Electric Power Generator Patents (Class 136/205)
  • Patent number: 10886451
    Abstract: Provided are a thermoelectric material, a method of fabricating the same, and a thermoelectric device. The thermoelectric material includes a first material layer including a chalcogen element; and a second material layer including a reaction compound between the chalcogen element and a metal element, wherein the thermoelectric material has a structure in which the first material layer is inserted in the second material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION (UIF), YONSEI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mann Ho Cho, Hye Jin Choi, Ji Min Chae, Han Bum Park
  • Patent number: 10868204
    Abstract: A solar array module system for generating electric-power, preconfigured to prevent electric blockage of the module when a physical row of solar cells malfunctions. The module includes a matrix of X physical rows and Y columns of solar cells, electrically interconnected in a plain criss-cross matrix. The columns of the physical matrix are divided into a first side, numbering YL columns, and a second side, numbering Y-YL columns. The first side includes cells that are physically inverted relative to the cells of the second side. The negative side of the cell in the 1+nth physical row of column YL is electrically connected to the negative side of the cell in the X-nth physical row of column YL+1 (0?n<X). The positive side of the cell in the Xth physical row of column YL is electrically connected to the positive side of the cell in the 1st physical row of column YL+1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SOLARWAT LTD
    Inventors: Boris Vatelmacher, Alexander Schuster
  • Patent number: 10855060
    Abstract: A cooling system includes an evaporator associated with a heat source. A condenser is located at a higher elevation than the evaporator. A heat pipe structure fluidly connects the evaporator with the condenser. A fan forces air through the condenser. A working fluid is in the evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state, with the heat pipe structure transferring the vapor to the condenser and passively returning condensed working fluid back to the evaporator for cooling of the heat source. A plurality of thermoelectric generators is associated with the condenser and converts heat, obtained from the working fluid in the vapor state, to electrical energy to power the fan absent an external power source. The thermoelectric generators provide the electrical energy to the fan so that a rotational speed of the fan is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Patrik Kaufmann, Oleksandr Sologubenko, Francoise Molitor, Tilo Buehler
  • Patent number: 10856440
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to cool an electronic assembly includes an evaporator configured to evaporate a cooling medium using heat of the electronic assembly, and a power transformer configured to transform energy stored in the evaporated cooling medium into electric power. The cooling medium has an evaporating temperature at atmospheric pressure within a temperature range of 50° C. to 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HENSOLDT Sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Sander, Tim Moser
  • Patent number: 10840426
    Abstract: In one aspect, thermoelectric apparatus and articles and various applications of thermoelectric apparatus and articles are described herein. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric apparatus described herein comprises at least one p-type layer coupled to at least one n-type layer to provide a pn junction, and an insulating layer at least partially disposed between the p-type layer and the n-type layer, the p-type layer comprising carbon nanoparticles and the n-type layer comprising n-doped carbon nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles of the p-type layer and/or the nanoparticles of the n-type layer are disposed in a polymeric matrix comprising electrically poled polymer. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric article comprises a thermally insulating support and thermoelectric modules formed of a structure passing around or through the thermally insulating support to provide faces of the thermoelectric modules on opposing sides of the thermally insulating support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: David L. Carroll, Robert Summers
  • Patent number: 10841989
    Abstract: A gaseous-phase ionizing radiation generator for the voltage controlled production, flux, and use of one or more forms of ionizing electromagnetic and/or particulate radiation including: embodiments to collect and convert the particulate radiation that is generated by the radiation generator into electricity; embodiments that generate electricity from the ionized gas within the radiation generator by means of an auxiliary electrode structure composed of interdigitated individual electrodes of alternating work function; and a method or procedure for the fabrication and the activation of at least one working electrode composed in part of a metal hydride host material that is not formally considered to be radioactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Inovl, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E Gordon, Harper John Whitehouse
  • Patent number: 10825977
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric converter includes filling each of a plurality of through-holes in each of a plurality of resin films with fillers containing a plurality of thermoelectric material particles. At this time, a part of the filler is extruded from each through-hole. In this state, the plurality of resin films are stacked together. A top-surface protection member having top-surface conductor patterns is stacked on one side of the plurality of resin films. A back-surface protection member having back-surface conductor patterns is stacked on the other side of the plurality of resin films. Thus, an integrated stacked body is formed. The integrated stacked body is then heated and pressurized. A plurality of thermoelectric material particles are thereby sintered to form the first and second thermoelectric members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshikazu Harada, Atusi Sakaida, Toshihisa Taniguchi, Tomohiro Imura, Yuki Sakashita, Hayato Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10794255
    Abstract: An apparatus for utilizing waste heat of an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas manifold and a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element is configured to generate an electric voltage as a result of a temperature difference between a side facing away from the exhaust gas manifold and an opposite side. The thermoelectric element is arranged on the exhaust gas manifold. The apparatus additionally includes a cooling element arranged on the thermoelectric element on the side facing away from the exhaust gas manifold. The cooling element has at least one cooling passage configured to provide for the throughflow of a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GF CASTING SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Ilias Papadimitriou, Christian Graf
  • Patent number: 10741740
    Abstract: A thermo-electric generator includes a semiconductor membrane with a phononic structure containing at least one P-N junction. The membrane is suspended between a first support designed to be coupled to a cold thermal source and a second support designed to be coupled to a hot thermal source. The structure for suspending the membrane has an architecture allowing the heat flux to be redistributed within the plane of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Emmanuel Dubois, Jean-Francois Robillard, Stephane Monfray, Thomas Skotnicki
  • Patent number: 10727389
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generating system may include a base substrate configured to be installed at a side of a vehicle exhaust line part; and at least one thermoelectric module configured to be installed on a top surface of the base substrate, in which a side of the exhaust line part is provided with an opening communicating with an internal space of the exhaust line part, the base substrate is installed to seal the opening of the exhaust line part, and the base substrate is made of a thermal conductive material and a surface of the base substrate is formed with an insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, In Woong Lyo, Kyong Hwa Song, Han Saem Lee, Hong Kil Baek, In Chang Chu, Gyung Bok Kim, Byung Wook Kim, Seung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 10706956
    Abstract: Methods are provided for evaluating and/or predicting the outcome of a clinical condition, such as cancer, metastasis, AIDS, autism, Alzheimer's, and/or Parkinson's disorder. The methods can also be used to monitor and track changes in a patient's DNA and/or RNA during and following a clinical treatment regime. The methods may also be used to evaluate protein and/or metabolite levels that correlate with such clinical conditions. The methods are also of use to ascertain the probability outcome for a patient's particular prognosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David Haussler, John Zachary Sanborn
  • Patent number: 10700254
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoelectric cell having thermoelectric tracks of alternating conductivity types connected in series by metallic connections, including a platform suspended over a substrate by arms, the platform and the arms being parts of the same thermally and electrically insulating layer, and each arm supporting a thermoelectric track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS)
    Inventors: Olivier Bourgeois, Dimitri Tainoff, Daniel Bourgault
  • Patent number: 10686111
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element including a thermoelectric conversion member formed of a skutterudite-type material containing an element L (indicating one or more elements selected from a group including In, Yb, Eu, Ce, La, Nd, Ga and Sr), an element M (indicating one or more elements selected from a group including Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ni, Pt, Pd, Ru and Os), and an element Pn (indicating one or more elements selected from a group including Sb, As, P, Te, Sn, Bi, Ge, Se and Si), an insulator covering the thermoelectric conversion member and a metal layer positioned between the thermoelectric conversion member and the insulator as well as containing the element L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10679834
    Abstract: A solar generator can include a photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator with a cathode to receive solar radiation. The photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator can include an anode that in conjunction with the cathode generates a first current and waste heat from the solar radiation. A thermoelectric generator can be thermally coupled to the anode and can convert the waste heat from the anode into a second current. A circuit can connect to the photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator and to the thermoelectric generator and can combine the first and the second currents into an output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventor: John Xiaozhong Wang
  • Patent number: 10680154
    Abstract: In a known method in which a cooling pipe that is fixed and rigid is used, variation in a distance from the center of an exhaust heat pipe to the outer surface of a thermoelectric conversion module, variation in the radius of curvature of the curved surface of a cooling pipe, and other factors produce a gap between the outer surface of the thermoelectric conversion module and the inside surface of the cooling pipe. The gap prevents the achievement of desired cooling performance and the improvement of power generation efficiency. A thermoelectric conversion module of the present invention includes two flexible substrates each made of a thin resin film and having mounting lands formed thereon, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements mounted on the mounting lands at high density, wherein one of the two flexible substrate has a plurality of slits to make the module easy to bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: E-ThermoGentek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kohtani, Michio Okajima, Keiichi Ohata, Shutaro Nambu
  • Patent number: 10677135
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery system is provided. The system includes a branch pipe that has branch fluid passages that are formed to be connected with an exhaust gas source emitting emit exhaust gas. a valve at least partially opens or closes the branch fluid passages to selectively introduce the exhaust gas into at least one of the branch fluid passages. Additionally, a thermoelectric module performs thermoelectric power generation by selectively using exhaust heat of the exhaust gas passing through a specific branch fluid passage of the branch fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byung Wook Kim, Hoo Dam Lee, Jin Woo Kwak
  • Patent number: 10646074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handle for a cooking vessel or lid that includes at least one thermoelectric generator. The invention is characterized in that the handle has a releasable locking device and the thermoelectric generator has at least one first contact surface thermally connected to a thermal coupling part that comes into contact under stress with a portion of the cooking vessel or lid when the releasable locking device of the handle is in a locked position on the cooking vessel or lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Compeau
  • Patent number: 10629794
    Abstract: Each of a first outside plate and a second outside plate includes bent portions at its both ends in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a low-temperature fluid flows. The bent portions of the first outside plate and the bent portions of the second outside plate are respectively welded together in a resiliently deformed state to approach each other. The bent portions of the first outside plate and the bent portions of the second outside plate are respectively welded together to generate stress to press a first power generation module and a second power generation module on a duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Kitagawa, Takuya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10601080
    Abstract: A thermal runaway mitigation system cools fluid electrode material in a thermal battery to prevent a thermal runaway in the thermal battery. In response to a thermal runaway trigger, the thermal runway prevention system cools at least one of the fluid positive electrode material and the fluid negative electrode material. In some situations, the fluid material electrode material is sufficiently cooled to place the electrode material in a solid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Vissers Battery Corporation
    Inventors: Manoel Tenorio, Daniel R. Vissers
  • Patent number: 10580954
    Abstract: Methods and processes to fabricate thermoelectric materials and more particularly to methods and processes to fabricate nano-sized doped silicon-based semiconductive materials to use as thermoelectrics in the production of electricity from recovered waste heat. Substantially oxidant-free and doped silicon particulates are fractured and sintered to form a porous nano-sized silicon-based thermoelectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Mossey Creek Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: John Carberry
  • Patent number: 10578483
    Abstract: A battery-less sensor device includes a sensor to sense an environmental condition, a power supply system, a memory, a communication device, and a processor. The power supply system includes energy harvesting devices to harvest energy from ambient energy sources for powering one or more components of the sensor device, and an energy storage device to store harvested energy. The memory stores sensor data associated with the environmental condition sensed by the sensor. The communication device transmits the sensor data to a BMS or remote device. The processor is configured to dynamically select one or more energy sources from the ambient energy sources to power one or more components of the sensor device according to an availability of energy from the ambient energy sources and/or an energy consumption requirement of the one or more components of the sensor device, and to control supply of power to the one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Dewan Ishtiaque Ahmed, Tithi Tasnuva, Michael Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 10580955
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides wearable electronic devices with thermoelectric devices. The wearable electronic device may comprise a user interface for displaying information to a user. The thermoelectric device may comprise a heat collecting unit, a thermoelectric element, and a heat expelling unit. During use, the thermoelectric element may generate power upon the flow of thermal energy from the heat collecting unit, across the thermoelectric element, and to the heat expelling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MATRIX INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Akram I. Boukai, Douglas W. Tham, Haifan Liang, Eric C. Hale, Gregory L. Kress, Scott A. Steber, Brentley M. Wiles
  • Patent number: 10573798
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module in which a plurality of P-type thermoelectric conversion elements and N-type thermoelectric conversion elements, which are combined in pairs, are connected in series between a pair of opposing wiring substrates via the wiring substrates: electrode parts to which the thermoelectric conversion elements are connected, are formed on surfaces of ceramic substrates of the wiring substrates: among the thermoelectric conversion elements, the thermoelectric conversion element having a larger thermal expansion coefficient has the length, in a direction in which the wiring substrates face each other, that is smaller than the length, in a direction in which the wiring substrates face each other, of the thermoelectric conversion element having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient: an electrically conductive spacer is interposed between at least one of the two ends of the thermoelectric conversion element having a larger thermal expansion coefficient and the ceramic substrate of the wi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Nakada, Toshiyuki Nagase, Masahito Komasaki, Yoshiyuki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 10572025
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a handwritten screen and a control display device. The handwritten screen includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an array, and a first substrate and a second substrate both being electrically insulating and thermally conductive. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a thermoelectric generator and a display unit connected with each other, the thermoelectric generator and the display unit are between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the thermoelectric generator generates an electric field once there is a difference between a temperature of the first substrate and a temperature of the second substrate, so as to supply power to the display unit. The present disclosure effectively utilizes a difference in temperature between a finger (i.e., the first substrate) and an external environment (i.e., the second substrate) during touch, and converts thermal energy into electrical energy to perform thermoelectric power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hanyan Sun, Weitao Chen, Inho Park
  • Patent number: 10559737
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes: a first film including a perovskite structure; a second film and a third film, including a perovskite structure, disposed in such a manner that the first film is interposed between the second film and the third film; a fourth film, including a perovskite structure, disposed so as to interpose the second film with the first film; and a fifth film, including a perovskite structure, disposed so as to interpose the third film with the first film, wherein an offset in conduction band between the first film and the second film and an offset in conduction band between the first film and the third film is less than 0.25 eV, and an offset in conduction band between the second film and the fourth film and an offset in conduction band between the third film and the fifth film is more than 1 eV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: John David Baniecki, Hiroyuki Aso, Yoshihiko Imanaka
  • Patent number: 10557395
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generating unit is configured to generate based on a temperature difference between a cold side and a hot side. A heating part includes a plate-like hollow member and tubular member. The hollow member is provided along a hot-side surface of a thermoelectric transducer, and forms a plate-like cavity inside. The tubular member forms a tubular cavity which communicates the plate-like cavity, with two open ends of the tubular member being positioned distantly from each other and connected to the plate-like hollow member. The tubular member is heated from outside by a hot fluid. The plate-like cavity and the tubular cavity form a circulation path in which a heating medium charged in the cavities circulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jiro Fukudome
  • Patent number: 10553773
    Abstract: A method of encapsulating a thin-film based thermoelectric module includes forming the thin-film based thermoelectric module by sputter depositing pairs of N-type thermoelectric legs and P-type thermoelectric legs electrically in contact with one another on a flexible substrate having a dimensional thickness less than or equal to 25 ?m, and rendering the formed thin-film based thermoelectric module flexible and less than or equal to 100 ?m in dimensional thickness based on choices of fabrication processes with respect to layers of the formed thin-film based thermoelectric module. The method also includes encapsulating the formed thin-film based thermoelectric module with an elastomer to render the flexibility thereto. The elastomer encapsulation has a dimensional thickness less than or equal to 15 ?m, and the flexibility enables an array of thin-film based thermoelectric modules to be completely wrappable and bendable around a system element from which the array is configured to derive thermoelectric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventor: Sridhar Kasichainula
  • Patent number: 10534684
    Abstract: Techniques described herein generally relate to a task management system for a chip multiprocessor having multiple processor cores. The task management system tracks the changing instruction set capabilities of each processor core and selects processor cores for use based on the tracked capabilities. In this way, a processor core with one or more failed processing elements can still be used effectively, since the processor core may be selected to process instruction sets that do not use the failed processing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Ezekiel Kruglick
  • Patent number: 10520333
    Abstract: A fluid fluid or water meter system includes a fluid supply and a receiving center. 20, 30 connected via a supply line 21. Further, a fluid metering member 40 is coupled to the supply line 21, and includes a fluid regulating member 41 to regulate the fluid therethrough, and a data transceiver 42, coupled to the fluid regulating member 41 to regulate the supply of fluid. A self-power generating source is also provided for the continuous charging of the fluid metering member. Various self-generating sources, such as, a thermoelectric generator, a water battery, a power turbine, and radio spectrum may be used for said purpose. The system can be provided with rechargeable battery for charging the battery and storing power. Moreover, a network operation center 60 is further developed to include information technology and information technology. 40. Further in an optional embodiment, including the smart system, including an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) module 2030 for self-training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: AQUA COMMAND LIMITED
    Inventors: John Jervis Comfort, Nicola Josephine Randles, Phillip John Van Tenac
  • Patent number: 10510939
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion cell is provided with: an insulating member having a through hole, a female threaded portions (insulation-side threaded portion) at both end parts, respectively, of the through hole in the through-direction; a thermoelectric conversion member which has a thermoelectric conversion element (P-type thermoelectric conversion element), and is accommodated within the through hole; and electrode members coupled at the end parts, respectively, of the insulating member, and which have male threaded portions (electrode-side threaded portion) corresponding to the female threaded portions, and electrode parts electrically connected to the end part of the thermoelectric conversion member inside the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koya Arai, Masahito Komasaki
  • Patent number: 10497852
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material includes a matrix phase configured from a semiconductor. A first grain-boundary phase and a second grain-boundary phase are provided at a grain boundary of the matrix phase. The first grain-boundary phase is configured from a material which does not form a compound with the matrix phase by a eutectic reaction, a eutectoid reaction, a peritectic reaction, a peritectoid reaction, an eccentric reaction, or a segregation reaction. The second grain-boundary phase is configured from a material having resistance which is lower than that of the matrix phase or the first grain-boundary phase. A ratio of a volume of the second grain-boundary phase to a volume of the first grain-boundary phase is smaller than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Kurosaki, Shin Yabuuchi, Jyun Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 10498158
    Abstract: A watch strap for an electronic watch. The watch strap includes a strap for extending over the wrist of a user, the strap including a first section and a second section, the first section having an end and the second section having an end. The watch strap includes a power connector extending from the end of the first section and a cavity positioned at the end of the second section and configured to receive the power connector. The watch strap includes a power source coupled to the strap and configured to be charged by power received from the power connector. The watch strap includes a wireless charging terminal configured to transmit power from the power source to the electronic watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: George Chen, Samuel Sentosa, Adam Cho, Timothy Ng
  • Patent number: 10448711
    Abstract: A first connector assembly may be connectable to a second connector assembly using a sliding attachment process, in which a front portion of the first connector assembly is inserted into an end of a slot in the second connector assembly and slides laterally along the slot until electrical contacts on the two connector assemblies are aligned. Electrical contacts of the first connector assembly may be biased proud to make contact with recessed electrical contacts in the second connector assembly. A retraction mechanism may be provided to retract the electrical contacts of the first connector assembly during lateral sliding. An interlock mechanism may be provided to prevent unwanted operation of the retraction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Eric S. Jol, Michael B. Wittenberg, Stephen E. Dey
  • Patent number: 10446735
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques to receive thermal energy from a source, convert phase change material (102) from an initial state to a secondary state in response to absorption of the thermal energy, and transfer the thermal energy from the phase change material (102) to a thermoelectric component (106). In addition, various embodiments may include collecting, conducting and converting the thermal energy into electrical energy for use in powering one or more electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong W. Wong, Wah Yiu Kwong, Shaorong Zhou, Xiaoguo Liang, Cheong W. Wong, Yanbing Sun
  • Patent number: 10408019
    Abstract: An electrical power thermoelectric power generation in a wellbore for supplying power and charging downhole loads. A power generation assembly includes at least one thermoelectric generator disposed in a drill string for supplying power and charging downhole tools, the assembly utilizing the heat energy from the drilling fluid flowing in an annulus of the wellbore to generate a voltage potential across the thermoelectric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shi Jing Yeo, Jun Wei Ang
  • Patent number: 10377501
    Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft having an electrical installation including at least one thermopile for powering at least one piece of electrical load equipment. Technical specifications for the thermopile specify: a usable power for supplying to the load equipment in the range 20 W to 200 kW, a power rise time lapse lying in the range 3 s to 30 s, and a low operating time for usefully supplying a predetermined quantity of electrical energy lying in the range 10 s to 180 s. The invention applies in particular to rotary wing aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: Matthieu Connaulte
  • Patent number: 10340805
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a resonant step-down DC-DC power converter which comprises a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit coupled through a galvanic isolation barrier. The primary side circuit comprises a positive and a negative input terminal for receipt of an input voltage and an input capacitor coupled between the positive and negative input terminals and the secondary side circuit comprises an output capacitor chargeable to a converter output voltage between a first positive electrode and a second negative electrode. A resonant network is con-figured for alternatingly being charged from the input voltage and discharged to the output capacitor through the galvanic isolation barrier by a semiconductor switch arrangement in accordance with a switch control signal to produce the converter output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
    Inventors: Milovan Kovacevic, Mickey P. Madsen
  • Patent number: 10340437
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods for manufacturing devices capable of functioning as thermoelectric generators and related objects by the process of additive manufacturing or by 3-D printing or by casting. This disclosure also particularly relates to the uses of the thermoelectric generators and related objects produced by these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: XILICO, LLC
    Inventors: Greg P. Cauchon, Ian D. McFadden, Samir Sachdev
  • Patent number: 10305014
    Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling thermal conductivity and thermoelectric power of semiconductor nanowires are described. The thermal conductivity and the thermoelectric power are controlled substantially independently of the electrical conductivity of the nanowires by controlling dimensions and doping, respectively, of the nanowires. A thermoelectric device comprising p-doped and n-doped semiconductor nanowire thermocouples is also shown, together with a method to fabricate alternately p-doped and n-doped arrays of silicon nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Akram Boukai, Yuri Bunimovich, William A. Goddard, James R. Heath, Jamil Tahir-Kheli
  • Patent number: 10290911
    Abstract: Cooling loops and vehicles including cooling loops include a power module, a cooling loop including a cooler thermally coupled to the power module, a working fluid housed within the cooler, where the working fluid absorbs thermal energy from the power module, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the cooler, a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the cooler, and a vehicle component thermally coupled to the cooling loop, where the working fluid from the cooler is selectively directed to the vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Feng Zhou, Ercan Mehmet Dede, Shailesh Joshi
  • Patent number: 10290796
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides wearable electronic devices with thermoelectric devices. The wearable electronic device may comprise a user interface for displaying information to a user. The thermoelectric device may comprise a heat collecting unit, a thermoelectric element, and a heat expelling unit. During use, the thermoelectric element may generate power upon the flow of thermal energy from the heat collecting unit, across the thermoelectric element, and to the heat expelling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MATRIX INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Akram I. Boukai, Douglas W. Tham, Haifan Liang, Eric C. Hale, Gregory L. Kress, Scott A. Steber, Brentley M. Wiles
  • Patent number: 10267201
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an exhaust waste heat recovery system includes a first exhaust waste heat recovery assembly including a central exhaust channel configured to allow passage of exhaust along an exhaust axis, and a first plurality of thermoelectric (TE) legs, each of the first plurality of TE legs including a hot end in thermal communication with the exhaust channel, and a cold end opposite to the hot end, and an electrical coupler in electrical communication with each of the first plurality of TE legs, the electrical coupler configured to receive electricity from the first plurality of TE legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Varun Mittal, Abhishek Sahasrabudhe
  • Patent number: 10256391
    Abstract: Embodiments are notably directed to a thermoelectric device including a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element includes a Weyl semimetal and a plurality of magnetized elements. The plurality of magnetized elements are configured to apply a directed magnetic field on the Weyl-semimetal. Embodiments further concern a related method for cooling a device and a related method for generating electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes Gooth, Bernd Gotsmann, Fabian Menges
  • Patent number: 10242656
    Abstract: An ultrasound transducer is provided. The ultrasound transducer include at least one emitter made from a piezoelectric material, having first and second emitting surfaces opposite one another provided to emit first and second ultrasound beams. The transducer comprises at least first and second mirrors placed across from the first and second emitting surfaces, respectively, and configured so as to deflect back the first and second ultrasound beams by forming a reflected beam with a predetermined shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Bernard Sartre, Jean-François Saillant
  • Patent number: 10243128
    Abstract: The present invention has a first substrate having a high thermal conduction portion which has a thermal conductivity higher than that of other regions in a plane direction, a thermoelectric conversion layer which is formed on the first substrate, consists of an organic material, and has a thermoelectric conversion material having a positive Seebeck coefficient, a second substrate which is formed on the thermoelectric conversion layer and has a high thermal conduction portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of other regions in the plane direction and in which the high thermal conduction portion does not completely overlap the high thermal conduction portion of the first substrate in the plane direction, and a pair of electrodes which are connected to the thermoelectric conversion layer and consist of a metal material having a negative Seebeck coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Hayashi, Hiroki Sugiura, Toshiaki Aoai
  • Patent number: 10230037
    Abstract: A device and method for generating electricity. The device includes a heat source, a cold source, and a thermoelectric generating plate, having a first side and an opposed side. When heat is introduced to the heat source, heat flows across the thermoelectric generating plate and electricity is generated. In the present arrangement, because the hot and cold sources are in thermal communication with opposed sides of the thermoelectric generating plate, the thermal gradient or rate of heat flow across the thermoelectric generating plate is maximized. Thus, because the rate of heat flow is increased, the rate at which electricity is generated is also increased, and the size of the device is maintained, or minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward D. McCullough, James P. Huang
  • Patent number: 10222232
    Abstract: A sensor data collection system includes a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to a corresponding set of endpoints, the endpoints configured to communicate sensor data to a central data collection point via a data communication protocol. A proxy service-enabled endpoint facilitates interoperability with the data collection system for the benefit of endpoints that are otherwise incompatible with the data communication protocol. The endpoint includes a remote endpoint interface module configured to receive communications from at least one of the incompatible endpoints containing incompatible endpoint sensor data. A remote endpoint virtualization module operatively coupled to the remote endpoint interface module and associated with the at least one of the incompatible endpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Roger K. Alexander
  • Patent number: 10208641
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly may include a combustion chamber for igniting a fuel and air mixture that generates a core stream flow. The gas turbine engine may also include a hot section cowling for directing the core stream flow through the engine assembly. The hot section cowling may include an inside surface and an outside surface opposite the inside surface. The gas turbine engine assembly may additionally include a plurality of thermoelectric generator (TEG) assemblies that are thermally attached to the outside surface of the hot section cowling. Each TEG assembly may include a multiplicity of thermoelectric generator (TEG) devices that generate an electric current based on a temperature differential across each of the multiplicity of TEG devices. The TEG devices may include different materials that are used in different heat zones along the hot section cowling between the combustion chamber and an exhaust end of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James L. Peck, Jr., Jimmy M. Quiambao
  • Patent number: 10205205
    Abstract: A battery for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same are provided. The battery includes a housing in which a plurality of battery cells are disposed and a thermoelectric element that is disposed between the plurality of battery cells and provided with electrodes connected in a zigzag configuration. Since heat flows in a lengthwise direction of the battery cells, heat transfer efficiency with respect to the battery cells is significantly improved. By directly attaching the thermoelectric element to the battery cell, a gap between the battery cells is reduced, and a temperature of each battery cell is individually managed with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Yong Hwan Choi, Hae Kyu Lim, Gun Goo Lee
  • Patent number: 10193050
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handle for a cooking vessel that includes at least one thermoelectric generator. The thermoelectric generator includes at least a first contact surface thermally connected to a heat sink and the heat sink is formed from a material that undergoes a phase transition when heated to temperatures varying between 50° C. and 70° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Compeau