Patent · US Expired

Microcavity apparatus and systems for maintaining a microcavity over a macroscale area

US6232546A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
16References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 25, 1999
Grant dateMay 15, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A microcavity apparatus and systems for maintaining microcavity spacing over a macroscopic area. An application of this invention is a microscale generator. This microscale generator includes a first element for receiving energy; a second element, opposite the first element for transferring energy; at least one panel on either of the first element or the second element, the panel facing the other element; a device for controlling the distance between the at least one panel and the facing element to form a predetermined, sub-micron gap between the panel and the facing element for increasing energy transfer to the element for receiving; and a device, responsive to the energy transfer, for generating electricity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.