Patents by Inventor Xiao-An Zhang

Xiao-An Zhang 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: 10156043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reusable water writing paper, as well as to its production process and an inkless printing device thereof. The reusable water writing paper is consisted of a substrate as structure-support material, a color-displaying component supported on the substrate, and an optional performance-enhancing additive, wherein the color-displaying component is an oxazoline-based hydrochromic dye, which can change color obviously to display characters and/or patterns after contacting with water, and revert to the initial color to disappear the displayed characters and/or patterns after the water is removed, thereby the water writing paper is reusable. The paper is not only suitable for the exercise of writing or drawing with a brush pen, but also can be used for daily writing with a pen. Furthermore, inkless printing also can be achieved by spraying water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Jilin University
    Inventors: Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Lan Sheng, Minjie Li
  • Publication number: 20160235866
    Abstract: Porphyrin compounds useful in the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as contrast agents. The compounds are relatively lipophilic porphyrins, include one or more enzyme-reactive functional groups, and are cell membrane permeable. Relatively lipophilic group(s) can be enzymatically released within a cell to produce a relatively hydrophilic porphyrin compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicants: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children
    Inventors: Xiao-An ZHANG, Inga E. HAEDICKE, Hai-Ling Margaret CHENG
  • Publication number: 20160168797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reusable water writing paper, as well as to its production process and an inkless printing device thereof The reusable water writing paper is consisted of a substrate as structure-support material, a color-displaying component supported on the substrate, and an optional performance-enhancing additive, wherein the color-displaying component is an oxazoline-based hydrochromic dye, which can change color obviously to display characters and/or patterns after contacting with water, and revert to the initial color to disappear the displayed characters and/or patterns after the water is removed, thereby the water writing paper is reusable. The paper is not only suitable for the exercise of writing or drawing with a brush pen, but also can be used for daily writing with a pen. Furthermore, inkless printing also can be achieved by spraying water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Lan Sheng, Minjie Li
  • Patent number: 8133474
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to agents and compositions having MRI and/or optical signals, and methods for their use in the determination of an analyte. In some cases, an optical, MRI, or other signal produced by the agent or composition may be affected by the presence of an analyte. Some embodiments of the present invention may provide agents or compositions which are cell permeable. Examples of analytes that may be determined by the present invention include zinc ions, calcium ions, and other biological analytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Xiao-An Zhang, Alan Pradip Jasanoff, Stephen J. Lippard
  • Publication number: 20110269240
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn toward a chemical or biological sensor that can comprise a semi-conducting nanowire and a chemical or biological sensing molecule tethered to the semi-conducting nanowire through a spacer group including a hydrophilic reactive group. In one embodiment, the semi-conducting nanowire can be part of an array of like or similar semi-conducting nanowires. Electrical leads can provide an electrical current to the array, and a signal measurement apparatus can be electrically coupled to the array, and can be configured for detecting changes in the electrical current of the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Zhang-Lin Zhou, Zhiyong Li, Sean Xiao-An Zhang
  • Patent number: 8048377
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn toward a chemical or biological sensor that can comprise a semi-conducting nanowire and a chemical or biological sensing molecule tethered to the semi-conducting nanowire through a spacer group including a hydrophilic reactive group. In one embodiment, the semi-conducting nanowire can be part of an array of like or similar semi-conducting nanowires. Electrical leads can provide an electrical current to the array, and a signal measurement apparatus can be electrically coupled to the array, and can be configured for detecting changes in the electrical current of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhang-Lin Zhou, Zhiyong Li, Sean Xiao-An Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100276017
    Abstract: A microfluidic device (100) for controllably moving a material of interest (102) includes a holding cavity (108) configured to hold the material of interest (102) and at least one actuator (120) configured to induce an activation material (116) to expand or contract. Expansion of the activation material (116) decreases the size of the holding cavity (108) to cause the material of interest (102) to be released from the holding cavity (108) and contraction of the activation material (116) increases the size of the holding cavity (108) to cause the material of interest (102) to be received into the holding cavity (108). The at least one actuator (120) is operable at multiple levels between a zero induction level to a maximum induction level on the activation material (116) to thereby controllably expand or contract the holding cavity (108) to release or receive a specified volume of the material of interest (102).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Patricia A. Beck, Janice H. Nickel
  • Patent number: 7782408
    Abstract: A three-dimensional molecular assembly and method of formation are provided. The molecular assembly is formed on a substrate. The molecular assembly comprises: a first monolayer of seed molecules for initiating self-assembled molecular growth, the first monolayer formed on the substrate; a second monolayer of active molecules comprising a plurality of rotor and stator moieties, with one rotor moiety supported between two stator moieties, the second monolayer of active molecules formed on the first monolayer of seed molecules, with a one-to-one correspondence between molecules in the first monolayer and the second monolayer; a third monolayer of spacer molecules, formed on the second monolayer of active molecules, with a one-to-one correspondence between molecules in the second monolayer and the third monolayer; and a plurality of alternating second monolayers and third monolayers having the one-to-one correspondence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiao-An Zhang, Sui-Hing Leung, Kent D. Vincent, Zhang-Lin Zhou
  • Patent number: 7780841
    Abstract: A sensor array for sensing at least one of chemical moieties and biological moieties is provided. The sensor array comprises a plurality of working electrodes electrically associated with a reference electrode, each working electrode in combination with the reference electrode forming a transducer. Each working electrode is provided with a coating of a sensing element comprised of an ionizable moiety and a functional group sensitive to one of the chemical and/or biological moieties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company. L.P.
    Inventors: Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Zhiyong Li, Zhang-Lin Zhou, William M. Tong, R. Stanley Williams, Yong Chen
  • Patent number: 7714438
    Abstract: Molecular systems are provided for electric field activated switches, such as a crossed-wire device or a pair of electrodes to which the molecular system is linked by linking moieties. The crossed-wire device comprises a pair of crossed wires that form a junction where one wire crosses another at an angle other than zero degrees and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises the molecular system, which has an electric field induced band gap change, and thus a change in its electrical conductivity, that occurs via one of the following mechanisms: (1) molecular conformation change; (2) change of extended conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap; or (3) molecular folding or stretching. Nanometer-scale reversible electronic switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make cross-bar circuits, which provide memory, logic, and communication functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiao-An Zhang, R. Stanley Williams, Kent D. Vincent
  • Patent number: 7677720
    Abstract: Ceramic pigment-based, chemically-modified porous coatings can be used for enhancing image permanence of ink-jet image printing. Specifically, a porous coated media sheet, comprising a media substrate, having a porous coating coated thereon comprising a modified ceramic pigment including a fixer group and a stabilizer group, each covalently attached to the ceramic pigment is disclosed. Additionally, a method and system for preparing permanent ink-jet images is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kent D. Vincent, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Palitha Wickramanayake
  • Patent number: 7580239
    Abstract: A charge storage cell is made up of two electrodes spaced apart by a dielectric layer incorporating a molecular switch. A method of operating a bi-stable, molecular switch charge storage cell encompassing two electrodes spaced apart by a dielectric layer incorporating a molecular switch having an electric dipole is also disclosed. The method involves applying a voltage across said dielectric layer to induce opposing charges on said electrodes that create an electric field across said dielectric layer, wherein molecular dipoles within said dielectric layer align or change in response to said electric field, creating an opposing electric field and a change in state of said molecular switch from a first state to a second state; and applying a voltage of reverse polarity across said dielectric aver to change said state of said molecular switch from said second state to said first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kent D. Vincent, Xiao-An Zhang
  • Patent number: 7554713
    Abstract: An electrochemically-activated optical switch is provided, comprising a molecular system configured between a pair of electrodes. The molecular system includes a moiety that is oxidizable or reducible in the presence of an electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiao-An Zhang, R. Stanley Williams
  • Patent number: 7496216
    Abstract: A system and method of capturing a skin print from skin having ridges and valleys. A skin print sensor having a return/supply contact and a plurality of contact pads is provided. A finger is applied to the skin print sensor and data is stored representative of contact pads in contact with skin ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sui-hing Leung, Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Chung Ching Yang
  • Patent number: 7404981
    Abstract: A method is provided for printing electronic and opto-electronic circuits. The method comprises: (a) providing a substrate; (b) providing a film-forming precursor species; (c) forming a substantially uniform and continuous film of the film-forming precursor species on at least one side of the substrate, the film having a first electrical conductivity; and (d) altering portions of the film with at least one conductivity-altering species to form regions having a second electrical conductivity that is different than the first electrical conductivity, the regions thereby providing circuit elements. The method employs very simple and continuous processes, which make the time to produce a batch of circuits very short and leads to very inexpensive products, such as electronic memories (write once or rewriteable), electronically addressable displays, and generally any circuit for which organic electronics or opto-electronics are acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiao-An Zhang, R. Stanley Williams, Yong Chen
  • Publication number: 20080138292
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to agents and compositions having MRI and/or optical signals, and methods for their use in the determination of an analyte. In some cases, an optical, MRI, or other signal produced by the agent or composition may be affected by the presence of an analyte. Some embodiments of the present invention may provide agents or compositions which are cell permeable. Examples of analytes that may be determined by the present invention include zinc ions, calcium ions, and other biological analytes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Xiao-An Zhang, Alan Pradip Jasanoff, Stephen J. Lippard
  • Publication number: 20080100564
    Abstract: An electronically addressable display comprises a substrate, at least one polarization-type, electrical field switchable molecular colorant associated with the substrate, and an addressing device mounted for selectively switching the at least one molecular colorant between at least two visually distinguishable states. Electronic devices including the electronically addressable displays and methods of manufacturing the electronically addressable display are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Kent D. Vincent, Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Zhang-Lin Zhou
  • Patent number: 7345302
    Abstract: The invention described herein includes a molecular switch, comprising: a donor subunit; an acceptor subunit; and an aromatic bridging subunit comprising one or more bridging groups for bonding the donor subunit to the aromatic bridging subunit and for bonding the acceptor subunit to the aromatic bridging subunit wherein the aromatic bridging subunit is conformable in a manner effective for polarizing and de-polarizing the molecular switch at a low electric field voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Kent Vincent, Zhang-Lin Zhou, R. Stanley Williams
  • Publication number: 20080022927
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for controllably moving a material of interest includes a holding cavity configured to hold the material of interest and at least one actuator configured to induce an activation material to expand or contract. Expansion of the activation material decreases the size of the holding cavity to cause the material of interest to be released from the holding cavity and contraction of the activation material increases the size of the holding cavity to cause the material of interest to be received into the holding cavity. The at least one actuator is operable at multiple levels between a zero induction level to a maximum induction level on the activation material to thereby controllably expand or contract the holding cavity to release or receive a specified volume of the material of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Patricia A. Beck, Janice H. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20080002333
    Abstract: A charge storage cell comprises two electrodes spaced apart by a dielectric layer incorporating a molecular switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kent D. Vincent, Xiao-An Zhang