Patents by Inventor Peter Bermel
Peter Bermel 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: 9116537Abstract: Inventive systems and methods for the generation of energy using thermophotovoltaic cells are described. Also described are systems and methods for selectively emitting electromagnetic radiation from an emitter for use in thermophotovoltaic energy generation systems. In at least some of the inventive energy generation systems and methods, a voltage applied to the thermophotovoltaic cell (e.g., to enhance the power produced by the cell) can be adjusted to enhance system performance. Certain embodiments of the systems and methods described herein can be used to generate energy relatively efficiently.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ivan Celanovic, Walker Chan, Peter Bermel, Adrian Y. X. Yeng, Christopher Marton, Michael Ghebrebrhan, Mohammad Araghchini, Klavs F. Jensen, Marin Soljacic, John D. Joannopoulos, Steven G. Johnson, Robert Pilawa-Podgurski, Peter Fisher
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Patent number: 9057830Abstract: The present invention provides systems, articles, and methods for discriminating electromagnetic radiation based upon the angle of incidence of the electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, the materials and systems described herein can be capable of inhibiting reflection of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., the materials and systems can be capable of transmitting and/or absorbing electromagnetic radiation) within a given range of angles of incidence at a first incident surface, while substantially reflecting electromagnetic radiation outside the range of angles of incidence at a second incident surface (which can be the same as or different from the first incident surface). A photonic material comprising a plurality of periodically occurring separate domains can be used, in some cases, to selectively transmit and/or selectively absorb one portion of incoming electromagnetic radiation while reflecting another portion of incoming electromagnetic radiation, based upon the angle of incidence.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Rafif E. Hamam, Peter Bermel, Ivan Celanovic, Marin Soljacic, Adrian Y. X. Yeng, Michael Ghebrebrhan, John D. Joannopoulos
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Patent number: 8823250Abstract: Incandescent lighting structure. The structure includes a thermal emitter that can, but does not have to, include a first photonic crystal on its surface to tailor thermal emission coupled to, in a high-view-factor geometry, a second photonic filter selected to reflect infrared radiation back to the emitter while passing visible light. This structure is highly efficient as compared to standard incandescent light bulbs.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Peter Bermel, Ognjen Ilic, Walker R. Chan, Ahmet Musabeyoglu, Aviv Ruben Cukierman, Michael Robert Harradon, Ivan Celanovic, Marin Soljacic
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Publication number: 20140042890Abstract: Incandescent lighting structure. The structure includes a thermal emitter that can, but does not have to, include a first photonic crystal on its surface to tailor thermal emission coupled to, in a high-view-factor geometry, a second photonic filter selected to reflect infrared radiation back to the emitter while passing visible light. This structure is highly efficient as compared to standard incandescent light bulbs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Peter Bermel, Ognjen llic, Walker R. Chan, Ahmet Musabeyoglu, Aviv Ruben Cukieman, Michael Robert Harradon, Ivan Celanovic, Marin Soijacic
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Patent number: 8369670Abstract: An optical device is provided having a solid state nonlinear material with a nanostructured extent, in at least one dimension, that is less than about 10 nm or that is at a temperature of less than about 77 K. An electronic band gap, EGap, of the material is at least about twice as large as an energy of a photon with a wavelength, ?, equal to an operational wavelength of the device. The material is characterized by a switching figure of merit, ?, having a value that is at least about 2?. A dielectric structure is around at least one dimension of the nonlinear material in a geometric arrangement having a characteristic photonic band gap that at least partially overlaps the electronic band gap of the material. At least one waveguide is disposed at the dielectric structure in sufficient proximity with the material for coupling light to the material.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Peter Bermel, Alejandro Rodriguez, Marin Soljacic, John Joannopoulos
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Publication number: 20120037217Abstract: The present invention provides systems, articles, and methods for discriminating electromagnetic radiation based upon the angle of incidence of the electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, the materials and systems described herein can be capable of inhibiting reflection of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., the materials and systems can be capable of transmitting and/or absorbing electromagnetic radiation) within a given range of angles of incidence at a first incident surface, while substantially reflecting electromagnetic radiation outside the range of angles of incidence at a second incident surface (which can be the same as or different from the first incident surface). A photonic material comprising a plurality of periodically occurring separate domains can be used, in some cases, to selectively transmit and/or selectively absorb one portion of incoming electromagnetic radiation while reflecting another portion of incoming electromagnetic radiation, based upon the angle of incidence.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Rafif E. Hamam, Peter Bermel, Ivan Celanovic, Marin Soljacic, Adrian Y.X. Yeng, Michael Ghebrebrhan, John D. Joannopoulos
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Publication number: 20110284059Abstract: Inventive systems and methods for the generation of energy using thermophotovoltaic cells are described. Also described are systems and methods for selectively emitting electromagnetic radiation from an emitter for use in thermophotovoltaic energy generation systems. In at least some of the inventive energy generation systems and methods, a voltage applied to the thermophotovoltaic cell (e.g., to enhance the power produced by the cell) can be adjusted to enhance system performance. Certain embodiments of the systems and methods described herein can be used to generate energy relatively efficiently.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ivan Celanovic, Walker Chan, Peter Bermel, Adrian Y.X. Yeng, Christopher Marton, Michael Ghebrebrhan, Mohammad Araghchini, Klavs F. Jensen, Marin Soljacic, John D. Joannopoulos, Steven G. Johnson, Robert Pilawa-Podgurski, Peter Fisher
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Publication number: 20110002574Abstract: An optical device is provided having a solid state nonlinear material with a nanostructured extent, in at least one dimension, that is less than about 10 nm or that is at a temperature of less than about 77 K. An electronic band gap, EGap, of the material is at least about twice as large as an energy of a photon with a wavelength, ?, equal to an operational wavelength of the device. The material is characterized by a switching figure of merit, ?, having a value that is at least about 2?. A dielectric structure is around at least one dimension of the nonlinear material in a geometric arrangement having a characteristic photonic band gap that at least partially overlaps the electronic band gap of the material. At least one waveguide is disposed at the dielectric structure in sufficient proximity with the material for coupling light to the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2008Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Peter Bermel, Alejandro Rodriguez, Marin Soljacic, John Joannopoulos
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Publication number: 20100258174Abstract: A solar cell includes a thin film photovoltaic material structure used in absorbing light of a selective bandwidth. A multitude of dielectric front coatings are positioned on the thin film photovoltaic material structure so as to maximize admittance over the selected bandwidth. The thicknesses and indices of each of the front coatings are chosen by a global-optimization procedure to maximize the short-circuit current of the solar cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Inventors: Michael Ghebrebrhan, Peter Bermel, Yehuda Avniel, John D. Joannopoulos, Steven G. Johnson
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Patent number: 7532384Abstract: A phase shifter includes at least one photonic crystal structure having alternating high and low index dielectric layers. At least two defect structures are positioned between said photonic crystal structures. The defect structure includes one or more nonlinear materials used to produce an index change, whose effect is amplified to produce a specified phase shift in the output signal of said phase shifter.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2006Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Peter Bermel, John D. Joannopoulos
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Publication number: 20080112034Abstract: A phase shifter includes at least one photonic crystal structure having alternating high and low index dielectric layers. At least two defect structures are positioned between said photonic crystal structures. The defect structure includes one or more nonlinear materials used to produce an index change, whose effect is amplified to produce a specified phase shift in the output signal of said phase shifter.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2006Publication date: May 15, 2008Inventors: Peter Bermel, John D. Joannopoulos
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Publication number: 20070235072Abstract: A solar cell includes a photovoltaic material region. The photovoltaic material region is covered by a uniform anti-reflection coating. A photonic crystal structure is positioned on the photovoltaic material region. The photonic crystal structure provides a medium to produce a plurality of spatial orientations of an incident light signal received by the solar cell so as to allow trapping of a selective frequency of incident light in the solar cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2006Publication date: October 11, 2007Inventors: Peter Bermel, John Joannopoulos, Chiyan Luo
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Patent number: RE47157Abstract: The present invention provides systems, articles, and methods for discriminating electromagnetic radiation based upon the angle of incidence of the electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, the materials and systems described herein can be capable of inhibiting reflection of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., the materials and systems can be capable of transmitting and/or absorbing electromagnetic radiation) within a given range of angles of incidence at a first incident surface, while substantially reflecting electromagnetic radiation outside the range of angles of incidence at a second incident surface (which can be the same as or different from the first incident surface). A photonic material comprising a plurality of periodically occurring separate domains can be used, in some cases, to selectively transmit and/or selectively absorb one portion of incoming electromagnetic radiation while reflecting another portion of incoming electromagnetic radiation, based upon the angle of incidence.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Rafif E. Hamam, Peter Bermel, Ivan Celanovic, Marin Soljacic, Adrian Y. X. Yeng, Michael Ghebrebrhan, John D. Joannopoulos