Thermal Related Property Patents (Class 702/136)
  • Patent number: 8024149
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for preventing the failure of a system, which includes one or more pipes, or one or more cooling jackets, or one or more fluid cooled system components carrying a fluid, involves detecting one or more pressure levels of the fluid in the one or more pipes at one or more points, then comparing the detected pressure levels to a corresponding one or more predetermined limitation values. If the detected pressure levels exceed the corresponding limitation values, a shut-down signal is generated. The shut-down signal triggers the adjusting of one or more systems responsible for causing thermal variations of the fluid, preventing the system from failing while allowing the system to continue operation shortly thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Titanium Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Rubin
  • Publication number: 20110224942
    Abstract: A mobile-wireless GPS-tracking ground heat exchanger (GHE) performance test instrumentation network supporting a plurality of wireless portable GPS-based enthalpy-based GHE performance test instrumentation systems, each being connectable to a ground heat exchanger (GHE) installation, and capable of collecting GPS-indexed performance data relating to the heat transfer rate (HTR), flow work rate (FWR), energy efficiency ration (EER)/coefficient of performance (COP), and heat transfer efficiency (HTE) of a ground heat exchanger (GHE) installation under performance testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: John E. Kidwell
  • Patent number: 8019567
    Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for evaluating changes in the operational efficiency of an HVAC system over time. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system, and status of said HVAC system. One or more processors receives measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said HVAC system and compares said temperature measurements from said first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: John Douglas Steinberg, Scott Douglas Hublou
  • Patent number: 8019568
    Abstract: A system includes an input and a thermal data processing module. The input receives a first oil temperature of an engine oil when an engine is turned on. The thermal data processing module estimates a first heat transfer from a piston of the engine to the engine oil. The thermal data processing module estimates a second heat transfer from the engine oil to an engine block of the engine. The thermal data processing module determines a second oil temperature of the engine oil based on the first oil temperature and the first and second heat transfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventors: Chad W. Lehner, Balaji Maniam, Gary D. Mandrusiak, David A. Smyczynski, Craig Lash
  • Patent number: 8014971
    Abstract: In one embodiment a method includes operating a component coupled to the system at a first steady state average power consumption, measuring the temperature of the component to produce a first temperature measurement, operating the component at a second, higher power consumption for a first time period, and measuring the temperature of the component at the end of the first time period to produce a second temperature measurement. A transient thermal metric is calculated based at least in part on the first and second temperature measurements, and the transient thermal metric is used to infer the thermal coupling status of a heat dissipation appliance that is nominally thermally coupled to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Paul T. Artman, Shawn P. Hoss
  • Publication number: 20110198498
    Abstract: Provided are a thermoelectric device and a method of forming the same, a temperature sensing sensor, and a heat-source image sensor using the same. The thermoelectric device includes a first nanowire and a second nanowire, a first silicon thin film, a second silicon thin film, and a third silicon thin film. The first nanowire and a second nanowire are disposed on a substrate. The first nanowire and the second nanowire are separated from each other. The first silicon thin film is connected to one end of the first nanowire. The second silicon thin film is connected to one end of the second nanowire. The third silicon thin film is connected to the other ends of the first nanowire and the second nanowire. The first and second nanowires extend in a direction parallel to an upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Young Sam Park, Moon Gyu Jang, Younghoon Hyun, Myungsim Jun, Sang Hoon Cheon, Taehyoung Zyung
  • Patent number: 7982486
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring the PN-junction temperature of a light-emitting diode (LED), which uses a reference voltage to establish the function of current, real power, power factor, or driving-time interval on temperature. The initial and thermal-equilibrium values of current, real power, power factor, or driving-time interval are measured, and hence the variations thereof are calculated. Referring to the pre-established function, the temperature change is given. By the temperature change and the initial temperature, the PN-junction temperature of the LED is thereby deduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, National Central University
    Inventors: Ming-Te Lin, Kuang-Yu Tai, Jyh-Chen Chen, Farn-Shiun Hwu
  • Patent number: 7979250
    Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating installation of one or more electronics racks within a data center. The method includes: placing a plurality of thermal simulators in the data center in a data center layout to establish a thermally simulated data center, each thermal simulator simulating at least one of airflow intake or heated airflow exhaust of a respective electronics rack of a plurality of electronics racks to be installed in the data center; monitoring temperature within the thermally simulated data center at multiple locations, and verifying the data center layout if measured temperatures are within respective acceptable temperature ranges for the data center when containing the plurality of electronics racks; and establishing the plurality of electronics racks within the data center using the verified data center layout, the establishing including at least one of reconfiguring or replacing each thermal simulator with a respective electronics rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Archibald, Richard C. Chu, Hendrik F. Hamann, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7970581
    Abstract: Described is a technique to exhaustively enumerate the thermodynamic properties of the water molecules solvating the active site of a protein in its apostate and calculate the relative binding affinities of congeneric compounds that bind to this protein. The subject matter includes sampling the configurations of the solvating water in the active site; extracting the thermodynamic information about the solvating water from these configurations by clustering the observed water configurations into regions of high water occupancy (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Thomas Young, Robert Abel, Richard A. Friesner, Bruce J. Berne
  • Patent number: 7970580
    Abstract: Described is a technique to exhaustively enumerate the thermodynamic properties of the water molecules solvating the active site of a protein in its apostate and calculate the relative binding affinities of congeneric compounds that bind to this protein. The subject matter includes sampling the configurations of the solvating water in the active site; extracting the thermodynamic information about the solvating water from these configurations by clustering the observed water configurations into regions of high water occupancy (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Thomas Young, Robert Abel, Richard A. Friesner, Bruce J. Berne
  • Patent number: 7957828
    Abstract: In the present invention, the line widths within a substrate of an etching pattern are measured for a substrate for which photolithography processing and an etching treatment thereafter have been finished. The line width measurement results are converted into the line widths of a resist pattern using relational expressions which have been obtained in advance. From the converted line widths of the resist pattern, coefficients of a polynomial function indicating variations within the substrate are calculated. Next, a function between line width correction amounts for the resist pattern and temperature correction values is used to calculate temperature correction values for the regions of the thermal plate to bring the coefficients of the polynomial function close to zero. Based on each of the calculated temperature correction values, the temperature for each of the regions is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masahide Tadokoro, Megumi Jyousaka, Yoshitaka Konishi, Shinichi Shinozuka, Kunie Ogata
  • Publication number: 20110119020
    Abstract: A method for measurement of a film cooling effect is disclosed. Film cooling is a technique developed to protect gas turbine engine components from the extremely high temperatures created during its operation. A controlled air pressure is ducted into the hollow interior of the component and the mass rate of air flowing through the plurality of film cooling features or openings is measured. A coolant is then injected into the hollow interior of the component and allowed to flow out of a film cooling feature onto the heated outer surface of the component. The resulting infrared signature is a measure of the relative cooling effect generated by the individual film cool feature. The film cooling effect for an individual feature is quantified as the proportion of mass rate of airflow contributed by its relative individual cooling effect. The area, location and shape of the cooling effect are further classified to determine the degree of conformance to its design intent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: MEYER TOOL, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Key
  • Patent number: 7945743
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamic storage based on performance throttling. The method comprises providing an array of storage devices coupled to a computing device. The method comprises determining a status of a system condition, such as ambient temperature. The method comprises throttling the operating speed of one or more storage devices in the array based on the status of the system condition. The method comprises determining relative frequency of access to data to be stored by the computing device in the array of storage devices. The method comprises optimizing storage of data by the computing device in the array of storage devices based at least in part on 1) relative frequency of access to data and 2) which of the one or more storage devices are throttled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Christian L. Belady
  • Patent number: 7941283
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that determines a flow rate of air along an airflow path in a computer system. During operation the system monitors a first temperature profile from a first temperature sensor located in a first position in the airflow path, and monitors a second temperature profile from a second temperature sensor located in a second position in the airflow path, wherein the first position is upstream in the airflow path from the second position, and wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a predetermined distance along the airflow path. Next, the system computes a cross-power spectral density based on the first temperature profile and the second temperature profile. Then, the system determines a flow rate of air in the computer system based on the cross-power spectral density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Kalyanaraman Vaidyanathan
  • Publication number: 20110106485
    Abstract: The invention relates to the area of thermophysical studies of media and is intended for the determination of thermal properties of solid media by placing a measuring device on the surface of the medium. A heater, which is made in the form of a flexible membrane capable of taking the shape of the solid body surface under the action of the hold-down pressure and which additionally serves as a temperature sensor, is pressed to the solid body surface by using a hold-down element in such a way as to ensure that the heater shape fits the shape and irregularities of the solid body surface. The heater temperature is registered throughout the heater surface during and after the heating. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the solid body are determined by processing the heater temperature measurement data both in the time range from the start of the solid body heating to the start of the thermal convention of the ambient medium and after the termination of the solid body heating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yury Anatolyevich Popov, Valery Vasil'evich Shako, Anton Vladimirovich Parshin, Sergey Sergeevich Safonov
  • Patent number: 7937240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for characterizing a material using active pyrometry. The material comprises at least one thin surface layer arranged on a thick substrate. The present invention heats the surface (ZTH) of the material by exposing the material to high-frequency laser pulses, so as to perform a series of temperature increase/decrease thermal cycles, accompanied by a heat build-up from one cycle to the next. The present invention collects the emitted radiation, acquires and processes the signals measured by comparing the measured values to the theoretical values obtained by modelling, so as to obtain thermo-physical properties for characterizing the material. The present invention also relates to a device for implementing the method comprising a high-frequency pulsed laser used as heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et Aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Thro, Francois Brygo, Sergey Fomichev, Alexandre Semerok
  • Patent number: 7925902
    Abstract: A temperature control system and method for a heat sink in an integrated display computer. Temperature sensing and throttling capabilities of ICs are used to prevent a passive heat sink from rising above a maximum temperature. An algorithm for controlling power usage of the ICs limits the maximum heat sink temperature. The maximum temperature is adjustable with an option in the BIOS. The heat sink temperature is controlled by throttling down the ICs when the temperature rises. An ACPI/OSPM passive cooling mechanism for the CPU defines a thermal feedback equation that operates once a thermal trip point is reached. The higher the actual temperature is above the trip point, the faster the CPU throttles down. Likewise, the CPU throttles up as the actual temperature drops below the trip point. The reported CPU temperature is adjusted higher or lower depending on how close the actual temperature is to the specified heat sink operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Micro Industries Corporation
    Inventors: William Scott Radcliffe, Michael A. Curran
  • Patent number: 7909506
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a temperature profile and the integral mean temperature and/or axis temperature in a thick wall or shaft. In order to determine a mean integral wall temperature during heating or cooling processes in a multilayer model, the mean integral wall temperature is calculated from the mean temperature of each layer. A multilayer model is used for determining the mean integral wall temperature during heating or cooling processes and draws upon the mean temperature of each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Oldrich Zaviska
  • Publication number: 20110054829
    Abstract: To avoid an influence on measurement accuracy in a case where an observation window for a measurement sample is provided to a thermal analysis apparatus, the influence being imposed by thermal conduction through the observation window, the observation window is formed of layers of transparent members, and a gap layer is provided between the layers, to thereby reduce the thermal conduction. Gas or solid having a high heat insulation property is employed for the gap layer to further enhance a heat insulation property of the observation window. Accordingly, a change due to heating of the measurement sample is visually observed in the thermal analysis apparatus, to thereby obtain a thermal change or a physical change with higher accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Kentaro Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110022347
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for calculating a temperature dependent Green's function using an appropriate weight function. The apparatus includes a material temperature change information input unit inputting change information of a material temperature; and a temperature dependent Green's function calculation unit receiving the change information of the material temperature through the material temperature change information input unit, calculating a temperature dependent Green's function using a weight function, and outputting the calculated result. According to aspects of embodiments, accuracy in the calculation of a thermal stress value can be improved by designing the weight function such that changes in physical properties of a material that change according to temperature changes are considered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Wan Jae Kim, Jong Jooh Kwon, Gyeong Hoi Koo, Tae Ryong Kim
  • Patent number: 7874723
    Abstract: Method of determining the melt mass flow rate of an ethylene polymer in the polymerization of ethylene or of ethylene with further comonomers, which is carried out at temperatures of from 140° C. to 350° C. and pressures of from 40 MPa to 350 MPa in a reactor to form the ethylene polymer and the ethylene polymer is subsequently cooled in a heat exchanger, which comprises: a) establishment of a correlation between the thermal conductivity of the ethylene polymer in the heat exchanger and the melt mass flow rate of the ethylene polymer, with the individual measurements each being carried out at an essentially constant melt mass flow rate, b) measurement of the thermal conductivity of an ethylene polymer in the heat exchanger c) calculation of the melt mass flow rate from the thermal conductivity measured in b) and the correlation established in a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Schönaich
  • Patent number: 7869905
    Abstract: A system that controls the temperature of a power supply in a computer system is presented. A state of the computer system is monitored. Next a signal is generated in response to the state of the computer system. The signal is then used to control the temperature of the power supply. Controlling the temperature of the power supply can involve heating the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Aleksey M. Urmanov, David K. McElfresh
  • Publication number: 20100318316
    Abstract: A multi-purpose, cylindrical thermal insulation test apparatus is used for testing insulation materials and systems of materials using a liquid boil-off calorimeter system for absolute measurement of the effective thermal conductivity (k-value) and heat flux of a specimen material at a fixed environmental condition (cold-side temperature, warm-side temperature, vacuum pressure level, and residual gas composition). The apparatus includes an inner vessel for receiving a liquid with a normal boiling point below ambient temperature, such as liquid nitrogen, enclosed within a vacuum chamber. A cold mass assembly, including the upper and lower guard chambers and a middle test vessel, is suspended from a lid of the vacuum canister. Each of the three chambers is filled and vented through a single feedthrough. All fluid and instrumentation feedthroughs are mounted and suspended from a top domed lid to allow easy removal of the cold mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Spac
    Inventors: James E. Fesmire, Adam G. Dokos
  • Patent number: 7848902
    Abstract: Temperature of an electric power device of a hybrid transmission is managed based upon device temperatures and power flow, ambient temperature, and a cooling circuit flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Zettel, Charles J Van Horn, Peter E. Wu, Ryan D Martini, Wei D. Wang, Stephen T. West
  • Patent number: 7829024
    Abstract: A urea concentration identification device comprising a concentration identification sensor unit (2) and a support unit (4) attached at the bottom end thereof with this sensor unit and provided at the top end thereof with a mounting unit (4a) to a urea solution tank opening. The concentration identification sensor unit (2) has an indirectly-heated concentration detector and liquid temperature detector provided with metal fins (21c),(22c), respectively, for heat-exchanging with urea solution. The concentration identification sensor unit (2) is provided with a cover member (2d) that forms an opposite-ends-opened urea solution induction passage so as to surround the metal fins (21c),(22c), and an enclosure (2e) that forms communication holes (26),(27) in the top and bottom end plate thereof (2e1),(2e2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Izutani, Takayuki Takahata
  • Publication number: 20100268472
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining melting temperatures, Tm, for DNA from melt curve data. The systems and methods also allow for quantitative determination of gene amount based on peak height. A PCR analogy is used to perform quantization of an acquired melting curve dataset. The melting curve is transformed using a horizontal flip and a horizontal translation, and a double sigmoid equation is then fit to the data. Inverse translation and inverse horizontal flip transforms are applied to the equation to produce an equation based solution of the melt curve dataset. The equation based solution of the melt curve is then used to determine the first derivative (e.g., Tm value) and peak height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald T. KURNIK, Thomas THURNHERR
  • Publication number: 20100250149
    Abstract: A dummy junction which will break earlier than a target junction is arranged on a board. A history of load applied to the dummy junction until the dummy junction actually breaks is recorded, and an estimated lifetime of the target junction is calibrated when a lifetime of the dummy junction estimated by the history of the load is largely different from an actual lifetime of the dummy junction. The calibration is performed by subtracting a value of an unmeasurable load from the estimated lifetime of the target junction based on load ever applied to the target junction, and the unmeasurable load is calculated based on the difference of the actual lifetime and estimated lifetime of the dummy junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takahiro Omori, Kenji Hirohata, Minoru Mukai
  • Patent number: 7805274
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a poly-gate temperature for a given device and determining channel temperatures of monitor devices. The method further includes extrapolating channel temperatures of the monitor devices to obtain a channel temperature for the given device. The difference in temperature (?T value) is determined for the given device based on the poly-gate temperature and the channel temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Chuan Wang, Paul A. Hyde, Kevin Kolvenbach, Giuseppe La Rosa
  • Patent number: 7788545
    Abstract: A broadcast receiving device includes a card slot, a fan, a temperature sensor, a memory component and a control unit. The card slot accepts an IC card. The fan rotates to cool the IC card. The temperature sensor measures a first temperature. The memory component stores correlation information indicating a correlation between the first temperature and a second temperature of the IC card. The control unit acquires the second temperature based on the first temperature and the correlation information. The control unit determines if the second temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. The control unit switches from a first output mode, in which an audio-video signal is outputted via the IC card, to a second output mode, in which the audio-video signal is outputted by bypassing the IC card, when the control unit determines that the second temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20100217540
    Abstract: A method is provided by which physical properties, in particular, the Young's modulus and thermal conductivity of a ceramic layer of a thermal barrier coating formed on a high-temperature member are accurately estimated in a short period of time. A method for estimating a physical property of a ceramic includes a step of calculating the Larson-Miller parameter from the time for which and the temperature at which the ceramic is heated; a step of acquiring the porosity of the ceramic corresponding to the calculated Larson-Miller parameter, based on the calculated Larson-Miller parameter and a diagram correlating the Larson-Miller parameter and the porosity obtained from samples having the same composition as the ceramic; and a step of acquiring the physical property of the ceramic corresponding to the acquired porosity, based on the acquired porosity and a diagram correlating the porosity and the physical property obtained from samples having the same composition as the ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumi Namba, Taiji Torigoe, Ikuo Okada, Kazutaka Mori, Yasuhiko Tsuru, Masato Shida, Ichiro Nagano, Eisaku Ito, Koji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100211222
    Abstract: An energy monitoring and analysis system for a building includes a logging unit, a processing unit, temperature sensors that read the temperatures inside and outside the building, electric current sensors that read electric currents in all independent electric connections at the main connection panel of the building, and other types of sensors such as those related to natural gas flow. The logging unit periodically collects the data from all the sensors and transmits the data to the processing unit. The processing unit analyzes the data using highly sophisticated algorithms, extracts various parameters, profiles the electric energy usage, identifies potential problems with energy transfer and use, and lists recommendations for corrective actions. The processing unit analyzes data of the building, an HVAC system associated with the building, and consuming devices associated with the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Michel GHOSN
  • Patent number: 7778791
    Abstract: An electronic clinical thermometer capable of high-precision measurement within a shorter period of time. The electronic clinical thermometer for predicting an equilibrium temperature based on a temporal change in actual measurement value of a measurement target temperature detected by a temperature detection element includes a prediction value derivation unit which derives a plurality of prediction values from actual measurement values in accordance with a plurality of prediction equations, a selection unit which selects one of the plurality of prediction equations based on the selected prediction equation, and a display output which displays a prediction value result based on the selected prediction equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Nakamura, Makoto Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20100198549
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a system for measuring at least one thermal property of a material. The system includes a thermal source configured to generate an incident thermal wave that propagates through a medium and is provided onto the material at an incident angle. The system also includes a thermal detector that is configured to receive a reflected thermal wave corresponding to the incident thermal wave reflected from the material at a reflection angle that is approximately equal to the incident angle. The system further includes a controller configured to control a magnitude of the incident angle to ascertain a thermal Brewster angle of the material and to calculate the at least one thermal property of the material based on the thermal Brewster angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Mostafa A. Karam, Charles H. Volk, A. Douglas Meyer
  • Publication number: 20100195694
    Abstract: A rack mount assembly measurement tool, for determining physical values including air flow and heat loads, includes a front assembly and a rear duct assembly that are non-intrusively and releasably mounted on the front and rear of such rack mount enclosure. Physical values are sensed at multiple vertical locations to enable a determination of overall and localized heat loads within the enclosure. Front sensor values are collected and wirelessly transmitted from the front assembly to a receiver/processor supported on the rear duct, which generates computed values that are displayed in addition to the sensed values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Claassen, Dennis John Hansen, Cary Michael Huettner, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Kenneth Robert Schneebeli, Gerard Vincent Weber, JR.
  • Patent number: 7756666
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for generation of hardware thermal profiles for a set of processors. Sampling is performed of the thermal states of the set of processors during the execution of a set of workloads to create sampled information. The sampled information and thermal characteristics of the set of processors are combined and a thermal index is generated based on the sampled information and characteristics of the set of processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Maximino Aguilar, Jr., Charles Ray Johns, Mark Richard Nutter, James Michael Stafford
  • Publication number: 20100169039
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus, includes a heat generator on the printed-circuit board in the housing, a heat radiator in the housing configured to radiate heat of the heat generator to the outside of the housing, a first thermometer configure to sense a first temperature at a first position on the board, a second thermometer on the board configured to sense a second temperature at a second position away from the heat generator than the first position, a cooling performance determination module configured to monitor whether a temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is above a threshold, and to determine whether performance of the heat radiator is deteriorated based on a result of the monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Daisuke Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20100153057
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the determination of the coefficient of performance of a refrigeration machine, in particular of a heat pump, which includes a closed circuit which has a refrigerant and in which an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve are arranged. In the method, at least three temperatures of the refrigerant are determined using temperature sensors arranged in the circuit. Alternatively, at least two temperatures and at least one pressure of the refrigerant is determined using sensors arranged in the circuit. Enthalpies of the circuit are calculated from the determined refrigerant temperatures and refrigerant pressures and the heat output and the taken up electrical power of the refrigeration machine are calculated therefrom to determine the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration machine from the quotient of the calculated heat output and the calculated taken up electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC GMBH & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Bersch, Raymond Steils
  • Patent number: 7734444
    Abstract: Systems and arrangements to assess the thermal performance of a thermal solution based upon the ability of a device under test (DUT) to operate in accordance with electrical performance criteria are contemplated. Embodiments may include a tester to couple with the DUT to determine an operating junction temperature. In some embodiments, the measured junction temperature may be the operating junction temperature anticipated for the DUT in a customer installation. In other embodiments, the tester may comprise logic to calculate a projected, operating junction temperature based upon the measured junction temperature and known differences between the tester and a customer installation. Upon determining the operating junction temperature for the DUT at the customer installation, the operating junction temperature is compared against a maximum junction temperature for proper operation of the DUT. Advantageously, the maximum junction temperature may be varied based upon the project objective for a line of DUTs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Xavier Arroyo, Kenneth A. Bird, William A. Ciarfella, Bret Peter Elison, Gary Franklin Goth, Terrance Wayne Kueper, Thoi Nguyen, Roger Donell Weekly
  • Patent number: 7725285
    Abstract: A system that determines whether components are not present in a computer system is presented. During operation the system receives telemetry signals from sensors within the computer system. Next, the system dynamically generates a temperature map for the computer system based on the telemetry signals. The system then analyzes the temperature map to determine whether components are not present in the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishna C. Dhanekula, Kenny C. Gross, Kalyanaraman Vaidyanathan, Glenn A. Herdeg
  • Patent number: 7720618
    Abstract: A method for monitoring fluid levels in a tank. A first step involves modelling the tank to identify fluid zones of fluids having differing densities, the heat retention characteristics of each the fluid zones and the relative relationships between each of the fluid zones. A second step involves obtaining a heat profile of the tank. A third step involves analyzing the heat profile based upon the modelling to generate relative fluid level data for the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Noralta Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Cam Zarowny, Wayne Muir, Wendell Young
  • Patent number: 7711515
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method for automated parameter measurement includes strategically positioning an identifier tag at a location proximate a first object. The identifier tag stores location-specific information associated with the first object. A sensor in communications with the identifier tag receives the location-specific information from the identifier tag. Additionally, the sensor is used to collect quantitative data associated with a first parameter from the first object. The location-specific information received from the first identifier tag is used to process the quantitative data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Current Energy Controls, LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Burdett, Daniel Reich, Stolyarov Yury Sergeyevich
  • Patent number: 7701222
    Abstract: A method for testing a printed circuit board to determining the dielectric loss associated with the circuit board material relative to a standard. Dielectric losses in the material generate heat when a high frequency electronic signal, such as a microwave frequency signal, is communicated through a microstrip that is embedded within the printed circuit board. The temperature or spectrum at the surface of printed circuit board is measured and compared against the temperature or spectrum of the standard to determine whether the material under test is acceptable. While various temperature measurement devices may be used, the temperature is preferably measured without contacting the surface, such as using an infrared radiation probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Moises Cases, Bradley Donald Herrman, Kent Barclay Howieson, Erdem Matoglu, Bhyrav Murthy Mutnury, Pravin Patel, Nam Huu Pham, Caleb James Wesley
  • Patent number: 7698023
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a matrix of thermoelectric devices for applying thermal gradients across an electronic component mounted in a PCB substrate within an enclosed housing. A matrix of thermosensitive devices are placed around the perimeter of the electronic component to measure thermal gradients associated with the component. A controller controls the matrix of thermoelectric devices based on the thermal gradients measured by the matrix of thermosensitive devices with a matrix of thermocouple coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Brilliant Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Barry, Reed A. Parker, Tian Shen, Feng F. Pan, Meenakshi Subramanian
  • Patent number: 7698090
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a system, composed by mechanical and electronic components and by a resident software inherent to the system. The system for the mean of thermal properties of fluids is destinated to the measure of thermal properties such as diffusivity and effusivity, and from those values, to obtain the conductivity and the volume thermal capacity of flowing media. Besides the use for the direct measure of thermal properties, the referred system has application in the verification of the quality or of adulterations in fuels (octane and no conformity), fuel oils and lubricants, perfumes, foods, drunk, and working as humidity met gases. In these cases the essential feature is the correlation of the measure of thermal property and the quality parameter of the substance analyzed. The present invention can used in industries and laboratories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventor: José Augusto Pedro Lima
  • Patent number: 7698114
    Abstract: Techniques for enhancing thermal design of a system having a number of boundary values are provided. A method for such enhancement includes representing thermal response of the system to the boundary values, obtaining at least one constraining parameter, and determining spatial and/or temporal distribution of the boundary values. The thermal response is represented as a superposition of temperature fields associated with given boundary values. The spatial and/or temporal distribution of the boundary values is determined based on the thermal response represented in the representing step, so as to satisfy the constraining parameter. The boundary values can be, for example, power sources, and the at least one constraining parameter can be, for example, a spatial or temporal location of one of the power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, James A. Lacey, Jamil Wakil, Alan J. Weger
  • Publication number: 20100088060
    Abstract: A mutual capacitance measurement is acquired for two thermally and electrically conductive bodies separated by an intervening dielectric material. At least one of (i) a thermal conductance and (ii) a heat transfer rate between the two thermally and electrically conductive bodies is determined based at least on the mutual capacitance measurement. For example, a thermal conductance between the two thermally and electrically conductive bodies may be determined as the mutual capacitance measurement scaled by a ratio of the thermal conductivity of the intervening dielectric material and the dielectric constant of the intervening dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Alexander V. Padiy
  • Publication number: 20100085196
    Abstract: A measurement indicative of a temperature of a computer is received and a thermal health value for the computer is calculated based on the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: EXAFLOP LLC
    Inventors: David W. Stiver, Shawn Lewis, Gregory P. Imwalle
  • Patent number: 7689370
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for determining the viscosity of a lubricating fluid in a process on line. The method of the present invention obviates the need to accurately control the temperature of the lubricating fluid in the system when taking fluid viscosity measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Grosser, Eugenio Sanchez, Angela Galiano-Roth, Alan M. Schilowitz
  • Publication number: 20100076719
    Abstract: This invention relates to an emissivity test instrument for measuring the emissivity of overhead electric transmission conductors. The emissivity test instrument includes a vacuum chamber, a data acquisition module connected to the vacuum chamber and adapted to receive data therefrom, and a computing device. The vacuum chamber is adapted to seat a test sample therein. The computing device is connected to the data acquisition module and is adapted to perform a test on a test sample and generate a test results report.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Lawry, Bernard Francis Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20100070202
    Abstract: In one embodiment a method to determine at least one low temperature property of the lubricant oil is disclosed. This method comprises obtaining a base stock, generating a DSC curve of wax versus temperature using a heating curve for the base stock, correlating the heating curve of the base stock with a MRV for a formulated oil, and determining the MRV of the lubricant oil from the correlation of the base stock to the MRV of the corresponding desired base oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Ronald M. Gould, Eugine Choi