Temperature Responsive Or Control Patents (Class 165/287)
  • Publication number: 20090151904
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heat-conductive tube unit adapted for passage of a heated fluid therethrough and having two opposite end portions and a middle portion extending between the end portions, a phase-change material enclosing the middle portion of the heat-conductive tube unit and that is capable of storing heat through phase changing, and an enclosure enclosing the phase-change material for preventing leakage of the phase-change material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Steven Yue
  • Publication number: 20090139686
    Abstract: A cooling system is equipped with a circulation flow path arranged to flow a coolant into an engine, a motor drive system flow path branched off from the circulation flow path and arranged to flow the coolant into a motor drive system, a flow rate distribution regulator provided at a junction of the circulation flow path and the motor drive system flow path, and an electric pump configured to pressure-feed the coolant through the circulation flow path. In the cooling system, the procedure of flow rate control sets an engine flow rate demand Vwe based on a rotation speed Ne and a torque te of the engine and a coolant temperature Te (step S110), while setting a motor flow rate demand Vwm based on an inverter current Iinv of the motor drive system and the coolant temperature Te (step S120).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090126902
    Abstract: An air and coolant control system comprising: a heat source configured to receive air, generate heat, receive coolant, conduct the received coolant to a coolant outlet, and transfer the generated heat to the received coolant, thereby removing the generated heat from the heat source as the coolant is conducted out of the heat source; an air supply source configured to supply the air to the heat source; an air supply control system configured to adjust the supply of air from the air supply source to the heat source based on a dynamic feedback temperature characteristic from the heat source; a coolant supply source configured to supply the coolant to the heat source; and a coolant control system configured to adjust the flow rate of the coolant based on an estimated feed-forward heat source characteristic and to adjust the temperature of the coolant based on the dynamic feedback temperature characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Song-Yul Choe, Jong-Woo Ahn, Soonil Jeon, Daejong Kim, Seoho Choi
  • Publication number: 20090126914
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment relates to a cooling system and a method for cooling an electronic display and its electronic components. An exemplary embodiment includes a transparent gas cooling chamber. The electronic components which operate the system are preferably housed both within the electronic display housing and within the cooling chamber. The cooling system defines a gas compartment that is anterior and posterior to the electronic display surface. Fans may be used to propel the isolated gas through the cooling system. The circulating gas removes heat directly from the electronic display surface as well as the electronic components which operate the display. The isolated gas is transparent or at least semi-transparent. The image quality of an exemplary embodiment remains essentially unchanged, even though the gas is flowing through a narrow channel over the visible face of the electronic display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: MANUFACTURING RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: William DUNN
  • Publication number: 20090125150
    Abstract: There is provided a space heating system (100) that includes a heat pump (105), a supplemental gas heating system (110), and a controller (115) connected to the heating system (100). The controller (115) controls a switching set point, which in its simplest case is an ambient temperature at which the controller (115) switches between operation of the heat pump (105) and operation of the supplemental gas heating system (110). The controller (115) is connected to a real time source of information (195) providing at least one of current electricity prices and current prices of a source of heating such as gas, and changes the switching set point in response to changes in at least one of the electricity prices and the gas prices. There is also provided a method for control of the heating system (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Publication number: 20090095440
    Abstract: A process is proposed for operating an air preheater (21) with the aid of which heat transfer performance can be raised without condensation appearing on the cold side of the rotor and without a risk of there being deposits on the heating plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Manfred Gietz, Volker Schule, Berthold Faller
  • Publication number: 20090094995
    Abstract: Systems and methods freeze food products. A system provides a storage tank of liquefied gas, a gas-liquid separation tank, and a crust freezer. The crust freezer provides plates chilled by flow of liquefied gas through conduits traversing an interior volume of the plates. The method includes recirculating liquefied gas to improve cooling efficiency while lowering operation costs. The system and method further provide for integrated measurement and control of the flow of liquefied gas through components of the system. Freezing of the food products occurs at a surface of the food products along where the food products and the plate interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: David C. Braithwaite
  • Publication number: 20090078400
    Abstract: A temperature control device has a heat exchanger recovering heat from exhaust gas of an engine, a water circulating passage in which a cooling water is circulated while receiving the recovered heat, an air conditioning unit heating air with the hot cooling water of the passage to produce a temperature controlled air, an air duct, a water heater attached to the bottom surface of a battery pack, and an electric heater attached side surfaces of the pack. The conditioning unit blows the controlled air against the battery pack through the duct. The water heater receives the hot cooling water of the passage and raises the temperature of the battery pack. The electric heater subsidiarily warms the battery pack with heat generated from electric power of the pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi TAMURA, Koichi BAN
  • Publication number: 20090065173
    Abstract: A direct exchange heating/cooling system includes a specially designed supplemental air-source heat exchanger (also referred to herein as a High Level Heat Dissipater (“HLHD”). The HLHD is coupled to the primary vapor/hot gas line exiting the system's compressor at a point between the compressor unit and the sub-surface geothermal heat exchange tubing, and is operable only in the cooling mode of system operation. The HLHD includes heat exchange tubing that is sheltered from rain/moisture and has supply and discharge refrigerant transport tubing with relatively equally sized interior diameters, designed solely for mostly vapor (as opposed to liquid) refrigerant transport. The HLHD incorporates at least two check valves, or the like, so as to force hot compressor discharge gas through the HLHD in the cooling mode, and so as to prohibit geothermally warmed refrigerant gas flow through the HLHD in the heating mode. The HLHD has specially designed heat exchangers and may optionally include a fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: EARTH TO AIR SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: B. Ryland Wiggs
  • Patent number: 7490656
    Abstract: A heat exchanging system comprising circulating fluid through a tube coupled to an electronic component in a first part of a computing device and to a heat transfer plate in a second part of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Borys S. Senyk, Larry L. Moresco
  • Publication number: 20090032235
    Abstract: Fan coil thermostats can provide energy savings by, for example, operating a fan coil system more efficiently. Fan coil systems employing such a fan coil thermostat may be more energy efficient. A fan coil system may include a fan coil that is configured for fluid communication with a source of heated fluid and/or a source of cooled fluid, a valve that controls fluid flow through the fan coil and a fan that blows air across the fan coil. The fan coil thermostat may include a controller that implements a control algorithm that calculates an error percentage value relating to a temperature difference between the current temperature and the temperature set point. The error percentage value may include a proportional term related to the temperature difference and an integral term related to the temperature difference. The controller may regulate the fan speed in accordance with the calculated error percentage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Sullivan, Levi H. Geadelmann, Paul Wacker
  • Publication number: 20090025904
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for conditioning air in a room includes an air-conditioner casing, an air blower, a cooling heat exchanger, and a heating heat exchanger. The air-conditioner casing causes air to flow toward the room. The air blower includes an electric motor and an impeller rotated by the electric motor to generate air flowing toward the room. The cooling heat exchanger is provided in the air-conditioner casing for cooling air. The heating heat exchanger is provided in the air-conditioner casing for heating air. The air blower is provided downstream of the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger in a flow direction of air. Air in the room is conditioned based on cold air cooled by the cooling heat exchanger and hot air heated by the heating heat exchanger. The electric motor is provided outside the air-conditioner casing and is cooled by room air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahrio Tokunaga, Hitomi Asano
  • Publication number: 20090025409
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system having a compressor, a heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a multichannel heat exchanger connected in a closed refrigerant loop. The multichannel heat exchanger has at least two fluid flow paths cooled by a flow of air from an air-moving device through the multichannel heat exchanger. Each of the at least two fluid flow paths have an inlet and an outlet in communication there between. The multichannel heat exchanger also has at least one flow regulator disposed in at least one outlet to regulate through at least one fluid flow path in response to the air flow through the heat exchanger to achieve a substantially equal temperature of a fluid flowing in the at least two flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Jose Ruel De La Cruz, Glenn Eugene Nickey, Mustafa Kemal Yanik
  • Publication number: 20090020281
    Abstract: A cogeneration system of the present invention includes: an electric power generator (5); a cooling circuit (10) configured to cool the electric power generator (5) with a first heat transfer medium; a heat exchanger (16) provided on the cooling circuit (10); an exhaust heat recovery circuit (12) through which a second heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with the first heat transfer medium via the heat exchanger (16) flows; a heat storage unit (20) connected to the exhaust heat recovery circuit (12) and configured to store the second heat transfer medium that has undergone a heat exchange by the heat exchanger (16); and a controller (21), wherein a first temperature sensor (17), and a heater to which electric power is supplied from the electric power generator (5), are connected, in this order, downstream of the heat exchanger (16) in a direction in which the second heat transfer medium flows, and the controller (21) controls a flow rate of a circulating pump (13) so that, based on a temperature detected
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ueda, Hideo Ohara, Akinori Yukimasa
  • Publication number: 20090024256
    Abstract: A system for managing battery temperature is described. The system may include a cooling system which may include a fluid. A cabin circulation subsystem may be coupled to the cooling subsystem and may utilize the fluid for cabin cooling. A separate battery circulation subsystem may also may also be coupled to the cooling subsystem so that it may additionally utilize the fluid for battery cooling. A control may be present in order to regulate movement of the fluid to the cabin circulation subsystem and/or to the battery circulation subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel Thomas Adams, David Frederick Lyons, Philip Wayne Luk, Eugene Michael Berdichevsky, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Publication number: 20090014163
    Abstract: A temperature controlled piping system has at least one pipe section having: an outer pipe; and an inner pipe generally concentric to the outer pipe for transporting temperature sensitive fluid therethrough, the outer and inner pipes forming therebetween at least one temperature control space; such that transmission of temperature controlled fluid through the temperature control space influences temperature of the temperature sensitive fluid flowing through the inner pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Rod Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090000769
    Abstract: A temperature controlled loadlock chamber for use in semiconductor processing is provided. The temperature controlled loadlock chamber may include one or more of an adjustable fluid pump, mass flow controller, one or more temperature sensors, and a controller. The adjustable fluid pump provides fluid having a predetermined temperature to a temperature-controlled plate. The mass flow controller provides gas flow into the chamber that may also aid in maintaining a desired temperature. Additionally, one or more temperature sensors may be combined with the adjustable fluid pump and/or the mass flow controller to provide feedback and to provide a greater control over the temperature. A controller may be added to control the adjustable fluid pump and the mass flow controller based upon temperature readings from the one or more temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Chun-Hsien Lin, Jyh-Cherng Sheu, Ming-Feng Yoo, Kewei Zuo
  • Publication number: 20080308255
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a warming-up device including a first duct connected to a fan to lead warm exhaust air sucked from an image forming apparatus into an apparatus, a second duct provided to lead the warm exhaust air discharged by a fan or ambient Air in a housing to the fan, and a control valve that performs switching control to lead, when a temperature sensor measures temperature equal to or higher than proper operation temperature, high-temperature Air in the housing and the warm exhaust air such that the fan discharges the high-temperature Air and the warm exhaust air to the outside and lead, when the temperature sensor measures temperature lower than the proper operation temperature, the warm exhaust air to the mechanical members of the sheet post-processing apparatus and the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Sasahara, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20080296010
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for determining the capacity of a heat exchanger is provided. The effective heat transfer coefficient for the heat exchanger is calculated from the measured inlet and outlet temperatures of the product and the measured inlet and outlet temperatures of the auxiliary medium. By means of the value, the outlet temperature of the product set for maximum flow of the auxiliary medium is determined as that at which the change in the heat content of the product is at least approximately the same as the change in the heat content of the auxiliary medium and the amount of heat transmitted by the heat exchanger for the product flow. The value is displayed to the user and permits a decision as to how much longer the heat exchanger can reliably be operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Kirchberg
  • Publication number: 20080296009
    Abstract: Methods for cooling computer systems are provided, in which the computer system has a processor and a fan. An exemplary method comprises: determining a temperature threshold for operating the fan at greater than low speed; determining a temperature of the computer system; and throttling the processor if the temperature corresponds to the temperature threshold for operating the fan at greater than low speed. Systems also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Mark D. Tupa
  • Publication number: 20080295785
    Abstract: A cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system may have a heat source, a heat exchanger, and a coolant pump located between the heat exchanger and the heat source to direct coolant from the heat exchanger to the heat source. The cooling system may also have a valve located between the heat source and the heat exchanger. The valve may be movable to vary a rate of coolant flow through the heat exchanger and around the heat exchanger to the coolant pump. The cooling system may further have a sensor located at an inlet of the heat source to generate a signal indicative of coolant temperature at the inlet, and a controller in communication with the valve and the sensor. The controller may be configured to move the valve based on the temperature of the coolant at only the inlet of the heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: James Wallace Harris, Michael Patrick Ramm, Jeffery Lynn Prewett
  • Patent number: 7458417
    Abstract: A vehicle energy management system including a vehicle engine crankshaft mounted generator as well as single function heat exchangers, with each of the single function heat exchangers associated with a corresponding electric fan. The electric fans are controlled to sequentially energize to avoid overloading the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Gerald L. Larson
  • Patent number: 7457689
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the operation of a biomass stove utilizes three proportional integral derivative (PID) controllers as part of a closed loop to control the fuel feed rate, the convection fan speed and the combustion fan speed. The first loop controls room temperature, the second loop controls the convection fan speed and the third loop controls the combustion fan. Appropriate temperature readings are utilized for the first and second loop. The third loop, which utilized feedback of the ratio between the heat exchanger temperature to the exhaust temperature, in addition to measuring these temperatures also references a library of look-up tables of such ratios over the entire heat range of the stove that have been correlated to combustion efficiency, as an input. This enables the operator to optimize the heat output for any operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hestia Heating Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric W. Nelson, Marion L. Mast
  • Patent number: 7450381
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for managing cooling within a printed circuit board (PCB) enclosure. The system includes a PCB having a first surface on which electronic components are mounted. Multiple contour control actuators are fixedly disposed in a substantially planar array in z-axis opposition to the first surface of the PCB. Each of the contour control actuators has an extensible end that is electromechanically extendable in parallel with the z-axis normal to the first surface of the PCB. A substantially flexible sheet member is disposed between the extensible ends of the contour control actuators and the first surface of the PCB. The extensible ends contact the flexible sheet member such that the z-axis contour of the flexible sheet member is determined by the z-axis positions of the extensible ends. A contour controller adjusts the z-axis contour of the flexible sheet member by adjusting the relative positions of the extensible ends of one or more of the contour control actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Don A. Gilliland, Cary M. Huettner, Dennis J. Wurth
  • Publication number: 20080257538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger with a temperature sensor and especially a heat exchanger usable for heating hot water using district heating water. The heat exchanger (1) contains plates (2) placed in a pack and brazed together so that 5 separate channels for first (Fj) and second (VV) media are formed between alternate pairs of plates; two pairs of connections for inlet (3) and outlet (4) for the first medium and inlet (5) and outlet (6) for the second medium, respectively; and a temperature sensor (9) connectable to a valve (7) to control supply of the first medium through the heat exchanger The first medium is intended to supply heat to 10 the second medium. The temperature sensor (9) is placed through a number of plates and in heat conducting contact with them such that the temperature sensor controls the first valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Lars Persson
  • Publication number: 20080251246
    Abstract: A cooling structure for batteries and electrical units, that cools the batteries being driving sources of a motor mounted in a vehicle capable of traveling by a driving force of the motor and electrical units for driving the motor, the cooling structure including: a plurality of battery boxes that each contain one of the batteries; cooling passages that are each formed in each of the battery boxes, through which cooling air flows; a merging part where downstream ends of the cooling passages of the battery boxes are merged with each other; and cooling portions of the electrical units, that are provided on a downstream side of the merging part, wherein the electrical units are disposed on a downstream side of the battery boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanae OHKUMA, Koichi HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20080245520
    Abstract: A system and method is described generally for producing surface deformations on a surface of a body. The system and method relate to changing the convective heat transfer coefficient for a surface. The system includes a first surface being a surface of a body exposed to a fluid flow and at least one actuator affecting deformation of the first surface. The system also includes a control system providing control commands to the at least one actuator, the control commands configured to change deformations on the first surface in order to change the convective heat transfer coefficient of the first surface. Further, the system includes a sensor providing environmental characteristic information to the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Lowell L. Wood, Alistair K. Chan, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Publication number: 20080190597
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coolant cooler (7, 107) with a gearbox oil cooler (5, 105) which is integrated into one of the cooling water reservoirs (6, 106) of the coolant cooler (7, 107), wherein a second coolant inlet (13) and/or a second coolant angle (20) is/are provided on the coolant water reservoir (6, 106), enabling the circulation of coolant even when the motor thermostat (11) is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Eberhard Pantow
  • Publication number: 20080188994
    Abstract: Measurement circuit components are included in an integrated circuit fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. A method is provided for controlling the speed of a cooling fan provided to cool an integrated circuit in which includes the steps of receiving a voltage from a thermal diode, addressing a table of digital temperatures by incrementing the address of the table entries every clock cycle of a circuit clock, converting the addressed data to a second voltage representing temperature, comparing the first voltage to the second voltage, providing a resulting temperature when both the first and second voltages are equal, and adjusting the fan speed accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Deepak K. Singh, Francois Ibrahim Atallah, David Howard Allen
  • Patent number: 7401644
    Abstract: Methods and systems for cooling computer systems, in which the computer system has a processor and a fan. An exemplary method includes: determining a temperature threshold for operating the fan at greater than low speed; determining a temperature of the computer system; and throttling the processor if the determined temperature corresponds to the temperature threshold for operating the fan at greater than low speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Mark D. Tupa
  • Patent number: 7395854
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a temperature control loop in a vehicular engine compartment to concurrently cool at least two devices with a single fluid supply source when each device requires the cooling supply fluid to have a distinct temperature. The supply fluid, having a first temperature, can be simultaneously routed through a primary heat exchanger and a mixing valve. The primary heat exchanger cools the first temperature fluid to produce a second temperature fluid. The mixing valve controllably receives at least some of the first temperature fluid and some of the second temperature fluid discharged from the primary heat exchanger and mixes the respective fluids to produce a third temperature fluid. The second temperature fluid not diverted to the mixing valve is used to cool a first device located downstream of the primary heat exchanger. The third temperature fluid is used to cool a second device located downstream of the mixing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: NuCellSys GmbH, Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerhard Schmidt, Mark G. Voss, Frank N. Jarrett
  • Publication number: 20080154159
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of system thermal energy generated by equipment, such as an ultrasound sensing device, to transfer heat to the peripherals/sensors/probes under user control. This is accomplished by recycling the heat generated by the system and used that to keep the peripheral/sensor/probe warm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Wah Yiu Kwong, Hong W. Wong
  • Publication number: 20080115924
    Abstract: The installation contains a current conductor producing Joulean heat in the operating state, a cooling element and a monitoring device. The cooling element has a condensable working medium and an evaporator, which can be heated by the current conductor of the installation, and a condenser which has been withdrawn from the heating effect of the current conductor. The monitoring device comprises at least one sensor for detecting a parameter of the cooling element and an evaluation unit, which receives output signals from the sensor. In the evaluation unit, the output signals of the sensors are evaluated and a signal describing the state and/or the functionality of the cooling element is formed there. This installation is characterized by high operational reliability with a high current-carrying capacity and dimensions which are kept small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Jochen KIEFER, Martin Lakner, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Daniel Chartouni
  • Publication number: 20080073071
    Abstract: A cableless control system for an automobile air conditioner includes a slide pot potentiometer assembly for connection to an actuator arm on the back of a dashboard mounted control assembly. The position of the slide pot potentiometer assembly creates an electrical resistance signal which governs the position of the devices which moves the variable mechanical portions of the automobile air conditioner. The shape of the linear slide pot potentiometer assembly allows for the use of existing hardware and eliminates the need to run sheathed cables from the dashboard mounted control panel assembly to the mechanically variable portions which govern the operation of the automobile air conditioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Ryan D. Zwicker
  • Publication number: 20080041574
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system comprises: a cooling channel for receiving a cooling media, a substrate disposed near the cooling channel, and a fluidic jet disposed within the substrate and in fluid communication with the cooling channel. The cooling channel is for thermal communication with a component to be cooled. The cooling channel has a height of less than or equal to about 3 mm and a width of less than or equal to 2 mm. The fluidic jet comprises a cavity defined by a well and a membrane. In one embodiment, a method of cooling an electrical component comprises: passing a cooling media through a cooling channel, drawing the cooling media into one or more of the fluidic jets, expelling the cooling media from the one or more fluidic jets into the cooling channel, and removing thermal energy from the electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Mehmet Arik, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Stephen Adam Solovitz
  • Publication number: 20080028968
    Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
  • Publication number: 20080011467
    Abstract: A method and system are described for thermal management using power density feedback. The system may include one or more regions of the system, where the system includes one or more dies; and a thermal relationship coefficient to describe a thermal relationship between the one or more regions. In some embodiments, the embodiments of the method may include measuring the activity of one or more regions, and using the thermal relationships to determine an activity configuration for the system or parts thereof. In some embodiments, the activity configuration may be applied to the one or more regions. Other embodiments may be described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Rafael Rodarte, Jim Hermerding, Ishmael Santos
  • Patent number: 7311264
    Abstract: The novel method and device provide for process control—closed-loop control or open-loop control—for a thermal system with an obstruction-curved and/or thick-walled component through which a medium flows. The wall temperatures of the component are detected, the heat flux density of the heat flux from the medium into the wall of the component is determined, the respective heat transmission coefficient is determined, using the wall temperatures. The heat flux density, and the heat transmission coefficient thus determined are used to influence the medium properties, with the heat stresses in the component being taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Rüdiger Franke, Klaus Krüger, Manfred Rode
  • Publication number: 20070280722
    Abstract: The liquid storage apparatus includes: a liquid storage chamber which is constituted by a flexible bag member and stores liquid; an exterior container which has walls constituted by a shape memory member and has a hermetically sealed space in which the liquid storage chamber is disposed, the shape memory member extending and contracting freely at temperatures not greater than a transformation temperature and recovering a memorized shape at temperatures not less than a shape recovery temperature; a forcing member which applies a contraction force to the walls of the exterior container in a direction in which the walls contract; and a temperature adjuster which adjusts a temperature of the shape memory member directly or indirectly so as to control a ratio of a portion of the shape memory member having temperatures not greater than the transformation temperature and deformed to a contracted shape by the contraction force of the forcing member and a ratio of a portion of the shape memory member having temperatur
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Masahito Katada, Tsutomu Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 7293605
    Abstract: The invention relates with the feed-back control system of a heat exchanger by use of the flow resonance phenomenon which maximizes the heat transfer efficiency by generating the flow disturbances of a heat transfer medium. If a heat transfer medium is periodically stimulated at the characteristic frequency of a heat exchanger, the flow resonance frequency, which is dependent upon the flow conditions of heat transfer medium and the geometries of a heat exchanger, the disturbances of heat transfer medium is increased to the extent that heat transfer is dramatically high. This system is composed of the detecting part for the detection of flow characteristics, the processing part for the determination of flow resonance frequency, and the stimulating part which excites a heat transfer medium at the calculated flow resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bstech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seungyoup Lee
  • Patent number: 7278475
    Abstract: A control arrangement (10) comprises a first selectable controller (12) for controlling an action, and a second selectable controller (14) for controlling the action. The arrangement also includes a selector (22) for selecting one of the controllers (12, 14) to control the action. The arrangement (10) further includes a first heat exchanger (16) associated with the first controller (12) to effect a transfer of heat between the first controller (12) and the first heat exchanger (16). The arrangement also includes a second heat exchanger (18) associated with the second controller (14) to effect a transfer of heat between the second controller (14) and the second heat exchanger (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Alan R. Jones
  • Publication number: 20070215341
    Abstract: A relationship between an operating rate and a temperature of a metal part when a fan is in a normal state is stored in advance, a temperature of a heat-generating part and a temperature of a reference point are actually measured in an operation to designate a temperature of the heat-generating part, and it is determined that a cooling capability deterioration state is set when the actually measured temperature of the heat-generating part is higher than an estimated temperature by a predetermined threshold value or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenji Urita
  • Publication number: 20070212598
    Abstract: A battery ECU reduces temperature variations and voltage variations, which would otherwise be caused at the time of heating of a secondary battery. The battery ECU activates a heater, to thus perform heating, when the temperature of the secondary battery is lower than a predetermined lower-limit temperature. The battery ECU calculates temperature variations ?T or open circuit voltage variations ?V achieved after heating operation, and compares the variations with a predetermined allowable threshold value. When the temperature variations ?T or the voltage variations ?V exceed a predetermined allowable threshold value, the battery ECU stops heating operation of the heater or commands so as to diminish the amount of heat to be generated, thereby attempting to render the temperature uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuma Iida, Masateru Tsutsumi, Yasushi Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 7188668
    Abstract: The vehicle air-conditioner includes a noncontact detector configured to detect skin temperatures at specific locations on a face of a passenger. The vehicle air-conditioner includes a calculator configured to calculate an average temperature on the face of the passenger. The vehicle air-conditioner includes a decision maker configured to decide whether the skin temperatures are within a deviation from the average temperature. The vehicle air-conditioner includes a controller configured to exclude skin temperatures over the deviation and to respond to skin temperatures within the deviation for controlling air-conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Junichiro Hara, Yoshinobu Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7188002
    Abstract: An appliance diagnostic display and interface system providing a centralized user interface for appliance diagnostic information and control of system self-tests is provided. This centralized user interface is provided via an intelligent thermostat that includes an LCD display. The intelligent thermostat interfaces, via wireless or wired communications, with the appliances installed in the home. The intelligent thermostat then generates and displays various user interface screens that allow particular appliances to be selected. Separate appliance specific screens are then generated that allow the user to access the diagnostic information in system test functionality provided by the individual appliance. Soft function keys provided on the intelligent thermostat allow multi-functional access to the features of the invention depending on which screen is currently being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Maple Chase Company
    Inventors: John Gilman Chapman, Jr., Nicholas Ashworth, Robert Burt, Timothy E. Wallaert
  • Patent number: 7064568
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for optically testing (e.g., using a laser beam) an operating integrated circuit (device under test—DUT) that actively control the operating temperature of the DUT. This is chiefly useful with flip-chip packaged ICs. The temperature of the DUT varies with its operating power consumption, and this fluctuation in temperature adversely affects the results obtained during optical probing or other optical testing. Furthermore, the DUT may be damaged if its temperature exceeds design limits. The temperature of the DUT is controlled by thermally contacting the exposed backside surface of the DUT die to a diamond film heat conductor, an associated heat sink structure, and at least one thermoelectric device. The thermoelectric device is controlled by a temperature sensor proximal to the DUT. By controlling the amount and direction of the electrical current supplied to the thermoelectric device in response to the sensed temperature, the temperature of the DUT is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Credence Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Hunt, Don Haga
  • Patent number: 6994156
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system with thermal storage system for storing cooling capacity. The storage system comprises a quantity of fill material that preferably comprises water or similar liquid that is located in a cavity in the ground. The fill material may also include a bed of gravel with the pool of liquid filling the void spaces in the gravel. Sidewalls of the cavity are preferably supported primarily by the mechanical properties of the earth and the fill material. The lower boundary of the cavity is impermeable liner. A cover that blocks solar radiation and preferably with thermal insulation covers the top of the fill material. A chiller and a pump supply cooled liquid during night or other times of reduced electrical costs and liquid from the storage flows through a liquid-to-air heat exchanger during peak demand periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: CoolSmart LLC
    Inventor: William L. Kopko
  • Patent number: 6843211
    Abstract: A water-cooled type engine cooling apparatus includes: an oil cooler that circulates cooling water flowing out of a water-cooled type engine; a water temperature detection unit that detects temperature of the cooling water; a switching unit that switches the oil cooler from an operating state to a halt state, and vice versa; and a switching control unit that controls switching of the switching unit. The switching control unit controls the switching unit to switch the oil cooler into the halt state when the temperature detected by the water temperature detection unit is lower than a preset temperature, and controls the switching unit to switch the oil cooler into the operating state when the temperature detected by the water temperature detection unit is not lower than the preset temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuru Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6810307
    Abstract: An RF controlled thermostat/controller is disclosed for an HVAC system having a superregenerative RF receiver which uses the temperature sensor of the thermostat for temperature stabilization of the superregenerative RF receiver. The superregenerative RF receiver provides a very low power drain always-on receiver for RF remote control of the thermostat/controller. The thermostat/controller includes a microcontroller with a non-volatile memory. A digital value stored in the non-volatile memory, or a non-volatile memory of a separate component, is used in one of several different embodiments to accurately tune the superregenerative RF receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Addy
  • Publication number: 20040210283
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying liquid to a heat exchanger for body temperature control for a human or animal comprises an inlet port for receiving liquid from a heat exchanger for body temperature control and for passing the liquid to a temperature conditioner to condition the temperature of the liquid. A pump is provided for pumping liquid from the temperature conditioner to the heat exchanger. The apparatus includes a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of a condition of the liquid, for example, flow rate, pressure or temperature, and a controller for controlling the pump in response to the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph Lorney Rose, Lucien Potvin, Kevin Semeniuk