Patents by Inventor T. Simpson

T. Simpson 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: 8591481
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device and method for treating recurrent corneal erosion. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of contacting an epithelium layer of a cornea with an array of glass micro-rods including a plurality of sharp features having a length that penetrates a Bowman's layer of the eye, wherein the plurality of sharp features of the array of glass micro-rods produces a plurality of punctures in the Bowman's layer of the eye that are of micro-scale or less. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method and device for drug delivery. In one embodiment, the device includes an array of glass micro-rods, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature opposite a base of the array of glass micro-rods, wherein the sharp feature includes a treated surface for delivering a chemical compound to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, University of Tennessee Research Foundation
    Inventors: Charles L. Britton, Brian R. D'Urso, Edward Chaum, John T. Simpson, Justin S. Baba, M. Nance Ericson, Robert J. Warmack
  • Publication number: 20130306122
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator via fiber drawing and corresponding or associated thermoelectric generator devices are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy J. McIntyre, John T. Simpson, David L. West
  • Patent number: 8562476
    Abstract: A transmission for an engine or motor with a reduced package size and increased efficiency comprising: an input sprocket, an output sprocket, a chain, and a planetary gear set. The output sprocket is drivingly connecting to the input sprocket through the chain. The output sprocket has a hollow center portion that receives the sun gear of the planetary gear set. The planetary gear set also includes at least two planet gears meshed with the sun gear which are mounted to a fixed planet carrier for driving a differential with a ring gear portion. When the input sprocket is rotated in a first direction, the chain drives the output sprocket and the sun gear in the first direction, and the sun gear drives the planet gears to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, driving the ring gear portion and differential in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Roger T. Simpson, Mark E. Michaels
  • Publication number: 20130241389
    Abstract: A field emission device includes a substrate and a plurality of wires embedded in the substrate. The plurality of wires has at least a field emitter cathode wire; a control grid wire array; and a collector anode array. The field emitter cathode wire, control grid wire array, and collector anode array are embedded in and extend through a nonconductive substrate matrix. A method for making a vacuum field emission device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Roger A. KISNER, Kofi KORSAH, John T. SIMPSON, Alexander M. MELIN
  • Publication number: 20130240242
    Abstract: A method of making a wire array includes the step of providing a tube of a sealing material and having an interior surface, and positioning a wire in the tube, the wire having an exterior surface. The tube is heated to soften the tube, and the softened tube is drawn and collapsed by a mild vacuum to bring the interior surface of the tube into contact with the wire to create a coated wire. The coated wires are bundled. The bundled coated wires are heated under vacuum to fuse the tube material coating the wires and create a fused rod with a wire array embedded therein. The fused rod is cut to form a wire array. A wire array is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: John T. SIMPSON, Joseph P. CUNNINGHAM, Brian R. D'URSO, Troy R. HENDRICKS, Daniel A. SCHAEFFER
  • Publication number: 20130236695
    Abstract: An article having a nanostructured surface and a method of making the same are described. The article can include a substrate and a nanostructured layer bonded to the substrate. The nanostructured layer can include a plurality of spaced apart nanostructured features comprising a contiguous, protrusive material and the nanostructured features can be sufficiently small that the nanostructured layer is optically transparent. A surface of the nanostructured features can be coated with a continuous hydrophobic coating. The method can include providing a substrate; depositing a film on the substrate; decomposing the film to form a decomposed film; and etching the decomposed film to form the nanostructured layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Tolga AYTUG, David K. CHRISTEN, John T. SIMPSON
  • Patent number: 8497021
    Abstract: Superoleophilic particles and surfaces and methods of making the same are described. The superoleophilic particles can include porous particles having a hydrophobic coating layer deposited thereon. The coated porous particles are characterized by particle sizes ranging from at least 100 nm to about 10 ?m and a plurality of nanopores. Some of the nanopores provide flow through porosity. The superoleophilic particles also include oil pinned within the nanopores of the porous particles The plurality of porous particles can include (i) particles including a plurality of spaced apart nanostructured features comprising a contiguous, protrusive material, (ii) diatomaceous earth particles, or (iii) both. The surfaces can include the superoleophilic particles coupled to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Simpson, Brian D'Urso
  • Patent number: 8460782
    Abstract: An array of aligned and dispersed carbon nanotubes includes an elongate drawn body including a plurality of channels extending therethrough from a first end to a second end of the body, where the channels have a number density of at least about 100,000 channels/mm2 over a transverse cross-section of the body. A plurality of carbon nanotubes are disposed in each channel, and the carbon nanotubes are sufficiently dispersed and aligned along a length of the channels for the array to comprise an average resistivity per channel of about 9700 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Ilia N Ivanov, John T Simpson, Troy R Hendricks
  • Patent number: 8461600
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a drawn glass tube having opposing ends, a semiconductive material disposed inside of the drawn glass tube, and a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at the opposing ends of the drawn glass tube. A method of making an electrical device comprises disposing a semiconductive material inside of a glass tube, and drawing the glass tube with the semiconductive material disposed therein to form a drawn glass tube. The method of making an electrical device also comprises disposing a first electrode and a second electrode on the opposing ends of the drawn glass tube to form an electric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Ilia N. Ivanov, John T. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20130108840
    Abstract: A method of preparing a network comprises disposing a solution comprising particulate materials in a solvent onto a superhydrophobic surface comprising a plurality of superhydrophobic features and interfacial areas between the superhydrophobic features. The plurality of superhydrophobic features has a water contact angle of at least about 150°. The method of preparing the network also comprises removing the solvent from the solution of the particulate materials, and forming a network of the particulate materials in the interfacial areas, the particulate materials receding to the interfacial areas as the solvent is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Ilia N. Ivanov, John T. Simpson
  • Patent number: 8425596
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of removing scar tissue from an eye that includes inserting a device including an array of micro-rods into an eye, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature; contacting a scar tissue with the array of micro-rods; and removing the array of micro-rods and the scar tissue from the eye. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a medical device for engaging a tissue including and an array of glass micro-rods, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature opposite a base of the array of glass micro-rods that is connected to the cannula, wherein the sharp feature of the at least one micro-rod is angled from a plane that is normal to a face of the base of the array of glass micro-rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, University of Tennessee Research Foundation
    Inventors: Charles L. Britton, Brian R. D'Urso, Edward Chaum, John T. Simpson, Justin S. Baba, M. Nance Ericson, Robert J. Warmack
  • Patent number: 8415704
    Abstract: A close-packed array of light emitting diodes includes a nonconductive substrate having a plurality of elongate channels extending therethrough from a first side to a second side, where each of the elongate channels in at least a portion of the substrate includes a conductive rod therein. The conductive rods have a density over the substrate of at least about 1,000 rods per square centimeter and include first conductive rods and second conductive rods. The close-packed array further includes a plurality of light emitting diodes on the first side of the substrate, where each light emitting diode is in physical contact with at least one first conductive rod and in electrical contact with at least one second conductive rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Ilia N. Ivanov, John T. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20120321841
    Abstract: An array of aligned and dispersed carbon nanotubes includes an elongate drawn body including a plurality of channels extending therethrough from a first end to a second end of the body, where the channels have a number density of at least about 100,000 channels/mm2 over a transverse cross-section of the body. A plurality of carbon nanotubes are disposed in each channel, and the carbon nanotubes are sufficiently dispersed and aligned along a length of the channels for the array to comprise an average resistivity per channel of about 9700 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Ilia N. Ivanov, John T. Simpson, Troy R. Hendricks
  • Publication number: 20120285629
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of apparatuses for evaporative purification of a contaminated liquid. In each example, there is a vessel for storing the contaminated fluid. The vessel includes a surface coated with a layer of superhydrophobic material and the surface is at least partially in contact with the contaminated liquid. The contaminants do not adhere to the surface as the purified liquid evaporates, thus allowing the contaminants to be harvested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: John T. SIMPSON, Scott R. HUNTER
  • Patent number: 8256393
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which the variable cam timing controls for a variable cam timing mechanism include a variable force solenoid mounted within a hollow portion of the camshaft. The variable force solenoid is maintained in place within the hollow camshaft by a tubular shaft fixed to the engine and a bearing between the solenoid and the variable cam timing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Roger T. Simpson, Roger P. Butterfield, Franklin R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120211346
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of apparatuses for evaporative purification of a contaminated liquid. In each example, there is a first vessel for storing the contaminated fluid. The first vessel includes a surface coated with a layer of superhydrophobic material and the surface is at least partially in contact with the contaminated liquid. The contaminants do not adhere to the surface as the purified liquid evaporates, thus simplifying maintenance of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Simpson, Steve R. McNeany, Thomas V. Dinsmore, Scott R. Hunter, Ilia N. Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8241508
    Abstract: A method of making a composite material having sharp surface features includes the steps of: making a composite body comprised of a recessive phase and a protrusive phase, the recessive phase having a higher susceptibility to a preselected etchant than the protrusive phase; and treating a surface of the composite body with the preselected etchant so that the protrusive phase protrudes from the surface to form a sharp surface feature, and the recessive phase defines a recessed surface area between the surface features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Brian R D'Urso, John T Simpson
  • Patent number: 8216674
    Abstract: A superhydrophobic powder is prepared by coating diatomaceous earth (DE) with a hydrophobic coating on the particle surface such that the coating conforms to the topography of the DE particles. The hydrophobic coating can be a self assembly monolayer of a perfluorinated silane coupling agent. The DE is preferably natural-grade DE where organic impurities have been removed. The superhydrophobic powder can be applied as a suspension in a binder solution to a substrate to produce a superhydrophobic surface on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ut-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Simpson, Brian R. D'Urso
  • Patent number: D691907
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Anthony T. Simpson
  • Patent number: D691908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Anthony T. Simpson