• IT, Electronics, & Software
• Materials
• Chemical & Environmental
• Classical Engineering
• Browse Life Sciences technologies
• Sign up for Tech Notice to receive non-confidential summaries on the newest Auburn Technologies as they are posted
• Search available Auburn University technologies:

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. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

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

This invention filters mechanical vibrations in MEMS devices.  Based on comb drive actuators, it provides multi-dimensional vibration isolation and tunable dampening of vibrations at less cost and/or with better performance than current alternatives. Overview | U.S. Patent 7,355,318

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 7,577,695

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 7,428,683

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 6,721,452 | "Sign and Send" non-exclusive license

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 | U.S. Patent 7,409,306

Click here for a listing of freeware available from Auburn University.

Large scale alignment and orientation of metal or semiconductor nanorods has been on ongoing hurdle in the development of nanotechnology applications. This process for creating highly aligned films, coatings or wires composed of inorganic nanorods could help overcome that challenge. This technology has potential applications in the areas of high performance macroelectronics, solar panels, sensors, data communications and flexible electronics. Overview | PCT Patent Application

This technology combines carbon nanotubes and biomolecules to produce robust films with biological activity. Such films exhibit strong mechanical properties to stand up to long-term use and wear, while retaining the incorporated biological activity such as antimicrobial properties or enzymatic activity. This technology has potential applications in consumer products, medical equipment, and the defense industry. Overview | PCT Patent Application

Syntactic foams are widely used in structural, marine and automotive applications. They demonstrate good compression response, energy absorption and impact resistance while reducing the overall weight. This invention is an improved syntactic foam with weight similar to epoxy syntactic foams but superior strength properties comparable to metal syntactic foams. Overview

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

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 | U.S. Patent No. 7,608,976

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

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: 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

Cubic boron nitride (cBN) is widely used as an abrasive for industrial tools as well as for other applications such as coatings and insulation. It exhibits higher thermal stability and improved chemical inertness compared to diamond. This method for synthesis of cBN films can produce films with near 100 percent cubic-phase content and a larger grain size, enabling high quality, thick cBN films. Overview | U.S. Patent No. 6,153,061

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

Current biodiesel production requires a lengthy heating step that consumes significant amounts of energy. With this invention, the heating step can be shortened by as much as 95%, significantly lowering the energy input required. Raw material and downstream processing costs are also reduced. This process has been demonstrated in the lab with canola oil and beef tallow, and is expected to be scalable. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

Despite often being superior to other methods, copper catalysts typically are not used industrially for organic synthesis due to residual copper interfering with subsequent reaction steps and/or the negative impact of any downstream residual metal.  This solid-phase extraction technology enables the use of these catalysts for such applications, allowing for a sustainable and more efficient synthesis approach. Overview

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 7,581,902 (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 | U.S. Patent Application

Fuel cells are highly reliable alternate energy sources that can be used in mobile or remote locations such as automobiles, ships and farms, as well as for on-grid applications. This highly sensitive control system has the potential to improve the overall efficiency of fuel cells, provide safer and more reliable operations, and reduce the size of the cell. Overview | U.S. Patent Application

Plasma blasting is known to have several advantages over conventional blasting but has previously been too expensive. By redesigning the blasting probe and with the introduction of a specialized blasting fluid, the costs of plasma blasting can be significantly reduced. This method has the potential to improve blasting in mining, construction, space or other applications necessary for rock removal or demolition. Overview | Video Demonstration

Undesirable heat transfer is inevitable in storage vessels containing heated or cooled fluids. However, with the addition of a thin baffle, fluid dynamics can be significantly modified. For example, it is estimated that such baffles can reduce heat absorption by as much as 37% in liquid natural gas transport systems. This significantly lowers the energy needed to maintain the desired temperature, and in some applications can reduce the loss of product. Overview | PCT Patent Application

Traditional sawhorses are only made to last during the construction job for which they are built, and require hours of time to construct on each job site. The QuickHorse portable sawhorse workstation provides an efficient, mobile, and light weight alternative to traditional sawhorses while providing increased convenience and flexibility. This easy to assemble and easy to use invention has potential applications for construction professionals and do-it-your-selfers alike. Overview

Currently, PT (or rebar) chairs are used to suspend cables at a specific depth in a concrete slab.  The inherent instability of these chairs has the potential to result in catastrophic failures when cables are tensioned.  In addition, uncertainty of the location of cables may lead to the need for expensive diagnostic tests.  This new PT chair is designed to reduce or eliminate these problems. Overview

Holding the end of a measuring tape in a specific position can be difficult for a person working alone, resulting in increased labor costs and/or potentially expensive decreased measurement accuracy. These devices provide simple and versatile solutions for holding a tape measure hook at the desired location for precise measurements. Overview | Video Demonstration of laser-enhanced system

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 | PCT Patent Application

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