System and method for thermal emission control using segmented array
AssigneesLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Bright Silicon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRobert Matthew Panas, Cynthia Dawn Walker Panas, Robert McHenry
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling thermal radiation from a component. The method involves arranging a thermally conductive base layer in contact with the component, the base layer including a thermally emissive surface. A plurality of independently controlled shutter elements are movable about at least two orthogonal axes, and between closed and open positions, to change a dimension of a gap separating edges of adjacent ones of the shutter elements. The movements of the shutter elements are controlled about the two orthogonal axes to control the dimensions of the gaps to control thermal radiation emitted through the gaps.
Claims20
A method for controlling thermal radiation from a component, the method comprising:
- arranging a thermally conductive base layer in contact with the component, the base layer including a thermally emissive surface;
- using a plurality of independently controlled shutter elements, movable about at least two orthogonal axes, and between closed and open positions, to change a dimension of a gap separating edges of adjacent ones of the shutter elements;
- and
- controlling the movements of the shutter elements about the two orthogonal axes to control the dimensions of the gaps to control thermal radiation emitted through the gaps.
A method for controlling thermal radiation from a component, the method comprising:
- arranging a thermally conductive base layer in contact with the component, the base layer including a thermally emissive surface;
- using a plurality of independently controlled shutter elements, movable about two non-parallel axes, and between closed and open positions, to change a dimension of a gap separating edges of adjacent ones of the shutter elements;
- and
- configuring a bottom surface of each one of the shutter elements, which face the base layer, are constructed to have an emissivity near 1 to help cool the shutter elements.
A method for controlling thermal radiation from a component, the method comprising:
- arranging a thermally conductive base layer in contact with the component, the base layer including a thermally emissive surface;
- using an electronic controller to control a plurality of actuation elements;
- using the plurality of actuation elements to control movement of a plurality of independently movable shutter elements disposed adjacent one another in a grid pattern, and controlled in movement by the actuation elements to create gaps of controllably varying dimension therebetween, to control at least one of a magnitude of thermal radiation through the gaps or a direction of emission of the thermal radiation through the gaps;
- the actuation elements further being configured to move the shutter elements in at least two of:
- a tilting motion about a first axis of rotation;
- a tipping motion about a second axis of rotation orthogonal to the first axis of rotation;
- a translating motion along a third axis, which is orthogonal to both the first and second axes of rotation, towards and away from the thermally emissive surface of the base layer;
- or
- a rotational movement about the third axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.