Patents by Inventor Ellen M. Heian

Ellen M. Heian has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11152557
    Abstract: A thermoelectric module assembly for thermally conditioning a component is includes first and second heat spreaders spaced apart from one another and at least one thermoelectric sub-assembly between and in thermal communication with the first and second heat spreaders. The at least one thermoelectric sub-assembly includes a plurality of thermoelectric devices and a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical conduits. Each of the thermoelectric devices has a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion opposite from the first end portion, the first end portion mechanically coupled to the printed circuit board and in electrical communication with the plurality of electrical conduits, and the second end portion spaced from the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovovic, Eric Poliquin, Ellen M. Heian
  • Publication number: 20200266327
    Abstract: A thermoelectric module assembly for thermally conditioning a component is includes first and second heat spreaders spaced apart from one another and at least one thermoelectric sub-assembly between and in thermal communication with the first and second heat spreaders. The at least one thermoelectric sub-assembly includes a plurality of thermoelectric devices and a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical conduits. Each of the thermoelectric devices has a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion opposite from the first end portion, the first end portion mechanically coupled to the printed circuit board and in electrical communication with the plurality of electrical conduits, and the second end portion spaced from the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovovic, Eric Poliquin, Ellen M. Heian
  • Patent number: 9865794
    Abstract: Thermoelectric devices with interface materials and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. A thermoelectric device can include at least one shunt, at least one thermoelectric element in thermal and electrical communication with the at least one shunt, and at least one interface material between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element. The at least one interface material can comprise a plurality of regions comprising a core material with each region separated from one another and surrounded by a shell material. The interface material can be configured to undergo deformation under (i) a normal load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element or (ii) a shear load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element. The deformation can reduce interface stress between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovovic, Dmitri Kossakovski, Ellen M. Heian
  • Publication number: 20160072037
    Abstract: Thermoelectric devices with interface materials and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. A thermoelectric device can include at least one shunt, at least one thermoelectric element in thermal and electrical communication with the at least one shunt, and at least one interface material between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element. The at least one interface material can comprise a plurality of regions comprising a core material with each region separated from one another and surrounded by a shell material. The interface material can be configured to undergo deformation under (i) a normal load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element or (ii) a shear load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element. The deformation can reduce interface stress between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovovic, Dmitri Kossakovski, Ellen M. Heian
  • Patent number: 9178128
    Abstract: Thermoelectric devices with interface materials and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. A thermoelectric device can include at least one shunt, at least one thermoelectric element in thermal and electrical communication with the at least one shunt, and at least one interface material between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element. The at least one interface material can comprise a plurality of regions comprising a core material with each region separated from one another and surrounded by a shell material. The interface material can be configured to undergo deformation under (i) a normal load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element or (ii) a shear load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element. The deformation can reduce interface stress between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovovic, Dmitri Kossakovski, Ellen M. Heian
  • Patent number: 7810704
    Abstract: A method for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions by disposing a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Nanofoil Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Duckham, Jesse E. Newson, Michael V. Brown, Timothy Ryan Rude, Omar M. Knio, Ellen M. Heian, Jai S. Subramanian
  • Patent number: 7635076
    Abstract: A method for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions by disposing a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Indium Corporation of America
    Inventors: Alan Duckham, Jesse E. Newson, Michael V. Brown, Timothy Ryan Rude, Omar M. Knio, Ellen M. Heian, Jai S. Subramanian
  • Publication number: 20090173626
    Abstract: A method for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions by disposing a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Alan Duckham, Jesse E. Newson, Michael V. Brown, Timothy Ryan Rude, Omar M. Knio, Ellen M. Heian, Jai S. Subramanian, Timothy P. Weihs, Yuping Lin, Jonathan Levin, Gary Catig
  • Publication number: 20090166568
    Abstract: A device and method for emitting electromagnetic radiation utilizing a reactive composite material (RCM) as an emission source. By selective modification of the reactive composite material (RCM), attributes of the emitting device, including the ability to produce specific radiation intensity levels at specific electromagnetic wavelengths, the ability to emit for a specific duration, the avoidance of dangerous reaction products, portability, geometric design flexibility, and simple, safe storage may be selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy P. Weihs, Somasundaram Valliappan, Timothy Ryan Rude, Ellen M. Heian, David Lunking, Yuwei Xun
  • Publication number: 20080299410
    Abstract: A method for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions by disposing a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Alan Duckham, Jesse E. Newson, Michael V. Brown, Timothy Ryan Rude, Omar M. Knio, Ellen M. Heian, Jai S. Subramanian
  • Publication number: 20080145695
    Abstract: An assembly for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions including a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: REACTIVE NANOTECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Alan Duckham, Jesse E. Newson, Michael V. Brown, Timothy Ryan Rude, Omar M. Knio, Ellen M. Heian, Jai S. Subramanian
  • Publication number: 20080131700
    Abstract: A method for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions by disposing a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Reactive NanoTechnologies, Inc
    Inventors: Alan Duckham, Jesse E. Newson, Michael V. Brown, Timothy Ryan Rude, Omar Knio, Ellen M. Heian, Jai S. Subramanian
  • Publication number: 20080093418
    Abstract: A reactive composite structure having selected energetic and mechanical properties, and methods of making reactive composite structures enabling the construction of complex parts and components by machining and forming of reactive composite materials without compromising the energetic or mechanical properties of the resulting reactive composite structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy P. Weihs, David M. Lunking, Ellen M. Heian, Yuwei Xun, Richard Bowman, Gary Catig, David van Heerden, Somasundaram Valliappan, Omar Knio, Joseph Grzyb
  • Patent number: 7354659
    Abstract: A method for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions by disposing a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Reactive Nanotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Duckham, Jesse E. Newson, Michael V. Brown, Timothy Ryan Rude, Omar Knio, Ellen M. Heian, Jai S. Subramanian