Patent US5587714A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5374123A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5374123A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thermal comfort sensing device

Assignee: LG Electronics Inc
•
Filing: 1993-05-19
•
Granted: 1994-12-20
•
Expires: 2013-05-19
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A temperature comfort sensing device and a method for manufacturing the same, capable of achieving comfortable air conditioning by detecting an average temperature comfort sensitivity to a room environment and thus analogizing a correct predicted mean vote value. The temperature comfort sensing device comprises a lower diaphragm having a thin film heater and a temperature sensor, and an upper diaphragm having a plurality of thermocouples, a room temperature sensor and a black body. Alternatively, the temperature comfort sensing device comprises a single diaphragm having a thin film heater and a temperature sensor. Directly formed over the single diaphragm are a plurality of thermocouples, a room temperature sensor and a black body. The sensor is based on a model of the human body, with the thin film heater corresponding to an internal heat exchanging mechanism of a human being. The thermocouples serve to sense a skin temperature condition.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jong U. Bu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 21:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W1/17

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 76 words
A temperature comfort sensing device comprising: a first diaphragm defining a first recess, the first diaphragm further including a thin film heater over the first recess for generating heat; and a temperature sensor for controlling a temperature of the thin film heater; and a second diaphragm defining a second recess, the second diaphragm further including a thermopile over the second recess for generating an electromotive force depending on the heat generated by the thin film heater.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 76 words
A temperature comfort sensing device comprising: a first diaphragm defining a first recess, the first diaphragm further including a thin film heater over the first recess for generating heat; and a temperature sensor for controlling a temperature of the thin film heater; and a second diaphragm defining a second recess, the second diaphragm further including a thermopile over the second recess for generating an electromotive force depending on the heat generated by the thin film heater.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 1, further including an adhesive, wherein the first diaphragm is bonded to the second diaphragm by the adhesive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second recess is configured as an air cavity for accumulating the heat generated from the thin film heater.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second diaphragms each includes a micro film with an average thickness of 2 to 3 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 65 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first diaphragm includes a first oxide film over the first recess, a first nitride film over the first oxide film, wherein the thin film heater and the temperature sensor are on the first nitride film, and wherein the device further includes a second oxide film over the thin film heater and temperature sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first diaphragm includes a P type silicon layer having a surface with a (100) orientation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 5, further including an etch stop layer over the first recess, the etch stop layer including an impurity layer heavily doped with boron ions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the thin film heater includes a Ni--Fe alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 98 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second diaphragm includes a first oxide film over the second recess; a first nitride film over the first oxide film, wherein the thermopile is on the first nitride film, and wherein the device further includes a second oxide film over the first nitride film and contacting the thermopile; a third oxide film over both the second oxide film and the thermopile; a temperature sensor contacting the third oxide film; a second nitride film on the temperature sensor; and a black body on the second nitride film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the second diaphragm includes a P type silicon layer having a surface with a (100) orientation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
A temperature comfort sensing device accordance with claim 9, further including an etch stop layer over the second recess, the etch stop layer including an impurity layer heavily doped with boron ions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 42 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the thermopile includes a first thermoelectric film having a first width and a second thermoelectric film, coupled to the first thermoelectric film, having a width substantially equal to the first width.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the first and second films include Sn and Bi.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 28 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the black body has a heat radiation amount approximately substantially equal to that of a human skin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
A temperature comfort sensing device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the black body includes a body selected from a group consisting of Pt, Au ad Ag.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 81 words
A temperature comfort sensing device comprising: a lower diaphragm defining a first recess, the lower diaphragm further including a thin film heater over the first recess for generating heat depending on a room temperature and a temperature sensor for controlling a temperature of said thin film heater; and an upper diaphragm defining a second recess, the upper diaphragm further including a thermopile over the second recess for generating an electromotive force depending on said heat generated from the thin film heater.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 81 words
A temperature comfort sensing device comprising: a lower diaphragm defining a first recess, the lower diaphragm further including a thin film heater over the first recess for generating heat depending on a room temperature and a temperature sensor for controlling a temperature of said thin film heater; and an upper diaphragm defining a second recess, the upper diaphragm further including a thermopile over the second recess for generating an electromotive force depending on said heat generated from the thin film heater.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3294988A Cited
US3456112A Cited
US3566690A Cited
US3872418A Cited
US4125012A Cited
JPS5717882A Cited
JPS60148171A Cited
US4890932A Cited
US5102230A Cited
JPH02188962A Cited
US5059543A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-12-19 1998-06-20 1998-12-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-12-19 2002-06-20 2002-12-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-12-19 2006-06-20 2006-12-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag