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:
Jan. 17, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 13, 2006
Terry L. Gilton, Boise, ID (US);
Terry L. Gilton, Boise, ID (US);
pSiFlow Technologies, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
A rotatable micro-machine is comprised of a solvent reservoir, a porous evaporation region and a channel connecting the solvent reservoir to the evaporation region. The evaporation region may be constructed of capillary paths that enable a capillary action which pulls solvent from the channel so as to enable a flow of solvent from the reservoir to the evaporation region through the channel. A rotatable member has portions in communication with the channel so as to be rotated by the flow. In one embodiment, the rotatable member may be a component of a micro-turbine generator. A system may be comprised of the rotatable micro-machine in combination with at least one electrical circuit. The porous region may be positioned to receive heat from the circuit. That may be accomplished in several ways; the evaporation region may be formed adjacent to the circuit, the evaporation region may be fabricated on the side of a die that is opposite of the side of the die carrying the circuit, or the reservoir, micro-turbine generator, evaporation region, and channel may be fabricated on one die and the circuit fabricated on another die. The two dies may then be connected to one another by a heat transferring adhesive with the evaporation region proximate to the circuit. Methods of operating a rotatable micro-machine are also disclosed. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used in construing the claims.