Method and apparatus for heating and controlling the temperature of ultra small volumes
US4695709A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 1, 1986 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D23/2401
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the controlled heating of an ultra small volume. The invention provides a means of heating, measuring, and controlling the temperature in such ultra small volume. The present apparatus includes a heat-sensor portion comprised of an electrical resistance. Heat is generated in the heat-sensor portion by a flow of electrical current through such electrical resistance. The temperature in the heat-sensor portion is determined by measuring the electrical resistance of the circuit that includes the heat-sensor element. The apparatus is comprised of a thin-walled microcapillary tube filled internally with an electrically conductive material and coated externally with a dissimilar electrically conductive material. The external electrically conductive coating on the microcapillary tube is suitable a noble metal such as gold. The external metal coating preferably has a metallic overcoat to improve conductivity, and more preferably has a further overcoat, or outside layer, of a nonconductive material. Along the tip portion of the microcapillary tube the two dissimilar conductive materials (internal and external) meet to form a juncture of elect…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.