Patents by Inventor Stephen B. Cronin

Stephen B. Cronin 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: 20250091000
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for reducing the concentration of SOx and/or NOx in gas streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicants: University of Southern California, Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co. (H.K.) Limited
    Inventors: Stephen B. CRONIN, Alec NYSTROM, Sriram SUBRAMANIAN, Vyaas GURURAJAN, Haotian SHI, Martin A. GUNDERSEN, William SCHROEDER, Sisi YANG, Christi SCHROEDER, Fokion EGOLFOPOULOS, Tom HUISKAMP
  • Patent number: 12246284
    Abstract: A system for exhaust gas remediation includes an engine, a plasma reactor, and a pulse source. The engine emits exhaust gas that includes NO molecules and NOx molecules. The plasma reactor includes an internal chamber that is fluidly connected to the engine such that the exhaust gas flows into the internal chamber. An electrode is disposed within the internal chamber of the plasma reactor. The electrode is electrically coupled to an electrical pulse source. The electrical pulse source delivers electrical pulse to the electrode to form a plasma from the exhaust gas, which removes at least a portion of the NO molecules and at least a portion of the NOx molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, TAI CHONG CHEANG STEAMSHIP CO. (H.K.) LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen B. Cronin, Sriram Subramanian, Tom Huiskamp, Alec Nystrom, William Schroeder
  • Patent number: 12157089
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for reducing the concentration of SOx and/or NOx in gas streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignees: University of Southern California, Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co. (H.K.) Limited
    Inventors: Stephen B. Cronin, Alec Nystrom, Sriram Subramanian, Vyaas Gururajan, Haotian Shi, Martin A. Gundersen, William Schroeder, Sisi Yang, Christi Schroeder, Fokion Egolfopoulos, Tom Huiskamp
  • Publication number: 20240055603
    Abstract: This invention relates to alkali metal (Li, Na, K) ion batteries, electrodes for alkali metal ion batteries, and methods for manufacturing electrodes for alkali metal ion batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicants: University of Southern California, The Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges
    Inventors: Stephen B. CRONIN, Sisi YANG, Özgür ÇAPRAZ, Bertan OZDOGRU
  • Patent number: 11845070
    Abstract: Plasmonically-enhanced catalytic surfaces and accompanying optics are described herein. These elements facilitate efficient coupling of light energy into a photocatalytic system by way of a surface plasmon. Various compatible optical configurations are presented, with an emphasis on the broadband coupling of light into a single plasmon mode. In an example embodiment, dispersive optics are used to direct polychromatic light onto a grating-embossed SPR-active surface. Dispersive optics allow resonance to be achieved at a wide range of incident wavelengths. Energy then transfers from the excited plasmon to an adjacent photocatalyst. The plasmon mode thus acts as a “funnel” of broadband light energy to the catalytic materials. High-efficiency incoupling and outcoupling from the plasmon mode suggest overall enhancement of catalytic activity, and broad applicability is anticipated due to the inherent flexibility of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ciencia, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Page, George N. Gibson, Stephen B. Cronin, Arturo O. Pilar, Ernest F. Guignon
  • Publication number: 20220184551
    Abstract: A system for exhaust gas remediation includes an engine, a plasma reactor, and a pulse source. The engine emits exhaust gas that includes NO molecules and NOx molecules. The plasma reactor includes an internal chamber that is fluidly connected to the engine such that the exhaust gas flows into the internal chamber. An electrode is disposed within the internal chamber of the plasma reactor. The electrode is electrically coupled to an electrical pulse source. The electrical pulse source delivers electrical pulse to the electrode to form a plasma from the exhaust gas, which removes at least a portion of the NO molecules and at least a portion of the NOx molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, TAI CHONG CHEANG STEAMSHIP CO. (H.K.) LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen B. CRONIN, Sriram SUBRAMANIAN, Tom HUISKAMP, Alec NYSTROM, William SCHROEDER
  • Publication number: 20220152553
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for reducing the concentration of SOx and/or NOx in gas streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicants: University of Southern California, Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co. (H.K.) Limited
    Inventors: Stephen B. CRONIN, Alec NYSTROM, Sriram SUBRAMANIAN, Vyaas GURURAJAN, Haotian SHI, Martin A. GUNDERSEN, William SCHROEDER, Sisi YANG, Christi SCHROEDER, Fokion EGOLFOPOULOS, Tom HUISKAMP
  • Publication number: 20210146347
    Abstract: Plasmonically-enhanced catalytic surfaces and accompanying optics are described herein. These elements facilitate efficient coupling of light energy into a photocatalytic system by way of a surface plasmon. Various compatible optical configurations are presented, with an emphasis on the broadband coupling of light into a single plasmon mode. In an example embodiment, dispersive optics are used to direct polychromatic light onto a grating-embossed SPR-active surface. Dispersive optics allow resonance to be achieved at a wide range of incident wavelengths. Energy then transfers from the excited plasmon to an adjacent photocatalyst. The plasmon mode thus acts as a “funnel” of broadband light energy to the catalytic materials. High-efficiency incoupling and outcoupling from the plasmon mode suggest overall enhancement of catalytic activity, and broad applicability is anticipated due to the inherent flexibility of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: William D. Page, George N. Gibson, Stephen B. Cronin, Arturo O. Pilar, Ernest F. Guignon
  • Patent number: 10680403
    Abstract: Bulk direct transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) may have an increased interlayer separation of at least 0.5, 1, or 3 angstroms more than its bulk value. The TMDC may be a bulk direct band gap molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) or a bulk direct band gap tungsten diselenide (WSe2). Oxygen may be between the interlayers. A device may include the TMDC, such as an optoelectronic device, such as an LED, solid state laser, a photodetector, a solar cell, a FET, a thermoelectric generator, or a thermoelectric cooler. A method of making bulk direct transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) with increased interlayer separation may include exposing bulk direct TMDC to a remote (aka downstream) oxygen plasma. The plasma exposure may cause an increase in the photoluminescence efficiency of the TMDC, more charge neutral doping, or longer photo-excited carrier lifetimes, as compared to the TMDC without the plasma exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: University of Southern California, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Stephen B. Cronin, Rohan Dhall, Roger Lake, Zhen Li, Mahesh Neupane, Darshana Wickramaratne
  • Publication number: 20180026422
    Abstract: Bulk direct transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) may have an increased interlayer separation of at least 0.5, 1, or 3 angstroms more than its bulk value. The TMDC may be a bulk direct band gap molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) or a bulk direct band gap tungsten diselenide (WSe2). Oxygen may be between the interlayers. A device may include the TMDC, such as an optoelectronic device, such as an LED, solid state laser, a photodetector, a solar cell, a FET, a thermoelectric generator, or a thermoelectric cooler. A method of making bulk direct transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) with increased interlayer separation may include exposing bulk direct TMDC to a remote (aka downstream) oxygen plasma. The plasma exposure may cause an increase in the photoluminescence efficiency of the TMDC, more charge neutral doping, or longer photo-excited carrier lifetimes, as compared to the TMDC without the plasma exposure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Stephen B. Cronin, Rohan Dhall, Roger Lake, Zhen Li, Mahesh Neupane, Darshana Wickramaratne
  • Patent number: 6452206
    Abstract: A superlattice structure for thermoelectric power generation includes m monolayers of a first barrier material alternating with n monolayers of a second quantum well material with a pair of monolayers defining a superlattice period and each of the materials having a relatively smooth interface therebetween. Each of the quantum well layers have a thickness which is less than the thickness of the barrier layer by an amount which causes substantial confinement of conduction carriers to the quantum well layer and the alternating layers provide a superlattice structure having a figure of merit which increases with increasing temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Theodore C. Harman, Mildred S. Dresselhaus, David L. Spears, Michael P. Walsh, Stephen B. Cronin, Xiangzhong Sun, Takaaki Koga
  • Patent number: 6060656
    Abstract: A superlattice structure for use in thermoelectric power generation systems includes m layers of a first one of Silicon and Antimony doped Silicon-Germanium alternating with n layers of Silicon-Germanium which provides a superlattice structure having a thermoelectric figure of merit which increases with increasing temperature above the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit achievable for bulk SiGe alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Mildred S. Dresselhaus, Theodore C. Harman, Stephen B. Cronin, Takaaki Koga, Xiangzhong Sun, Kang L. Wang