Thermal Conductivity Patents (Class 374/44)
  • Patent number: 9082645
    Abstract: Parts of electronic components are not exposed to temperature deviating from an appropriate operation temperature range when an electric characteristic test of a semiconductor module having an interposer substrate over which plural kinds of electronic components are mounted is carried out. A heat sink for an electronic component is incorporated in a lid of a test socket used for an electric characteristic test of an MCM. A heat dissipation sheet is attached to part of the bottom face of the heat sink and an adiabatic sheet is attached to another part. The heat dissipation sheet has thermal conductivity larger than the adiabatic sheet and transfers heat generated from an electronic component of a high heat value to the heat sink during operation. The adiabatic sheet inhibits the heat generated from an electronic component of high heat value from being transferred to another electronic component through the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Takizawa
  • Patent number: 9068894
    Abstract: A temperature emulator may include a stack assembly having a pair of end plates positioned at an uppermost and lowermost location of the stack assembly, a plurality of heat sink plates disposed between the pair of end plates, each of the heat sink plates having a plurality of heat sink cutouts, a plurality of shim plates separating adjacent pairs of the end plates and the heat sink plates, each of the shim plates having a shim cutout, an open cavity formed by a plurality of adjacent heat sink cutouts and shim cutouts, thermal insulation disposed within the cavity, and at least one temperature sensor coupled to at least one of the plurality of heat sink plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Karl M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9028138
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a heat source, a heat-absorbing cold point, a thermally insulating material for insulating the heat source from the cold point with a conductivity at a use-temperature of electronic device, that is below a thermal-conductivity threshold, and a thermal bridge having first and second ends connected by pads to the heat source and the cold point, and a thermal switch. The thermal bridge extends between the two ends and switches reversibly between conductive and non-conductive states. It includes material of variable thermal conductivity capable of switching over, in response to an addition of energy, between a conductive phase and a resistive phase, and a control module for causing the thermal switch to switch between the conductive state and the resistive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat á l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Haykel Ben Jamaa, Julien Buckley, Patrick Leduc
  • Publication number: 20150127294
    Abstract: A sensing system uses three-omega sensing to determine a spatial profile of thermal property within a sample. The sensing system electrically powers a lossy electrical conductor at different driving frequencies. The different driving frequencies produce different penetration depths within the sample. The sensing system takes multiple measurements of thermal property at the different driving frequencies. Each measurement is associated with a different penetration depth, and therefore is averaged over a differently-sized volume within the sample. The sensing system performs a fit on the multiple measurements of material thermal property versus material geometry. If one of thermal property or geometry is known beforehand, then the fit can determine the other. The lossy electrical conductor can be formed on a polymeric flexible membrane, on a probe that can be placed at a suitable location in a patient's body, and/or directly onto a heating or cooling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Sean D. Lubner, Jeunghwan Choi, Harishankar Natesan, Christopher E. Dames, John C. Bischof
  • Publication number: 20150092812
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for measuring a thermoelectric device. The apparatus includes a high temperature heater controlling a temperature of a first side of a sample, a low temperature heater controlling a temperature of a second side of the sample, a fine control heater controlling the temperature of the first side of the sample by a smaller unit than the high temperature heater, a temperature control and voltage measuring unit controlling the high temperature heater, the low temperature heater, and the fine control heater and measuring voltages of the first and second sides of the sample, and a thermal conductivity measuring unit measuring thermal conductivity of the sample by using a high temperature output voltage generated in the first side of the sample and a low temperature output voltage generated in the second side of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dong Suk JUN, Moon Gyu JANG, Won Chul CHOI
  • Publication number: 20150091593
    Abstract: A multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus includes a portable housing, a testing unit, and an indication unit. The portable housing includes a hand-held casing and a probe casing extended from a front end of the hand-held casing. The testing unit includes a conductive probe having a testing end portion extended out of a tip end of the probe casing for contacting a testing object to determine a conductivity of the testing object. The indication unit includes a LED light unit received in the hand-held casing for illuminating the testing end portion of the conductive probe during testing, wherein the LED light unit is positioned away from the tip end of the probe casing for preventing heat generated from the LED light unit being transmitted toward the conductive probe to affect an accurate measurement for the conductivity of the testing object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Xiuling ZHU, Gary Bruce PECKHAM
  • Patent number: 8992075
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus and sensor apparatus system for use in conjunction with a cassette, including a disposable or replaceable cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes a thermal well for permitting the sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well includes a hollow housing of a thermally conductive material. In other embodiments, the cassette includes sensor leads for sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well has an inner surface shaped so as to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe. The mating thermally couples the inner surface with a sensing probe. In some embodiments, the thermal well is located on a disposable portion and the sensing probe on a reusable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, N. Christopher Perry, Jason A. Demers, Brian D. Tracey, Arun D. Chawan, Kevin L. Grant
  • Publication number: 20150055676
    Abstract: Surface of a sample of a heterogeneous material and of samples with known thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity is heated by a heating spot created by a heater and moving along the surfaces of all samples to determine thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the heterogeneous material. Temperatures of heated surface of all samples are registered by three temperature sensors. Return of the heater and the sensors to the initial position is used for scanning with additional measurements of the sample thermal conductivity for a layer of the sample with depth and width different from those of a layer where thermal conductivity is measured during the forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: YURY POPOV, EVGENY POPOV, ANTON PARSHIN
  • Publication number: 20150049784
    Abstract: A porous sample is alternately saturated with at least two saturating fluids with known different thermal conductivities. As at least one saturating fluid a mixture of at least two fluids is used with known and different thermal conductivities. After each saturation thermal conductivity of the saturated sample is measured, and pore space characteristics and matrix thermal conductivity are determined based on the results of thermal conductivity measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Yury Anatolievich Popov, Irina Bayuk, Anton Vladimirovich Parshin
  • Patent number: 8947111
    Abstract: A multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus includes a portable housing, a testing unit, and an indication unit. The portable housing includes a hand-held casing and a probe casing extended from a front end of the hand-held casing. The testing unit includes a conductive probe having a testing end portion extended out of a tip end of the probe casing for contacting a testing object to determine a conductivity of the testing object. The indication unit includes a LED light unit received in the hand-held casing for illuminating the testing end portion of the conductive probe during testing, wherein the LED light unit is positioned away from the tip end of the probe casing for preventing heat generated from the LED light unit being transmitted toward the conductive probe to affect an accurate measurement for the conductivity of the testing object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen DiKai Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiuling Zhu, Gary Bruce Peckham
  • Patent number: 8939012
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal conductivity detector capable of realizing high detection performance even with the use of a miniaturized heating element, and expanding an effective applicable temperature range of a heating element, and to provide a gas chromatograph using the same. The thermal conductivity detector comprises a flow-path through which a measurement gas is caused to flow, a heating element disposed inside the flow-path, the heating element being formed on the substrate, for detecting thermal conductivity of the measurement gas according to magnitude of an amount of heat taken away from the heating element by the measurement gas, wherein said heating element is provided with a beam including a part where the beam is folded at a predetermined angle, the part being formed at the central part of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kishi, Hitoshi Hara, Tetsuya Watanabe, Kentaro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150003492
    Abstract: A temperature of a semiconductor element is measured based on a temperature coefficient of a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode when no heat is generated when causing a constant current of an extent such that the semiconductor element does not generate heat to be input wherein current is caused to flow from a third electrode to a second electrode in accordance with voltage applied between a first electrode and the second electrode. Also, a constant current such that the semiconductor element generates heat is input into the third electrode, with voltage applied between the first electrode and second electrode of the semiconductor element kept constant, and power is measured based on the current such that the semiconductor element generates heat and on voltage when heat is generated between the third electrode and second electrode when the semiconductor element generates heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Toshiyuki MIYANAGI, Yuichiro HINATA
  • Publication number: 20140369379
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring during dynamic processes that determines when effective measurements of thermal effusivity and/or thermal conductivity can be made during a portion of a cycle during a calibration phase, then measures thermal effusivity and/or thermal conductivity during a subsequent dynamic process in dependence upon the time delay value and the measurement duration value until a desired value is obtained. A sensor having a measurement period of between one to two seconds allows monitoring of materials during dynamic processes such as tumbling, blending, mixing, and rocking. For example, measurements can be made until a value indicative of a desired mixture condition is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Emanuel, Chongde Zhao, Biao Yu, Dimitri Vinnik, Chris Rendell
  • Publication number: 20140369378
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for testing thermal performance of a coating layer are provided. The method for testing thermal performance of a coating layer involves obtaining a first thermal gradient by exposing one side of a metal base test piece to heat and exposing another side of the metal base test piece to a cooling air; obtaining a second thermal gradient by exposing a coating layer side of a coating layer test piece to heat and exposing an opposite side to a cooling air; calculating an exterior temperature Tf of a coating layer of the coating layer test piece and a temperature Te of a boundary side of the coating layer using the first thermal gradient; and calculating a temperature difference T? between the exterior temperature Tf of the coating layer and the temperature Te of the boundary side of the coating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Research & Business Foundation SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Changsung SEOK, Yongseok KIM
  • Publication number: 20140361092
    Abstract: A card control unit for controlling a line card includes a detecting section, a collecting section, and an estimating section. The detecting section detects mounting of a module into a mounting port in the communication card equipped with multiple cages that each have a mounting port into which a module is removably mounted. When mounting of a module has been detected, the collecting section collects an environmental temperature around a mounting port into which the module has been mounted, a power consumption and specified temperature of the module, and thermal resistance information of a cage mounted with the module. The estimating section estimates an environmental temperature after activation of the module on the basis of the collected environmental temperature, power consumption, specified temperature, and thermal resistance information before the module of which the mounting has been detected is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroshi Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20140355645
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring sedimentation of a solid-liquid two-phase mixture are provided. A standard work curve and/or standard mathematical model, indicating a relationship between thermal conductivity (k) and concentration (?) (and/or density (?)), are provided for measuring sedimentation of the solid-liquid two-phase mixture. To measure the sediment, thermal conductivities (k) are measured at settling times (t) to obtain a relationship (k?t). Concentrations (?) and/or densities (?) are then determined, based on the measured relationship (k?t) and the standard work curve and/or the standard mathematical model. A sedimentation rate is determined according to a variation rate of the thermal conductivity. A sedimentation status, sedimentation degree, and/or complete sedimentation degree are determined according to variation rate and variation degree of the thermal conductivity (k), the concentration (?) and/or the density (?) of the solid-liquid two-phase mixture to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Wuhan University of Technology
    Inventors: HAIBIN CHENG, CHAOSHENG LIU, QINGJIE ZHANG, WENTAO MA, YAWEN DAI
  • Publication number: 20140338439
    Abstract: A measurement device is configured in a shaped charge package to be utilized in a perforating gun section tool string. The measurement device may include for example thermal conductivity detectors (TCD) configured to measure fluid flow velocity and/or thermal characteristics of the flowing fluid. The measurement device may include for example a pair laterally spaced TCDs each having sensor faces positioned co-planar with a surface across which the fluid flows. The measurement device may include a recessed TCD, having a sensor face recessed below an opening in the exterior surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrice Ligneul, Bertrand Theuveny, Tullio Moscato, Sebastien Prangere, Olivier Peyret
  • Publication number: 20140334516
    Abstract: A rotatable temperature sensing device. In one example, a temperature sensing device includes a first end. The temperature sensing device also includes a second end. The temperature sensing device includes a shaft coupling the first end and the second end. The shaft is configured to rotate the first and second ends together during operation. The temperature sensing device also includes a temperature sensor disposed in the first end and configured to communicatively connect to an external device, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to provide an indication of a temperature of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Verhagen, Jyi-Jiin Luo, Michael C. Dill
  • Publication number: 20140337035
    Abstract: A gem tester for testing a gem under test and a kit including a horizontal recharging stand are disclosed. In one embodiment of the gem tester, an elongated body has a line-of-sight contour tapering from a bulbous end to a radially deviating frontal nose having a probe extending therefrom. Internal circuitry measures electrical conductivity of the gem under test in order to identify the type of gem under test and drive a color control signal in response thereto. A light source is disposed proximate the probe in order to expose the gem under test to ultraviolet light prior to the internal circuitry measuring electrical conductivity. Identification of the gem under test may be made by audio or visual indication or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel L. Kessler, Henry M. Kessler
  • Publication number: 20140334517
    Abstract: A temperature sensor belt includes at least one temperature sensor. The at least one temperature sensor is configured to provide an indication representative of a temperature of a workpiece. The temperature sensor belt also includes a support material disposed over the at least one temperature sensor. The support material is configured to support the at least one temperature sensor on the sensor belt. The temperature sensor belt also includes an insulative material at least partially surrounding the at least one temperature sensor. The insulative material is configured to thermally insulate the at least one temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Jack Robert Blundell, Paul David Verhagen, Adolph G. Galinski, Anders Olof Rostlund, Christopher J. Nelli, Scott Stephen Liebert, Kevin John Mlnarik
  • Patent number: 8858071
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring during dynamic processes that determines when effective measurements of thermal effusivity and/or thermal conductivity can be made during a portion of a cycle during a calibration phase, then measures thermal effusivity and/or thermal conductivity during a subsequent dynamic process in dependence upon the time delay value and the measurement duration value until a desired value is obtained. A sensor having a measurement period of between one to two seconds allows monitoring of materials during dynamic processes such as tumbling, blending, mixing, and rocking. For example, measurements can be made until a value indicative of a desired mixture condition is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: C-Therm Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Emanuel, Chongde Zhao, Biao Yu, Dimitri Vinnik, Chris Rendell
  • Publication number: 20140301424
    Abstract: A method for measuring thermal conductivity of a material contains the now described steps. A heat pulse is applied to a front side of the material. The resulting time-dependent two-dimensional temperature field of the front side of the material is detected using an infrared detector. An isotherm is identified in the temperature field. First and second thermal conductivities of the material in first and second directions of the material are calculated on the basis of the shape of the isotherm and on the basis of first and second temperatures detected at one point of the front side of the material at two points in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: WOJCIECH ADAMCZYK, RYSZARD BIALECKI, TADEUSZ KRUCZEK
  • Patent number: 8851746
    Abstract: A subterranean grouting method including (a) placing a sample of a grout mixture within a test container, (b) separating a sand component from the sample, (c) determining if the grout mixture exhibits a thermal conductivity within a predetermined thermal conductivity range based upon a proportion of the sand component within the sample, and (d) upon determining that the grout mixture exhibits a thermal conductivity with the predetermined thermal conductivity range, securing a conduit within a subterranean bore with the grout mixture, wherein (a), (b), (c), and (d) are carried out proximate each other at a job site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Patrick Collins, Shantel Stone, Laura Kuri
  • Patent number: 8851747
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity measurement apparatus for measuring a thermal conductivity of a one-dimensional material includes a substrate, a vacuum chamber receiving the substrate and four spaced electrodes. The one-dimensional material spans across the four spaced electrodes. A middle part of the one-dimensional material, located between the second and third electrodes, is suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qing-Wei Li, Chang-Hong Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Publication number: 20140294039
    Abstract: The methods of heterogeneity characterization and determination of thermal conductivity of materials provides for heating a surface of the heterogeneous solid samples during the movement of the samples relative to a heating source and a temperature recording unit. Prior to the measurements the measurement parameters are adjusted so as to provide the best spatial resolution and a required uncertainty of the measurements. Distributions of initial temperature on the surface of the samples before and after heating are measured and heterogeneity of the samples is estimated on the basis of the temperature change along the line of the temperature recording unit movement. Thermal conductivity of homogeneous regions of the samples is determined using solution of the coefficient inversed problem with the measured temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yury Anatolievich Popov, Anton Vladimirovich Parshin
  • Patent number: 8777482
    Abstract: A method for detecting defect in a weld seam during laser welding. The method includes performing a two-dimensionally locally resolved detection of radiation that is emitted by a solidified molten mass that is adjacent to a liquid melting bath. The method also includes determining at least one characteristic value for heat dissipation in the solidified molten mass by evaluating the detected radiation along at least one profile-section of the solidified molten mass, and detecting a defect in the weld seam by comparing the at least one characteristic value with at least one reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Pfitzner, Tim Hesse, Winfried Magg
  • Patent number: 8746968
    Abstract: A sensor (10; 34) for measuring and/or detecting fouling that forms directly or indirectly on a so-called front surface of the sensor, includes the following in the form of a plurality of superimposed layers: —at least one heating element (14) that is able to diffuse, on command, a homogenous, monitored heat flow whose heat output is less than 200 mW, —a heat insulator (11) located on the side opposite the front surface of the sensor to prevent dissipation of the heat flow from the opposite side, —at least one temperature measuring element (16) that is placed in the homogenous heat flow diffused by the at least one heating element and that offers a precision of temperature measurement of better than 0.1° C., and —a substrate (12; 42) on which the layers of the at least one heating element and at least one temperature measuring element are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Neosens
    Inventors: Laurent Auret, Frederic Flourens, Luc Fillaudeau
  • Patent number: 8744818
    Abstract: A thermal-fluid-simulation analyzing apparatus includes an execution unit that generates an analysis model using analysis conditions to conduct a first thermal fluid simulation analysis based on the generated analysis model, an analysis-condition collecting unit that collects analysis conditions when a predetermined period passes after the first thermal fluid simulation analysis, a condition extracting unit that extracts a boundary condition from the analysis conditions collected by the analysis-condition collecting unit, and a re-execution unit that selects a region corresponding to the boundary condition extracted by the condition extracting unit from regions of the analysis model generated by the execution unit, updates the selected region with the boundary condition, and conducts a second thermal fluid simulation analysis for the updated analysis model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akira Ueda, Junichi Ishimine, Ikuro Nagamatsu, Masahiro Suzuki, Tadashi Katsui, Yuji Ohba, Seiichi Saito, Nobuyoshi Yamaoka, Yasushi Uraki
  • Patent number: 8727609
    Abstract: A method for thermal characterization of a portion of first material of elongate shape on which there is arranged a portion of a second, electrically conductive material of elongate shape, the method including: a) determining characteristic of the portion of second material, b) applying an electric current of angular frequency between ends of the portion of the second material, and measuring the angular frequency harmonic of the electric voltage between these ends for different values of angular frequency, c) calculating coefficient of thermal conductivity of the portion of first material from the values of the harmonic and of the determined characteristic, a width of the portion of the first material being between about 0.9 and 1.1 times the width of the portion of second material, the portion of first material being surrounded by thermal insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: David Hauser, Marc Plissonnier
  • Publication number: 20140119401
    Abstract: A subterranean grouting method comprising (a) placing a sample of a grout mixture within a test container, (b) separating a sand component from the sample, (c) determining if the grout mixture exhibits a thermal conductivity within a predetermined thermal conductivity threshold based upon a proportion of the sand component within the sample, and (d) upon determining that the grout mixture exhibits a thermal conductivity with the predetermined thermal conductivity range, securing a conduit within a subterranean bore with the grout mixture, wherein (a), (b), (c), and (d) are carried out proximate each other at a job site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Patrick COLLINS, Shantel STONE, Laura KURI
  • Publication number: 20140105241
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing temperature gradient bifurcation in a porous medium by studying the convective heat transfer process within a channel filled with a porous medium with internal heat generation is disclosed. A LTNE model can be employed to represent the energy transport within a porous medium. Exact solutions can be derived for both fluid and solid temperature distributions for two primary approaches for the constant wall heat flux boundary condition. The Nusselt number for the fluid at the channel wall is also obtained. The effects of pertinent parameters such as fluid and solid internal heat generations, Biot number, and a fluid-to-solid effective thermal conductivity ratio can be determined. It can be shown that internal heat generation in a solid phase is significant for heat transfer characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Kun Yang
  • Publication number: 20140079091
    Abstract: A heat flux sensor comprising at least one support, where at least one membrane is suspended relative to the support by at least four nanowires, where the membrane is made from at least one current-conducting material, and where the nanowires are made from a current-conducting material, with two nanowires connected to a current source to polarise the membrane between two terminals and a heater for heating the membrane, and where two nanowires are connected to a voltmeter to form measure the voltage at the terminals of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENE ALT
    Inventors: Jeremie RUELLAN, Laurent Duraffourg
  • Publication number: 20140079089
    Abstract: A multi-purpose, cylindrical thermal insulation test apparatus is used for testing insulation materials and systems of materials using a liquid boil-off calorimeter system for absolute measurement of the effective thermal conductivity (k-value) and heat flux of a specimen material at a fixed environmental condition (cold-side temperature, warm-side temperature, vacuum pressure level, and residual gas composition). The apparatus includes an inner vessel for receiving a liquid with a normal boiling point below ambient temperature, such as liquid nitrogen, enclosed within a vacuum chamber. A cold mass assembly, including the upper and lower guard chambers and a middle test vessel, is suspended from a lid of the vacuum canister. Each of the three chambers is filled and vented through a single feedthrough. All fluid and instrumentation feedthroughs are mounted and suspended from a top domed lid to allow easy removal of the cold mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: James E. Fesmire, Adam G. Dokos
  • Publication number: 20140056326
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods for determination of thermophysical properties of porous media filled with fluid, gas, or other mineral medium, and can be used, in particular, in the oil and gas industry. When implementing the method, it is necessary to initially determine a composition of a saturated porous medium and thermal conductivity coefficients of its components. A three-dimensional image of a sample of the porous medium is obtained by X-ray scanning. A thermal conductivity coefficient of the medium is determined by solving thermal conductivity problems, based on decomposition of a computational domain followed by composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Petrovich Skibin, Darya Aleksandrovna Mustafina, Aleksandra Evgenievna Komrakova
  • Patent number: 8641271
    Abstract: A method for testing heat pipes includes the following steps. A plurality of bar-shaped heat pipes having the same size is provided, and the heat pipes are deformed. The deformed heat pipes are placed in a temperature regulator, such that a temperature of the heat pipes is periodically changed between a first temperature and a second temperature. The heat pipes are then taken out of the temperature regulator. One end of each heat pipe is maintained at a third temperature by a thermostatic device, and a heat pipe temperature difference of two opposite ends of the heat pipe is measured. The heat pipes having the heat pipe temperature difference greater than a standard temperature difference in the heat pipes are marked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Feng-Ku Wang, Yi-Lun Cheng, Chih-Kai Yang
  • Publication number: 20140016664
    Abstract: A method for measuring the thermal conductivity along three directions of an anisotropic thin material includes: positioning on the surface of the material a plurality N of sensors able to measure the temperature of the material at N measuring points; generating a heat flux from a heat source positioned on a surface of the material; determining a mapping of the theoretical temperature of the material at the N measuring points of the N sensors along three directions by using a calculator, determining a mapping of the real temperature on the surface of the anisotropic material by measuring the temperature of the material at the N measuring points of N sensors; determining using the calculator the real thermal conductivity of the thin anisotropic material, along three directions, by a plurality of adjustments of the theoretical thermal conductivity by minimising the difference between the theoretical temperature and the real temperature for each of the N temperature measuring points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Joel Pauchet, Ludovic Rouillon
  • Patent number: 8628238
    Abstract: A multi-purpose, cylindrical thermal insulation test apparatus is used for testing insulation materials and systems of materials using a liquid boil-off calorimeter system for absolute measurement of the effective thermal conductivity (k-value) and heat flux of a specimen material at a fixed environmental condition (cold-side temperature, warm-side temperature, vacuum pressure level, and residual gas composition). The apparatus includes an inner vessel for receiving a liquid with a normal boiling point below ambient temperature, such as liquid nitrogen, enclosed within a vacuum chamber. A cold mass assembly, including the upper and lower guard chambers and a middle test vessel, is suspended from a lid of the vacuum canister. Each of the three chambers is filled and vented through a single feedthrough. All fluid and instrumentation feedthroughs are mounted and suspended from a top domed lid to allow easy removal of the cold mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James E. Fesmire, Adam G. Dokos
  • Publication number: 20140010258
    Abstract: The inventive concept relates to a thermal conductivity measuring device and a method of measuring the thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity measuring device may include a first structure which is connected to one side end of a sample and receives heat from a heat source; a second structure connected to the other side end of the sample; a first stage connected to the first structure while supporting the first structure; a second stage connected to the second structure while supporting the second structure; a connection unit connected between the first stage and the second stage; and a measuring unit measuring temperatures of the first and second structures and the first and second stages. Since the thermal conductivity measuring of the inventive concept correct a temperature change of a stage due to heat transmission emitted from the stage considering a measurement environment, reliability of measurement may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Younghoon Hyun, Young Sam Park, Moon Gyu Jang, Taehyoung Zyung
  • Patent number: 8608373
    Abstract: In a local softening point measuring apparatus and thermal conductivity measuring apparatus using a probe microscope as a base, environment of the prob˜ and a sample surface is set to 1/100 atmospheric pressure (103 Pa) or lower. Otherwise, a side surface of the probe is coated with a thermal insulation material having a thickness that enables thermal dissipation to be reduced to 1/100 or lower, to thereby reduce the thermal dissipation from the side surface of the probe, and exchange heat substantially only at the contacting portion between the probe and the sample surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori Ando, Masayuki Iwasa, Masatsugu Shigeno, Hiroumi Momota, Kazutoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8585283
    Abstract: A method of using Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques for determining whether changes in thermal conductivity have occurred to a particular interface between two joined structural members is described, which is particularly useful in satellites or other structures ordinarily subjected to vacuum pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Derek Doyle, Derek Hengeveld
  • Publication number: 20130301671
    Abstract: Detecting TIM between a heat sink and an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit including TIM detection points adapted to receive TIM upon installation of the heat sink and including a TIM detection device configured to be activated upon contact with TIM, including: receiving, upon installation of the heat sink on the integrated circuit and the TIM, TIM in one or more of the TIM detection points; activating, by the TIM in each of the one or more TIM detection points receiving the TIM, a TIM detection device; determining, by a TIM detection module of the integrated circuit in dependence upon the activations of the TIM detection devices, sufficiency of the TIM; and responsive to determining that the TIM between the heat sink and the integrated circuit is insufficient, controlling, in real-time by the TIM detection module, operation of the integrated circuit to reduce heat generated by the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William M. Megarity, LUKE D. REMIS, GREGORY D. SELLMAN
  • Publication number: 20130301670
    Abstract: Detecting TIM between a heat sink and an integrated circuit, the heat sink including TIM detection points, each TIM detection point adapted to receive TIM upon installation of the heat sink, each TIM detection point including a TIM detection device configured to be activated upon contact with TIM, including: receiving, upon installation of the heat sink on the integrated circuit and the TIM, TIM in one or more of the TIM detection points; activating, by the TIM in each of the one or more TIM detection points receiving the TIM, a TIM detection device; and determining, by a TIM detection module in dependence upon the activations of the TIM detection devices, sufficiency of the TIM between the heat sink and the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William M. Megarity, Luke D. Remis, Gregory D. Sellman
  • Patent number: 8573835
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the measurement of thermal conductivity combines the following capabilities: 1) measurements of very small specimens; 2) measurements of specimens with thermal conductivity on the same order of that as air; and, 3) the ability to use air as a reference material. Care is taken to ensure that the heat flow through the test specimen is essentially one-dimensional. No attempt is made to use heated guards to minimize the flow of heat from the hot plate to the surroundings. Results indicate that since large correction factors must be applied to account for guard imperfections when specimen dimensions are small, simply measuring and correcting for heat from the heater disc that does not flow into the specimen is preferable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Robert A Miller, Maria A Kuczmarski
  • Publication number: 20130235900
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity measurement apparatus for measuring a thermal conductivity of a one-dimensional material includes a substrate, a vacuum chamber receiving the substrate and four spaced electrodes. The one-dimensional material spans across the four spaced electrodes. A middle part of the one-dimensional material, located between the second and third electrodes, is suspended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: QING-WEI LI, CHANG-HONG LIU, SHOU-SHAN FAN
  • Publication number: 20130225985
    Abstract: A system and method for transducer placement in soft-field tomography are provided. One system includes a plurality of transducers configured for positioning at a surface of an object in a non-soft-field tomography configuration. The system also includes an interface and a processor communicating with the plurality of transducers via the interface. The processor is configured to perform soft-field sensing using soft-field data acquired by the plurality of transducers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Seth Ross, Jeffrey Michael Ashe
  • Publication number: 20130223474
    Abstract: Disclosed is an analysis system and method for visualizing heat conduction of a solid state sample. The analysis system includes a sealed jig chamber, a jig, an air tempering unit, and a thermal image camera. The sealed jig chamber includes a chamber door for opening/closing the jig chamber. The jig is removeably mounted in the jig chamber and comprises a heat source in surface contact with a solid state sample to induce the heat conduction of the solid state sample. The air tempering unit supplies hot air into the jig and supplies cool air into the jig chamber. The thermal image camera photographs the heat conduction of the solid state sample to acquire a thermal image or video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Hyundai Motor Company
  • Patent number: 8516829
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for modifying the operation and/or performance of a gas turbine. According to one embodiment, a method for modifying the performance of a gas turbine comprising one or more combustors can be provided. The method can include measuring a gas exhaust temperature for the gas turbine and estimating a heat transfer rate for the gas turbine based at least in part on the gas exhaust temperature. After estimating the heat transfer rate, the method can continue by estimating a transiently accurate combustion reference temperature and using this parameter to control the one or more combustors of the gas turbine. In doing so, the performance of the gas turbine can be modified to ensure reliable and consistent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Ewens, Kevin Wilkes, Christopher Long, Noemie Dion Ouellet
  • Patent number: 8511892
    Abstract: A device for measuring the body core temperature of a person contains a structure for firmly wrapping around the upper body of the person. A double temperature sensor is connected with the structure for wrapping around the upper body such that the double temperature sensor is pressed elastically onto the upper body in the state in which it is put on in the area of the sternum. The device for measuring the body core temperature is suitable for the integration of a body core temperature measurement in clothing or chest belt systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Drägerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jochim Koch
  • Patent number: 8491184
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus and sensor apparatus system for use in conjunction with a cassette, including a disposable or replaceable cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes a thermal well for permitting the sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well includes a hollow housing of a thermally conductive material. In other embodiments, the cassette includes sensor leads for sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well has an inner surface shaped so as to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe. The mating thermally couples the inner surface with a sensing probe. In some embodiments, the thermal well is located on a disposable portion and the sensing probe on a reusable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, N. Christopher Perry, Jason A. Demers, Brian Tracey, Arun D. Chawan, Kevin L. Grant
  • Patent number: 8491185
    Abstract: A method for checking the quality of thermal coupling between a measuring cell and a thermostatted element of an analyzer, where the measuring cell can be exchangeably inserted into an analyzer to measure at least one parameter of a sample, and is provided with at least one sensor element in a measuring channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf-Dietrich Steinboeck, Robert Felsberger, Michael Kraker, Friedrich Schneider, Juergen Walla