Other

Plumeria Investments, Inc.

Quantum Industrial Development Corp.

The Texas A&M University System

Magnetic Semiconductors

Joseph S McDowell

James Gustav Harris

Juan Monico

Otto Voegli

Mirley K Balasubramanya

Kevin M Chandler

Victoria A Watson

Terry R McCauley

J Harold Idell

M K Balsubramanya

Mark A Junio

Harold J Idell

A device is disclosed herein which provides a domed cover of a combustion chamber enclosure applicable for use in Stirling Cycle engines, Ericsson Cycle engines, Rankine Cycle engines or other external combustion heat engine types which allows for the free flow of combustion air from the outer margins of the device toward the combustion air inlet in a vortexual fluid flow to achieve a more balanced stoichiometric ratio of the fuel/air mixture before ignition. This may be achieved by the employment of vanes to direct combustion air in a swirling vortexual flow as the combustion air enters the combustion chamber. Thermal barrier coatings and insulative materials may also be employed to minimize parasitic heat loss.

External combustion heat engine combustion chamber

A control system algorithm is provided for the computer control of a solid-state switching device in a Stirling-electric hybrid vehicle. The algorithm satisfies the demands for electrical energy management, regulation, allocation and distribution to the electrical system of the vehicle during the operation thereof. The control system controls the management, regulation, allocation and distribution of electrical current throughout the vehicle's electrical system in response to the commands of the vehicle operator. This includes the operation of wheel motors, electrical storage systems, the drivetrain and a plurality of other components, accessories and subsystems.

Computer controlled solid state switching device for electrical system in a Stirling-electric hybrid vehicle

A vehicle is provided which includes a Stirling Cycle engine that generates a flow of exhaust gases from the external combustion of a fuel supply. The vehicle is equipped with a thermoelectric generator module which is in fluidic communication with the flow of exhaust gases generated by the Stirling Cycle engine. The thermoelectric generator module includes a thermopile array, and generates electrical energy from the thermal energy in the flow of exhaust gases.

Thermoelectric heat energy recovery module generator for application in a Stirling-electric hybrid automobile

The Stirling-Electric Hybrid automobile herein disclosed utilizes an electric drive motor which is powered by electric storage device. The electric storage device is kept at suitable charge by electric generator mechanically driven by external combustion of Stirling engine type, by thermoelectric generator thermally coupled to the exhaust of the Stirling engine and to kinetic energy recovery system which during deceleration of the automobile utilizes the electric drive motor as a generator and recovering the electrical energy generated by deceleration to the electric storage device. Almost any clean combusting liquid or gaseous fuel may be utilized by the Stirling engine with greater fuel economy and less atmospheric pollution than internal combustion engines presently used. The utilization of thermoelectric generator to recover heat from exhaust of the Stirling engine and utilization of kinetic energy recovery system provides even better fuel efficiency and reduced pollution.

Stirling-electric hybrid automobile

The present invention, generally speaking, provides a magnetic memory element that is single domain in nature and has a geometry that mitigates the effects of half-select noise. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic memory element takes the form of a magnetic post or tube having an aspect ratio in the range of 2:1 (more preferably 4:1). The outside diameter of the magnetic tube or post is preferably less than 0.8 microns, more preferably 0.6 microns or less. The magnetic post or tube then functions as a single magnetic domain. In the case of a magnetic tube, the skin of the tube is formed of a magnetic material and the interior of the tube is formed of a non-magnetic material. Suitable non-magnetic materials include copper, gold and silicon. The coercivity of the magnetic tube structure may be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the magnetic skin. As a result, the magnetic memory element is readily scalable to smaller geometries as lithographic techniques improve. The combination of very small, single-domain size and a relatively large aspect ratio results in uniquely desirable properties. Current levels within any reasonable expectation operate to switch the state of the magnetic tube only when the magnetic tube is destabilized by running current through it. With current flowing through the magnetic tube, its state may be readily changed by running modest currents in opposite directions through two parallel conductors, one on each side of the magnetic tube. When the magnetic tube is switched, the single domain nature of the magnetic tube produces a signal that is typically 10-15 times stronger than signals produced by conventional magnetic memory elements. The magnetic tube functions as a vertical magnetic field generator and may be formed in intimate proximity to a magnetic field sensor such as above the gate of a magFET.

High-efficiency miniature magnetic integrated circuit structures

High efficiency miniature magnetic integrated circuit structures

Magnetic integrated circuit structures exhibit desirable characteristics for purposes of realizing a magnetic semiconductor memory. In combination with a carrier-deflection-type magnetic field sensor, each of a variety of magnet structures realize a condition in which the magnetic field is substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of carriers of a sense current, thereby achieving maximum sensitivity. In general, the magnetic structures are highly efficient and achieve a high degree of control of the magnetic field. As a result, a minimum-size device such as a MOS device suffices for purposes of sourcing a magnetizing current. By basing a magnetic memory cell on a single minimum-size MOS device, a small cell may be realized that compares favorably with a conventional DRAM or FLASH memory cell. The greater degree of control over the magnetic field afforded by the magnetic structures enables cross-coupling between cells in a memory array to be minimized.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Joseph S McDowell