Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Berfield

Thomas A. Berfield 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).

  • IN-PROCESS ULTRASONIC POLLING OF 3D PRINTED CRYSTALLINE/SEMICRYSTALLINE ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERS
    Publication number: 20240025114
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a structure having selectable piezoelectric properties via additive manufacturing. Such methods can include coupling an ultrasound generating device to a print head of the additive manufacturing apparatus; transmitting acoustic energy from the ultrasound generating device to the print head to vibrate the print head in an oscillatory manner; extruding a feed material from the print head; moving the print head in at least one dimension relative to a substrate on which the structure is being manufactured; and dispensing layers sequentially on top of each other to form the structure. Such systems can include an additive manufacturing apparatus comprising a print head movable in at least one dimension relative to a base configured to support the structure being produced; and an ultrasound generating device that is connected to the print head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Keng Hsu, Alireza Tofangchi, Thomas A. Berfield
  • In-process ultrasonic polling of 3D printed crystalline/semi-crystalline electroactive polymers
    Patent number: 11724451
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a structure having selectable piezoelectric properties via additive manufacturing. Such methods can include coupling an ultrasound generating device to a print head of the additive manufacturing apparatus; transmitting acoustic energy from the ultrasound generating device to the print head to vibrate the print head in an oscillatory manner; extruding a feed material from the print head; moving the print head in at least one dimension relative to a substrate on which the structure is being manufactured; and dispensing layers sequentially on top of each other to form the structure. Such systems can include an additive manufacturing apparatus comprising a print head movable in at least one dimension relative to a base configured to support the structure being produced; and an ultrasound generating device that is connected to the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Keng Hsu, Alireza Tofangchi, Thomas A. Berfield