Abstract: Solar energy concentrator architectures employ an array of electro-optical liquid prism modules to deflect sunlight onto PV cells. Without any mechanical moving parts, the dynamic liquid prism allows the concentrator to adaptively track the daily changes of the sun's orbit. The liquid prism modules may be arranged, for example, into a sheet-shaped beam steering array; a condenser device such as a Fresnel lens is then used to focus the light deflected by the modules onto one or more PV cells—preferably CPVs. Another possible concentrator architecture requires arranging a plurality of liquid prism modules into a semi-spherical pattern, such that light impinging on the modules is directed onto one or more PV cells or CPVs.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a direct-bonded copper (“DBC”) substrate, the DBC substrate having a plurality of micro-structure tabs formed on a fluid impingement side of the DBC substrate, and a jet head in complementary opposition to the fluid impingement side. The jet head has a first plurality of micro-jets facing the fluid impingement side, each of the first plurality of micro-jets having a nozzle, and a second plurality of micro-jets facing the fluid impingement side so the jet head is configured to deliver a fluid to the plurality of micro-structure tabs through the first and second plurality of micro-jets.

Abstract: An electro-osmotic pump includes a pump chamber having a wall fabricated of an electric double layer material, the surface area of the electric double layer material being high relative to the volume of the chamber. An electric potential applied across the material causes a fluid in the chamber to be transported through the wall. A nastic actuator includes the electro-osmotic pump and an actuator chamber, having a variable volume, coupled to the pump chamber. A superabsorbent polymer is disposed in the pump and actuator chambers, such that transport of the fluid into the pump chamber results in absorption of the fluid by the superabsorbent polymer, causing the actuator chamber to increase in volume. When the electric potential is applied across the superabsorbent polymer, the superabsorbent polymer expands, further causing the actuator chamber to increase in volume.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for fabricating a heat spreader system, including providing a plurality of bottom microporous wicks recessed in a bottom substrate, bonding a center substrate to the bottom substrate, and bonding a top substrate having a top chamber portion to the center substrate to establish a first vapor chamber with said plurality of bottom microporous wicks.

Abstract: A heat sink apparatus includes a heat conductive base plate and a plurality of fins in thermal communication with the heat conductive base plate. The plurality of fins is configured to form a plurality of curved and branching channels extending radially on the base plate. At least two of the plurality of fins are configured with a gap between them to trip a gas boundary layer formed on a first one of the at least two fins, when a gas boundary layer is present.

Abstract: For cooling electronics with high heat fluxes, a lattice wick system is disclosed that has a plurality of granular wicking walls configured to transport liquid through capillary action in a first direction, each set of the plurality of granular wicking walls forming respective vapor vents between them to transport vapor. Granular interconnect wicks are embedded between respective pairs of the granular wicking walls to transport liquid through capillary action in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The granular interconnect wicks have substantially the same height as said granular wicking wall so that the plurality of granular wicking walls and granular interconnect wicks enable transport of liquid through capillary action in two directions and the plurality of vapor vents transport vapor in a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.

Abstract: For cooling electronics with high heat fluxes, a lattice wick system is disclosed that has a plurality of nano tube wicking walls configured to transport liquid through capillary action in a first direction, each set of the plurality of granular wicking walls forming respective vapor vents between them to transport vapor. A plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks embedded between respective pairs of the plurality of nano tube wicking walls transport liquid through capillary action in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The nano tube interconnect wicks have substantially the same height as the nano tube wicking walls so that the plurality of nano tube wicking walls and the plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks enable transport of liquid through capillary action in two directions and the plurality of vapor vents transport vapor in a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.

Abstract: A heat pipe is partially-filled with a liquid, such as water, and is used to transfer heat from a rotating element, such as a rotor, via phase change and internal recycle of the liquid. Several heat pipes may be disposed radially around the rotating axis of the rotating element. The heat pipes may have a curved inner surface with a curvature not corresponding to the central axis of the heat pipe and positioned opposite the rotating axis so to experience greater centrifugal forces, to advance formation of a liquid film to improve heat transfer. For a rotor, the heat pipes, though individually placed as revolving heat pipes, in total exhibit behavior that approximates the favorable heat-transfer behavior of a single larger rotating heat pipe, but with heat-transfer surface area dispersed throughout the rotor, and without compromising structural integrity of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A heat spreader for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat sink using a phase change coolant, includes an array of cells, each cell having at least one microporous wick for supporting flows of the coolant in the liquid phase, via capillary action, within the spreader from proximate the heat sink to proximate the source and at least one macroporous wick for supporting flows of the coolant, in the liquid and vapor phase, within the spreader from proximate the source to proximate the heat sink.

Abstract: An electro-osmotic pump includes a pump chamber having a wall fabricated of an electric double layer material, the surface area of the electric double layer material being high relative to the volume of the chamber. An electric potential applied across the material causes a fluid in the chamber to be transported through the wall. A nastic actuator includes the electro-osmotic pump and an actuator chamber, having a variable volume, coupled to the pump chamber. A superabsorbent polymer is disposed in the pump and actuator chambers, such that transport of the fluid into the pump chamber results in absorption of the fluid by the superabsorbent polymer, causing the actuator chamber to increase in volume. When the electric potential is applied across the superabsorbent polymer, the superabsorbent polymer expands, further causing the actuator chamber to increase in volume.

Abstract: A drawstring toggle includes a male member being provided with an inward and downward extended retaining space, which has two opposite and outward projected lower stoppers with a plane top and an inclined bottom, and a side opening with an upward and inward extended lower edge to form a hook; a female member internally defining a receiving space for receiving the male member therein, and being provided with an open slot corresponding to the retaining space on the male member; and an elastic element being disposed in the receiving space to locate between an inner bottom of the female member and the male member. When the male member is depressed, the receiving space is horizontally aligned with the open slot on the female member, so that a drawstring may be sidewardly pushed into the aligned receiving space and open slot to enable easy replacement of a new drawstring toggle.

Abstract: A method of machining a mold surface using laser includes the steps of preparing a laser device and an optical zoom lens assembly disposed in front of the laser device; using a computer to compute a sectional curvature of the mold surface to be machined, so as to obtain parameters for controlling variance in laser focal length; and machining the mold surface twice to remove mold material from desired areas and to polish the mold surface, so that the machined areas are blended with the original coarse surface to show the designed patterns while showing a polishing effect. Therefore, a product molded using the machined mold would show different changes or refraction of light.

Abstract: A cooling assembly, system, and method are provided. The cooling assembly includes a plate comprising a plurality of channels defined in a surface of the plate and at least one pulsating heat pipe comprising tubing. At least a portion of the tubing is positioned within the channels, and the tubing is configured for carrying coolant therein.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus, system, and method are provided. The cooling apparatus includes at least one printed circuit board having opposed major surfaces, and at least one electrical component or other heat source positioned on one major surface of the printed circuit board. The cooling apparatus also includes a pulsating heat pipe having at least a portion that is positioned to either extend along and proximate to one of the major surfaces or be embedded within the printed circuit board. As such, the pulsating heat pipe is capable of transferring heat from the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A ridged surface structure includes a plurality of parallelly arrayed and regularly spaced rectangular-sectioned ridges, each of the ridges may be cut at one or both lengthwise upper edges thereof to produce bevel surfaces at different positions, so that the bevel surfaces on the lengthwise upper edges at the same side of the ridges together produce at least one engraved pattern, and multiple overlapped engraved patterns may therefore be produced on the ridged surface and observed at the same time from different viewing angles. The ridged surface structure may be produced with many different materials, including plastics, reflective materials, and low-reflective materials, and may be widely applied to mass-produced products on which multiple marks or designs are to be displayed at the same time without increasing the manufacturing cost of the products.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a multi-layer wick for a loop heat pipe is provided. The multi-layer wick includes a primary wick, the primary wick comprising: a first layer; and a second layer, wherein the first layer surrounds the second layer; and a secondary wick, wherein the second layer of the primary wick surrounds the secondary wick. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a multi-layer wick is provided. The method includes machining the outer diameter of an inner layer larger than the inner diameter of an outer layer; heating the outer layer to enlarge the inner diameter; inserting the inner layer into the outer layer; and cooling the inner layer and the outer layer.

Abstract: A fluidic micromixer comprises a plurality of fluid inlets in communication with a mixing chamber, the plurality of fluid inlets being adapted to introduce into the chamber a corresponding plurality of distinct fluid streams. The mixing chamber comprises at least one surface patterned to define hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions spaced apart along a principal direction of fluid flow within the chamber from the fluid inlets to a fluid outlet, the regions being adapted to induce fluid flow in a direction transverse to the principal direction of fluid flow to mix the fluid streams. At least one of the hydrophobic regions may comprise microstructures patterned on the at least one surface. Also disclosed are a method for fabricating the micromixer, a method of mixing a plurality of fluid streams by vortex mixing or instability mixing, and a system comprising the micromixer, fluid reservoirs and a pump for generating flow of fluids from the reservoirs to the micromixer.

Abstract: A multi-angular laser processing apparatus includes a laser oscillator for emitting a pulse laser beam, which is refracted and then reflected by first and second reflectors, respectively, to irradiate a workpiece firmly held on a fixing mechanism. In the event of a processing angle within the range of ±20°, a vertical surface of the workpiece may be directly processed using the laser beam without becoming carbonized or charred. It is not necessary to move the workpiece in the course of processing. In the event of a large working area or a processing angle larger than ±20°, the fixing mechanism could be angularly adjusted and a worktable supporting the fixing mechanism could be moved in X and/or Y direction to allow quick and effective processing of the workpiece from multiple angles.