Patents by Inventor Steven J. Koester

Steven J. Koester 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: 11923419
    Abstract: Chemical sensors, devices and systems including the same, and related methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a medical device is included having a graphene varactor including a graphene layer and a self-assembled monolayer disposed on an outer surface of the graphene layer through non-covalent interactions between the self-assembled monolayer and a ?-electron system of graphene. The self-assembled monolayer includes one or more pillarenes, substituted pillarenes, calixarenes, substituted calixarenes, peralkylated cyclodextrins, substituted peralkylated cyclodextrins, pyrenes, or substituted pyrenes, or derivatives of each. Other embodiments are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Xue Zhen, Philippe Pierre Joseph Buhlmann, Steven J. Koester
  • Patent number: 11908901
    Abstract: A varactor may include a gate electrode; a graphene layer; and a ferroelectric layer between the gate electrode and the graphene layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Steven J. Koester, Venkata Raghava Saran Kumar Chaganti
  • Patent number: 11867596
    Abstract: Embodiments include chemical sensors, devices and systems including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a medical device is provided. The medical device can include a graphene varactor, including a graphene layer and a self-assembled monolayer disposed on an outer surface of the graphene layer through electrostatic interactions between a partial positive charge on hydrogen atoms of one or more hydrocarbons of the self-assembled monolayer and a ?-electron system of graphene. The self-assembled monolayer can include one or more substituted porphyrins or substituted metalloporphyrins, or derivatives thereof. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Xue Zhen, Philippe Pierre Joseph Buhlmann, Steven J. Koester, Justin Theodore Nelson
  • Patent number: 11820061
    Abstract: A printed structure including a plurality of overlying layers of elongate polymeric filaments stacked on a surface of a substrate. The elongate polymeric filaments are stacked on each other along their lengths to form a liquid impermeable, self-supporting wall. The liquid impermeable self-supporting wall forms a wall angle of about 30° to about 90° with respect to a plane of the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, U.S. Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Michael C. McAlpine, Ruitao Su, Steven J. Koester, Joshua Uzarski
  • Publication number: 20230358233
    Abstract: A fluid filter includes a body portion and a filter membrane portion. The body portion includes at least one aperture formed therein, wherein the filter membrane portion is disposed in the at least one aperture to filter contaminants from a fluid (e.g., a lubricant). The fluid filter is installed in a fluid passage of scroll compressor, wherein an axial movement of the fluid filter is restrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Steven J. Koester, Bradley Vernon Crenshaw, Mark Elliot Honkala
  • Publication number: 20230341345
    Abstract: An electrical device includes at least one graphene quantum capacitance varactor. In some examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a graphene layer disposed on the insulator layer, a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer, a gate electrode formed on the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode disposed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer. In other examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a gate electrode recessed in the insulator layer, a dielectric layer formed on the gate electrode, a graphene layer formed on the dielectric layer, wherein the graphene layer comprises an exposed surface opposite the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode formed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventor: Steven J. Koester
  • Patent number: 11662325
    Abstract: Embodiments herein include a kinetic response system for measuring analyte presence on a chemical sensor element. The chemical sensor element includes one or more discrete binding detectors, each discrete binding detector including a graphene varactor. The kinetic response system includes a measurement circuit having an excitation voltage generator for generating a series of excitation cycles over a time period. Each excitation cycle includes delivering a DC bias voltage to the discrete binding detectors at multiple discrete DC bias voltages across a range of DC bias voltages. The kinetic response system includes a capacitance sensor to measure capacitance of the discrete binding detectors resulting from the excitation cycles. The kinetic response system includes a controller circuit to determine the kinetics of change in at least one of a measured capacitance value and a calculated value based on the measured capacitance over the time period. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Gregory J. Sherwood, Justin Theodore Nelson, Steven J. Koester
  • Patent number: 11561192
    Abstract: An electrical device includes at least one graphene quantum capacitance varactor. In some examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a graphene layer disposed on the insulator layer, a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer, a gate electrode formed on the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode disposed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer. In other examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a gate electrode recessed in the insulator layer, a dielectric layer formed on the gate electrode, a graphene layer formed on the dielectric layer, wherein the graphene layer comprises an exposed surface opposite the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode formed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Steven J. Koester
  • Publication number: 20220291198
    Abstract: Embodiments include chemical sensors, devices and systems including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a medical device is provided. The medical device can include a graphene varactor, including a graphene layer and a self-assembled monolayer disposed on an outer surface of the graphene layer through electrostatic interactions between a partial positive charge on hydrogen atoms of one or more hydrocarbons of the self-assembled monolayer and a ?-electron system of graphene. The self-assembled monolayer can include one or more substituted porphyrins or substituted metalloporphyrins, or derivatives thereof. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Xue Zhen, Philippe Pierre Joseph Buhlmann, Steven J. Koester, Justin Theodore Nelson
  • Patent number: 11384759
    Abstract: A valve assembly forms a check valve for a scroll compressor including a fixed scroll having a pair of injection ports fluidly coupled to a compression mechanism. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a pair of flow paths with each of the flow paths fluidly coupled to a corresponding one of the injection ports. An injection plate has a pair of injection holes. A reed structure is disposed between the injection plate and the valve body with the reed structure including a pair of reeds. Each of the reeds is configured to selectively provide fluid communication between a corresponding one of the injection holes and a corresponding one of the injection ports. A valve gasket is disposed between the reed structure and the valve body and includes a pair of flaps with each of the flaps configured to selectively contact a corresponding one of the reeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Kanwal Bhatia, Rod Callahan, Kyung Jae Lee, Steven J. Koester, Jeong Ki Seo
  • Patent number: 11293914
    Abstract: Embodiments include chemical sensors, devices and systems including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a medical device is provided. The medical device can include a graphene varactor, including a graphene layer and a self-assembled monolayer disposed on an outer surface of the graphene layer through electrostatic interactions between a partial positive charge on hydrogen atoms of one or more hydrocarbons of the self-assembled monolayer and a it-electron system of graphene. The self-assembled monolayer can include one or more substituted porphyrins or substituted metalloporphyrins, or derivatives thereof. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Xue Zhen, Philippe Pierre Joseph Buhlmann, Steven J. Koester, Justin Theodore Nelson
  • Publication number: 20220072753
    Abstract: A printed structure including a plurality of overlying layers of elongate polymeric filaments stacked on a surface of a substrate. The elongate polymeric filaments are stacked on each other along their lengths to form a liquid impermeable, self-supporting wall. The liquid impermeable self-supporting wall forms a wall angle of about 30° to about 90° with respect to a plane of the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Michael C. McAlpine, Ruitao Su, Steven J. Koester, Joshua Uzarski
  • Publication number: 20210369250
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to chemical sensors, devices and systems including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a medical device is included having a graphene varactor. The graphene varactor includes a graphene layer and at least one non-covalent modification layer disposed on an outer surface of the graphene layer. The non-covalent modification layer can include nanoparticles selected from a group that can include one or more metals, metal oxides, or derivatives thereof. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Philippe Pierre Joseph Buhlmann, Steven J. Koester, Justin Theodore Nelson, Xue Zhen
  • Publication number: 20210285445
    Abstract: A valve assembly forms a check valve for a scroll compressor including a fixed scroll having a pair of injection ports fluidly coupled to a compression mechanism. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a pair of flow paths with each of the flow paths fluidly coupled to a corresponding one of the injection ports. An injection plate has a pair of injection holes. A reed structure is disposed between the injection plate and the valve body with the reed structure including a pair of reeds. Each of the reeds is configured to selectively provide fluid communication between a corresponding one of the injection holes and a corresponding one of the injection ports. A valve gasket is disposed between the reed structure and the valve body and includes a pair of flaps with each of the flaps configured to selectively contact a corresponding one of the reeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kanwal Bhatia, Rod Callahan, Kyung Jae Lee, Steven J. Koester, Jeong Ki Seo
  • Patent number: 11079371
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to chemical sensors, devices and systems including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a medical device is included. The medical device can include a graphene varactor. The graphene varactor can include a graphene layer and a self-assembled monolayer disposed on an outer surface of the graphene layer through ?-? stacking interactions. The self-assembled monolayer can provide a Langmuir theta value of at least 0.9. The self-assembled monolayer can include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, tetraphenylporphyrins or derivatives thereof, metallotetraphenylporphyrins, or aromatic cyclodextrins. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Xue Zhen, Philippe Pierre Joseph Buhlmann, Steven J. Koester, Yao Zhang, Justin Theodore Nelson
  • Publication number: 20210199614
    Abstract: An electrical device includes at least one graphene quantum capacitance varactor. In some examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a graphene layer disposed on the insulator layer, a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer, a gate electrode formed on the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode disposed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer. In other examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a gate electrode recessed in the insulator layer, a dielectric layer formed on the gate electrode, a graphene layer formed on the dielectric layer, wherein the graphene layer comprises an exposed surface opposite the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode formed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventor: Steven J. Koester
  • Publication number: 20210147238
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to methods and systems for applying a transfer material layer to graphene during a graphene fabrication process. In an embodiment, a method of producing a graphene sensor element is included. The method includes forming a graphene layer on a growth substrate and applying a fluoropolymer coating layer over the graphene layer. The method includes removing the growth substrate and transferring the graphene and fluoropolymer coating layers onto a transfer substrate, where the graphene layer is disposed on the transfer substrate and the fluoropolymer layer is disposed on the graphene layer. The method also includes removing the fluoropolymer coating layer. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Steven J. Koester, Xue Zhen, Philippe Pierre Joseph Buhlmann, Qun Su, Justin Theodore Nelson, Gregory J. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 10948447
    Abstract: An electrical device includes at least one graphene quantum capacitance varactor. In some examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a graphene layer disposed on the insulator layer, a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer, a gate electrode formed on the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode disposed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer. In other examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a gate electrode recessed in the insulator layer, a dielectric layer formed on the gate electrode, a graphene layer formed on the dielectric layer, wherein the graphene layer comprises an exposed surface opposite the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode formed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Steven J. Koester
  • Publication number: 20210057526
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to chemical sensors, devices and systems including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a medical device is included having a graphene varactor including a graphene layer and a self-assembled monolayer disposed on an outer surface of the graphene layer through non-covalent interactions between the self-assembled monolayer and a ?-electron system of graphene. The self-assembled monolayer includes one or more pillarenes, substituted pillarenes, calixarenes, substituted calixarenes, peralkylated cyclodextrins, substituted peralkylated cyclodextrins, pyrenes, or substituted pyrenes, or derivatives thereof. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Xue Zhen, Philippe Pierre Joseph Buhlmann, Steven J. Koester
  • Publication number: 20200319129
    Abstract: An electrical device includes at least one graphene quantum capacitance varactor. In some examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a graphene layer disposed on the insulator layer, a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer, a gate electrode formed on the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode disposed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer. In other examples, the graphene quantum capacitance varactor includes an insulator layer, a gate electrode recessed in the insulator layer, a dielectric layer formed on the gate electrode, a graphene layer formed on the dielectric layer, wherein the graphene layer comprises an exposed surface opposite the dielectric layer, and at least one contact electrode formed on the graphene layer and making electrical contact with the graphene layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventor: Steven J. Koester