Patents by Inventor Robert Summers

Robert Summers 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: 11631795
    Abstract: Composite nanoparticle compositions and associated nanoparticle assemblies are described herein which, in some embodiments, exhibit enhancements to one or more thermoelectric properties including increases in electrical conductivity and/or Seebeck coefficient and/or decreases in thermal conductivity. In one aspect, a composite nanoparticle composition comprises a semiconductor nanoparticle including a front face and a back face and sidewalls extending between the front and back faces. Metallic nanoparticles are bonded to at least one of the sidewalls establishing a metal-semiconductor junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: David L. Carroll, Chaochao Dun, Corey Hewitt, Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20230110366
    Abstract: Composite nanoparticle compositions and associated nanoparticle assemblies exhibit enhancements to one or more thermoelectric properties including increases in electrical conductivity and/or Seebeck coefficient and/or decreases in thermal conductivity. A composite nanoparticle composition comprises a semiconductor nanoparticle including a front face and a back face and sidewalls extending between the front and back faces. Metallic nanoparticles are bonded to at least one of the sidewalls establishing a metal-semiconductor junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: David L. CARROLL, Chaochao DUN, Corey HEWITT, Robert SUMMERS
  • Patent number: 10840426
    Abstract: In one aspect, thermoelectric apparatus and articles and various applications of thermoelectric apparatus and articles are described herein. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric apparatus described herein comprises at least one p-type layer coupled to at least one n-type layer to provide a pn junction, and an insulating layer at least partially disposed between the p-type layer and the n-type layer, the p-type layer comprising carbon nanoparticles and the n-type layer comprising n-doped carbon nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles of the p-type layer and/or the nanoparticles of the n-type layer are disposed in a polymeric matrix comprising electrically poled polymer. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric article comprises a thermally insulating support and thermoelectric modules formed of a structure passing around or through the thermally insulating support to provide faces of the thermoelectric modules on opposing sides of the thermally insulating support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: David L. Carroll, Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20200013939
    Abstract: Composite nanoparticle compositions and associated nanoparticle assemblies are described herein which, in some embodiments, exhibit enhancements to one or more thermoelectric properties including increases in electrical conductivity and/or Seebeck coefficient and/or decreases in thermal conductivity. In one aspect, a composite nanoparticle composition comprises a semiconductor nanoparticle including a front face and a back face and sidewalls extending between the front and back faces. Metallic nanoparticles are bonded to at least one of the sidewalls establishing a metal-semiconductor junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: David L. CARROLL, Chaochao DUN, Corey HEWITT, Robert SUMMERS
  • Patent number: 10121993
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device described herein, in one aspect, comprises a first electrode and second electrode and a light emitting layer positioned between the first and second electrodes. A current injection gate is positioned between the first electrode and the light emitting layer or the second electrode and the light emitting layer. In some embodiments, the current injection gate comprises a semiconductor layer of electronic structure restricting injected current flow from the first or second electrode through the semiconductor layer as a function of alternating current voltage frequency applied to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Wake Forest University
    Inventors: David Carroll, Robert Summers, Yonghua Chen
  • Publication number: 20180190945
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device described herein, in one aspect, comprises a first electrode and second electrode and a light emitting layer positioned between the first and second electrodes. A current injection gate is positioned between the first electrode and the light emitting layer or the second electrode and the light emitting layer. In some embodiments, the current injection gate comprises a semiconductor layer of electronic structure restricting injected current flow from the first or second electrode through the semiconductor layer as a function of alternating current voltage frequency applied to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: David CARROLL, Robert SUMMERS, Yonghua CHEN
  • Patent number: 9905810
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device described herein, in one aspect, comprises a first electrode and second electrode and a light emitting layer positioned between the first and second electrodes. A current injection gate is positioned between the first electrode and the light emitting layer or the second electrode and the light emitting layer. In some embodiments, the current injection gate comprises a semiconductor layer of electronic structure restricting injected current flow from the first or second electrode through the semiconductor layer as a function of alternating current voltage frequency applied to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Wake Forest University
    Inventors: David Carroll, Robert Summers, Yonghua Chen
  • Publication number: 20160240821
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device described herein, in one aspect, comprises a first electrode and second electrode and a light emitting layer positioned between the first and second electrodes. A current injection gate is positioned between the first electrode and the light emitting layer or the second electrode and the light emitting layer. In some embodiments, the current injection gate comprises a semiconductor layer of electronic structure restricting injected current flow from the first or second electrode through the semiconductor layer as a function of alternating current voltage frequency applied to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: David CARROLL, Robert SUMMERS, Yonghua CHEN
  • Publication number: 20160035956
    Abstract: In one aspect, thermoelectric apparatus and articles and various applications of thermoelectric apparatus and articles are described herein. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric apparatus described herein comprises at least one p-type layer coupled to at least one n-type layer to provide a pn junction, and an insulating layer at least partially disposed between the p-type layer and the n-type layer, the p-type layer comprising carbon nanoparticles and the n-type layer comprising n-doped carbon nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles of the p-type layer and/or the nanoparticles of the n-type layer are disposed in a polymeric matrix comprising electrically poled polymer. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric article comprises a thermally insulating support and thermoelectric modules formed of a structure passing around or through the thermally insulating support to provide faces of the thermoelectric modules on opposing sides of the thermally insulating support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: David L. CARROLL, Robert SUMMERS
  • Patent number: 7613794
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for identifying dynamic groups that correspond to a user of a system. A system partitions a set of dynamic groups into multiple test sets of dynamic groups. The system selects a test set and determines whether the user corresponds to the test set. In one implementation, the system combines the filters for the dynamic groups in each test set into a single test set filter. The test set filter is satisfied if the filter of any dynamic group in the test set is satisfied. This allows the system to perform a single comparison between the resulting test set filter and the user's profile to determine whether the user is a member of any dynamic group in the test set. If the user is not a member of any dynamic group in the test set, the system eliminates all of the test set's dynamic groups from consideration, based on the single comparison. Otherwise, the dynamic groups in the test set remain in a list of groups that may include the user. This process is repeated for each test set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn P. Delaney, Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20070168530
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for identifying dynamic groups that correspond to a user of a system. A system partitions a set of dynamic groups into multiple test sets of dynamic groups. The system selects a test set and determines whether the user corresponds to the test set. In one implementation, the system combines the filters for the dynamic groups in each test set into a single test set filter. The test set filter is satisfied if the filter of any dynamic group in the test set is satisfied. This allows the system to perform a single comparison between the resulting test set filter and the user's profile to determine whether the user is a member of any dynamic group in the test set. If the user is not a member of any dynamic group in the test set, the system eliminates all of the test set's dynamic groups from consideration, based on the single comparison. Otherwise, the dynamic groups in the test set remain in a list of groups that may include the user. This process is repeated for each test set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn Delaney, Robert Summers
  • Patent number: 7206851
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for identifying dynamic groups that correspond to a user of a system. A system partitions a set of dynamic groups into multiple test sets of dynamic groups. The system selects a test set and determines whether the user corresponds to the test set. In one implementation, the system combines the filters for the dynamic groups in each test set into a single test set filter. The test set filter is satisfied if the filter of any dynamic group in the test set is satisfied. This allows the system to perform a single comparison between the resulting test set filter and the user's profile to determine whether the user is a member of any dynamic group in the test set. If the user is not a member of any dynamic group in the test set, the system eliminates all of the test set's dynamic groups from consideration, based on the single comparison. Otherwise, the dynamic groups in the test set remain in a list of groups that may include the user. This process is repeated for each test set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn P. Delaney, Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20070027986
    Abstract: The present invention provides cache flushing of selected data while leaving remaining cached data intact. Data can be flushed from caches distributed across various components of a network-based computer system. These caches can contain various types of data. In one embodiment, the caches exist in an Access System and contain user identity profile information. In another embodiment, the caches exist in an Access Management System and contain authentication, authorization, or auditing rules. A system in accordance with the invention detects a change to data residing on a server and transmits a synchronization record to a component of the system. The synchronization record identifies the changed data. The system flushes the changed data identified by the synchronization record from caches of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Vrinda Joshi, Praveen Swadi, Robert Summers
  • Patent number: 7006333
    Abstract: The invention provides a disk drive suspension. The suspension has a load beam and a flexure having a frame and a tongue portion having a base and a tongue. The flexure mounts one or more microactuators in opposed or offset relation for shifting the base of the flexure tongue portion relative to the flexure frame and thus positionally adjusting the tongue and the slider fixed to the tongue with respect to the disk that is in operating proximity to the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Summers
  • Patent number: 6990728
    Abstract: Disk drive suspension load beam and flexible circuit components are juxtaposed and properly located relative to each other before welding by a series of areally distributed locator structures that intersect across the common plane between the components in aligning relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Summers, Amanullah Khan
  • Publication number: 20060016935
    Abstract: A spacecraft architecture and accompanying standard allows for the creation of a spacecraft using an assortment of modules that comply with the standard. The standard preferably includes both mechanical and electrical compatibility criteria. To assure physical/mechanical compatibility, the structure of each module is constrained to be compatible with any other compatible module. To minimize the interference among modules, the extent of each module in select dimensions is also constrained. To assure functional compatibility, a common communication format is used to interface with each module, and each public-function module is configured to respond to requests for function capabilities that it can provide to other functions. Each module is preferably designed to provide structural support to the assemblage of modules, and an anchor module is provided or defined for supporting the entire assemblage and coupling the assemblage to other structures, such as a launch vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Luis Jordan, Thomas Vanek, Scott McDermott, Jonathon Miller, Simon Weiss, Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20050201841
    Abstract: A pair of opposed A-frames are positioned uprightly on a flat bed chassis. A downwardly descending side leg on each side of each A-frame rests on an axially mounted beam. The beam is attached to the underside of the flat bed chassis and extends outwardly from a side surface of the flat bed trailer and is angled upwardly to support a bottom edge of a building material slab or sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventor: Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20050192970
    Abstract: An architecture to enable search gateways as part of a federated search supports searching for data in one or more heterogeneous data sources. The one or more heterogeneous data sources are within a computer system. Initially, a request for data is received at a federated data source. From the federated data source, data is retrieved from one or more of one or more terminal data repositories or one or more search gateway data sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Kehsing Chou, Mei-Ing Huang, Taejae Lee, Basuki Soetarman, Robert Summers, Siucheong Tse, Alan Yaung, Mimi Vo, Jy-Jine Lin
  • Patent number: 6905336
    Abstract: A dental implant impression confirmation system utilizes one or more telescoping crossbrace members. Each crossbrace links one coping to an adjacent coping. The ends of the telescoping crossbraces include tubular eyelets or collars which each attach to a coping by snap-fit. The crossbraces further include articulated joints at each end to accommodate attachment between copings which are not parallel. The crossbrace members are preferably composed of a semi-rigid material such as plastic which permits resilience of the confirmation system to allow for the withdrawal of the copings from the implants while supplying sufficient rigidity to enhance the accuracy of the impression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Robert Summers
  • Patent number: 6885523
    Abstract: A low cost, simplified disk drive suspension not requiring an actuator arm for movement is provided comprising a load beam having at its proximate end attachment structure comprising a mounting hole fixed to an actuator spindle and at its distal end terminal structure adapted to support a slider overlying a disk and having a lift cam and limiters, and a conductor supported by the load beam, the conductor comprising a flexible conductive laminate metal layer flexure and limiter at the load beam terminal structure, undue movement of the flexure and flexure tongue being controlled by the limiters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Summers, Warren Coon