The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 12, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 18, 2003
Robert F. Richards, Pullman, WA (US);
David F. Bahr, Pullman, WA (US);
Cecilia Richards, Pullman, WA (US);
Robert F. Richards, Pullman, WA (US);
David F. Bahr, Pullman, WA (US);
Cecilia Richards, Pullman, WA (US);
Washington State University Research Foundation, Pullman, WA (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a thermal switch used to control the transfer of heat from a heat source to a heat sink. According to one aspect, the thermal switch can be activated, or turned 'on', so as to establish a path of low thermal resistance between the heat source and the heat sink to facilitate the transfer of heat therebetween. The thermal switch can also be de-activated, or turned 'off', so as to establish a path of high thermal resistance between the heat source and the heat sink to minimize or totally prevent the transfer of heat between the heat source and heat sink. In certain embodiments, the thermal switch includes at least drop of a thermally conductive liquid that thermally couples the heat source to the heat sink whenever the switch is activated.