate voltage of the electrodes in such a way that time-varying electric fields created by the electrodes cause droplets of liquid to move relative to the actuator. The electric fields may cause the droplets to press up against a bottom surface of the actuator while the droplets are under and touching the bottom surface. The droplets may then be released from the bottom surface and thereby deposited on an object being fabricated. The release of droplets may be repeated, one layer of droplets at a time, to fabricate the object. Multiple actuators may simultaneously organize droplets in layers. A robot may move the actuators, one at a time, into position for releasing the droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Udayan Umapathi, Patrick Shin, Hiroshi Ishii
  • Methods and apparatus for processing droplets
    Patent number: 10850272
    Abstract: An electrowetting-on-dielectric actuator may include an array of electrodes and a dielectric layer. The actuator may modulate voltage of the electrodes in such a way that time-varying electric fields created by the electrodes cause droplets of liquid to move relative to the actuator. The electric fields may cause the droplets to press up against a bottom surface of the actuator while the droplets are under and touching the bottom surface. The droplets may then be released from the bottom surface and thereby deposited on an object being fabricated. The release of droplets may be repeated, one layer of droplets at a time, to fabricate the object. Multiple actuators may simultaneously organize droplets in layers. A robot may move the actuators, one at a time, into position for releasing the droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Udayan Umapathi, Patrick Shin, Hiroshi Ishii
  • Methods and Apparatus for Processing Droplets
    Publication number: 20180318826
    Abstract: An electrowetting-on-dielectric actuator may include an array of electrodes and a dielectric layer. The actuator may modulate voltage of the electrodes in such a way that time-varying electric fields created by the electrodes cause droplets of liquid to move relative to the actuator. The electric fields may cause the droplets to press up against a bottom surface of the actuator while the droplets are under and touching the bottom surface. The droplets may then be released from the bottom surface and thereby deposited on an object being fabricated. The release of droplets may be repeated, one layer of droplets at a time, to fabricate the object. Multiple actuators may simultaneously organize droplets in layers. A robot may move the actuators, one at a time, into position for releasing the droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Udayan Umapathi, Patrick Shin, Hiroshi Ishii