Passive thermal oscillators
US10680152B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N15/20
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A passive thermal oscillator combines a thermoelectric device and a passive analog electrical circuit to produce a time-oscillating temperature difference. The oscillator makes use of a temperature difference imposed across a thermoelectric device to produce a Seebeck voltage to periodically trigger electrical current to pass through a switch. The periodic electrical current causes periodic Peltier cooling producing a time-oscillating temperature difference across the thermoelectric device. There is no requirement for additional external energy input because the thermal energy generates a voltage that is used as the driving force. The operation is purely passive. So long as there is a temperature difference across the thermoelectric device, then the passive thermal oscillator oscillates. The passive thermal oscillator can integrate multiple energy conversion device technologies to operate cooperatively. The cooperation of multiple energy conversion technologies yields a much higher overall system efficiency than just the conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.