2781 results about "Thermistor" patented technology

The present invention relates to a novel method for analyzing nucleic acid sequences based on real-time detection of DNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of each of the four nucleotide bases, supplied individually and serially in a microfluidic system, to a reaction cell containing a template system comprising a DNA fragment of unknown sequence and an oligonucleotide primer. Incorporation of a nucleotide base into the template system can be detected by any of a variety of methods including but not limited to fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection. Alternatively, microcalorimetic detection of the heat generated by the incorporation of a nucleotide into the extending template system using thermopile, thermistor and refractive index measurements can be used to detect extension reactions.

Method and calculations determine an individual's, or several individuals' simultaneous rates of oxygen consumption, maximum rates of oxygen consumption, heart rates, calorie expenditures, and METS (multiples of metabolic resting rate) in order to determine the amounts of work that is performed by the individual's body. A heart monitor measures the heart rate, and an accelerometer measures the acceleration of the body along one or more axes. An altimeter measures change in altitude, a glucose monitor measures glucose in tissue and blood, and thermometers, thermistors, or thermocouples measure body temperature. Data including body fat and blood pressure measurements are stored locally and transferred to a processor for calculation of the rate of physiological energy expenditure. Certain cardiovascular parameters are mathematically determined. Comparison of each axis response to the individual's moment can be used to identify the type of activity performed and the information may be used to accurately calculate total energy expenditure for each physical activity. Energy expenditure may be calculated by assigning a separate proportionality coefficient to each axis and tabulating the resulting filtered dynamic acceleration over time, or by comparison with previously predetermined expenditures for each activity type. A comparison of total energy expenditure from the current activity is compared with expenditure from a previous activity, or with a baseline expenditure rate to assess the level of current expenditure. A measure of the individual's cardio-vascular health may be obtained by monitoring the heart's responses to various types of activity and to total energy expended.

Methods and apparatuses to manage working states of a data processing system. At least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data processing system with one or more sensors (e.g., physical sensors such as tachometer and thermistors, and logical sensors such as CPU load) for fine grain control of one or more components (e.g., processor, fan, hard drive, optical drive) of the system for working conditions that balance various goals (e.g., user preferences, performance, power consumption, thermal constraints, acoustic noise). In one example, the clock frequency and core voltage for a processor are actively managed to balance performance and power consumption (heat generation) without a significant latency. In one example, the speed of a cooling fan is actively managed to balance cooling effort and noise (and/or power consumption).

The present invention relates to a novel method for analyzing nucleic acid sequences based on real-time detection of DNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of each of the four nucleotide bases, supplied individually and serially in a microfluidic system, to a reaction cell containing a template system comprising a DNA fragment of unknown sequence and an oligonucleotide primer. Incorporation of a nucleotide base into the template system can be detected by any of a variety of methods including but not limited to fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection. Alternatively, microcalorimetic detection of the heat generated by the incorporation of a nucleotide into the extending template system using thermopile, thermistor and refractive index measurements can be used to detect extension reactions.

Electromagnetic radiation detecting and sensing systems using carbon nanotube fabrics and methods of making the same are provided. In certain embodiments of the invention, an electromagnetic radiation detector includes a substrate, a nanotube fabric disposed on the substrate, the nanotube fabric comprising a non-woven network of nanotubes, and first and second conductive terminals, each in electrical communication with the nanotube fabric, the first and second conductive terminals disposed in space relation to one another. Nanotube fabrics may be tuned to be sensitive to a predetermined range of electromagnetic radiation such that exposure to the electromagnetic radiation induces a change in impedance between the first and second conductive terminals. The detectors include microbolometers, themistors and resistive thermal sensors, each constructed with nanotube fabric. Nanotube fabric detector arrays may be formed for broad-range electromagnetic radiation detecting. Methods for making nanotube fabric detectors, arrays, microbolometers, thermistors and resistive thermal sensors are each described.

A light valve such as an active matrix LCD between crossed polarizers, utilizing, for instance, individual transistors to control each "pixel area" of the LCD and storage elements to store video signal data for each pixel, with optically shielded "dead spaces" between pixels to eliminate electric field cross-talk and non-information-bearing light bleed-through, is illuminated with a bright independent light source which creates a video image projected via specialized projection optics onto an internal or external screen without distortions, regardless of the angle of projection onto the screen. Use of heat sinks, IR reflective coatings, heat absorbing optics, optional fluid and a thermistor controlled pixel transistor bias voltage injection servo circuit stabilizes image performance, maintaining accurate color and contrast levels as the LCD changes temperature. In one embodiment of the invention, use of a multi-color LCD with a stepped cavity, producing different thicknesses of LCD for the different wavelengths that pass through it, allows a linear correspondence between the wavelengths passing through the LCD to produce true black, high contrast and CRT-like color rendition. A dichroic mirror arrangement is used to overlap differently colored pixels in the projected image. Use of striped mirrors duplicate pixels, where necessary, eliminating spaces between pixels, creating a continuous image with no apparent stripes or dots. A special venetian-blind type of screen is also disclosed and methods for using the system to view three-dimensional video are also explained.

The icemaker presented here may use a microcontroller, and solid state refrigeration and heat transfer elements to create ice cube qualities ranging from “clear ice” to “fast ice” in a smooth, user selectable continuum. In one embodiment, this may be accomplished by fitting a standard, high production volume icemaker mold with (1) thermoelectric coolers operated in a controlled fashion to heat or cool the mold, (2) a mold temperature sensor (such as a thermistor), and (3) a microcontroller to monitor the process and to adjust the growth rate of ice forming in the mold by adjusting heat transfer rates to optimize particular cooling phases.

Methods and devices are disclosed for detecting vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, or plaque at risk of reducing blood flow in a vessel, by identifying a region of elevated temperature along a living vessel wall. The disclosure that human atherosclerotic plaque with measurable temperature heterogeneity has the morphological characteristics of plaque that is likely to ulcerate provides a new and sensitive technique for detecting and treating these dangerous plaques before myocardial infarction and its consequences occur. The disclosed methods are advantageous over conventional plaque detection techniques because they are capable of differentiating between those plaques that are at great risk of rupture, fissure, or ulceration, and consequent thrombosis and occlusion of the artery, and those that are not presently at risk. Infrared heat-sensing catheters useful for identifying potentially fatal arterial plaques in patients with disease of the coronary or other arteries are also described. In some embodiments a coherent infrared fiber optic bundle is employed to radially and longitudinally explore a luminal wall to identify inflamed, heat-producing, atherosclerotic plaque. Certain other methods and devices are disclosed which are particularly suited for non-invasively identifying and then monitoring the progression or amelioration of an inflamed plaque in a patient, and for monitoring for onset of inflammation in an implanted arteriovenous graft. Also disclosed are thermocouple basket catheters and thermistor basket catheters which are also capable of detecting temperature heterogeneity along a vessel wall.

The present invention relates to a novel method for analyzing nucleic acid sequences based on real-time detection of DNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of each of the four nucleotide bases, supplied individually and serially in a microfluidic system, to a reaction cell containing a template system comprising a DNA fragment of unknown sequence and an oligonucleotide primer. Incorporation of a nucleotide base into the template system can be detected by any of a variety of methods including but not limited to fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection. Alternatively, microcalorimetic detection of the heat generated by the incorporation of a nucleotide into the extending template system using thermopile, thermistor and refractive index measurements can be used to detect extension reactions.

The present invention relates to a novel thermal-sensitive resistive apparatus, such as PTC and NTC, which allocates planar electrode films on the top and bottom surfaces of a prior art thermal-sensitive resistive apparatus, such as a PTC apparatus, to laminate with an outer electrode layer. A plurality of interconnection vias are electroplated with conductive material to connect to any plane. It is convenient to surface mount the apparatus of the present invention on a printed circuit board. The present invention can largely increase the dimensional stability of components and overcome the disadvantage that thermal diffusion of the prior are surface mounted resistive apparatus is affected easily by line width and environments.

Described is a radiation dosimeter including multiple sensor devices (including one or more passive integrating electronic radiation sensor, a MEMS accelerometers, a wireless transmitters and, optionally, a GPS, a thermistor, or other chemical, biological or EMF sensors) and a computer program for the simultaneous detection and wireless transmission of ionizing radiation, motion and global position for use in occupational and environmental dosimetry. The described dosimeter utilizes new processes and algorithms to create a self-contained, passive, integrating dosimeter. Furthermore, disclosed embodiments provide the use of MEMS and nanotechnology manufacturing techniques to encapsulate individual ionizing radiation sensor elements within a radiation attenuating material that provides a “filtration bubble” around the sensor element, the use of multiple attenuating materials (filters) around multiple sensor elements, and the use of a software algorithm to discriminate between different types of ionizing radiation and different radiation energy.

An emphasis converter 52 compares the image data of the current vertical period with the image data of the previous vertical period and controls the input image data to a liquid crystal display panel 4 based on the emphasis conversion parameters stored in tables of ROMs 3a to 3c so as to achieve accelerated drive. A microcomputer 38 is able to realize stable control of selecting emphasis conversion parameters by adding hysteresis to the detected temperature from a thermistor 37 even when the detected temperature fluctuates up and down crossing the temperature threshold.

An infrared ear thermometer includes a detector head housing, a heat sink, a recess formed in the heat sink, a thermopile sensor mounted within the recess, a thermistor, and temperature determination circuitry. The recess defines an aperture that limits the field of view of the thermopile sensor. The thermal capacities and conductivities of the heat sink and the thermopile sensor are selected so that the output signal of the thermopile sensor stabilizes during a temperature measurement. A method of determining temperature using the ear thermometer takes successive measurements, stores the measurements in a moving time window, averages the measurements in the moving window, determines whether the average has stabilized, and outputs an average temperature. A method of calculating a subject's temperature determines the temperature of a cold junction of the thermopile, looks up a bias and slope of the thermopile based upon the temperature of the cold junction, measures the output of the thermopile, and calculates the subject's temperature based upon a linear relationship between the output and the subject's temperature. The linear relationship is defined by the bias and the slope.

A temperature control device of an optical semiconductor device is provided for keeping the optical semiconductor device constant. An optical semiconductor device is fixed to a thermal conductor. One thermistor is arranged on the thermal conductor at the portion where it is susceptible stronger to an ambient temperature rather than the optical semiconductor device is susceptible to the ambient temperature while another thermistor is arranged on the thermal conductor at the portion where it is susceptible weaker to the ambient temperature rather than the optical semiconductor device is susceptible to the ambient temperature. The difference between an average temperature of the thermal conductor at two points detected by the thermistors and a set temperature is detected by a temperature detecting means comprising a bridge circuit having the thermistors which are connected to each other so as to form opposing sides of the bridge circuit and a differential amplifier for receiving an imbalanced voltage of the bridge circuit. The thus detected difference of the temperature is outputted to a temperature control circuit, whereby the temperature control circuit controls a Peltier driving current of a Peltier element so that the average temperature of the thermal conductor at two points thereof and the set temperature become equal to each other.

Methods and associated tools and components related to generating and obtaining performance data during drilling operations of a subterranean formation is disclosed. Performance data may include thermal and mechanical information related to earth-boring drilling tool during a drilling operation are disclosed. For example, a cutting element of an earth-boring drilling tool may include a substrate with a cutting surface thereon. The cutting element may further include at least one thermistor sensor coupled with the cutting surface, and a conductive pathway operably coupled with the at least one thermistor sensor. The at least one thermistor sensor may be configured to vary a resistance in response to a change in temperature. The conductive pathway may be configured to provide a current path through the at least one thermistor sensor in response to a voltage. Other methods, tools and components are provided.

When heating up the water in the lower inner part of a hot water tank by a heat pump unit, a control unit stops the heat-up operation while leaving the hot water in an amount corresponding to the residual water capacity in the hot water tank detected by water level thermistors. In the heat-up operation in the hot water tank, the residual hot water capacity in the tank is first detected, then the heat-up operation is stopped when the residual hot water reaches an amount corresponding to the detected residual hot water capacity. At this point, the hot water is stored so that the hot water newly heated up by the heat pump unit is laid above the residual hot water for the preceding day. Consequently, the reduction in the operating efficiency of the heat pump cycle is prevented without supplying the medium-temperature residual hot water to a condenser.

An electrically powered resistance heating handgrip is provided for a vehicle that employs an electrical storage battery. A control circuit to regulate the amount of power provided to the resistance elements in the grip is provided and preferably located within a hollow core that fits coaxially within the open end of a handlebar of a motorcycle or snowmobile, for example. The control circuit is mounted on a thin, narrow, elongated printed circuit board and includes a microprocessor that is programmed to contain a lookup table of temperatures. A thermistor is embedded in the casing of the handgrip proximate the heating element thereof. The thermistor provides feedback signals to the microprocessor which compares the temperature sensor feedback signals to a target temperature and provides or interrupts electrical power to the electrical heating element depending upon whether the temperature indicated by the thermistor is lower than the target temperature. The target temperature is established by a dial mounted in the butt end of the handgrip. The dial operates the wiper of a variable potentiometer to establish the target temperature. Heat is uniformly distributed throughout each handgrip by wrapping the heating element wire thereof about a thermally conductive sheet of aluminum, and encasing the wire within a temperature resistant dielectric sheathing, such as Teflon(R).

A method and heating device for heating a liquid, particularly useful for removing liquid condensate from cooling devices, by wetting a heating plate with the liquid and controlling the electrical power supply to maintain the heating plate at a the predetermined temperature above the boiling point of the liquid, such that when the heating plate is not wetted by the liquid, the electrical power supply to the heating plate is automatically maintained at a relatively low value, but as soon as the heating plate is wetted by the liquid, the electrical power supplied to the heating plate is automatically increased until the liquid is completely evaporated. The heating plate is heated by one or more PTC thermistors in which the electrical resistance increases with temperature to automatically maintain the predetermined temperature. Besides evaporating liquid condensate, the heating device is described for use in many other applications including steam generation, space heating and plastic molding.

The detector for monitoring decrease in air flow rate due to air filter clogging. It is based on combination of three essential components: the air flow sensor, a threshold detector and an indicator. The air flow sensor is built in form of a novel thermo-anemometer which contains a thermistor, a heating element, and a thermal insulator. Temperature of the sensor is maintained above the air temperature by a constant value by means of an electronic servo circuit. The threshold detector is implemented either in a hardware or software. A novel design of a thermo-anemometer (closely related to a hot wire anemometer) automatically compensates for variations in the air temperatures. The thermo-anemometer triggers the threshold circuit when air flow rate drops below a preset level. For reduction of power consumption, the detector may employ two additional sensors: one is for detection of the blower operation and the other is a presence detector to enable the alarm in presence of people to perceive the alarm. The device automatically calibrates itself upon installation of a new or cleaned air filter. The applications include residential and commercial air conditioners, air heaters, internal combustion engines, vacuum cleaners and other systems where air filters are employed.

The electrical measuring apparatus (17) and temperature sensing apparatus minimises the number of connections required for each contact (30, 31) of a battery (18). The present invention measures the core temperature of the battery (18) which is useful in monitoring the health of the battery (18). The apparatus comprises first connection means to connect to the first contact (30) of the battery (18) and second connection means to connect to the second contact (31) of the battery (18). The apparatus includes a thermistor (36) which connects in series with one lead (32) of the connecting means. Accordingly, the apparatus does not require the temperature sensor (36) to be independently connected to the battery (18).

A split-type electric pressure cooker is composed of an internal pressure cooker able to be used individually, and an external cooker with microprocessor controlled heater on its bottom for setting up heating time, temp and different cooking functions.

The invention relates to an integrated silicon chip for testing acceleration, pressure and temperature, and the manufacturing method thereof. The invention is characterized in manufacturing the pressure sensor, temperature sensor and accelerometers of thermoelectric pile on to one chip by the same micro processing technology. The acceleration is detected by adopting thermal convection type accelerometers, using polysilicon resistor as heater, using a thermoelectric pile composed of two pairs of metals (such as aluminium and tungsten-titanium) and P type or N type polysilicon to detect the temperature difference in the sealed cavity caused by acceleration. The high accurate absolute pressure sensor is manufactured by using silicon nitride film with low stress as the core structure layer of the pressure sensor chip, and forming force sensitive resistor track by polysilicon film, forming vacuum reference cavity by TEOS bolt in LPCVD furnace. At the same time, the temperature sensor is composed by using polysilicon thermistor to detect temperature change. The integrated chip achieves the advantages of microminiaturization, low cost, high precision, high reliability and high stability.

An infrared ray detector includes an array of pixels each including an infrared ray sensitive section having a first thermo-sensitive resistor and an infrared ray non-sensitive section having a second thermo-sensitive resistor. The second thermo-sensitive resistor is covered by an infrared ray reflector film. A pair of visors extending from the first thermo-sensitive resistor overhang the adjacent second thermo-sensitive resistor. A difference between the output signals from the first and second thermo-sensitive resistors is delivered as an output signal which cancels the fluctuation caused by the ambient temperature or Joule heat of the bias current.

An environmental monitoring and controlling system for a ventilated cage and rack system that monitors and measures air flow in the rack at either the rack or cage level. At the rack level, two pressure sensors are provided in a supply air system to accurately monitor the air flow rate into the rack. In addition, two pressure sensors may be provided in an exhaust air system to accurately monitor the air flow rate out of the rack. At the cage level, a cage may be equipped with a highly accurate pressure sensor, including a Venturi tube and thermistor, the monitor the air flow rate in a cage located at any cage position in the rack.

An organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor comprising a thermoplastic polymer matrix, a low-molecular organic compound having a melting point that is equal to or greater than 40 DEG C. and less than 100 DEG C. and conductive particles, each having spiky protuberances, is obtained by crosslinking a milled mixture of these components with a silane coupling agent comprising a vinyl group or a (meth)acryloyl group and an alkoxy group. This organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor has sufficiently low resistance at room temperature and a large rate of resistance change between an operating state and a non-operating state, and can be operated at less than 100 DEG C. with a reduced temperature vs. resistance curve hysteresis, ease of control of operating temperature, and high performance stability.

The invention provides a method and a system for calculating the transient junction temperature of an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Translator) module. The method comprises the steps of: acquiring circuit state information, loss parameter and internal thermistor voltage drop information; calculating power module loss according to the circuit state information and the loss parameter, and calculating substrate temperature according to the internal thermistor voltage drop information of the module; according to the temperature information provided by internal chips and the internal thermistor of the module as reference temperature, in consideration with thermal coupling between the internal chips of the power module at the same time, establishing a simpler IGBT module thermistor network model, and calculating a junction temperature rise according to the power module loss and the thermistor network model; and calculating the transient junction temperature according to the substrate temperature and the junction temperature rise, thus realizing on-line acquisition of the transient working junction temperature of the IGBT. By sufficiently utilizing the existing thermistor resource inside the power module, a junction temperature measurement system based on a power module electro-thermal coupling model is established, so that accurate power device junction temperature information is provided for security operation and health management of a converter system.

Suppression malfunction of an authentication circuit for authenticating a battery pack. Signal line for applying an intermediate potential between the power supply and ground and for reading the potential of a thermistor for detecting the temperature is used as a transmission path for exchanging data between a battery pack and main device. A master-authentication circuit and slave-authentication circuit comprise level-correction circuits, which are connected to the signal line by way of a voltage-comparator circuit. The level-correction circuits are constructed such that they correct the signal applied to the signal line so that it is greater than or less than the unstable-region voltage, and outputs it to the input end of the authentication circuits, so that unstable-region voltage is not applied to the input end. Output circuits overlap in turn authentication information onto the signal line when performing authentication, and the level-correction circuits receive the respective information, and authentication is performed.

Described is a radiation dose calculation algorithm based upon the output of a radiation dosimeter including multiple sensor devices (including one or more passive integrating radiation sensors and optionally, a MEMS accelerometers, a wireless transmitters a GPS, a thermistor, or other chemical, biological or EMF sensors). The algorithm is used to convert the sensor output into dose values used to assess the exposure of personnel to ionizing radiation. Sensor output patterns are matched to stored empirically generated sensor outputs thru weighting and optimization calculation processes to determine personnel doses. Algorithm outputs can include personal dose equivalents, radiation types, radiation energy and radiation source identification. Dose calculations can be optimized for specific applications, and matched to different sets of measured data without changing the underlining software calculation programs.

A thermal control system for a light-emitting diode comprises a thermistor thermally coupled to a heat sink. Preferably the thermistor is disposed within a thermal conductive member. A power supply is electrically connected to the thermistor. A cooling device is electrically connected in series with the power supply and the thermistor. The thermistor is between the power supply and the thermistor. A rheostat may further be electrically connected, in series, between the thermistor and the power supply.

An electronic thermometer that reduces patient exposure to all sources of cross-contamination, aids in infection control, and provides a clean, uncontaminated, readily accessible source of probe covers. A probe assembly for an electronic thermometer, which does not require expensive calibration procedures during manufacturing and allows the use of inexpensive thermisters. A memory component such as an EEPROM integrated circuit stores calibration information and identifying information in each particular probe assembly which improves performance and reduces manufacturing costs.