Peter James Thomas

US Patent:

7786438, Aug 31, 2010

Filed:

Jul 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/176490

Inventors:

Nathan DeVilbiss - Sandia Park NM, US
Ryan Olcott - Rio Rancho NM, US
Peter Thomas - Albuquerque NM, US
Gregory Spanjers - Sandia Park NM, US
James Winter - Albuquerque NM, US
Jason Guarnieri - Albuquerque NM, US
Timothy Klatt - Albuquerque NM, US
Holly Victorson - Albuquerque NM, US
Thomas Roberts - Albuquerque NM, US
Robert Thompson - Marina Del Rey CA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Airforce - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01J 5/00

US Classification:

250332

Abstract:

A sensor assembly that replaces a single focal plane array detector with two focal plane array detectors orientated with respect to each other such that a power splitter divides an incoming light source equally between each detector. The two detectors are selected such that the locations of poorly-operating pixels in each detector do not overlay. The output signals of each detector are then electronically or analytically combined to yield 100 percent operability. Separate switchable wavelength filter wheels having one or more different wavelength filters may be positioned between the power splitter and each of the detectors. The power splitter may be replaced by a polarization splitter. One detector can be translated perpendicular to the incoming light source relative to the second detector to compensate for new poorly-operating pixels and/or to improve the spatial resolution.

US Patent:

20100257871, Oct 14, 2010

Filed:

Dec 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/641563

Inventors:

Rama Venkatasubramanian - Cary NC, US
Brooks C. O'Quinn - Mamers NC, US
Edward P. Siivola - Raleigh NC, US
Kip D. Coonley - Durham NC, US
Pratima Addepalli - Monroe MI, US
Randall G. Alley - Raleigh NC, US
John Posthill - Chapel Hill NC, US
Thomas Colpitts - Durham NC, US
Anil J. Reddy - Minneapolis MN, US
James Christopher Caylor - Druham NC, US
Peter Thomas - Carrboro NC, US

International Classification:

F25B 21/02

US Classification:

62 37

Abstract:

A thermoelectric device having at least one thermoelectric unit including at least one thermoelectric pair of n-type and p-type thermoelements, a first header coupled to one side of the thermoelectric pair, and a second header coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric pair. The thermoelectric pair has a thermal conduction channel area smaller than an area of the first header or the second header such that the thermal conduction area is a fraction of the area of the first header or the second header.

US Patent:

20180031285, Feb 1, 2018

Filed:

Jul 27, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/662006

Inventors:

Peter M. Thomas - Raleigh NC, US
Stephen M. Thomas - Raleigh NC, US

International Classification:

F25B 21/04
F25D 17/06

Abstract:

A single or multi stage liquid loop thermoelectric heat pump system for cooling and/or heating is disclosed that can achieve higher delta temperature and COP then previous thermoelectric heat pump systems.

US Patent:

20150048028, Feb 19, 2015

Filed:

Aug 13, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/458909

Inventors:

Peter McLean Thomas - Raleigh NC, US
Rama Venkatasubramanian - Cary NC, US
Sam Parry - Gilbert AZ, US
Nancy Jochens - Kansas City MO, US
Jerry Morrow - Leawood KS, US

International Classification:

C02F 1/44
H01L 35/00

US Classification:

210640, 210251, 210 85, 210184

Abstract:

A water filtration system with power generating capability includes a membrane that receives relatively hot water on a dirty side, purifies the hot water, and transmits it to a clean side having relatively cold purified water. The system further includes at least one thermoelectric element coupled to the membrane that absorbs thermal energy from the dirty side and emits thermal energy into the clean side to generate electrical power. The system further includes at least one conductor electrically coupled to the at least one thermoelectric element that channels generated electrical power away from the at least one thermoelectric element.

US Patent:

20140318593, Oct 30, 2014

Filed:

Nov 21, 2012

Appl. No.:

14/359817

Inventors:

- Reseaxh Triangle Park NC, US
- Releigh NC, US
Ryan Wiitala - Morrisville NC, US
Peter Thomas - Raleigh NC, US
Carl C. Koch - Raleigh NC, US
Tsungta Ethan Chan - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

Research Triangle Institute - Research Triangle Park NC
North Carolina State University - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

H01L 35/16
H01L 35/18
H01L 35/28

US Classification:

136238, 428338

Abstract:

A thermoelectric composite and a thermoelectric device and a method of making the thermoelectric composite. The thermoelectric composite is a semiconductor material formed from mechanically-alloyed powders of elemental constituents of the semiconductor material to produce nano-particles of the semiconductor material, and compacted to have at least a bifurcated grain structure. The bifurcated grain structure has at least two different grain sizes including small size grains in a range of 2-200 nm and large size grains in a range of 0.5 to 5 microns. The semiconductor material has a figure of merit ZT, defined as a ratio of the product of square of Seebeck coefficient, S, and electrical conductivity σ divided by the thermal conductivity k, which varies from greater than 1 at 300 K to 2.5 at temperatures of 300 to 500K.