Patents by Inventor Robert K. Brenneman

Robert K. Brenneman 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: 4262066
    Abstract: In a rechargeable storage cell, the photoredox reaction and regenerating reaction of a photoredox couple in one half-cell provide the driving force for producing charged state redox couples in both first and second half-cells separated by an ion selective permeable membrane. In the primary embodiment, a thionine dye photoreacts with ferrous ions in the first dye containing half-cell to oxidize those ions. The reduced form of the dye then reacts via a selective electrode in the first half-cell connected to an electrode in the second half-cell to reduce ferric ions in the second, dye-free half-cell. When the second half-cell electrode is then connected to a first half-cell electrode which is reversible to the iron ions, the concentration cell formed by the above reactions can be discharged through a load by the redox reaction of the iron ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1981
    Assignee: The Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Robert K. Brenneman, Norman N. Lichtin