Category: Engineering & Technology

SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY (SMA) THERMAL DEVICE

Patent Pending

• The invention is a cost-efficient device made of a SMA that is shaped to maintain the electrical connection between a lithium-ion battery and a conductive plate. At a manufacturer specified temperature (higher than the operating temperature), the SMA returns to its original remembered shape, therefore breaking the electrical connection.

• The invention prevents electrical overheating to prevent fires and save battery cells, making the battery repairable.

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CHARGED ARRAYS OF MICRO AND NANOSCALE ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND BATTERIES FOR COMPUTER AND NANODEVICE MEMORY AND POWER SUPPLY  

Patent No’s. 7,704,615 & 7,785,737 

Expiration Date – 2/26/2028 

• This invention involves charged arrays of micro and nanoscale electrochemical cells and batteries for computer and nanodevice memory. Nanoscale or electrochemical cells or batteries are arranged in well-ordered arrays. Charged cells serve as “on” or “1” while cells that are not charged could serve as “off” or “0,” in effect serving as memory devices.  

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NANOSCALE THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) BATTERY ARCHITECTURE 

Patent No. 8,574,744   

Expiration Date – 4/23/2030

• The invention is a 3D compact, highly efficient nanobattery comprised of nanobaskets, nanowires, and an electrolyte layer. 

• The battery’s nanobaskets, formed on a nanoporous substrate, serve as electrodes, with nanowires providing direct electrical connections for each basket. A thin electrolyte layer is placed between the nanobasket electrodes to facilitate ion exchange and complete the energy storage system. 

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PHOTOVOLTAIC RETROFIT DEVICE FOR ENHANCING POWER OUTPUT OF CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS

Patent No. 11,901,859

Expiration Date – 07/21/2040

• A photovoltaic device may be combined with a linear concentrating solar thermal power plant or retrofit to an existing solar thermal power plant. The concentrating solar thermal power plant includes a parabolic reflector trough assembly to achieve the solar concentration to a linear solar heat transfer target. 

• The present invention is directed to a combined concentrating solar thermal power plant and photovoltaic electric generation device. The most economical configuration is a photovoltaic retrofit device for enhancing power output of an existing concentrating solar thermal power plant.  In a retrofit installation most of the balance of plant is already constructed and only the solar cell direct current subsystem is required….

ADAPTIVE ROBOTIC HEAD SUPPORT

Patent Pending

• This therapeutic robotic head support adapts the amount of support provided in real time based on user input to the device and sensors monitoring the patient. The initial height of the head support can be adjusted by a qualified therapist who helps the patient into an upright starting position. A motor will increase or decrease the amount of support based on sensor measurements of the position of the head and how much weight the patient is holding. 

• Current technology can provide passive support with a supervisor manually adjusting the head strap height to a single position. The Adaptive Robotic Head Support would enable the supervisor to adjust the position by pressing a button to turn a motor and adapt the strap to optimal length based on current pose and therapeutic goals….

IMPROVEMENTS IN SILICON SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL EFFICIENCY 

Patent Pending  

• The invention enhances the efficiency of silicon photovoltaic solar cells by facilitating the downshifting of wavelengths so that crystalline silicon can absorb wavelengths in the range suitable for conversion. This is achieved by coating silicon with specific films of the order of nanometers thickness. 

• Power conversion efficiencies of 10% or more can be achieved for a small percentage increase in the cost of solar cells. The thin film also increases the life of a solar cell.  A layer of polydimethylsiloxane applied over the perovskite quantum dots will increase its usable life. 

• This invention is significant because 85 -90% of solar cells in today’s market are made of silicon solar cells. Crystalline Silicon (c-Si) solar technology is the most prominent form of solar cell technology in the U.S. residential market, yet the efficiency of these specific solar cells has plateaued over the last 15 years….