Patents by Inventor Pietro Ferraro

Pietro Ferraro 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).

  • Publication number: 20230361579
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and system for directing power flow between multiple devices, the apparatus comprising: one or more inlet ports for connection to one or more devices; a plurality of outlet ports configured for supplying electrical power; and a computing device configured to route power from the one or more inlet ports to the outlet ports. The system comprises a plurality of the apparatus connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin
    Inventors: Robert SHORTEN, Julia O’CONNELL, Barry CARDIFF, Giovanni RUSSO, Pietro FERRARO, Paul CUFFE
  • Patent number: 11749998
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and system for directing power flow between multiple devices, the apparatus comprising: one or more inlet ports for connection to one or more devices; a plurality of outlet ports configured for supplying electrical power; and a computing device configured to route power from the one or more inlet ports to the outlet ports. The system comprises a plurality of the apparatus connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN , NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND
    Inventors: Robert Shorten, Julia O'Connell, Barry Cardiff, Giovanni Russo, Pietro Ferraro, Paul Dermot Cuffe
  • Publication number: 20200376969
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and system for directing power flow between multiple devices, the apparatus comprising: one or more inlet ports for connection to one or more devices; a plurality of outlet ports configured for supplying electrical power; and a computing device configured to route power from the one or more inlet ports to the outlet ports. The system comprises a plurality of the apparatus connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin
    Inventors: Robert SHORTEN, Julia O'CONNELL, Barry CARDIFF, Giovanni RUSSO, Pietro FERRARO, Paul Dermot CUFFE
  • Patent number: 9561355
    Abstract: There is described a method for making an array of micro-needles, comprising the steps of: depositing a plurality of drops of a liquid substance comprising a polymer on a surface of a starting substrate; positioning a pyroelectric substrate at a certain distance from the starting substrate in such a way that the drops deposited are positioned between said surface of the starting substrate and a surface of the pyroelectric substrate; varying the temperature of the pyroelectric substrate or a part thereof to induce on said surface of the pyroelectric substrate a charge density such that starting from the drops deposited, under the effect of an electrodynamic force, respective cones are formed having a tip facing towards the pyroelectric substrate; determining a consolidation of the cones, to form said micro-needles, preventing the tip of said cones from contacting said surfaces of the pyroelectric substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE, FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA
    Inventors: Pietro Ferraro, Sara Coppola, Andrea Finizio, Simonetta Grilli, Veronica Vespini, Paolo Antonio Netti, Raffaele Vecchione, Eliana Esposito
  • Patent number: 9310767
    Abstract: Disclosed a system for reconstructing an image of an object hidden by a flame. The system comprises a laser source emitting an infrared radiation and a lensless, off-axis interferometric arrangement that divides the infrared radiation into an object beam and a reference beam. The object beam is enlarged and then irradiates the object, that scatters it. The reference beam is enlarged and then interferes with the scattered object beam, so as to create a hologram. The system comprises an infrared detector which detects the hologram and a processor that reconstructs the image of the object by numerically processing the hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICHERCHE-CNR
    Inventors: Pietro Ferraro, Vittorio Bianco, Melania Paturzo, Andrea Finizio, Lisa Miccio, Massimiliano Locatelli, Eugenio Pugliese, Andrea Giovanni Geltrude, Anna Pelagotti, Pasquale Poggi, Riccardo Meucci
  • Publication number: 20150374966
    Abstract: There is described a method for making an array of micro-needles, comprising the steps of: depositing a plurality of drops of a liquid substance comprising a polymer on a surface of a starting substrate; positioning a pyroelectric substrate at a certain distance from the starting substrate in such a way that the drops deposited are positioned between said surface of the starting substrate and a surface of the pyroelectric substrate; varying the temperature of the pyroelectric substrate or a part thereof to induce on said surface of the pyroelectric substrate a charge density such that starting from the drops deposited, under the effect of an electrodynamic force, respective cones are formed having a tip facing towards the pyroelectric substrate; determining a consolidation of the cones, to form said micro-needles, preventing the tip of said cones from contacting said surfaces of the pyroelectric substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: PIETRO FERRARO, SARA COPPOLA, ANDREA FINIZIO, SIMONETTA GRILLI, VERONICA VESPINI, PAOLO ANTONIO NETTI, RAFFAELE VECCHIONE, ELIANA ESPOSITO
  • Patent number: 9221047
    Abstract: Production and the distribution of pico and nano-drops, which are extracted by the effect of a strong electric field generated by pyroelectric effect, in particular, but not exclusively, from a sessile drop (a drop placed on a surface assumes a form termed “sessile”) or by a liquid film, and distributed on a dielectric substrate. The electric field is advantageously generated applying a heat source on the dielectric substrate or utilizing a laser source emitting in the infrared region. In this new approach, it is not necessary to use fixed electrodes, circuits, high tension generators or to design intentionally, and therefore to realize, pico- and nano-nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
    Inventors: Pietro Ferraro, Sara Coppola, Veronica Vespini, Simonetta Grilli, Melania Paturzo
  • Publication number: 20150160613
    Abstract: It is disclosed a system for reconstructing an image of an object hidden by a flame. The system comprises a laser source emitting an infrared radiation and a lensless, off-axis interferometric arrangement that divides the infrared radiation into an object beam and a reference beam. The object beam is enlarged and then irradiates the object, that scatters it. The reference beam is enlarged and then interferes with the scattered object beam, so as to create a hologram. The system comprises an infrared detector which detects the hologram and a processing unit which reconstructs the image of the object by numerically processing the hologram. The system therefore provides the object image based on digital holography at infrared wavelengths. Differently from known thermographic acquisition techniques, even if large portions of the object are hidden by the flame, the system allows to reconstruct an image of the whole object, with no blind areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR
    Inventors: Pietro FERRARO, Vittorio BIANCO, Melania PATURZO, Andrea FINIZIO, Lisa MICCIO, Massimiliano LOCATELLI, Eugenio PUGLIESE, Andrea Giovanni GELTRUDE, Anna PELAGOTTI, Pasquale POGGI, Riccardo MEUCCI
  • Publication number: 20120162733
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling depth-of-focus in 3D image reconstructions, in particular for: A) Controlling the focus with the aim to synthesize a holography dynamic 3D scene; such a scene can be either numerically reconstructed or holographically projected for 3D display purposes by means of optical reconstruction through Spatial Light Modulator (SLM); B) controlling the focus to extend the depth of focus and have two object at different distance simultaneously in focus by digital holography; The method according to the invention can be applied with few differences both to the usual holograms and to the Fourier ones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche
    Inventors: Pietro Ferraro, Melania Paturzo, Pasquale Memmolo, Andrea Finizio
  • Publication number: 20120112070
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the controlled distribution of pico- or nano-volumes of a liquid, comprising the step of: A. Deposing the liquid as a film or separated sessile drops on a surface of a starting substrate; the liquid being extracted and distributed on the surface of a substrate called “destination substrate”, the method being characterized in that: —At least one between said starting substrate and destination substrate is a pyroelectric substrate; The method comprising the following further step: B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
    Inventors: Pietro Ferraro, Sara Coppola, Veronica Vespini, Simonetta Grilli, Melania Paturzo
  • Publication number: 20090073521
    Abstract: The invention concerns a holographic method with numerical reconstruction for obtaining an image of a three-dimensional object, said method employing a digitalised hologram of an object, and comprising a step A. wherein, starting from the digitalised hologram, extracting a phase image of said object corresponding to a bidimensional matrix MD of distance values; a step B. wherein a mono-dimensional subassembly SD of the distance value assembly present in matrix MD of the method step A is selected, subassembly SD containing distance values dk; a step C. wherein for each distance value dk, extracting from matrix MD a iso-level assembly IQdk corresponding to a mono-dimensional assembly of bidimensional coordinates of said object, a step D. wherein for each distance value dk, reconstructing, starting from the digitalised hologram, a bidimensional matrix IMdk of intensity values relevant to said object; a step E.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICHERCHE
    Inventors: Giuseppe Coppola, Sergio De Nicola, Pietro Ferraro, Andrea Finizio, Simonetta Grilli, Bahram Javidi, Giovanni Pierattini
  • Publication number: 20080309944
    Abstract: The invention concerns a quantitative phase-contrast digital holography method for the numerical reconstruction of images, comprising the following steps: A. acquiring a digital hologram of an investigated object; B. reconstructing the digital hologram in a reconstruction plane; C. reconstructing the complex field for the digital hologram; D. obtaining the phase map starting from the complex field; the method being characterised in that it further comprises the following steps: E. applying to the digital matrix of any step A, B, C a shear sx and/or sy respectively along directions x and/or y; F. subtracting the matrix obtained in step E from the starting matrix of step E, or vice versa; G. integrating the obtained matrix along directions x and/or y; H. calculating at least a defocus aberration term; I. subtracting said at least a term calculated in step H from the matrix obtained in step G, the steps G to I being subsequent to step D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Pietro Ferraro, Domenico Alfieri, Sergio De Nicola, Andrea Finizio, Giovanni Pierattini
  • Publication number: 20070177158
    Abstract: A method for measuring and two-dimensional mapping of electro-optical properties of materials using a Reflective Grating Interferometer (RGI) includes projecting a substantially coherent and monochromatic electromagnetic beam subjected to a homogeneous electrical field so the beam is enlarged to have a two-dimensional cross section comparable with dimensions of the material, dividing the electromagnetic beam into one part that crosses the material and another part that travels undisturbed, recomposing the two beams on a recombination element of the RGI, detecting the recombined beam by a device suited to two-dimensional detection of such beam. The method also includes: E. obtaining phase variation ?ø(x,y) between the divided beams; F. varying the applied electrical field value and repeating the detection steps; G.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Marella De Angelis, Pietro Ferraro, Andrea Finizio, Simonetta Grilli, Paolo De Natale, Sergio De Nicola, Giovanni Pierattini
  • Patent number: 7221490
    Abstract: A holographic method with numerical reconstruction for obtaining an image of a three-dimensional object, employs a digitalized hologram of an object or of a portion thereof, and includes starting from the digitalized hologram, extracting a phase image of the object corresponding to a matrix MD of distance values, selecting a subassembly SD of the distance value assembly present in matrix MD, subassembly SD containing distance values dk, extracting from matrix MD an iso-level assembly IQdk of corresponding bidimensional coordinate of the object; reconstructing, for each distance value dk, a bidimensional matrix IMdk of intensity values relevant to the object; extracting, from each bidimensional matrix IMdk, a bidimensional IFdk of intensity values; and starting from the intensity values, reconstructing the three-dimensional intensity image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche
    Inventors: Giuseppe Coppola, Sergio De Nicola, Pietro Ferraro, Andrea Finizio, Simonetta Grilli, Bahram Javidi, Giovanni Pierattini
  • Publication number: 20060209370
    Abstract: A holographic method with numerical reconstruction for obtaining an image of a three-dimensional object, employs a digitalized hologram of an object or of a portion thereof, and includes starting from the digitalized hologram, extracting a phase image of the object corresponding to a matrix MD of distance values, selecting a subassembly SD of the distance value assembly present in matrix MD, subassembly SD containing distance values dk, extracting from matrix MD an iso-level assembly IQdk of corresponding bidimensional coordinate of the object; reconstructing, for each distance value dk, a bidimensional matrix IMdk of intensity values relevant to the object; extracting, from each bidimensional matrix IMdk, a bidimensional IFdk of intensity values; and starting from the intensity values, reconstructing the three-dimensional intensity image of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Applicant: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
    Inventors: Giuseppe Coppola, Sergio De Nicola, Pietro Ferraro, Andrea Finizio, Simonetta Grilli, Bahram Javidi, Giovanni Pierattini
  • Publication number: 20060164703
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method Method for the reconstruction of holographic images, the holographic image being detected by an image detection device (9), the holographic image being transformed in a digitized hologram (10), the digitized hologram (10) being comprised of a number Vr of elementary pixels, the size of which being equal to the holographic image sampling intervals, and of the Vr values (51) respectively associated to the elementary pixels, the method comprising a first step (11,12) of processing the digitized hologram array, and a second step (13,15,16,17,18) of hologram reconstruction in the observation plane starting from the digitized hologram processed in the first step, the method being characterised in that the second step is carried out through discrete Fresnel Transform applied on an array of Ve values corresponding to pixels having size equal to that of said elementary pixels, wherein said array of Ve values (50, 51) includes said array of Vr values and an integer number p=Ve?Vr>0 of
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Giuseppe Coppola, Sergio De Nicola, Pietro Ferraro, Andrea Finizio, Giovanni Pierattini
  • Patent number: 7046373
    Abstract: Interferometric system for the simultaneous measurement of the index of refraction and of the thickness of transparent materials with a single measurement operation. The system employs an interferometer as a “shear interferometer” with the advantage of varying the wavelength of the luminous source. The index of refraction and the thickness are determined in two phases. Firstly it is determined the optical path analyzing the displacement of interferometric signal obtained by orthogonal incidence; successively, by means of phase recovery techniques and the previously determined optical path value, it is possible to obtain the index of refraction of the material. From the knowledge of the index and of the optical path it is obtained the material thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche
    Inventors: Giuseppe Coppola, Pietro Ferraro, Mario Iodice, Sergio De Nicola
  • Publication number: 20050036154
    Abstract: Interferometric system for the simultaneous measurement of the index of refraction and of the thickness of transparent materials with a single measurement operation. In said system is employed an interferometer as a “shear interferometer” with the advantage of varying the wavelength of the luminous source. The index of refraction and the thickness are determined in two phases. Firstly it is determined the optical path analyzing the displacement of interferometric signal obtained by orthogonal incidence; successively, by means of phase recovery techniques and the previously determined optical path value, it is possible to obtain the index of refraction of the material. From the knowledge of the index and of the optical path it is obtained the material thickness. The system is made up of: a laser source (1), with variable emission wavelength, a collimator (4), a sample (5), a precision rotating base (7), aphotodiode (9), an oscilloscope (10), un bus IEEE-488 (12) ed a PC (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Applicant: CONSIGLI NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
    Inventors: Giuseppe Coppola, Pietro Ferraro, Mario Iodice, Sergio De Nicola
  • Patent number: 5493390
    Abstract: A system based on integrated optical technologies for the measurement and diagnostics of physical parameters on whatever structure, by the use of optical sensors, made by the fiber embedded Bragg grating method and by the use of a planar integrated optics device for the analysis of the optical signal. The sensors may be embedded or bonded to the structure, allowing the measurement of parameters like strain and temperature, in either a static or dynamic regime. The system pertains to the technical field of the diagnostics and measurements of mechanical or thermal parameters and to the application field of ground, water and aerospace transportation and also to the application field of construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignees: Finmeccanica S.P.A.-Ramo Aziendale Alenia, United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mauro Varasi, Antonello Vannucci, Mario Signorazzi, Pietro Ferraro, Sabato Inserra Imparato, Claudio Voto, James R. Dunphy, Gerald Meltz
  • Patent number: 5399854
    Abstract: An embedded optical sensor has a plurality of layers 10-20 and an optical fiber 21 with a fiber grating 28, disposed between the layers 14,16. The layers 10-20 comprise filaments 22 and resin 24 which have different thermal expansion coefficients and the filaments 22 are oriented so as to create unequal transverse residual stresses that act through the geometry of a resin-rich region that surrounds on the grating 28 in the fiber 21. The unequal transverse residual stresses cause birefringence in the grating 28, thereby causing the grating 28 to reflect light 32 having two wavelengths with a predetermined separation, each along a different polarization axis. The wavelength separation and average wavelength between such separation have different sensitivities to temperature and strain, thereby allowing independent temperature and strain measurements using only a single grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Dunphy, Gerald Meltz, Mauro Varasi, Antonello Vannucci, Mario Signorazzi, Pietro Ferraro, Sabato I. Imparato, Claudio Voto