# US 12,181,349 B2 · Color-changing torque seal for electrical connections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,349 B2 - Document ID: US12181349B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/143,225 - Filed: 2023-05-04 - Published: 2024-11-07 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2023-05-04 - Assignees: Applied Materials, Inc. - Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc. - Inventors: Imran Afzal; Jeffrey C. Hudgens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181349B2 ## CPC - G01K 13/00: Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes - G01K 11/12: using changes in colour, translucency or reflectance - G01R 31/68: Testing of releasable connections, e.g. of terminals mounted on a printed circuit board - H01R 4/30: utilising a screw or nut clamping member (H01R4/50 takes precedence; utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut H01R4/38; {for coaxial cables H01R9/0521}) - H01R 4/36: Conductive members located under tip of screw - H01R 13/6683: {with built-in sensor} - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract The disclosure describes devices and systems for a color-changing torque seal. A system includes multiple electrical connections. Each electrical connection of the multiple electrical connections includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector that contacts the first electrical connector. Each electrical connection further includes a color-changing torque seal disposed on the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector. The color-changing torque seal is configured to change color responsive to a temperature change of one or more of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a plurality of electrical connections, each electrical connection of the plurality of electrical connections comprising: a first electrical connector; a second electrical connector that contacts the first electrical connector; and a color-changing torque seal disposed on the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, wherein the color-changing torque seal is configured to change color responsive to a temperature change of one or more of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: one or more cameras, wherein the color-changing torque seal of at least one electrical connection of the plurality of electrical connections is within a field of view of the one or more cameras, and wherein the one or more cameras are configured to capture image data associated with the color-changing torque seal; and a processing device configured to determine that the at least one electrical connection has reached a threshold temperature based on processing of the image data associated with the color-changing torque seal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the processing device is configured further to initiate a corrective action responsive to a determination that the at least one electrical connection has reached the threshold temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the corrective action comprises one or more of inspecting the electrical connection, replacing one or more of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector, or torquing the electrical connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector is a threaded connector, and wherein the second electrical connector is configured to couple to the first electrical connector responsive to an application of torque to one or more of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the color-changing torque seal is configured to visually indicate whether the second electrical connector has rotated relative to the first electrical connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature change is indicative of a failure condition of an associated electrical connection of the plurality of electrical connections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the failure condition comprises one or more of a broken connection, a loose connection, or an under-designed connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the color-changing torque seal is further configured to change from a first color to a second color responsive to a temperature of the color-changing torque seal exceeding a first threshold temperature and remaining below a second threshold temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the color-changing torque seal is further configured to change from the second color to the first color responsive to the temperature of the color-changing torque seal cooling below the first threshold temperature, and wherein the color-changing torque seal permanently retains the second color responsive to the temperature of the color-changing torque seal exceeding the second threshold temperature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the first threshold temperature is between approximately 45 and 55 degrees Celsius (° C.) and wherein the second threshold temperature is between approximately 65 and 75° C. ### Claim 12 An electrical connection comprising: a first electrical connector; a second electrical connector that contacts the first electrical connector; and a color-changing torque seal disposed on the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, wherein the color-changing torque seal is configured to change color responsive to a temperature change in one or more of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electrical connection of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector is a threaded connector, and wherein the second electrical connector is configured to couple to the first electrical connector responsive to an application of torque to one or more of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical connection of claim 13, wherein the color-changing torque seal is configured to visually indicate whether the second electrical connector has rotated relative to the first electrical connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The electrical connection of claim 12, wherein the temperature change is indicative of a failure condition of the electrical connection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrical connection of claim 15, wherein the failure condition comprises one or more of a broken connection, a loose connection, or an under-designed connection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The electrical connection of claim 12, wherein the color-changing torque seal is further configured to change from a first color to a second color responsive to a temperature of the color-changing torque seal exceeding a first threshold temperature and remaining below a second threshold temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electrical connection of claim 17, wherein the color-changing torque seal is further configured to change from the second color to the first color responsive to the temperature of the color-changing torque seal cooling below the first threshold temperature, and wherein the color-changing torque seal permanently retains the second color responsive to the temperature of the color-changing torque seal exceeding the second threshold temperature. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: capturing image data, by one or more cameras, associated with a color-changing torque seal of an electrical connection of a plurality of electrical connections, wherein the electrical connection comprises: a first electrical connector; a second electrical connector that contacts the first electrical connector; and the color-changing torque seal, wherein the color-changing torque seal is configured to change color responsive to a temperature change of one or more of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector; and determining, by a processing device, that a temperature of the electrical connection has reached a threshold temperature based on processing of the image data associated with the color-changing torque seal; and determining, by the processing device, a corrective action responsive to a determination that the temperature of the electrical connection has reached the threshold temperature. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the temperature change is indicative of a failure condition of the electrical connection.