Imaging Device Cooling via Compressed Gas Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling systems for imaging devices, such as infrared focal plane arrays, are limited by high power consumption and fragility in shock and vibrational environments, preventing efficient temperature regulation and increasing failure rates.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system utilizing a compressed gas canister, like a CO2 cartridge, which expands within an expansion chamber to absorb waste heat, eliminating the need for thermoelectric coolers and providing effective temperature control without electrical power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If thermoelectric coolers are used to regulate operating temperature, then temperature control is achieved, but power consumption increases and reliability decreases in shock and vibrational environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the thermoelectric cooler from the system entirely and replaces it with a passive thermal management approach using heat pipes and vapor chambers. This extraction eliminates the fragile moving parts and solid-state components that fail in shock environments, while maintaining temperature regulation through phase-change heat transfer mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical thermoelectric cooling system with a thermal conduction and phase-change system. Heat pipes and vapor chambers use evaporative cooling and condensation cycles to transfer heat away from the focal plane array, eliminating reliance on solid-state Peltier effects that are sensitive to mechanical shock.
2Temperature
If thermoelectric coolers are used to regulate operating temperature, then temperature control is achieved, but system power draw increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active electrical thermoelectric cooling with passive thermal management using heat pipes and vapor chambers. These passive systems use phase-change heat transfer (evaporation and condensation) to move heat away from the focal plane array without requiring electrical power, thereby eliminating the high power draw associated with thermoelectric coolers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of working fluids within heat pipes and vapor chambers to achieve cooling. The fluid evaporates at the hot end (absorbing latent heat from the focal plane array) and condenses at the cold end (releasing heat to the environment), providing continuous passive cooling without electrical power consumption.
3Measurement precision
If lower operating temperatures are used to improve quantum efficiency, then quantum efficiency increases, but cooling system complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex active cooling system (thermoelectric coolers with temperature control circuits) and replaces it with simple passive thermal management components. The heat pipes and vapor chambers provide sufficient cooling to achieve the temperatures needed for high quantum efficiency without the complexity of active temperature regulation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex active electrical cooling with simple passive thermal conduction and phase-change systems. The heat pipes and vapor chambers automatically self-regulate temperature through thermodynamic principles without requiring control electronics, sensors, or power consumption, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining the temperature conditions necessary for high quantum efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution offers improved cooling efficiency, reduced power consumption, enhanced durability against vibrations, and faster temperature achievement, enabling high sensitivity operations while reducing system weight and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling system utilizing a compressed gas canister, like a CO2 cartridge, which expands within an expansion chamber to absorb waste heat
Implementation Method 2
compressed gas canister, like a CO2 cartridge, which expands within an expansion chamber to absorb waste heat
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging assembly includes a base member defining an expansion chamber therein, the base member defining a gas inlet for receiving a compressed gas and a gas outlet for expelling expanded gas, and a focal plane array assembly mounted to the base member including a sensor and a lens.