IP Library Granted Patent US 7,972,557
Granted Patent B2
US 7,972,557 · App. 11/897,526 · Granted Jul 5, 2011

Plasmon filter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,972,557
App. No.
11/897,526
Granted
Jul 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plasmon filter may include an element supportive of plasmon energy and having a plurality of openings through which a material may pass. A system includes a fluid filter supportive of evanescent energy, an evanescent field generator, a sensor, and/or other components. A corresponding method may include generating plasmons on the filter and exposing a material to the plasmon energy.

Claims (13)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first element supportive of plasmon energy in a first energy range, the first element including a first plurality of openings;

each of the openings in the first plurality of openings being configured to selectively pass a first portion of a first material;

each of the openings in the first plurality of openings having a respective characteristic dimension selected to provide substantial overlap of the passed first portion of the first material and the plasmon energy in the first energy range proximate the opening; and

wherein at least one of the openings in the first plurality of openings is operably connected to a MEMS to selectively pass the first portion of the first material.

2. A method comprising:

filtering a fluid in a fluid flow region;

generating a plasmon field in the fluid flow region, wherein generating a plasmon field in the fluid flow region further includes;

illuminating a portion of the region with ultraviolet energy; and

converting a portion of the ultraviolet energy to plasmon energy;

passing the fluid through the fluid flow region; and

altering a property of the fluid via the plasmon field.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein altering a property of the fluid includes destroying a pathogen in the fluid.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2023
From: DEEP SCIENCE LLC
To: ENTERPRISE SCIENCE FUND, LLC
Reel/Frame 064933/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2016
From: THE INVENTION SCIENCE FUND I, LLC
To: DEEP SCIENCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 037540/0314 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2011
From: SEARETE LLC
To: THE INVENTION SCIENCE FUND I, LLC
Reel/Frame 026107/0308 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2007
From: HYDE, RODERICK A.; JUNG, EDWARD K.Y.; MANGIONE-SMITH, WILLIAM HENRY; MYHRVOLD, NATHAN P.; PENDRY, JOHN BRIAN; TEGREENE, CLARENCE T.; WHITMER, CHARLES; WOOD, LOWELL L., JR.
To: SEARETE LLC
Reel/Frame 020012/0616 →