Thermal Conductivity Patents (Class 374/44)
  • Patent number: 11927556
    Abstract: Assessing a thermal conductivity of a viscoelastic material in a steady state using a conduction method includes i) allowing a sample of the viscoelastic material to reach thermal equilibrium in a liquid at a first temperature, ii) assessing a heat flow of the sample at the first temperature, iii) repeating i) and ii) at one or more additional temperatures, and iv) assessing the thermal conductivity of the viscoelastic material based on the heat flow of the sample at the first temperature and the one or more additional temperatures, a cross-sectional area of the sample, and a temperature-thickness gradient of the sample at thermal equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Carlos Javier Obando Gamboa, Kamil Elias Kaloush
  • Patent number: 11744469
    Abstract: In order to enable the measurement of thermal property information about a subject, this thermal diffusion coefficient measuring device, which is used by contacting the surface of a living body, is provided with: a biological information sensor comprising a temperature sensor and a heat flux sensor; and a heating/cooling control means. The temperature sensor is provided at a position contacting the surface of the living body, and operates so as to detect skin temperature. The heat flux sensor is provided at a position contacting the surface of the living body, while being adjacent to the temperature sensor, and operates so as to detect heat flux on the surface of the living body. The heating/cooling control means enables the measurement of the temperature diffusion coefficient of a thermal resistance component that is present between the biological information sensor and a deep inner portion of the living body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: NEC CORPORATION, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Masahiko Ishida, Ryo Iguchi, Yuki Shiomi, Eiji Saitoh, Ryohto Sawada, Akihiro Kirihara, Koichi Terashima, Yasuyuki Oikawa
  • Patent number: 11740194
    Abstract: A measurement mechanism having a body, a vacuum chamber that is located on the body and in which a measurement process is performed is disclosed. A first sample and a second sample between which a heat transfer occurs are placed in the vacuum chamber and contact each other. A piston that provides the first sample and the second sample to continuously contact each other, a main heater that is located above the first sample and the second sample, and a cooler located below the first sample and the second sample is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TUSAS—TURK HAVACILIK VE UZAY SANAYII ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventors: Deger Akin, Dilek Kumlutas, Furkan Kulak
  • Patent number: 11719656
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining the thermal conductivity of a fluid specimen are provided. The apparatus and the method include determining thermal conductivity using a quasi-steady state variable gap axial flow technique. The fluid specimen is heated on one side by a heat source with a known power output and cooled on the other side. After reaching steady state, a resulting temperature drop through the fluid specimen exists. This temperature drop, the known fluid specimen thickness (or gap distance), and the known power output are used to calculate the thermal resistance of the fluid specimen. The thermal conductivity of the fluid specimen is then determined using a curve fit of thermal resistance with respect to gap distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan C. Gallagher, Nora D. Ezell, Austin S. Chapel, Nicholas G. Russell
  • Patent number: 11635395
    Abstract: A first heat generator heats a mixture of fluids to a first temperature. A predetermined thermal property value of the mixture set to the first temperature is obtained, the first heat generator heats the mixture to a second temperature, the thermal property value of the mixture set to the second temperature is obtained. First relationship information between the thermal property value of the mixture set to the first temperature and a mixture ratio of a first fluid is obtained. Second relationship information between the thermal property value of the mixture set to the second temperature and the mixture ratio of the first fluid is obtained. Mixture ratios are calculated based on the thermal property value of the mixture set to the first temperature, the thermal property value of the mixture of fluids set to the second temperature, the first relationship information, and the second relationship information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Nakagawa, Susumu Kamiyama, Hajime Kano, Hideyuki Nakao, Kenichi Handa
  • Patent number: 11493463
    Abstract: The disclosure presents a technique for predicting the composition of a borehole mud using a thermal conductivity parameter of the mud and a dilution liquid. The mud can be altered by conditions within the borehole, such as material, fluid, and temperature affecting the original mud composition pumped into the borehole location. The mud can be an oil-based, water-based, or another type of mud of a well system. The technique can extract a measured quantity of mud and place it into a mud container. A first thermal conductivity parameter can be calculated for the extracted mud. A dilution liquid can be mixed into the extracted mud in the mud container and a second thermal conductivity parameter calculation can be performed. From the calculated first and second thermal conductivity parameters, the composition of the mud, as well as the fractional proportions of the major components of the mud, can be predicted and computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangnan Ye, Dale E. Jamison
  • Patent number: 11454598
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity detector (TCD) includes: a detection channel through which a gas to be measured flows as a fluid; a thermal conduction part that has a filament provided at a position in the detection channel where the filament comes into direct contact with the fluid flowing through the detection channel, thereby conducting heat through the fluid flowing through the detection channel; and a detection circuit for detecting an electric signal based on a change in a voltage or a current of the filament. The thermal conduction part has a plurality of filament sections that are substantially parallel to a flow direction of the fluid flowing through the detection channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11371949
    Abstract: A system for characterizing thermal properties of thermally anisotropic heterogeneous samples includes a heating element, a first temperature sensing device, a second temperature sensing device, and a computing system. The heating element is positioned at a first location within a sample and heats the sample. The first temperature sensing device outputs data indicative of temperatures of the first location to the computing device. The second temperature sensing device outputs data indicative of temperatures of the second location to the computing device. The computing device computes a thermal conductivity of the sample based upon the temperatures of the first location. The computing device further outputs an indication of a portion of the sample to which the thermal conductivity pertains based upon the second temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Karla Rosa Reyes
  • Patent number: 11275041
    Abstract: A method and device for testing the thermal conductivity of a nanoscale material 1. The method comprises the following steps: preparing or placing a nanoscale material 1 to be tested on a substrate and plating an electrode 2 at both ends thereof; determining a resistance temperature coefficient R? of the nanoscale material 1 to be tested and a resistance R0 at the ambient temperature T0; generating a small signal voltage V3? with a frequency being 3? on the nanoscale material 1 to be tested; and measuring the small signal voltage V3?, and in conjunction with each piece of test data, calculating, according to a formula, the thermal conductivity ? of the nanoscale material to be tested 1 at the ambient temperature T0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: WUHAN JOULE YACHT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiangshui Miao, Hao Tong, Yang Zhou, Yuanbing Wang, Yingrui Cai
  • Patent number: 11268919
    Abstract: A system and method for evaluating a geological formation including subjecting a source-rock sample from the geological formation to atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine a thermal property or material property of the source-rock sample. The properties determined may include thermal conductivity or material transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Shannon L. Eichmann, Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman, David Jacobi
  • Patent number: 11248940
    Abstract: A process fluid flow system includes a first pipe skin sensor and a second pipe skin sensor. The first pipe skin sensor is disposed to measure an external temperature of a process fluid conduit at a first location on the process fluid conduit. The second pipe skin sensor is disposed to measure an external temperature of a process fluid conduit at a second location on the process fluid conduit. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the first and second pipe skin sensors. A controller is coupled to the measurement circuitry and is configured to identify a process fluid flow condition based on signals from the first and second pipe skin sensors and to output an indication of the process fluid flow condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Jason H. Rud, Zachery A. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11232883
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite comprising an elastomer with an embedded network of liquid metal inclusions. The composite retains similar flexibility to that of an elastomer but exhibits electrical and thermal properties that differ from the properties of a homogeneous elastomer. The composite has applications for wearable devices and other soft matter electronics, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, a Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporation
    Inventors: Carmel Majidi, Andrew Fassler, Michael Bartlett, Navid Kazem, Matthew J. Powell-Palm, Jonathan A. Malen
  • Patent number: 11226303
    Abstract: A gas sensor is described for measuring a concentration of an analysis gas based on a thermal conductivity principle, including at least one analysis heating element situated on a first diaphragm for heating the analysis gas, a reference heating element situated on a second diaphragm for heating a reference gas, at least one evaluation electronics unit for measuring a resistance change of the analysis heating element caused by the analysis gas in relation to an electrical resistance of the reference heating element, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being situated adjacent to one another in a sensor substrate, due to a base substrate situated on one side on the sensor substrate, a measuring volume is formable between the first diaphragm and the base substrate and a reference volume is formable between the second diaphragm and the base substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Renate Mueller, Tobias Sebastian Frey
  • Patent number: 11193901
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a thermal conductivity measuring device that comprises a heat generator arranged in such a way as to come into contact with an object to be measured for thermal conductivity, a heat resistant material arranged in such a way as to come into contact with the heat generator, at least one pair of differential thermocouples for measuring a voltage value caused by the difference in temperature of two points of the heat resistant material, the temperature being generated by allowing heat to flow from the heat generator, and a calculating device for calculating the time rate of change of output voltage of the differential thermocouples and then calculating the thermal conductivity of the object to be measured on the basis of the calculated time rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: EKO INSTRUMENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Hasegawa, Yukihiro Goto, Isamu Chiba
  • Patent number: 11193902
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for measuring the transverse thermal conductivity of a thin film. The method comprises the steps of measuring the longitudinal thermal conductivity of a thin film to be measured by using a 3? method and by taking a second metal strip deposited on the surface of the thin film to be measured as a heating source at first; measuring the temperature rise of the thin film to be measured in the longitudinal direction by using the 3? method, and deducing the thermal power of the thin film to be measured in the longitudinal direction; and finally, calculating the transverse thermal conductivity of the thin film to be measured. By adopting a ‘substrate/thin film to be measured/metal strip’ sample structure, the process difficulty of preparing a suspension structure sample can be effectively avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: WUHAN JOULE YACHT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiangshui Miao, Hao Tong, Kaizhan Wang, Yuanbing Wang, Lingjun Zhou, Yingrui Cai
  • Patent number: 11175253
    Abstract: A housing assembly for receiving at least one sensor for measuring parameters of a fluid has an outer housing with a connection for connecting the housing arrangement to a container containing the fluid. An inner housing is arranged in the outer housing, is suitable for receiving the sensor and is connected to a tube. The tube is connected to the outer housing at the connection and is adapted to direct the fluid into the inner housing. The housing assembly also has a heating device in or on the inner housing which is suitable for heating the inner housing to a predetermined temperature and maintaining it at this temperature. The inner housing and the outer housing are spaced apart from each other except at the junction of the connection and supply pipe and the space formed thereby is evacuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Heinz Plöchinger
  • Patent number: 11066925
    Abstract: A measurement device is configured in a shaped charge package to be utilized in a perforating gun section tool string. The measurement device may include for example thermal conductivity detectors (TCD) configured to measure fluid flow velocity and/or thermal characteristics of the flowing fluid. The measurement device may include for example a pair laterally spaced TCDs each having sensor faces positioned co-planar with a surface across which the fluid flows. The measurement device may include a recessed TCD, having a sensor face recessed below an opening in the exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrice Ligneul, Bertrand Theuveny, Tullio Moscato, Sebastien Prangere, Olivier Peyret
  • Patent number: 11047846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor arrangement having a barometric pressure sensor and a thermal gas sensor, wherein the thermal gas sensor is arranged on the barometric pressure sensor or beside the barometric pressure sensor such that a gas-permeable measurement structure of the thermal gas sensor is arranged in front of a gas inlet opening of the barometric pressure sensor or in front of a pressure-sensitive surface of the barometric pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft fuer angewandte Forschung e.V., GS Elektromedizinische Geräte G. Stemple GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Hedrich, Gerhard Kattinger, Matthias Storz, Rolf Bronner, Sophie Billat
  • Patent number: 10928255
    Abstract: The present disclosure herein relates to a device for measuring a thermoelectric performance. The device for measuring a thermoelectric performance of a thermoelectric material, which includes a support module configured to generate temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric material, a fixing module detachably coupled to the support module to support the thermoelectric material, a temperature measuring unit electrically connected to the fixing module to measure temperature of each of the both ends of the thermoelectric material, and an electromotive force measuring unit electrically connected to the fixing module to measure thermoelectromotive force generated between the both ends of the thermoelectric material. Here, the fixing module includes a first heat sink part and a second heat sink part, which respectively support the both ends of the thermoelectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jaewoo Lee, Jungyun Kwon, Junsoo Kim, Seungeon Moon, Seung Min Lee, Solyee Im
  • Patent number: 10876983
    Abstract: Thermophysical property measurement method and apparatus are provided that make it possible to simply and conveniently obtain a highly precise absolute thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Yasutaka Amagai, Takeshi Shimazaki, Hiroyuki Fujiki
  • Patent number: 10845248
    Abstract: A method includes directing a first plurality of probe laser pulses through a sample, dividing each of the first plurality of probe laser pulses to generate a first interferogram, and generating first image data reproducible as a first phase image of the sample. A plurality of pump laser bursts are directed onto the sample to heat the sample. A second plurality of probe laser pulses are directed through the sample at a predetermined time delay. Each of the second plurality of probe laser pulses are divided to generate a second interferogram. Second image data is generated that is reproducible as a second phase image of the sample. A transient phase shift is determined in the second phase image relative to the first phase image. A vibrational spectroscopy property is determined of the sample based on the transient phase shift, thereby allowing an identification of chemical bond information of within the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: Trustees of Boston University, Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ji-Xin Cheng, Delong Zhang, Lu Lan
  • Patent number: 10809213
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring thermal conductivity includes an insulator, a test material over the insulator, a conductor over the test material, and a gas within an open volume adjacent the test material and the conductor. An electrical source is configured to provide an alternating current through the conductor to heat the test material. Leads are connected to the conductor and configured to connect to a voltmeter. A method of measuring thermal conductivity includes disposing the sensor in a reactor core in which a nuclear fuel undergoes irradiation and radioactive decay. An alternating current is provided from the electrical source through the conductor to heat the test material. A voltage is measured as a function of time at the leads connected to the conductor. A thermal conductivity of the test material is calculated based on the voltage measured as a function of time. Methods of forming a sensor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Daw, Troy C. Unruh
  • Patent number: 10809214
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a small size thermal conductivity measuring apparatus of a pellet type hydrogen storage alloy, a measuring method, and an analysis system. More specifically, a small size thermal conductivity measuring device of a hydrogen storage alloy pellet, includes: a measurement sample unit which is a target to be measured and is configured by a hydrogen storage alloy pellet; a reference material unit in which one surface is configured to be in contact with one surface of the measurement sample unit and a mounting groove is formed one side of the contact surface; and a thermal probe which is mounted in the mounting groove to measure a thermal conductivity of the measurement sample unit based on a temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Sang Il Park, Chang-bog Ko, Moon-sun Chung, Jong-won Kim, Won-chul Cho
  • Patent number: 10809125
    Abstract: A system and method for pre-aligning a light beam in a spectroscopic measuring device such as a pump-probe device prior to conducting a measurement procedure is provided, which eliminates the need for monitoring or modification of the beam trajectory through adjustments of elements transmitting the beam (e.g., mirrors) over the course of a measurement process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: ULTRAFAST SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Sobolev, Nikita Kurakin, Alexey Gusev
  • Patent number: 10775329
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity measurement device comprises: first and second clamping members which clamp an object; a heating member which has a contacting end surface which contacts a distal end surface of the first clamping member through a first axial correction member, and a distal end surface on the reverse side of the contacting end surface; a cooling member which has a contacting end surface which contacts a distal end surface of the second clamping member through a second axial correction member, and a distal end surface on the reverse side of the contacting end surface; a plurality of temperature sensors disposed on the clamping members; and a mechanism which applies a pressing force between the heating member and the cooling member. At least one surface of the first axial correction member and the second axial correction member has a convex curved shape, and the other surface is a flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruna Tada, Yasuyuki Sanda, Dai Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10768127
    Abstract: This thermal conductivity measurement apparatus has a first holding member which has an end face that contacts an object to be measured and a distal end face; a second holding member which has an end face that contacts an object to be measured and a distal end face; a heating member which has an end face which abuts the distal end face of the first holding member and a distal end face, and which heats the first holding member; a cooling member which has an end face that abuts the distal end face of the second holding member and a distal end face, and which cools the second holding member; a plurality of temperature sensors provided at the first and the second holding members; and a pressing force application mechanism that applies pressing force to the first holding member, the second holding member, and the object to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Sanda, Dai Nakajima, Haruna Tada
  • Patent number: 10753896
    Abstract: The invention relates to equipment for measuring the thermal conductivity of solid materials in the ?50 C to 350 C temperature range, using an improved form of the Guarded Heat Flow Meter Method. The unknown material specimen is subjected to the temperature gradient which is induced by electrically heating from one end and cooling the other end. In intimated contact with the unknown on either ends are pieces of a well characterized material which are clamped together by an electromechanical actuator via a calibrated compression spring, with the extent of the compression indicated by a linear displacement transducer. The heat sink is formed with an internal cavity into which liquid carbon dioxide is injected through a capillary in a controlled fashion. This allows operating the heat sink in the entire temperature range without interruptions and the need for thermal spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: ARRIGO ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Gaal
  • Patent number: 10724976
    Abstract: A system for determining one or more properties of one or more gases. The system comprises sensors configured to measure thermal conductivity and exothermic responses of a sample at multiple temperatures. Sensor responses to exposure to a gas sample at two or more temperatures are compensated and analyzed by a subsystem. The subsystem is configured to determine a thermal conductivity of the gas sample at each of the two or more temperatures and determine at least one component of the gas sample based at least in part on the thermal conductivity value of the sample at each of the two or more temperatures. Related systems and methods of determining one or more properties of a sample are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nevada Nanotech Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Rogers, Christopher J. Dudley, Jesse D. Adams, Ralph G. Whitten, Alexander C. Woods, Vaughn N. Hartung
  • Patent number: 10707640
    Abstract: A laser-heated cavity system includes: a first cavity provided with a first top end part and a first bottom end part that are arranged opposite each other; wherein the first top end part is provided with a first widow and the first bottom end part is provided with an opening; a second cavity disposed inside the first cavity, provided with a second top end part and a second bottom end part that are arranged opposite each other, and disposed with a second window and a sample bearer; a laser heating assembly disposed outside the first cavity; wherein at least one laser beam provided by the laser heating assembly is passed through the first and second windows, and then focused on the sample bearer; and a mobile platform assembly. The first cavity is a vacuum cavity, and the pressure in the second cavity ranges from vacuum to 30 atm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ADNANOTEK CORP.
    Inventor: Kai Yang
  • Patent number: 10627359
    Abstract: A sensor system for sensing environmental conditions inside of a sealed enclosure includes a microcontroller and a thermal conductivity sensor for sensing inert gas concentration. The thermal conductivity sensor is operably coupled to the microcontroller. The thermal conductivity sensor includes a lamp with a filament that is exposed to the environment inside of the sealed enclosure, a thermal mass and a temperature sensor coupled to the thermal mass. The lamp is disposed at least partially within the thermal mass. A heater is coupled to the thermal mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventors: Dan Haglin, Randi Ernst
  • Patent number: 10605641
    Abstract: A measuring device which has at least a first component, in which an integral measurement duct is provided or the first component forms in connection with additional components a measurement duct integrally in the measuring device. The measurement duct is provided for conducting a measured medium through the measuring device, characterized in that the first component has a first sensor for determining a first thermophysical property selected from thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and/or specific heat capacity of the measured medium, and wherein the measuring device has a second sensor, which vibrates and is provided for determining viscosity and/or density of the measured medium. The measured medium is conducted through the measurement duct from the first sensor to the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Anastasios Badarlis, Axel Pfau, Oliver Popp, Vivek Kumar, Hanno Schultheis
  • Patent number: 10578569
    Abstract: A method of determining a thermal conductivity and a thermal diffusivity of a material comprises exposing a specimen comprising a substrate of a material and a metallic film over the substrate to an amplitude modulated pump laser beam comprising electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength and a first modulation frequency to form a pump spot on the metallic film. The specimen is exposed to a probe laser beam comprising electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength to form a probe spot on the metallic film. A phase shift between the pump laser beam and a reflected probe laser beam is measured while scanning the pump spot relative to the probe spot. A modulation frequency of the pump laser beam is changed to a second modulation frequency and the pump spot is scanned relative to the probe spot while detecting the phase shift. A phase profile of the material is measured and a continuum-based model is fit to the phase profile. Related microscopes and related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Hurley, Robert S. Schley, Marat Khafizov
  • Patent number: 10551234
    Abstract: A thermal type flow meter includes a first resistor (R1) is disposed along a flow path through which a fluid flows, generating heat when a current is applied, and outputting a first output signal indicating a heat generation temperature, a second resistor (R2) disposed at a position different from that of the first resistor along the flow path and outputting a second output signal indicating a temperature of the fluid, and a current application unit configured to apply a current to the first resistor so that the first output signal indicates a predetermined temperature. A parameter for converting the difference between the first output signal and the second output signal when a predetermined input is received if the current is applied into a target value is determined. The flow rate is acquired using the parameter, the difference detected after the parameter is determined, and a predetermined function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10203317
    Abstract: A multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus includes a portable housing, a testing unit, and an indication unit. The portable housing includes a hand-held casing and a probe casing extended from a front end of the hand-held casing. The testing unit includes a conductive probe having a testing end portion extended out of a tip end of the probe casing for contacting a testing object to determine a conductivity of the testing object. The indication unit includes a LED light unit received in the hand-held casing for illuminating the testing end portion of the conductive probe during testing, wherein the LED light unit is positioned away from the tip end of the probe casing for preventing heat generated from the LED light unit being transmitted toward the conductive probe to affect an accurate measurement for the conductivity of the testing object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN DIKAI INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiuling Zhu, Gary Bruce Peckham
  • Patent number: 10161810
    Abstract: A honeycomb sandwich structure formed of face skin materials made of fiber reinforced plastics and a honeycomb core has a structure in which an optical fiber sensor structure is embedded in an adhesive layer formed between the face skin materials and the honeycomb core. With this, it is possible to provide a honeycomb sandwich structure and a method of manufacturing the honeycomb sandwich structure that enable precise thermal control to be implemented even when a thermal control device is bonded onto a surface of the honeycomb sandwich structure and enable evaluation of a temperature with high resolution and high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushi Sekine, Hajime Takeya, Hiromi Seko, Yoshikazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10107696
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a calorimeter device and an electrochemical system analysis method. The device includes a first thermo-electric gauge (TEG) and a first conductor thermally coupled to the first TEG, the first conductor comprising a first surface. The device may also include a second conductor with a second surface, the second surface facing the first surface, thereby forming a gap. The device may also include a second TEG thermally coupled to the second conductor and an adjustment mechanism attached to the second TEG, operable to modify a size of the gap between the first surface and the second surface. The method includes applying a plurality of electrical signals across an electrochemical system, determining, using a calorimeter, at least one rate at which heat is generated by the system, and determining at least one thermal characteristic of a component of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Shriram Santhanagopalan, Matthew Allen Keyser, Aron Ray Saxon, John Ireland
  • Patent number: 10094792
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analysis of thermal structures, not only to reduce analysis errors caused by temperature measurement errors, but also to get the thermal resistance of contact interfaces and the internal resistance distribution of heat conduction components of a DUT, by establishing a heat conduction model of the DUT, solving and analyzing a mathematic heat conduction model on the basis of temperature data of a heat source and thermal model parameters, thus realizing the accurate quantitative analysis of thermal resistance structure of the DUT, comprehensively evaluating the thermal contact conditions inside the whole DUT, and providing an important basis for improving the heat dissipation design of LED and other devices. The analysis method features in simplicity, high accuracy, high speed, wide application range, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventors: Jiangen Pan, Cong Chen, Yan Huang
  • Patent number: 10060867
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus and sensor apparatus system for use in conjunction with a cassette, including a disposable or replaceable cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes a thermal well for permitting the sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well includes a hollow housing of a thermally conductive material. In other embodiments, the cassette includes sensor leads for sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well has an inner surface shaped so as to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe. The mating thermally couples the inner surface with a sensing probe. In some embodiments, the thermal well is located on a disposable portion and the sensing probe on a reusable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, N. Christopher Perry, Jason A. Demers, Brian D. Tracey, Arun D. Chawan, Kevin L. Grant
  • Patent number: 10024812
    Abstract: A test apparatus for thermal energy measurement of disk-shaped test specimens has a cold mass assembly locatable within a sealable chamber with a guard vessel having a guard chamber to receive a liquid fluid and a bottom surface to contact a cold side of a test specimen, and a test vessel having a test chamber to receive a liquid fluid and encompassed on one side by a center portion of the bottom surface shared with the guard vessel. A lateral wall assembly of the test vessel is closed by a vessel top, the lateral wall assembly comprising an outer wall and an inner wall having opposing surfaces that define a thermal break including a condensable vapor pocket to inhibit heat transfer through the lateral wall from the guard vessel to the test vessel. A warm boundary temperature surface is in thermal communication with a lower surface of the test specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: James E. Fesmire, Wesley L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9945800
    Abstract: A fuel gas composition sensing system may include a remotely controllable valve, with the valve including a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port, an internal chamber, and at least one actuating mechanism configured for successively opening the inlet port to allow gas to enter the internal chamber, closing the inlet port and the outlet port to retain the gas in the internal chamber for a period of time, and opening the outlet port to release the gas from the internal chamber. One or more micro-sensors may be mounted in the internal chamber of the valve, with each of the micro-sensors being configured to sense a characteristic of a gas introduced into the internal chamber of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Alexander Rebinsky
  • Patent number: 9939396
    Abstract: A system for measuring the thermal diffusivity of a material includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a plate holding the material in a fixed position between the upper portion and lower portion of the housing, and a source at the lower portion of the housing projecting heat onto the material along a first axis that is perpendicular to the plate. A sensor at the lower portion of the housing is movable in relation to the plate and senses the heat radiating through the material along a second axis that is perpendicular to the plate and offset from the first axis. A controller receives data from the sensor and calculates the thermal diffusivity of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Netzsch-Gerätebau GmbH
    Inventors: Marc-Antoine Thermitus, Martin Brunner, Juergen Blumm, Robert Campbell, Thomas Denner, Michael Gebhardt, Andreas Hartinger, Thilo Hilpert, Stefan Lauterbach, André Lindemann, Matthias Schödel, Andreas Strobel, Jürgen Tschöpel
  • Patent number: 9835537
    Abstract: A porous sample is alternately saturated with at least two saturating fluids with known different thermal conductivities. As at least one saturating fluid a mixture of at least two fluids is used with known and different thermal conductivities. After each saturation thermal conductivity of the saturated sample is measured, and pore space characteristics and matrix thermal conductivity are determined based on the results of thermal conductivity measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yury Anatolievich Popov, Irina Bayuk, Anton Vladimirovich Parshin
  • Patent number: 9772298
    Abstract: Surface of a sample of a heterogeneous material and of samples with known thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity is heated by a heating spot created by a heater and moving along the surfaces of all samples to determine thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the heterogeneous material. Temperatures of heated surface of all samples are registered by three temperature sensors. Return of the heater and the sensors to the initial position is used for scanning with additional measurements of the sample thermal conductivity for a layer of the sample with depth and width different from those of a layer where thermal conductivity is measured during the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yury Popov, Evgeny Popov, Anton Parshin
  • Patent number: 9562811
    Abstract: A device for measuring temperature comprising: first and second temperature sensors enclosed in a first material having one or more material components; a contact surface for contacting a body whose temperature is to be measured, at least part of the contact surface being parallel to a lateral direction; wherein the first and second temperature sensors are arranged at different depths from the contact surface and the net thermal conductivity across the device from the contact surface through the first and second temperature sensors is greater than the net lateral thermal conductivity of the device through the first and second temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cambridge Temperature Concepts Limited
    Inventor: Shamus Husheer
  • Patent number: 9535021
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus and sensor apparatus system for use in conjunction with a cassette, including a disposable or replaceable cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes a thermal well for permitting the sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well includes a hollow housing of a thermally conductive material. In other embodiments, the cassette includes sensor leads for sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well has an inner surface shaped so as to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe. The mating thermally couples the inner surface with a sensing probe. In some embodiments, the thermal well is located on a disposable portion and the sensing probe on a reusable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, N. Christopher Perry, Jason A. Demers, Brian D. Tracey, Arun D. Chawan, Kevin L. Grant
  • Patent number: 9494537
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods for determination of thermophysical properties of porous media filled with fluid, gas, or other mineral medium, and can be used, in particular, in the oil and gas industry. When implementing the method, it is necessary to initially determine a composition of a saturated porous medium and thermal conductivity coefficients of its components. A three-dimensional image of a sample of the porous medium is obtained by X-ray scanning. A thermal conductivity coefficient of the medium is determined by solving thermal conductivity problems, based on decomposition of a computational domain followed by composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Petrovich Skibin, Darya Aleksandrovna Mustafina, Aleksandra Evgenievna Komrakova
  • Patent number: 9329145
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a material screening apparatus, and more particularly, to a material screening apparatus that senses temperature change according to the thermal characteristics of the material to be screened so as to extract a thermal characteristic value for the material and determine the type of the material. The material screening apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plurality of heat generators for variably generating heat; a plurality of temperature sensors attached to the heat generators, respectively, for measuring the changing temperatures of the heat generators; and a controller for controlling the heat generation by the heat generators, performing the calculations of the temperature values measured by the plurality of temperature sensors, and outputting the thermal characteristic value of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Keehoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9226671
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring blood flow includes a detection part and a signal processing part. The detection part includes a blood flow detector for measuring a blood flow of a measured portion of an object, which makes contact with the measured portion, and a force detector for detecting a contact force between the blood flow detector and the measured portion. The signal processing part produces a corrected blood flow in reflection of an error of the blood flow due to the contact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Young-Ho Cho, Jai-Kyoung Sim, Se-Chan Youn
  • Patent number: 9170223
    Abstract: The inventive concept relates to a thermal conductivity measuring device and a method of measuring the thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity measuring device may include a first structure which is connected to one side end of a sample and receives heat from a heat source; a second structure connected to the other side end of the sample; a first stage connected to the first structure while supporting the first structure; a second stage connected to the second structure while supporting the second structure; a connection unit connected between the first stage and the second stage; and a measuring unit measuring temperatures of the first and second structures and the first and second stages. Since the thermal conductivity measuring of the inventive concept correct a temperature change of a stage due to heat transmission emitted from the stage considering a measurement environment, reliability of measurement may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Younghoon Hyun, Young Sam Park, Moon Gyu Jang, Taehyoung Zyung
  • Patent number: 9134263
    Abstract: A gem tester for testing a gem under test and a kit including a horizontal recharging stand are disclosed. In one embodiment of the gem tester, an elongated body has a line-of-sight contour tapering from a bulbous end to a radially deviating frontal nose having a probe extending therefrom. Internal circuitry measures electrical and thermal conductivity of the gem under test in order to identify the type of gem under test and drive a color control signal in response thereto. A luminescent mounting extends about the contact to provide, in response to the control signal, a color indication of the identified gem type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sy Kessler Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Kessler, Henry M. Kessler