Solid-state deep cooling thermal management.

First-of-its-kind system enables a new class of solid-state thermal management systems that is currently only possible with bulkier, mechanical alternatives.

DTP Thermoelectrics has been awarded a patent that opens the door for solid-state deep cooling thermal management. The patent is based on theoretical and analytical models that have been validated through the fabrication and characterization of thermoelectric devices that use Distributed Transport Properties (DTP) thermoelectric materials.

Sample tests, using standard protocols, demonstrate significant increases in maximum cooling temperature, efficiency (COP) and cooling power, confirming that DTP devices can cool to lower temperatures, improving performance and functionality. Until now, these capabilities were only possible using much larger and heavier mechanical cooling systems.

“There is no better performing thermoelectric material system than what we have fabricated with our DTP technology,” says Dr. Lon E. Bell, President and CEO. “This mass-producible, proprietary technology increases cooling capacity at efficiencies greater than what is possible with other thermoelectric devices. DTP technology has the potential to improve cooling and thermal management system performance and cost effectiveness in Lidar, infrared sensors, electronics, cold chain storage, medical devices, battery thermal management and vision systems.”

“Our technology has been partially enabled by recent advances in semiconductor material manufacturing,” says Dr. Douglas Crane, Chief Technology Officer. “Using both modifications to available thermoelectric materials and advanced manufacturing technology, we can generate precise performance outputs. By starting with our higher efficiency thermoelectric systems and controlling the relationship between power density and COP that DTP technology enables, we can tailor performance to specific applications.”

The patent for “Thermoelectric Systems Employing Distributed Transport Properties to Increase Cooling and Heating Performance” (number 11,421,919 by the US Patent and Trademark Office) covers DTP technology and its ability to increase cooling and heating performance in solid-state heat pumps.

@uspto @mepaxIntPR #DTP_Thermoelectrics #PAuto

Patente am laufenden Band.

English

Mit einem besonderen Programm stärkt Endress+Hauser den Schutz des geistigen Eigentums

Bei E+H betrifft eine wachsende Zahl von
Patenten Entwicklungen für die Industrie 4.0.

Mit einem besonderen Programm stärkt Endress+Hauser den Schutz des geistigen Eigentums Innovative Produkte sind grundlegend für den Erfolg eines Technologieunternehmens. Deshalb schenkt die Endress+Hauser Gruppe dem Schutz des geistigen Eigentums seit mittlerweile zwei Jahrzehnten besondere Aufmerksamkeit. Die jüngsten Zahlen belegen den Erfolg dieser Initiative: 318 Erstanmeldungen im Jahr 2019 sowie ein Portfolio von mehr als 8.000 Patenten und Patentanmeldungen weltweit markieren neue Höchststände.

Seit 20 Jahren kümmert sich bei Endress+Hauser eine eigene Abteilung ausschließlich um den Schutz des geistigen Eigentums. 1999 wurden sämtliche Aktivitäten auf diesem Gebiet zusammengefasst und neu ausgerichtet. Heute beschäftigen sich 30 Mitarbeitende – 26 in Weil am Rhein (D), vier in Greenwood (IND USA) – mit Patentenfragen, Markenschutz und Vertragswesen. Zeitgleich startete das „Patent Rights Incentive Program“. Es ermuntert die Mitarbeitenden der Firmengruppe zu Erfindungsmeldungen.

„Wenn wir uns vor unerwünschten Nachahmern schützen möchten, müssen wir alle relevanten Entwicklungen kennen“, sagt Dr Angelika Andres. Die Physikerin und Patentanwältin leitet das Patentwesen der Firmengruppe seit 1999. Ihr Team prüft die gemeldeten Erfindungen jeweils auf ihre Schutzwürdigkeit und -fähigkeit. In vier von fünf Fällen ist dies gegeben. Dann formulieren die Spezialisten eine Patentanmeldung, die die Erfinderleistung möglichst umfassend schützt.

Erfolg lässt sich in Zahlen messen
1999 reichte Endress+Hauser 55 Erstanmeldungen für ein Patent ein – 2019 waren es stolze 318. „Wir haben gleich im ersten Jahr nach Einführung des ,Patent Rights Incentive Program‘ einen Sprung gemacht und fast doppelt so viele Patente angemeldet“, sagt Chief Operating Officer Dr. Andreas Mayr. „Seitdem wachsen die Zahlen stetig.“ Immer größer wird der Anteil der Patente, die das Thema Digitalisierung betreffen, und auch das Feld der Analysetechnik – ein strategischer Schwerpunkt – gewinnt an Gewicht.

Weltweit 677 Patente wurden Endress+Hauser vergangenes Jahr erteilt. Diese schützen die Produkte des Unternehmens in den wichtigsten europäischen Märkten sowie in China und den USA. Das gesamte Schutzrechte-Portfolio der Gruppe umfasst heute über 8.000 Patente und Anmeldungen. Dahinter steht vor allem die Arbeit der mehr als 1.100 Beschäftigten in Forschung und Entwicklung. „Aber eine Erfindungsmeldung kann jede und jeder Mitarbeitende machen“, betont Andreas Mayr. „Innovation ist nicht auf bestimmte Bereiche beschränkt.“

Preise fürs Erfinden und Nicht-Erfinden
Zum 20. Mal hätte 2020 das Endress+Hauser Innovatorentreffen stattfinden sollen – es fiel wegen der Coronavirus-Pandemie aus. Dort steht der Austausch der Erfinderinnen und Erfinder im Mittelpunkt. Zugleich werden Preise vergeben: Endress+Hauser zeichnet wirtschaftlich wichtige Patente aus, besonders fleißige Innovatoren, die Verbesserung von Verfahren und Abläufen – ebenso das Zurückgreifen auf bereits erteilte Patente. Angelika Andres: „Wir müssen das Rad nicht immer neu erfinden!“

@Endress_Hauser @Endress_US @Endress_UK #PAuto

Protecting innovation.

Deutsch

Endress+Hauser strengthens the protection of intellectual property with a special program!

Registering patents non-stop

Innovative products are essential to the success of a technology company. That’s why the Endress+Hauser Group has been paying special attention to the protection of intellectual property for two decades now. The most recent figures confirm the success of this initiative: 318 initial applications in 2019 and a portfolio of more than 8,000 patents and patent applications worldwide mark new highs.

For 20 years now, a separate department at Endress+Hauser has been dealing exclusively with the protection of intellectual property. In 1999, the company merged and realigned all activities in this field. Today, 30 employees – 26 in Weil am Rhein (D), four in Greenwood (IND USA) – take care of patent issues, trademark protection and related contracts. The Patent Rights Incentive Program was launched at the same time. It encourages the Group’s employees to submit invention disclosures.

Dr Angelika Andres

“If we want to protect ourselves from unauthorized imitators, we need to be aware of all relevant developments,” says Angelika Andres. The physicist and patent attorney has headed the Group’s IPR department since 1999. Her team determines whether the submitted inventions are worthy and eligible for protection. This applies in four out of five cases. The specialists then draft a patent application that grants comprehensive protection for the invention.

Success can be measured in numbers

Dr Andreas Mayr

In 1999, Endress+Hauser submitted 55 initial patent applications – in 2019 there were an impressive 318. “We took a leap forward in the first year after the introduction of the Patent Rights Incentive Program and registered almost twice as many patents,” says COO Dr Andreas Mayr. “Since then the numbers have been steadily growing.” The share of patents related to digitalization is increasing, and the field of analytical technology – a strategic focal point – is also gaining importance.

Endress+Hauser was granted 677 patents worldwide last year (2019), protecting the company’s products in all major European markets as well as in China and the USA. Today, the Group’s entire IPR portfolio comprises more than 8,000 patents and applications. This is mainly due to the work of the more than 1,100 employees in research and development. “But any employee can file an invention disclosure,” emphasizes Andreas Mayr. “Innovation is not limited to certain areas.”

Awards for inventing and not inventing

2017 E+H Innovators Meeting

The Endress+Hauser Innovators’ Meeting should have taken place for the 20th time in 2020, but it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The meetings focus on the exchange between inventors. At the same time, prizes are awarded: Endress+Hauser honors economically important patents, particularly active innovators, the improvement of processes and procedures – and the reuse of patents already granted. Angelika Andres: “You don’t always have to reinvent the wheel!”

@Endress_Hauser @Endress_US @Endress_UK #PAuto

Innovators honoured!

Endress+Hauser submitted 261 patent applications in 2017. The company owns a total of 7,479 active property rights around the world. Innovators are honoured at the Group’s annual Innovators’ Meeting.

Innovators meet!

In 2017 the Endress+Hauser Group once again invested more than seven percent of sales in research and development. “With 261 patent filings, as well as 467 approved patents, we are innovating at a high level again this year,” says Angelika Andres, head of the patent law department at Endress+Hauser. Many of the developments stemmed from liquid analysis, level and flow measurement technologies.

“In order to strengthen the Group’s position in this competitive environment, we protect our innovations with patents in the very early stages,” says Dr Andreas Mayr, Corporate Director Marketing and Technology at Endress+Hauser. 2017 saw several new innovations, as Endress+Hauser introduced 57 new products to the market, including the self-calibrating iTHERM TrustSens thermometer and the Promass Q, which delivers highly precise mass flow, volume flow and density measurements.

Apart from the extensive research and development activities, close cooperation with select universities and research institutes is another factor that helps the Endress+Hauser Group maintain a high level of innovation. The company also established a sensor automation lab on the campus of the University of Freiburg (D),  where a team of scientists, researchers and developers will be tasked with creating innovative sensor technologies for the Group.

Endress+Hauser has traditionally placed a high value on research and development. Employees who make significant contributions to a patent filing are invited to an annual Innovators’ Meeting. Patents with particularly high business impact are recognized with special awards. This year’s event was held in mid-April in Denzlingen near Freiburg (D).

@Endress_Hauser  #PAuto

Patent issued!

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued US Patent 8,521,676 for the Real World Model, the cornerstone of aeShield, the safety lifecycle management system of aeSolutions. This enterprise software supports companies in achieving process safety goals, implementing industry safety standards, and ensuring consistent data collection in compliance with ISA 84.00.01/IEC 61511 and the related requirements of OSHA 1910.119.

“Our patented solution helps our customers do more with less. Having a database drive the requirements of ISA84 enables dot connecting between assessing risk, designing and documenting safety systems, and functional test planning during operations. aeShield represents the single source of truth for protecting our customers’ facilities,” stated Mike Scott, Executive Vice President of Process Safety. “aeShield perfectly aligns with our company’s vision to be recognized and preferred by industry for our process safety engineering and automation solutions.”

A key benefit of the patented Real World Model-based software is prevention of loss of containment events which could lead to explosions and environmental spills and emissions by optimizing the design and integrity of safety instrumented systems. The completion of the design results in a Safety Requirements Specification document used for construction, automation, and implementation. aeShield’s core functionalities such as Management of Change (MOC) and customizable user permissions provide the necessary mechanisms to manage the safety lifecycle through project execution and beyond.

Wireless patent

Key RTLS Patent granted and enables highly accurate position detection over long range.

Though it might be argued that this is not strictly automation we have included this release as there is so much interest in wireless produicts in the industry.

Essensium N.V., has announced that the European Patent Office published a key patent granted to them regarding the ranging method which enables their unique and industry-leading combination of high accuracy and long range in their wireless RTLS (Real Time Location System) products.

Traditional wireless RTLS technologies can be split into two main subgroups, Wideband and Narrowband, depending on the radio frequency bandwidth used. Each approach has its own particular advantages and disadvantages.

Wideband methods, typically known as UWB, tend to yield highly accurate position detection, with a resolution down to 10´s of centimeters, but support only a very limited distance between the tag and the readers. This limits their useful application to situations where items need to be tracked over a relatively small area, since a significant and expensive infrastructure of reader antennae needs to be added in order to cover larger areas.

Narrowband methods, typically known as WiFi or RSSI methods, tend to support much larger distances between the tracked item and the readers. This allows larger areas to be covered compared to UWB, with a more affordable infrastructure cost. These methods suffer from the disadvantage of having significantly lower resolution, allowing only to determine the position of a tag with a resolution of several meters at best, or even simply allowing only to identify the room, or zone, in which a particular tag is located.

Essensium´s patented approach combines the benefits of both Narrowband and Wideband behaviour in a single Wide-over-Narrowband RF implementation. This results in an industry-leading RTLS implementation giving both the accuracy of a very precise UWB system combined together with long range, and thus lower infrastructure costs, better than that of typical Narrowband or WiFi methods for RTLS. This combination of attributes enables exciting opportunities for track and trace applications, both indoors and outdoors.