Tpv Energy Systems, Inc.

The Gillette Company

Quantum Group Inc.

Gas Research Institute

Robert E Nelson

Walter J Diederich

Mark K Goldstein

C Robert Parent

Brendan P McFadden

Jens F Olow

Louis T Montulli

Hoyt C Hottel

William P Dowst

Surveillance systems of this invention incorporate a charge coupled device image sensor with an illumination source that is made of an emitter which concentrates its optical output in a narrow band at or about the peak optical response of the photoconverter being used. Where a silicon imaging sensor is being used, the illumination system can comprise an emitter made of a rare earth oxide, such as ytterbium oxide, in the form of a filamentary network and fuel to energize the emitter. Different emitters can be employed to achieve the optimal radiant energy for any type of photoconverter device, including those based on silicon, germanium, indium gallium arsenide, and gallium antimonide. These surveillance systems may be applied in a number of specialized applications, such as, for example, in the covert surveillance of commercial, industrial, residential, or military sites, or any site in which the visible illumination of the surveillance area is undesirable. Because the emitters of the present invention emit radiation at or about the peak optical response wavelengths of the imaging sensors, the surveillance systems of the present invention are also advantageous in situations in which efficient energy consumption is important.

Surveillance systems

Portable, small, and light-weight radiant and/or electrical power generating sources, constructed according to the principles of this invention, comprise an air/fuel delivery device that houses a fuel canister of pressurized hydrocarbon fuel therein. The fuel canister includes a check valve that is selectively activated to release the pressurized hydrocarbon fuel to a pressure regulator and then through a venturi disposed within the delivery device. The delivery device includes an ignitor that is also activated when the fuel is released. A radiant head is attached to the delivery device and includes a luminous mantle in gas flow communication with the venturi and formed from a fibrous rare earth oxide. The head includes a lens and reflector system adjacent the mantle. Alternatively, or in addition to the radiant head, a thermophotovoltaic head can be attached to the delivery system. The thermophotovoltaic head also includes a luminous mantle in gas flow communication with the venturi, and a lens and reflector system. The mantle in each head is illuminated by the combustion of an ignited air/fuel mixture. The thermophotovoltaic head includes one or more photovoltaic cells adjacent the lens and reflector system. The radiant head thus produces a desired degree of radiant energy, while the thermophotovoltaic head produces a desired amount of electrical power.

Portable, small, light-weight radiant and/or electrical power generating

A radiant emission system includes ceramic fiber support structure and an array of emitter fiber members that are mechanically interlocked with and project outwardly from a surface of the support structure with the free ends of the emitter members spaced from one another and from the support structure, and thermal excitation structure for flowing fuel through the passages and establishing a combustion condition at the surface to heat the emitter fiber members to thermally emissive temperature.

Radiant emission and thermophotovoltaic technology

A process for producing a sturdy refractory metal oxide article includes the steps of heating a substrate of organic material impregnated with a metal compound to thermally decompose the compound without substantial thermal decomposition of the substrate, further heating to decompose and remove the organic material and complete conversion of the compound to a metal oxide so that a metal oxide replica of the substrate remains and further heating to sinter and densify the replica such that the replica has a strength (shock resistance) figure of merit of at least three g-meters and the replica retains such strength after heating to 1500 C.

Process for producing a sturdy refractory metal oxide article

An incandescent gas mantle assembly includes a metal coupling member and a mantle supporting sleeve member of thermally resistant material that has a skirt portion to which a metal oxide mantle sock is secured in depending relation. The metal coupling member has a body portion of disc configuration with an outer periphery and an inner periphery, a plurality of inwardly extending first coupling portions integral with and spaced about the body portion for attachment to a cooperating burner head, and a plurality of second coupling portions integral with and spaced about the body portion, the second coupling portions being in coupling engagement with recess structure of the mantle supporting sleeve member.

Mantle technology

A high-output, narrow band thermally energized radiation source comprises a rare earth oxide radiator member that has a cross-sectional dimension in the range of five to thirty micrometers, the rare earth oxide radiator member, when heated to about 1700.degree. C., having a concentrated radiated flux over the 400-2500 nanometer wavelength range such that at least 50% of the radiated flux is within a spectral band that is less than 400 nanometers wide.

Thermophotovoltaic technology

A high output, narrow band thermally energized radiation source comprises a rare earth oxide radiator member that has a cross-sectional dimension in the range of five to thirty micrometers, the rare earth oxide radiator member, when heated to about 1700.degree. C., having a concentrated radiated flux over the 400-2500 nanometer wavelength range such that at least 50% of the radiated flux is within a spectral band that is less than 400 nanometers wide.

A process for producing a sturdy refractory metal oxide articles includes the steps of heating a substrate or organic material impregnated with a metal nitrate compound in an atmosphere in which the partial pressure of oxygen is less than two mm Hg to increase the temperature of the substrate at a rate of at least two degrees Celsius per minute to thermally decompose the metal nitrate compound as a step in the conversion of the metal nitrate compound to a refractory metal oxide such that evolved oxides of nitrogen interact with the organic substrate material to partially oxidize the organic substrate material. The impregnated substrate is then further heated in an atmosphere containing an increased amount of oxygen to decompose and remove the organic material from the impregnated substrate and to complete the conversion of the metal nitrate compound to the refractory metal oxide so that a metal oxide replica of the substrate remains; and then the metal oxide replica is further heated to sinter and strengthen the metal oxide replica such that the replica retains strength after the replica has been heated to a temperature of 1500.degree. C.

Refractory metal oxide processes

Narrow band thermal emitter

A thermophotovoltaic energy conversion system includes a thermal energy source and a narrow band emitter spaced and optically isolated from the thermal energy source. Thermal energy is transferred between the thermal energy source and the emitter by a non-radiative mechanism, such as a closed loop fluid flow path that interconnects the thermal energy source and the narrow band emitter. A photocell array is disposed in optically coupled relation to the narrow band emitter for generating an electrical output in response to radiation from the narrow band emitter.

Thermophotovoltaic system

A thermophotovoltaic system includes structure defining a diffusion flame burner having separate but adjacent fuel and oxidant inlets, and structure defining a combustion chamber in which an emitter structure is disposed for exposure to combustion products of the burner. The combustion products heat the emitter structure and cause the emission of spectrally distributed radiation. Disposed in optically coupled relation to the emitter structure are one or more photocells for converting energy radiated by the emitter structure to electrical energy, a close match between the spectrum of the photon energy radiated from the emitter structure and the electron production threshold of the photocell array resulting in enhanced efficiency. One portion of the combustion product stream is flowed from the combustion chamber through a recuperator to heat the incoming oxidant, and another portion of the combustion product stream is flowed into the combustion chamber. Significant efficiency improvements are achieved by the recuperative preheating of oxidant, and the reintroduction of a part of the exhaust gas back into the combustion mixture reduces the flame temperature with minimal compromise of the gain in efficiency achieved through oxidant preheat so that thermal stability limits of one or more of the components of the system are not exceeded.

A plurality of nestable members, such as razor blades, are formed into a stack having a parallel array of symmetrical, triangular-shaped edges. The stack of blades are maintained in a close abutting relationship and means are provided for controlling the temperature of the stack.

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Weston, MA, United States of America

Robert E Nelson