Environmentally isolated intercalated compound mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12535774-B2
Application number	US-202418642409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2024
Priority date	Apr 22, 2024
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

A mounting apparatus for suspending an intercalated compound includes spring connectors that couple to an intercalated complex that comprises the intercalated compound in an enclosure. The spring connectors exert spring forces on the intercalated complex that cause it to be suspended between the spring connectors during operation. In doing so, the intercalated compound is thermally isolated relative to the exterior of the enclosure it is disposed in. The mounting apparatus can be used as part of an atomic clock sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a first cover; a first heating element physically coupled with the first cover; a second cover; a second heating element physically coupled with the second cover; an intercalated compound in contact with the first heating element and the second heating element and coupled in between the first cover and the second cover; a first spring connector coupled with the first cover at a first end of the first spring connector; a second spring connector coupled with the second cover at a first end of the second spring connector; a coupler attached to an exterior of a mounting interface device, wherein the coupler couples to both the first spring connector at a second end of the first spring connector and at a second end of the second spring connector, wherein the intercalated compound is suspended between the first cover and the second cover at least partially due to a spring force exerted by the first spring connector and the second spring connector, wherein the system transitions between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein in the closed configuration, the spring force exerted by the first spring connector and the second spring connector causes the first cover and the second cover to substantially enclose the intercalated compound, wherein in the open configuration, expansion of the intercalated compound exerts a force on the first spring connector and the second spring connector and causes increased exposure of the intercalated compound to an exterior environment relative to the closed configuration, wherein by suspending the intercalated compound, the intercalated compound is thermally insulated relative to the exterior environment.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is disposed in an enclosure, wherein the mounting interface device is attached to a wall of the enclosure.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the mounting interface device is electrically coupled to a power supply disposed outside of the enclosure, wherein the mounting interface device is configured to pass electrical signals from the power supply to the first and the second heating element.

4 . The system of claim 2 , comprising:
a sensor disposed in the enclosure; and control electronics disposed outside the enclosure, wherein the sensor is configured to measure environmental parameters in the enclosure, and to provide the environmental parameters to the control electronics, wherein the control electronics is configured to control the configuration of the system based on the environmental parameters.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system transitions between the closed configuration and the open configuration in a passive manner.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second spring connector are coupled to the mounting interface device by one or more screws, nuts, or bolts.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the intercalated compound is a graphite intercalated compound.

8 . A device, comprising:
an intercalated complex, comprising:
a first cover,
a first heating element physically coupled with the first cover,
a second cover,
a second heating element physically coupled with the second cover,
an intercalated compound in contact with the first heating element and the second heating element and coupled in between the first cover and the second cover; and
a mounting apparatus that physically couples to the intercalated complex, comprising:
a first spring connector coupled with the first cover at a first end of the first spring connector,
a second spring connector coupled with the second cover at a first end of the second spring connector,
wherein the first spring connector and the second spring connector exert a spring force on the first cover and the second cover, respectively,
a coupler attached to an exterior of a mounting interface device, wherein the coupler couples to both the first spring connector at a second end of the first spring connector and at a second end of the second spring connector,
wherein the intercalated compound is suspended between the first cover and the second cover at least partially due to a spring force exerted by the first spring connector and the second spring connector.

9 . The device of claim 8 ,
wherein the intercalated compound is configured to expand when exposed to a vapor of sourced atoms, wherein the intercalated compound is configured to contract when the vapor of sourced atoms is emitted into a closed environment, wherein the intercalated compound remains suspended between the first cover and the second cover when expanded and when compressed.

10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first heating element and the second heating element receive power from one or more electrical leads coupled to a power supply.

11 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first cover and the second cover include a respective notch, wherein the first end of the first spring connector is disposed in the respective notch of the first cover, wherein the first end of the second spring connector is disposed in the respective notch of the second cover.

12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first cover and the second cover form a cavity, wherein the intercalated compound is disposed in the cavity.

13 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first cover and the second cover form an opening when the intercalated compound is in a compressed state, wherein a volume of sourced atoms is allowed to enter the opening and interact with the intercalated compound.

14 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first cover and the second cover include a respective nub, wherein the first end of the first spring connector is coupled to the respective nub of the first cover, wherein the first end of the second spring connector is coupled to the respective nub of the second cover.

15 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the mounting interface device is coupled to an interior wall of an enclosure that houses the mounting apparatus, wherein the mounting apparatus is physically coupled to a mounting interface device on a side of the mounting apparatus, wherein the intercalated complex extends from the mounting interface device into an interior of the enclosure.

16 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first spring connector and the second spring connector are longitudinal strips comprising an arched shape and composed of a flexible material.

17 . A method for fabricating a mounting apparatus for an intercalated compound, comprising:
attaching a first end of a first spring connector and a first end of a second spring connector to a mounting interface device; attaching a second end of the first spring connector to a first cover; attaching a second end of the second spring connector to a second cover; coupling a first and a second heating element in a cavity formed by the first cover and the second cover; and suspending an intercalated compound between the first heating element and the second heating element and between the first cover and the second cover at least partially due to a spring force exerted by the first spring connector and the second spring connector.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first spring connector and the second spring connector are attached to the mounting interface device to exert an opposing spring force to the intercalated compound.

19 . The method of claim 17 , comprising attaching the mounting interface device to an interior wall of an enclosure, wherein the enclosure houses

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Horstman Luke
• Fertig Chad
• Sjoquist Caleb
• Dellis Argyrios

Classifications

• H03L7/26

  using energy levels of molecules, atoms, or subatomic particles as a frequency reference · CPC title

• H03B17/00

  Generation of oscillations using radiation source and detector, e.g. with interposed variable obturator · CPC title

• G01N27/4074

  for detection of gases other than oxygen · CPC title

• G04F5/14 Primary

  using atomic clocks · CPC title

• G04F5/145

  using Coherent Population Trapping · CPC title