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This invention introduces a secondary channel between the main memory and write-back buffer through the main bus. Simulation results show that overall system speed is increased by 5-30% along with a substantial decrease in queuing delays. Overview | "Sign and Send" non-exclusive license

Reinforcement Fabrics with Electronic Transmission Capabilities

Cell towers and other large antennas are expensive infrastructure that remain highly vulnerable to vandalism, terrorism and natural disasters. This invention embodies antennas consisting of nonwoven textiles with embedded metallic or other wave carrying fibers. These textiles would serve the needed purpose of the textile, such as geotextiles for road bed protection, while adding the functionality of electronic transmission. This could also be applied to other exterior building surfaces such as roofs and bridges. For road applications, geotextile antennas would be considerably less vulnerable to damage and likely much less expensive than the current infrastructure. Transmission through asphalt has been demonstrated at the prototype level. U.S. Patent Application

Graded Junction Termination Extension for Power Semiconductor Devices

Wide band gap semiconductors like silicon carbide show great promise for high power electronic devices such as p-n diodes, Schottky diodes and bipolar junction transistors. All of these require adequate and affordable termination to reduce leakage current and increase breakdown voltage for maximum power handling capability. This new type of junction termination extension is self-aligned - a feature that simplifies the process and therefore has the potential to reduce production costs. Implanted p-n junction diodes have been fabricated with breakdown voltages improved by more than a factor of 2 compared to diodes that were not terminated. U.S. Patent No. 7,033,950 | U.S. Patent No. 7,214,627

Electrostatic Comb Drive Tuned Microfabricated Vibration Filter

This invention realizes a tunable filter for isolating mechanical vibrations caused by an external disturbance in micromachined (MEMS) technology. This filter generates the control voltage waveform necessary to modify the mechanical system transfer function, and therefore the filter characteristics, to obtain the desired mechanical frequency response of the device for vibration isolation. U.S. Patent 7,355,318

High Order ΔΣ Noise Shaping in Direct Digital Synthesis

This invention embodies a novel direct digital synthesis (DDS) architecture using high-order ΔΣ interpolators to remove quantization error. The presented DDS can achieve very low phase noise with small size and fine resolution, and thus provide a low cost and high performance means of frequency synthesis. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

Automatic Analog BIST with Pattern Generator and Analyzer

The current manual analog testing process for high-speed RFICs is time consuming and costly, rising to as much as 50 percent of the manufacturing cost. As a result, only a small sample of RF circuitry is currently tested. This invention could, for the first time, make complete testing of RFIC chips economically feasible. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

System and Method of Handwritten Character Recognition

This dynamic algorithm is adaptable, highly accurate, uses limited system requirements and can handle noisy writing environments (e.g., inside a vehicle or due to impaired motor skills). This technology has utility for PDAs, field service, commuters, toys, and the medical industry. Overview | U.S. Patent Application | "Sign and Send" non-exclusive license

Estimating Reliability of Components for IC Testing and Quality Optimization

This invention provides a cost effective way to identify latent defects in integrated circuits. The methodology is founded on the fact that manufacturing defects tend to cluster in scattered regions of the wafer, and on the related proven assumption that the probability of defects in a die correlates with the defect rate in neighboring dies. Overview | U.S. Patent 7,194,366

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This new form of non-crystalline cellulose exhibits physical properties drastically different from a-cellulose and MCC. These unique properties include changes in morphology, surface area, porosity, crystallinity, bioavailability and viscosity in the wet form and density, melting point, reactivity, and water absorption in the dry form. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

Cellodextrins currently have utility as reagents in the study of cellulases and other chemicals, but the extremely high costs preclude them from being used in other areas. This technology has the potential to produce cellodextrins in bulk quantities at drastically reduced costs, opening up such areas as the health food market. Overview

These particulate sensors, which can range from a few nanometers in size to larger strips, are distributed through a sample, effectively bringing the sensors to the sample. They require no onboard power or electronics and significantly increase sensitivity and reduce detection time. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

This work is the first demonstration of the use of landscape phage as recognition elements for biosensors. As superior substitutes for antibodies, phage exhibit many features such as high affinity, field stability, and low cost that show utility in a variety of real-time applications. Overview | U.S. Patent 7,267,993 | Related U.S. Patent: No. 7,138,238
U.S. Patent Application (anthrax)

This piezoelectric sensor allows for the detection of ligand-peptide interactions directly in tissue samples. Numerous sensing applications exist with this technology, including identification and detection of ligands specific to various organs, tissues, and cell types. U.S. Patent No. 7,138,238

This novel technique allows for controlled deposition of particles, resulting in more consistent nanoparticle thin films with fewer defects than films made using standard solvent evaporation techniques. This technology has applications in optical devices, sensors, catalysis and semiconductors. Overview | U.S. Patent 7,384,879

This high-performance, low cost electroactive co-polymer (EAP) can achieve a higher electrostrictive strain than similar EAPs, and has a wide range of potential applications, including actuators, transducers, artificial organs, and artificial muscles. Overview

These composite fibers are composed of a matrix material and dispersed reinforcement nanotubes that are substantially aligned along at least one specified direction or axis, providing a material with great stiffness, strength, damage tolerance, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance. This material can be produced in a continuous manner with several desirable processing options. U.S. Patent No. 6,934,600

By adding binding elements for a given biological target to the surface of a compact disc, simple continuous monitoring of air samples can be performed. Potential applications for this technology exist in homeland security and defense. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

Cubic boron nitride, the second hardest known substance, has several advantages over diamond for tool coating and other applications. This sputtering process allows for rapid growth of cubic boron nitride films that suppresses the synthesis of other, less desirable forms of boron nitride. Overview | U.S. Patent No. 6,153,061

These technologies enable the hot filament or microwave plasma-based growth of high quality diamond crystals and films using a liquid feedstock, creating a cheaper, easier, safer and more flexible process. Hot Filament Plasma: Overview | U.S. Patent No. 6,558,742 Microwave Plasma: Overview | U.S. Patent Application

With this efficient and economical polishing process, diamond surface roughness can be quickly brought down to 2-5 microns, with up to 30 microns of material removed in a 5 minute span. The simple technique provides for reduced diamond loss and can also be used to shape non-planar diamond structures. Overview | U.S. Patent No. 6,284,315

A composite is described having a 3D distribution of carbon nanotubes. The critical aspect of such composites is a nonwoven network of randomly oriented metallic fibers connected at their junctions to afford macropores in the spaces between the fibers. The composite has quite desirable properties for cold field electron emission and other electrode applications. U.S. Patent No. 6,495,258

This ligand system preferentially binds uranium, demonstrating a measurable color shift upon such binding. This would allow for the visual detection of uranium in a sample or in the environment. A variety of formulations, such as solutions or sprays, could be developed for different applications. The strong binding to uranium enables functionality as a remediation or long-term storage solution. Overview

These chip-based microfluidics systems enable the rapid study of the behavior of biological enzyme reactions on microliter, nanoliter, and picoliter scales. The Protein Kinetics Chip allows for faster and less expensive determination of enzyme kinetic parameters using much less material than conventional experiments. The Kinetic Landscaper increases throughput, scope, control and automation to create 3-D landscapes of an enzyme’s general kinetic parameters. Both could be adapted for use with other biological interactions, such as protein:protein binding. Protein Kinetics Chip Overview | Kinetics Landscaper Overview | U.S. Patent Application

This method for improved size fractionation of nanoparticles relies on the use of a gaseous antisolvent. Multiple monodisperse particle populations can be rapidly fractionated by adjusting only the gas pressure and the liquid location on a surface, thereby eliminating the difficulties associated with other methods that are time and solvent intensive, expensive and/or have limited throughput. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

A di-Ruthenium substituted polyoxometallate can be used as a catalyst for the efficient electrochemical generation of oxygen. Advantages include chemical stability (even under strong oxidizing conditions), the ability to substitute different transition metals into the active site, the simplicity of preparation, and the ability to apply the catalyst to surfaces in a straightforward fashion. U.S. Patent No. 7,208,244

An in situ subsurface filter in a contaminated aquifer is produced by injecting an aqueous solution comprising bacteria-stimulating chemical components through a well to generate a subsurface mineral filtering zone surrounding the well. As water is subsequently drawn through the well, contaminants are removed from the water as it passes through the filtering zone. U.S. Patent No. 7,341,664

This polymeric ligand exchanger uses a tailored commercially-available chelating resin for selective removal of arsenate from drinking water. This system can be used by water utilities in cities where the arsenic concentration exceeds the U.S. EPA regulated Maximum Concentration Limit (MCL) of 10 ppb. It can also be employed in small community systems or for home use. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

Ion-exchange technology often produces large volumes of spent brine containing high concentrations of contaminant, which can be difficult or cost prohibitive to process. A new class of zero-valent iron nanoparticles stabilized with starch or cellulose can degrade perchlorate or nitrate in spent ion exchange brine in an environmentally safe manner, something not possible by current techniques. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

Iron nanoparticles of varying compositions are prepared by adding a very low-cost stabilizer to prevent agglomeration, thereby maintaining their high surface area and reactivity. These stabilized nanoparticles demonstrate much higher reactivity, allowing for quicker and more complete remediation. This may improve and possibly enable remediation of such inorganic contaminants as arsenate, nitrate, chromate and perchlorate and such heavy metals as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury. Overview | U.S. Patent Application (Heavy metals) | U.S. Patent Application (Inorganics)

Bimetallic nanoparticles are prepared by adding a very low-cost stabilizer to prevent agglomeration, thereby maintaining their high surface area and reactivity. These stabilized nanoparticles demonstrate much higher reactivity, allowing for quicker and more complete remediation. Additionally, this may enable remediation of some compounds currently considered untreatable, including PCB and TCE. Overview

Mathematical modeling has indicated that much greater ethanol yields are possible using chaotic operating conditions as opposed to standard steady state conditions. These modeling predictions have been confirmed via experimental results. In addition, a pervaporation membrane separation can be employed to further enhance the productivity of ethanol fermentation. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

Solvents used to join PVC pipes have longer setting times at lower temperatures, which can become detrimental to the productivity and quality of plumbing work performed in winter conditions. Current methods to heat pipe joints (such as hair dryers) are crude, labor intensive and ineffective. The Pipe HeatWrap is designed to hold commercially available heat packs in place around the PVC joint to decrease the amount of time and labor required for the solvent to set. Overview

During earthquakes, damage to buildings is caused by large ground displacements due to the liquefaction of the soil underneath. Current methods of avoiding soil liquefaction are expensive and minimally effective. A new method of earthquake mitigation has been devised and tested. This method is also applicable to many other soil and geotechnical engineering problems. The inventors are currently seeking development partners for this technology. Overview

Piezoelectric synthetic jet actuators takes in fluid along the surface of an aerodynamic object and then discharge it tangentially to reduce drag and delay stall. Delaying stall allows an airplane to fly more slowly at a given angle of attack or to fly at a higher angle of attack for a given speed. A lower stall speed also increases safety and shortens takeoffs and landings. U.S. Patent No. 6,796,533

This design approach is to eliminate the traveler from the ring spinning system and replace it with an annular disc that rotates in a pre-defined magnetic field. This will result in a very high speed system that is robust against all of the traditional limitations of the current traveler system. Overview | U.S. Patent No. 7,205,692