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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8122646 | Method and apparatus for an inflatable shell A method of assembling an inflatable shell of a structure comprises folding a plurality of shell sections about a set of fold lines and integrating the plurality of shell sections together with one another to form the shell. In another embodiment, an inflatable shel... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8070105 | Inflatable nested toroid structure An inflatable structure comprises at least two generally toroidal, inflatable modules. When in a deployed mode, the first, inner module has a major diameter less than that of a second, outer module and is positioned within the inner circumference of the outer module... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8047473 | Connecting node and method for constructing a connecting node A connecting node comprises a polyhedral structure comprising a plurality of panels joined together at its side edges to form a spherical approximation, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels comprises a faceted surface being constructed with a passage for ... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8022307 | Fabric circuits and method of manufacturing fabric circuits A flexible, fabric-based circuit comprises a non-conductive flexible layer of fabric and a conductive flexible layer of fabric adjacent thereto. A non-conductive thread, an adhesive, and/or other means may be used for attaching the conductive layer to the non-conduc... | 09/20/2011 |
| 7972821 | Production of functional proteins: balance of shear stress and gravity A method for the production of functional proteins including hormones by renal cells in a three dimensional culturing process responsive to shear stress uses a rotating wall vessel. Natural mixture of renal cells expresses the enzyme 1-α-hydroxylase which can be us... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7935259 | Filtering apparatus and method of use A filtering apparatus comprises a microporous membrane and an actuator. The membrane is positioned to traverse across the hollow interior of a conduit used for the transport of molecules in bulk. In one example, the pores of the membrane comprise a plurality of open... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7862946 | Self-regulating control of parasitic loads in a fuel cell power system A fuel cell power system comprises an internal or self-regulating control of a system or device requiring a parasitic load. The internal or self-regulating control utilizes certain components and an interconnection scheme to produce a desirable, variable voltage pot... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7588703 | Microencapsulation system and method A microencapsulation apparatus is provided which is configured to form co-axial multi-lamellar microcapsules from materials discharged from first and second microsphere dispensers of the apparatus. A method of fabricating and processing microcapsules is also provide... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7577482 | System comprising interchangeable electronic controllers and corresponding methods A system comprising an interchangeable electronic controller is provided with programming that allows the controller to adapt a behavior that is dependent upon the particular type of function performed by a system or subsystem component. The system reconfigures the ... | 08/18/2009 |
| 7507472 | Multilayer electroactive polymer composite material comprising carbon nanotubes An electroactive material comprises multiple layers of electroactive composite with each layer having unique dielectric, electrical and mechanical properties that define an electromechanical operation thereof when affected by an external stimulus. For example, each ... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7491428 | Controlled deposition and alignment of carbon nanotubes A carbon nanotube (CNT) attraction material is deposited on a substrate in the gap region between two electrodes on the substrate. An electric potential is applied to the two electrodes. The CNT attraction material is wetted with a solution defined by a carrier liqu... | 02/17/2009 |
| 7295309 | Microparticle analysis system and method A device for analyzing microparticles is provided which includes a chamber with an inlet and an outlet for respectively introducing and dispensing a flowing fluid comprising microparticles, a light source for providing light through the chamber and a photometer for ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7278324 | Carbon nanotube-based sensor and method for detection of crack growth in a structure A sensor has a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors operatively positioned on a substrate. The conductors are arranged side-by-side, such as in a substantially parallel relationship to one another. At least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes is coupl... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7197798 | Method of fabricating a composite apparatus A method for fabricating a piezoelectric macro-fiber composite actuator comprises making a piezoelectric fiber sheet by providing a plurality of wafers of piezoelectric material, bonding the wafers together with an adhesive material to form a stack of alternating la... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7198947 | Production of functional proteins: balance of shear stress and gravity The present invention provides a method for production of functional proteins including hormones by renal cells in a three dimensional co-culture process responsive to shear stress using a rotating wall vessel. Natural mixture of renal cells expresses the enzyme 1-a... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7194912 | Carbon nanotube-based sensor and method for continually sensing changes in a structure A sensor has a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors operatively positioned on a substrate. The conductors are arranged side-by-side, such as in a substantially parallel relationship to one another. At least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes is coupl... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7181942 | Device and method for connections made between a crimp connector and wire An ultrasonic device and method obtains desirable crimp connections between a crimp connector and a wire, or bundle of wires, by assessing the desirability of connections made in a wire-to-wire connection and in other situations where two materials with good acousti... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7094045 | Microencapsulation system and method A microencapsulation apparatus is provided which is configured to form co-axial multi-lamellar microcapsules from materials discharged from first and second microsphere dispensers of the apparatus. A method of fabricating and processing microcapsules is also provide... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7040319 | Method and apparatus for monitoring oxygen partial pressure in air masks Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring an oxygen partial pressure in an air mask and providing a tactile warning to the user. The oxygen partial pressure in the air mask is detected using an electrochemical sensor, the output signal from which is provided... | 05/09/2006 |
| 6985083 | Marking electrical wiring with condition indicators A method is provided for marking electrical wiring with condition indicators. One or more markers are added to one or both of the insulative material and a surface of an electrical conductor such that it bonds thereto. Each marker is capable of emanating into a surr... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6985606 | Method for identifying sedimentary bodies from images and its application to mineral exploration A method is disclosed for identifying a sediment accumulation from an image of a part of the earth's surface. The method includes identifying a topographic discontinuity from the image. A river which crosses the discontinuity is identified from the image. From the i... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6922242 | Optical path switching based differential absorption radiometry for substance detection An optical path switch divides sample path radiation into a time series of alternating first polarized components and second polarized components. The first polarized components are transmitted along a first optical path and the second polarized components along a s... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6919669 | Electro-active device using radial electric field piezo-diaphragm for sonic applications An electro-active transducer for sonic applications includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched by first and second electrode patterns to form a piezo-diaphragm coupled to a mounting frame. When the device is used as a sonic actuator, the first and second electrode... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6856073 | Electro-active device using radial electric field piezo-diaphragm for control of fluid movement A fluid-control electro-active device includes a piezo-diaphragm made from a ferroelectric material sandwiched by first and second electrode patterns configured to introduce an electric field into the ferroelectric material when voltage is applied thereto. The elect... | 02/15/2005 |
| 6838995 | Method for anticipating problems with electrical wiring Passive and active methods for anticipating problems with electrical wiring are provided. An insulative material in contact with an electrical conductor has at least one impurity that is impregnated in the insulative material and/or disposed thereon. An environment ... | 01/04/2005 |
| 6765190 | Multi-element electron-transfer optical detector system A multi-element optical detector system includes an electrically resistive screen that is substantially transparent to radiation energy having a wavelength of interest. A plurality of electron transfer elements (e.g., a low work function photoactive material or a ca... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6750438 | Single-element electron-transfer optical detector system An optical detector system includes an electrically resistive screen that is substantially transparent to radiation energy having a wavelength of interest. An electron transfer element (e.g., a low work function photoactive material or a carbon nanotube (CNT)-based ... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6739555 | Reusable module for the storage, transportation, and supply of multiple propellants in a space environment A space module has an outer structure designed for traveling in space, a docking mechanism for facilitating a docking operation therewith in space, a first storage system storing a first propellant that burns as a result of a chemical reaction therein, a second stor... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6734603 | Thin layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor A method for forming ferroelectric wafers is provided. A prestress layer is placed on the desired mold. A ferroelectric wafer is placed on top of the prestress layer. The layers are heated and then cooled, causing the ferroelectric wafer to become prestressed. The p... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6712502 | Synchronized electronic shutter system and method for thermal nondestructive evaluation The invention is a synchronized electronic shutter system (SESS) and method for same side and through transmission thermal analysis and inspection of a material for finding defects, corrosion, disbond defects, integrity of a weld and determination of paint thickness... | 03/30/2004 |
| 6629341 | Method of fabricating a piezoelectric composite apparatus A method for fabricating a piezoelectric macro-fiber composite actuator comprises providing a piezoelectric material that has two sides and attaching one side upon an adhesive backing sheet. The method further comprises slicing the piezoelectric material ... | 10/07/2003 |
| 6611329 | Optical path switching based differential absorption radiometry for substance detection An optical path switch divides sample path radiation into a time series of alternating first polarized components and second polarized components. The first polarized components are transmitted along a first optical path and the second polarized component... | 08/26/2003 |
| 6514370 | Dry process for manufacturing hybridized boron fiber/carbon fiber thermoplastic composite materials from a solution coated precursor An apparatus for producing a hybrid boron reinforced polymer matrix composite from precursor tape and a linear array of boron fibers. The boron fibers are applied onto the precursor tapes and the precursor tape processed within a processing component havi... | 02/04/2003 |
| 6500370 | Process of making boron-fiber reinforced composite tape The invention is an apparatus and method for producing a hybrid boron reinforced polymer matrix composition from powder pre-impregnated fiber tow bundles and a linear array of boron fibers. The boron fibers are applied onto the powder pre-impregnated fibe... | 12/31/2002 |
| 6471157 | Device and method for reducing aircraft noise A noise abatement device that is positioned adjacent to a body. The noise abatement device generally includes tabs or cavities which thicken the shear layer created by fluid flow over, around, or near the body, by creating horseshoe-shaped vortices; this ... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6376830 | System and method for measuring the transfer function of a guided wave device A method/system are provided for measuring the N×N scalar transfer function elements for an N-port guided wave device. Optical energy of a selected wavelength is generated at a source and directed along N reference optical paths having N reference path l... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6239601 | Thickness measurement device for ice, or ice mixed with water or other liquid A device and method are provided for determining the thickness of a layer of solid ice, a mixture of ice and water, or a mixture of ice and other liquid, accumulated on the outer surface of an object. First and second total impedance sensors are operated ... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6180034 | Process for making ceramic mold An improved process for slip casting molds that can be more economically automated and that also exhibits greater dimensional stability is disclosed. The process involves subjecting an investment pattern, preferably made from wax, to successive cycles of ... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6148785 | Pistons and cylinders made of carbon-carbon composite materials An improved reciprocating internal combustion engine has a plurality of engine pistons, which are fabricated from carbon--carbon composite materials, in operative association with an engine cylinder block, or an engine cylinder tube, or an engine cylinder... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6116202 | Carbon-carbon piston architectures An improved structure for carbon--carbon composite piston architectures is disclosed. The improvement consists of replacing the knitted fiber, three-dimensional piston preform architecture described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,133 (Taylor et al.) with a two-di... | 09/12/2000 |
