Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080285232 | Techniques for Data Center Cooling - Techniques for cooling in a data center are provided. In one aspect a computer equipment rack is provided comprising one or more air inlets; one or more exhaust outlets, and one or more of: an air inlet duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the air inlets, the air inlet duct having a lateral dimension that approximates a lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than a length of the computer equipment rack, and an air exhaust duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the exhaust outlets, the air exhaust duct having a lateral dimension that approximates the lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than the length of the computer equipment rack. | 11-20-2008 |
20080314565 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHIP COOLING - In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for chip cooling. One embodiment of a system for cooling a heat-generating device, such as a semiconductor chip, includes a vaporization chamber for at least partially vaporizing a stream of liquid in a stream of a gas to produce a mixture of gas, vapor and liquid and a heat sink coupled to the vaporization chamber for transferring heat from the heat-generating device to the mixture. | 12-25-2008 |
20090051026 | PROCESS FOR FORMING METAL FILM AND RELEASE LAYER ON POLYMER - A process for forming a releasable metal film includes depositing a metal onto a polymeric sheet such that the metal layer provides a low adhesive interface and exhibits relatively low stress. A barrier layer is then deposited onto the surface of the low adhesion interface. A thin film of a stress relief layer of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, copper or aluminum is then deposited followed by addition of a second barrier layer onto the stress relief layer. The stress relief layer provides compressive relief to balance the tensile stress of the so-stacked metal films. An additional solderable layer maybe added for soldering applications. To fabricate the working device with sputtering tools, an extremely high gas pressure is used to achieve low adhesion force between the wettable metallic layer and the polymeric carrier film. | 02-26-2009 |
20090084435 | Techniques for Cooling Solar Concentrator Devices - Solar concentrator devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a solar concentrator device is provided. The solar concentrator device comprises at least one solar converter cell; a heat sink; and a liquid metal between the solar converter cell and the heat sink, configured to thermally couple the solar converter cell and the heat sink during operation of the device. The solar converter cell can comprise a triple-junction semiconductor solar converter cell fabricated on a germanium (Ge) substrate. The heat sink can comprise a vapor chamber heat sink. The liquid metal can comprise a gallium (Ga) alloy and have a thermal resistance of less than or equal to about five square millimeter degree Celsius per Watt (mm | 04-02-2009 |
20090122491 | UNIVERSAL PATTERNED METAL THERMAL INTERFACE - The present invention is a universal patterned metal thermal interface. The thermal interface eliminates the need for surface processing of one or both contact surfaces that are to accommodate the thermal interface. In one embodiment, a thermal interface for coupling a first solid to a second solid includes a patterned metal insert, a corrosion resistant layer coating at least one exterior side of the insert, for protecting the insert from corrosion, and an organic layer coating the corrosion resistant layer, for facilitating bonding of the insert to one of the first solid or the second solid. | 05-14-2009 |
20090142532 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPLOYING A LIQUID METAL THERMAL INTERFACE FOR CHIP COOLING - In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for chip cooling. One embodiment of an inventive method for bonding a liquid metal to an interface surface (e.g., a surface of an integrated circuit chip or an opposing surface of a heat sink) includes applying an adhesive to the interface surface. A metal film is then bonded to the adhesive, thereby easily adapting the interface surface for bonding to the liquid metal. | 06-04-2009 |
20090146294 | GASKET SYSTEM FOR LIQUID-METAL THERMAL INTERFACE - Embodiments of an apparatus are described. This apparatus includes a semiconductor-die layer mechanically coupled to a semiconductor die, and a heat-removal-device layer mechanically coupled to a heat-removal device. Moreover, a thermal-interface material is included between the semiconductor die and the heat-removal device, where the thermal-interface material is mechanically coupled to a region of the semiconductor-die layer and to a region of the heat-removal-device layer. Additionally, a boundary material is mechanically coupled to the semiconductor-die layer and the heat-removal-device layer, where the thermal-interface material is contained in a cavity defined, at least in part, by the semiconductor-die layer, the boundary material, and the heat-removal-device layer. | 06-11-2009 |
20090294106 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHIP COOLING - In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for chip cooling. One embodiment of an apparatus for cooling a heat-generating device includes an inlet for receiving a fluid, a manifold comprising a plurality of apertures formed therein for decreasing the pressure of the fluid from a first pressure by adiabatic expansion for impinging the fluid on the heat-generating device once the pressure of the fluid is decreased from the first pressure. | 12-03-2009 |
20100147497 | PATTERNED METAL THERMAL INTERFACE - The present invention is a patterned metal thermal interface. In one embodiment a system for dissipating heat from a heat-generating device includes a heat sink having a first surface adapted for thermal coupling to a first surface of the heat generating device and a thermal interface having at least one patterned surface, the thermal interface being adapted to thermally couple the first surface of the heat sink to the first surface of the heat generating device. The patterned surface of the thermal interface allows the thermal interface to deform under compression between the heat sink and the heat generating device, leading to better conformity of the thermal interface to the surfaces of the heat sink and the heat generating device. | 06-17-2010 |
20100230048 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TONE INVERTING OF RESIDUAL LAYER TOLERANT IMPRINT LITHOGRAPHY - A system for imprint lithography, which includes a substrate, a patterned mask, an imprint applying unit that imprints, via the patterned mask, a pattern into a resist layer on the substrate, and an overlay device that overlays a cladding layer over the substrate. | 09-16-2010 |
20100230385 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TONE INVERTING OF RESIDUAL LAYER TOLERANT IMPRINT LITHOGRAPHY - A method (and apparatus) of imprint lithography, includes imprinting, via a patterned mask, a pattern into a resist layer on a substrate, and overlaying a cladding layer over the imprinted resist layer. A portion of the cladding layer is used as a hard mask for a subsequent processing. | 09-16-2010 |
20110168247 | Techniques for Cooling Solar Concentrator Devices - Solar concentrator devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a solar concentrator device is provided. The solar concentrator device comprises at least one solar converter cell; a heat sink; and a liquid metal between the solar converter cell and the heat sink, configured to thermally couple the solar converter cell and the heat sink during operation of the device. The solar converter cell can comprise a triple junction semiconductor solar converter cell fabricated on a germanium (Ge) substrate. The heat sink can comprise a vapor chamber heat sink. The liquid metal can comprise a gallium (Ga) alloy and have a thermal resistance of less than or equal to about five square millimeter degree Celsius per Watt (mm | 07-14-2011 |
20110240279 | HYBRID LIQUID METAL-SOLDER THERMAL INTERFACE - The present invention is hybrid liquid metal-solder thermal interface. In one embodiment, a thermal interface for coupling a heat generating device to a heat sink includes a first metal interface layer, a second metal interface layer, and an isolation layer positioned between the first metal interface layer and the second metal interface layer, where at least one of the first metal interface layer and the second metal interface layer comprises a liquid metal. | 10-06-2011 |
20110279967 | Techniques for Data Center Cooling - Techniques for cooling in a data center are provided. In one aspect, a computer equipment rack is provided comprising one or more air inlets; one or more exhaust outlets; and one or more of: an air inlet duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the air inlets, the air inlet duct having a lateral dimension that approximates a lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than a length of the computer equipment rack, and an air exhaust duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the exhaust outlets, the air exhaust duct having a lateral dimension that approximates the lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than the length of the computer equipment rack. | 11-17-2011 |
20120092765 | PREVENTION AND REMEDIATION OF DAMAGE TO OPTICAL SURFACES - A polylaminate film system for protecting optical surfaces, such as a lens, has plural polymer thin films arranged in a polylaminate stack, with each thin film coupled to adjacent films via solvent welding. The film system is adhered to the optical surface to be protected and, as each film in the stack becomes damaged or dirty, it may be sequentially removed to present a clean film surface. The transparent film may be composed of the same material as the optical surface to minimize distortion and loss of optical transmission when radiation passes through the combined film and lens. | 04-19-2012 |
20120138145 | STRUCTURE AND DESIGN OF CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELL ASSEMBLY RECEIVER SUBSTRATE - A substrate has a top side and a bottom side. A solar cell is secured to the top side of the substrate and has an anode and a cathode. A heat transfer element is secured to the bottom side of the substrate. An anode pad is formed on the top side of the substrate and is coupled to the anode of the solar cell; similarly, a cathode pad is formed on the top side of the substrate and is coupled to the cathode of the solar cell. The substrate coefficient of thermal expansion and the solar cell coefficient of thermal expansion match within plus or minus ten parts per million per degree C. | 06-07-2012 |
20120160459 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHIP COOLING - In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for chip cooling. One embodiment of an apparatus for cooling a heat-generating device includes an inlet for receiving a fluid, a manifold comprising a plurality of apertures formed therein for decreasing the pressure of the fluid from a first pressure by adiabatic expansion for impinging the fluid on the heat-generating device once the pressure of the fluid is decreased from the first pressure. | 06-28-2012 |
20120186626 | SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTION SYSTEM - A solar energy collection system includes a reference member, a support member rotatably mounted relative to the reference member, and a drive system operatively coupled between the reference member and the support member. The drive system includes a linear actuator having a fixed portion operatively connected to the reference member and a strut portion that is selectivity extendable relative to the fixed portion. The strut portion includes an end section. A first connector member is operatively connected between the reference member and the end section of the strut portion, and a second connector member is operatively connected between the support member and the end section of the strut portion. Selective extension and retraction of the strut portion relative to the fixed portion selectively shifts the support member along a desired path. | 07-26-2012 |
20120266935 | HOMOGENIZING LIGHT-PIPE FOR SOLAR CONCENTRATORS - A light pipe that can be employed for a Concentrator Photo-Voltaic (CPV) system is provided. The light pipe homogenizes light by diffusion and/or refraction, and can be embodied in a structure that has a low aspect ratio. The diffusion and/or refraction can be effected by concave or convex surfaces of a transparent medium that forms a body of the light pipe, by light diffracting particles, and/or by a diffracting surface. Optionally, multiple transparent media can be employed with a refracting and/or diffracting interface therebetween. The reduced aspect ratio of the light pipe can improve reliability of mechanical alignment in the CPV system as well as reducing the cost of manufacturing and/or aligning the light pipe within the CPV system. | 10-25-2012 |
20120321740 | PNEUMATIC METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NANO IMPRINT LITHOGRAPHY HAVING A CONFORMING MASK - An apparatus for nano lithography includes a mask having a pattern formed thereon and a pneumatic pressure driving source for applying a pneumatic pressure to at least one of a surface of the mask and a surface of a workpiece, thereby to uniformly transfer the pattern from the mask to the workpiece. | 12-20-2012 |
20130199594 | TRANSPORTABLE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM - A transportable photovoltaic system includes a plurality of photovoltaic devices, a composite frame to which the plurality of photovoltaic devices are affixed, and a base structure to which the composite frame is movably attached through at least one variable-angle mount structure. The orientation of the frame and the light concentrating elements relative to the base structure can be altered employing the at least one variable-angle mount structure. The frame and the plurality of photovoltaic devices can be assembled prior to shipping, and the base structure can be manufactured on site. The transportable photovoltaic system is not affixed to ground or other fixture, but can be picked up at any time during the operational lifetime. The transportable photovoltaic system can be rapidly deployed with little or no site preparation requirement other than generally level ground, and can be retracted to a lower exposure position to avoid storm and/or hazardous conditions. | 08-08-2013 |
20130199595 | SOLAR CONCENTRATOR COOLING BY VORTEX GAS CIRCULATION - A convective method is employed to cool a solar concentrator device. The convective method employs formation of a vortex gas circulation inside an enclosure of the solar concentrator device, which is bounded by at least one light-path altering component, sidewalls, and a back panel. Optionally, a heat sink assembly can be provided within the enclosure. Internal convention through the vortex gas circulation transfers the heat generated at a photovoltaic cell to all surfaces of the solar concentrator device to facilitate radiative and/or convective cooling at the outside surfaces of the enclosure. | 08-08-2013 |
20130199597 | TRANSPORTABLE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM - A transportable photovoltaic system includes a plurality of photovoltaic devices, a composite frame to which the plurality of photovoltaic devices are affixed, and a base structure to which the composite frame is movably attached through at least one variable-angle mount structure. The orientation of the frame and the light concentrating elements relative to the base structure can be altered employing the at least one variable-angle mount structure. The frame and the plurality of photovoltaic devices can be assembled prior to shipping, and the base structure can be manufactured on site. The transportable photovoltaic system is not affixed to ground or other fixture, but can be picked up at any time during the operational lifetime. The transportable photovoltaic system can be rapidly deployed with little or no site preparation requirement other than generally level ground, and can be retracted to a lower exposure position to avoid storm and/or hazardous conditions. | 08-08-2013 |
20130200709 | Techniques for Grid Coupling Photovoltaic Cells Using Ratiometric Voltage Conversion - Techniques for electrical power transfer in photovoltaic systems are provided. In one aspect, a photovoltaic system includes an array of photovoltaic power producing elements (e.g., concentrator photovoltaic cells); a power receiving unit; and at least one ratiometric DC to DC converter connected to both the array of photovoltaic power producing elements and the power receiving unit. The array of photovoltaic power producing elements can include a plurality of the photovoltaic power producing elements connected in series or in parallel. In another aspect, a method of transferring electrical power from an array of photovoltaic power producing elements to a power receiving unit includes the following step. At least one ratiometric DC to DC converter is connected to both the array of photovoltaic power producing elements and the power receiving unit. The at least one ratiometric DC to DC converter is configured to alter a voltage output from the array. | 08-08-2013 |
20140026939 | MULTI-ELEMENT PACKAGING OF CONCENTRATOR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - A photovoltaic structure includes, from bottom to top, a conductive substrate, at least one electrical isolation layer, and a patterned conductive material layer. The patterned conductive material layer includes at least one solar concentrator receiver plate configured to mount a photovoltaic concentrator cells and at least one metallic wiring structure. The at least one electrical isolation layer can include a stack of an electrically insulating metal-containing compound layer and an organic or inorganic dielectric material that provides thermal conduction and electrical isolation. The at least one solar concentrator receiver plate can be thicker than the at least one metallic wiring structure so as to provide enhanced thermal spreading and conduction through the at least one electrical isolation layer and into the conductive substrate. | 01-30-2014 |
20140063729 | Techniques for Data Center Cooling - Techniques for cooling in a data center are provided. In one aspect, a computer equipment rack is provided comprising one or more air inlets; one or more exhaust outlets; and one or more of: an air inlet duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the air inlets, the air inlet duct having a lateral dimension that approximates a lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than a length of the computer equipment rack, and an air exhaust duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the exhaust outlets, the air exhaust duct having a lateral dimension that approximates the lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than the length of the computer equipment rack. | 03-06-2014 |
20140069490 | Lead Frame Package for Solar Concentrators - Techniques for providing high-capacity, re-workable connections in concentrated photovoltaic devices are provided. In one aspect, a lead frame package for a photovoltaic device is provided that includes a beam shield; and one or more lead frame connectors affixed to the beam shield, wherein the lead frame connectors are configured to provide connection to the photovoltaic device when the photovoltaic device is assembled to the lead frame package. A photovoltaic apparatus is also provided that includes a lead frame package assembled to a photovoltaic device. The lead frame package includes a beam shield and one or more lead frame connectors affixed to the beam shield, wherein the lead frame connectors are configured to provide connection to the photovoltaic device. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069491 | Interposer Connector for High Power Solar Concentrators - In one aspect, an interposer assembly for housing a photovoltaic device includes a frame, formed from an electrically insulating material, having a center opening with a shape/size complementary to a shape/size of the photovoltaic device thus permitting the photovoltaic device to fit within the center opening in the frame when the photovoltaic device is housed in the assembly; a beam shield on the frame having a cup-shaped inner cavity to aid in routing of light to the photovoltaic device, wherein a side of the beam shield facing the frame has one or more recesses present therein; and one or more interposer connectors positioned between the frame and the beam shield such that the interposer connectors fit within the recesses in the beam shield, and wherein a portion of each of the interposer connectors extends into the center opening of the frame. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069501 | Cooling System for High Performance Solar Concentrators - Techniques for cooling concentrating solar collector systems are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for cooling a photovoltaic cell includes a heat exchanger having a metal plate with a bend therein that positions a first surface of the metal plate at an angle of from about 100 degrees to about 150 degrees relative to a second surface of the metal plate, and a plurality of fins attached to a side of the metal plate opposite the first surface and the second surface; a vapor chamber extending along the first surface and the second surface of the metal plate, crossing the bend; and a cladding material between the vapor chamber and the heat exchanger, wherein the cladding material is configured to thermally couple the vapor chamber to the heat exchanger. A photovoltaic system and method for operating a photovoltaic system are also provided. | 03-13-2014 |
20140160784 | SECONDARY OPTIC FOR CONCENTRATING PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - A light concentrating optic for use with a photovoltaic device includes a light pipe having a first end portion for receiving light and a second end portion for outputting concentrated light. An optical element is coupled to the light pipe on the first end portion and configured to form an optical interface between the light pipe and the optical element. The optical element includes at least one light transmitting surface configured to redirect incident light entering the optical element to disperse the light to fall incident on side walls of the light pipe to increase homogeneity and intensity of light through the second end portion. | 06-12-2014 |
20140166070 | THERMAL RECEIVER FOR HIGH POWER SOLAR CONCENTRATORS AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - A device for dissipating heat from a photovoltaic cell is disclosed. A first thermally conductive layer receives heat from the photovoltaic cell and reduces a density of the received heat. A second thermally conductive layer conducts heat from the first thermally conductive layer to a surrounding environment. An electrically isolating layer thermally couples the first thermally conductive layer and the second thermally conductive layer. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166071 | THERMAL RECEIVER FOR HIGH POWER SOLAR CONCENTRATORS AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - A device for dissipating heat from a photovoltaic cell is disclosed. A first thermally conductive layer receives heat from the photovoltaic cell and reduces a density of the received heat. A second thermally conductive layer conducts heat from the first thermally conductive layer to a surrounding environment. An electrically isolating layer thermally couples the first thermally conductive layer and the second thermally conductive layer. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166752 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO TAG METAL - A method of tagging an article is disclosed. Data that identifies the article is encoded into at least one stress value. A stress region having a stress that corresponds to the at least one stress value is created in a surface of the article to the tag the article. The at least one stress value is read by a measurement device to read the data and identify the article. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166753 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO TAG METAL - A method of tagging an article is disclosed. Data that identifies the article is encoded into at least one stress value. A stress region having a stress that corresponds to the at least one stress value is created in a surface of the article to the tag the article. The at least one stress value is read by a measurement device to read the data and identify the article. | 06-19-2014 |