Michigan Tech Patents

Explore a collection of patented innovations created by Michigan Tech inventors below.

For the most up-to-date information about these patents, including the availability of Certificates of Correction, be sure to check the United States Patent and Trademark Office's free, publicly accessible database: Patent Public Search https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/landing.html

Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.

Switch View to Grid View Slideshow

Modified luciferase

Eileen H. Kim Choi, David R. Shonnard, and Irina V. Rybina

The invention comprises modified luciferase proteins which are more resistant to inhibition by test chemicals than wild type luciferase. The modified luciferases also contain greater thermostability than wild type luciferase.
Thruster apparatus and method

Lyon Brad King

A thruster for use with an external power supply. The thruster includes a propellant that exists in a non-gaseous state at standard temperature and pressure and has a melting point T_m, a boiling point T_b, and an evaporation rate. The thruster further includes a reservoir adapted to house the propellant and selectively heated to a temperature greater than T_m and less than T_b, and a power control mechanism positioned to control the amount of power from the external power supply being deposited into the reservoir to control the evaporation rate of the propellant.
Application of aspen MADS-box genes to alter reproduction and development in trees

Gopi Krishna Podila, Leland James Cseke, Banalata Sen, and David F. Karnosky

The present invention provides compositions and methods for producing a transgenic plant that exhibits altered characteristics resulting from over expression or under expression of a novel polypeptide PtM3 or its homolog PtM4. The altered characteristics resulting from over-expression include at least one of the ability to convert axillary mer- istem to floral meristem; to accelerate flowering i.e., early flowering; to increase fruit production; to increase nut production; to increase seed output; to increase branching; to increase flower production; to increase fruit yield; to increase flower yield and a combination thereof. The altered characteristics resulting from suppressed expression include at least one of complete sterility; partial sterility (sterility of only one sex of a bisexual plant); reduced pollen production; decreased flowering; increased biomass and combinations thereof. Furthermore, once the transgenic plant is sterile, additional exogenous sequences may be incorporated into the sterile plant genome, resulting in other desired plant characteristics. Related promoter, gene constructs, methods, antibodies and kits are also provided.
Cellulose synthase encoding polynucleotides and uses thereof

Vincent L. Chiang, Chandrashekhar P. Joshi, Luguang Wu, and Daniel T. Carraway

The invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding functional cellulose synthases and UDP-glucose binding domain thereof, transgenic plants and plant cells transformed with the polynucleotides. The invention further relates to methods of transforming plants and plant cells with cellulose synthase or UDP-encoding polynucleotides.
System for and method of performing evaluation techniques on a log or round timber

Xiping Wang, Robert J. Ross, James A. Mattson, John Erickson, John W. Forsman, Earl A. Geske, and Michael A. Wehr

A system for and method of evaluating a log. The system includes an analysis module having at least one input terminal connectable to the at least one input device. The at least one input terminal is operable to receive at least one signal representing at least one measured property of the log and at least one determined parameter of the log determined in response to an energy being applied to the log. The analysis module further includes a processor coupled to the at least one input terminal. The processor determines a predictive modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the log based at least in part on the at least one measured property and the at least one sensed parameter. The analysis module also includes an output terminal coupled to the processor and connectable to an output device. The output terminal transmits a third signal representing the predictive MOE.
Transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus

Richard Lynn Campbell, Douglas Bruce Brumm, Glen Barna, and Carl Anderson

A transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus for moving machinery includes a microwave transmitter disposed outside the moving machinery to fill a chamber of the moving machinery with microwave energy. The transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus also includes a transponder disposed inside the moving machinery for measuring a sensed condition of a part of the moving machinery and providing a modulated microwave signal that contains information on the sensed condition. The transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus further includes a receiver disposed outside the moving machinery to separate modulated and continuous-wave signal components of the signal and extracts information from the modulated component.
Genetic engineering of plants through manipulation of lignin biosynthesis

Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chung-Jui Tsai, and Wen-Jing Hu

The invention pertains to the genetically down regulating a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (CCL) in trees.
Magneto-photonic crystal isolators

Miguel Levy

A magneto-optical isolator (20) for an optical circuit. The isolator includes a substrate, and an optical channel (350) disposed next to the substrate. The optical channel and substrate are configured to transmit optical radiation within the optical channel. The isolator further includes a photonic- crystal rotator (24) formed with the substrate and the optical channel. The rotator has at least one defect (52) and magnetic (M) and non-magnetic (N) materials.
Apparatus and method for three-dimensional contouring

Carl B. Kieranen, Charles A. Hallstrom, Glen R. Simula, Nils P. Ruonavaara, and James D. Waineo

A device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly that is supported at opposite ends by height adjustment mechanisms. The height adjustment mechanisms raise and lower the ends of the contouring assembly independently of each other, thereby allowing the contouring assembly to create a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of at least one end of the contouring assembly is based on a comparison of its measured position with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. A pivot or tilting controller may control the tilting of the contouring assembly to follow the slope of the profile stored in computer memory.
Induction heating of thin films

Paul L. Bergstrom and Melissa L. Trombley

A method of performing regional heating of a system having a substrate. The method may include applying a thin film to the system, and controllably energizing a coil positioned near the thin film. The energized coils thereby generate a magnetic flux. The method further includes inducing a current in the thin film with the magnetic flux thereby heating the system.
Visual display including linked bubbles

Igor Kliakhandler and Robert W. Sheldon

A visual display including a container, liquidous fluid within the container, a source of gaseous fluid communicating with the liquidous fluid, and at least one binary bubble formed within the liquidous fluid in response to gaseous fluid entering the liquidous fluid. The liquidous fluid is preferably a polymer in water solution or a polymer in mineral oil or silicon oil solution. The binary bubble has two bulbous portions in fluid communication with each other through a neck. The binary bubbles may link together in a chain extending from the bottom of the container to the top of the liquidous fluid. In other constructions, the binary bubbles float up through the liquidous fluid and collapse into a large individual bubble. The display may also include a light emitting source and a filter for selectively changing the color of light emitted into the container.
Plants having modified reproductive capacity

Gopi Krishna Podila, Jun-Jun Liu, and David F. Karnosky

This invention relates to plants having modified reproductive capacity. In particular, it relates to a plant reproductive tissue specific promoter, the PrAGl promoter isolated from Pinus radiata, and its use in promoting transcription/ expression of associated sequences in plant reproductive tissue, including for the purpose of producing plants which have diminished reproductive capacity or which are sterile.
Methods for simultaneous control of lignin content and composition, and cellulose content in plants

Vincent Lee C. Chiang and Laigeng Li

The present invention relates to a method of concurrently introducing multiple genes into plants and trees is provided. The method includes simultaneous transformation of plants with multiple genes from the phenylpropanoid pathways including 4CL, CAld5H, AldOMT, SAD and CAD genes and combinations thereof to produce various lines of transgenic plants displaying altered agronomic traits. The agronomic traits of the plants are regulated by the orientation of the specific genes and the selected gene combinations, which are incorporated into the plant genome.
Anti-icing coatings and methods

Russell G. Alger

A method of inhibiting or preventing bonding between snow or ice and a substrate is provided. The method includes applying an adhesive to the substrate, broadcasting an aggregate onto the adhesive to form an aggregate-adhesive and applying an anti-icing chemical onto the aggregate- adhesive.
4-Coumarate co-enzyme a ligase promoter

Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chung-Jui Tsai, and Wen-Jing Hu

The present invention provides a Populus 4-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase gene promoter that directs expression in the xylem of plants. The promoter is used in methods designed to alter lignin content, lignin structure, cellulose content and combinations thereof. The methods comprise operably linking said promoter to heterologous nucleic acid molecules.
Genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants

Vincent Lee C. Chiang and Laigeng Li

The present invention relates to a novel DNA sequence, which encodes a previously unidentified lignin biosynthetic pathway enzyme, sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD) that regulates the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants. Also provided are methods for incorporating this novel SAD gene sequence or substantially similar sequences into a plant genome for genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants.
Compositions and methods for wood preservation

Peter Laks and Patricia Heiden

The invention provides a method for incorporating biocides into wood or a wood product. The method comprises incorporating an additive into a nanoparticle, applying the nanoparticle to wood or a wood particle and applying sufficient pressure to force the nanoparticle to penetrate the wood or wood particle.
Method of making wood-based composite board

Laurent Malanda Matuana and Julia A. King

A wood composite board or panel, such as particleboard, fiberboard, oriented strand board or waferboard and a method of producing the same. The composite board or panel comprises a plurality of wood pieces, thermoset resin to bind the wood pieces and a filler having a high thermal conductivity. Examples of such a filler include natural and synthetic graphites, metal, carbon, silicon carbide and other similar compounds and their mixtures.
Snow groomer assembly

Philip J. Quenzi and Russell G. Alger

A snow groomer includes a movable platform, a prime mover mounted to the platform and a grooming drum rotatably driven by the prime mover for rotation in a direction opposite the traveling direction of the snow groomer. The grooming drum includes axially spaced apart and radially protruding ribs that extend circumferentially around the drum. The ribs include circumferentially spaced apart apertures and the apertures of each rib are aligned with the apertures of the other ribs. Elongated cutting teeth extend through the apertures of the ribs and have a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the apertures such that the cutting teeth are free to vibrate within the apertures as the drum rotates, thereby enhancing the pulverization of chunks of snow and ice.
Veneer-based product and method of manufacture

Laurent Malanda Matuana and Julia A. King

A veneer-based product is made of a plurality of veneer layers, a resin binding the layers, and a filler having a high thermal conductivity.
Compositions and methods for wood preservation

Peter Laks and Patricia Heiden

The invention provides a method for incorporating biocides into wood or a wood product. The method comprises incorporating an additive into a nanoparticle, applying the nanoparticle to wood or a wood particle and applying sufficient pressure to force the nanoparticle to penetrate the wood or wood particle.
Methods of modifying lignin in plants by transformation with a 4-coumarate coenzyme a ligase nucleic acid

Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chung-Jui Tsai, and Wen-Jing Hu

The invention pertains to methods of altering growth, lignin content, coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol units in the lignin structure, disease resistance and cellulose content in plants by transformation with a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (4CL) nucleic acid.
Spinal fixation system

Matthew N. Songer, Jeffrey D. Vlahos, Thomas S. Kilpela, and Gopal Jayaraman

An implantable, spinal, vertebral replacement device comprises a tubular cage for fitting into a space left by a missing vertebral body and for optionally retaining bone graft material. First and second transverse plates are respectively positioned at opposed ends of the tubular cage for supporting the respective cage ends and for pressing a plate face against an adjacent vertebral body in spinal columnsupporting relation. The transverse plates are each joined in transverse relation to at least one vertebral attachment plate which, in use, extends generally parallel to the spine. The vertebral attachment plate defines screw holes for screw securance to at least one vertebral body adjacent to the space. Preferably, one or more vertebral attachment plates are connected to the pair of adjacent vertebral bodies that bracket the space left by the missing vertebral body.
Apparatus and method for determining the dynamic indentation hardness of materials

Ghatu Subhash, Abhijit Chandra, and Brian J. Koeppel

An apparatus and method for determining dynamic indentation hardness values of a material using a propagating stress wave to make an indentation in the material. The invention provides such values without any prior knowledge of the material properties and enables the dynamic indentation hardness values to be directly compared to static indentation hardness values for the material.
Method for removal of ammonia from fly ash

Jiann-Yang Hwang

A method for removing ammonia and ammonia compounds from fly ash and other combustion by-products is provided. The method may be performed with raw or processed fly ash, or it may be performed in conjunction with a wet beneficiation process. The method involves mixing the ammonia-contaminated fly ash with water and then filtering and/or drying the solution to remove the ammonia and water. The method produces fly ash having an ammonia content of less than about 60-80 ppm, which allows the fly ash to be utilized in a number of applications.