Cooling a digital micromirror device
US-10018802-B1 · Jul 10, 2018 · US
Light valve cooling system
US12515256B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-12515256-B2 |
| Application number | US-202418624762-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Priority date | Oct 29, 2020 |
| Publication date | Jan 6, 2026 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2026 |
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- Title
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- Abstract
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
An additive manufacturing system includes a high power laser to form a laser beam directed against a light valve. An active light valve cooling system is arranged to remove heat from the light valve and a heat exchanger is connected to the active light valve cooling system. A heat exchange fluid is circulated through the active light valve cooling system and the heat exchanger.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
The invention claimed is: 1 . An additive manufacturing method, comprising: directing a laser beam from a laser against a light valve for patterning the laser beam for printing an object in an additive manufacturing system; enclosing the light valve in a cooling housing comprising gaskets to seal interfaces with the light valve and with two or more fluid connectors to prevent fluid leakage from the cooling housing; pumping heat exchange fluid from a heat exchanger into the cooling housing through the fluid connectors, wherein the heat exchange fluid is sprayed over the light valve within the cooling housing using a nozzle configured to generate turbulence and phase change in the fluid for removing heat from the light valve; and circulating the sprayed heat exchange fluid from the cooling housing back to the heat exchanger to provide useful energy to at least one component of the additive manufacturing system. 2 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is connected to provide energy to at least one component of the additive manufacturing system. 3 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to power a heat engine able to generate mechanical, thermoelectric, or electric power. 4 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to be connected to selected components of the additive manufacturing system to increase temperature of the selected components. 5 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange fluid comprises a phase change material, wherein phase change of the heat exchange fluid removes at least part of the heat. 6 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange fluid is sprayed onto a hot substrate of the light valve. 7 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein an active light valve cooling system cools an array of light valves. 8 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein multiple laser beams from multiple lasers are directed to the light valve. 9 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the light valve provides two-dimensionally patterned light from the laser for the printing. 10 . The additive manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of article processing units and build chambers are positioned to receive light from the light valve.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title
with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation · CPC title
Radiation means · CPC title
- B33Y30/00Primary
Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title
Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.
- What does patent US12515256B2 cover?
- An additive manufacturing system includes a high power laser to form a laser beam directed against a light valve. An active light valve cooling system is arranged to remove heat from the light valve and a heat exchanger is connected to the active light valve cooling system. A heat exchange fluid is circulated through the active light valve cooling system and the heat exchanger.
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Seurat Tech Inc
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification B33Y30/00. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Jan 06 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 3 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).