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US 8,940,241 B2Granted
Photostructured chemical devices and methods for making same
AssigneeThe Aerospace Corporation
InventorHenry Helvajian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices may include one or more of chemical, mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces.
Claims11
An embedded chemical reactor device, comprising:
- a photostructurable ceramic volume encapsulating plumbing comprising a port and conduit fluidically coupling a device material to an exterior surface of the photostructurable ceramic volume, wherein the ceramic volume is a homogenous volume of unexposed ceramic material and the plumbing is formed by an exposure of the photostructurable ceramic volume to a laser during a photostructurable process;
- and
- the device material disposed in the plumbing, the device material being an explosive chemical material;
- an excitation chemical disposed in the conduit and contacting the device material;
- wherein the ceramic volume is a contiguous volume and wherein the embedded device material is encapsulated by and explodes within the ceramic volume.
2 more elements
An embedded filter device, comprising:
- a photostructurable ceramic volume encapsulating plumbing, wherein the ceramic volume is a homogenous volume of unexposed ceramic material and the plumbing is formed by an exposure of the photostructurable ceramic volume to a laser during a photostructurable process;
- wherein the plumbing comprises a filter,
- an input conduit extending from an outer surface of the ceramic volume to the filter and providing a first fluidic path to the filter;
- an output conduit extending from the outer surface of the ceramic volume to the filter and providing a second fluidic path to the filter;
- device material disposed in the ceramic volume and forming the filter, the ceramic volume comprising a surface interface supplying a chemical to the filter via the input conduit;
- wherein the filter is disposed between the input conduit and the output conduit and wherein the filter comprises a wall structure comprising a plurality of microholes, each microhole providing a passageway through the wall structure, and wherein the filter wall structure further comprises a plurality of cutting patterns disposed along a surface of the filter wall, wherein the cutting patterns cut cellular matter of the chemical.
3 more elements
An embedded chemical device, comprising:
- a photostructurable ceramic volume encapsulating plumbing, wherein the ceramic volume is a homogenous volume of unexposed ceramic material and the plumbing is formed by an exposure of the photostructurable ceramic volume to a laser during a photostructurable process, the ceramic volume comprising:
- a top chamber:
- a bottom chamber;
- a catalyst chamber disposed between the top chamber and the bottom chamber and in fluid communication with the top chamber and the bottom chamber;
- a top chamber conduit providing a fluidic pathway between the top chamber and an exterior of the ceramic volume;
- a bottom chamber conduit providing a fluidic pathway between the bottom chamber and the exterior of the ceramic volume;
- an electrical conductor having a first end electrically coupled to the catalyst chamber and a second end disposed along the exterior of the ceramic volume;
- device material comprising a catalyst disposed in the catalyst chamber, the device material forming a chemical device;
- a first chemical disposed in the top chamber, the first chemical interacting with the catalyst;
- a second chemical disposed in the bottom chamber, the second chemical interacting with the catalyst;
- wherein the catalyst receives an electrical signal from the electrical conductor to control the catalyst.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.