Patents by Inventor Michael C. Fish

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

  • THERMAL BUFFERING ELECTRICAL INTERCONNECTS
    Publication number: 20250096067
    Abstract: We disclose novel thermal buffering electrical interconnects. They are formed of an electrical circuit which generates heat; and a composite electrically connected to the circuit and comprising a porous scaffold having a phase change material (PCM) at least partially filling the porous space of the scaffold jointly capable of carrying an electric current. The PCM-filled porous scaffold is electrically conductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Michael C. Fish, Rachel C. McAfee
  • Thermoelectrically actuated phase change thermal energy storage (TES) module
    Patent number: 12213379
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) device includes a thermoelectric cooler; and a metallic phase change material (PCM) within the thermoelectric cooler. The PCM may include any of gallium or its alloys, low temperature fusible alloys, and solid metal shape memory alloys. A thermoelectric effect within the PCM is to transport heat in the thermoelectric cooler. The TES device may include a graded oxide layer adjacent to the PCM to serve as a distributed electrical junction in the thermoelectric cooler to create a hot side thermoelectric junction in a bulk volume of the PCM. The graded oxide layer may include ?-IGZO. The TES device may include a high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer comprising barrier oxides patterned therein. The high-thermopower metal foil layer may be adjacent to the graded oxide layer. The TES device may include a dielectric layer adjacent to the high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Michael C. Fish
  • Thermoelectrically actuated phase change thermal energy storage (TES) module
    Patent number: 11985895
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) device includes a thermoelectric cooler; and a metallic phase change material (PCM) within the thermoelectric cooler. The PCM may include any of gallium or its alloys, low temperature fusible alloys, and solid metal shape memory alloys. A thermoelectric effect within the PCM is to transport heat in the thermoelectric cooler. The TES device may include a graded oxide layer adjacent to the PCM to serve as a distributed electrical junction in the thermoelectric cooler to create a hot side thermoelectric junction in a bulk volume of the PCM. The graded oxide layer may include ?-IGZO. The TES device may include a high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer comprising barrier oxides patterned therein. The high-thermopower metal foil layer may be adjacent to the graded oxide layer. The TES device may include a dielectric layer adjacent to the high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Michael C. Fish
  • THERMOELECTRICALLY ACTUATED PHASE CHANGE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE (TES) MODULE
    Publication number: 20230210008
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) device includes a thermoelectric cooler; and a metallic phase change material (PCM) within the thermoelectric cooler. The PCM may include any of gallium or its alloys, low temperature fusible alloys, and solid metal shape memory alloys. A thermoelectric effect within the PCM is to transport heat in the thermoelectric cooler. The TES device may include a graded oxide layer adjacent to the PCM to serve as a distributed electrical junction in the thermoelectric cooler to create a hot side thermoelectric junction in a bulk volume of the PCM. The graded oxide layer may include ?-IGZO. The TES device may include a high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer comprising barrier oxides patterned therein. The high-thermopower metal foil layer may be adjacent to the graded oxide layer. The TES device may include a dielectric layer adjacent to the high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventor: Michael C. Fish
  • THERMOELECTRICALLY ACTUATED PHASE CHANGE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE (TES) MODULE
    Publication number: 20220376157
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) device includes a thermoelectric cooler; and a metallic phase change material (PCM) within the thermoelectric cooler. The PCM may include any of gallium or its alloys, low temperature fusible alloys, and solid metal shape memory alloys. A thermoelectric effect within the PCM is to transport heat in the thermoelectric cooler. The TES device may include a graded oxide layer adjacent to the PCM to serve as a distributed electrical junction in the thermoelectric cooler to create a hot side thermoelectric junction in a bulk volume of the PCM. The graded oxide layer may include ?-IGZO. The TES device may include a high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer comprising barrier oxides patterned therein. The high-thermopower metal foil layer may be adjacent to the graded oxide layer. The TES device may include a dielectric layer adjacent to the high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventor: Michael C. Fish