US 12269918 B1Patent grantUnited States

Photomultiplier Thermo-Optical Analysis

Official patent title

Method for thermo-optical analysis

Arabic title: طريقة للتحليل الحراري البصري

Invention

Problem

Many conjugated-polymer temperature indicators change gradually across broad ranges or require difficult solvents, which can limit processing and calibrated optical readout.

Why it matters

Converting temperature into a reversible optical signal can support compact measurement systems that provide electrical readout through standard photodetection components.

Approach

The method places an object in thermal communication with a heat-transfer plate connected to a curcumin-oil and cyano-poly(phenylenevinylene) sensor. A photomultiplier detects temperature-dependent emission, allowing the system to correlate emission intensity with object temperature.

Who may benefit

Potential beneficiaries include optical-sensor developers, instrumentation researchers, thermal-monitoring teams, process-control laboratories, and optoelectronics manufacturers.

Potential value

The method integrates a reversible thermo-fluorescent composition, transparent containment, heat transfer, photomultiplier amplification, and intensity-to-temperature correlation in one measurement architecture.

Background

Stimuli-responsive polymers can translate temperature changes into changes in color or fluorescence, making them relevant to optical sensors and thermometers. Existing conjugated polymers may respond gradually as chain conformation, crystallinity, and aggregation vary continuously with temperature. Their processing can also require toxic, high-boiling solvents, while solvent selection affects absorption and emission. The publication addresses these issues with a curcumin-oil medium, a cyano-substituted poly(phenylenevinylene), and a system that converts the material's optical response into a temperature measurement.

Technology overview

A sealed transparent container holds a thermo-responsive composition of curcumin oil and a cyano derivative of poly(phenylenevinylene), including PDH-CN and exciplex embodiments. A heat-transfer plate couples the measured object to the sensor. Emitted photons reach a photomultiplier tube, where a photocathode, dynodes, and an anode generate an electrical signal. The method correlates emission intensity with temperature across the disclosed thermal range and cycling behavior.

Potential applications

Optical temperature measurement in laboratory thermal-analysis systems.
Photon-source elements for photomultiplier-based temperature instrumentation.
Thermo-optical monitoring research for controlled industrial processes.
Reversible emission-based demonstrations for smart-material sensing.

Evidence-supported advantages

The method directly correlates emission intensity with the object's temperature.
The disclosed optical response is described as reversible during thermal cycling.
A heat-transfer plate provides a defined thermal path to the sensor.
Photomultiplier components convert the optical response into an electrical output.
The sensing composition uses curcumin oil as the polymer medium.

Development stage

The publication describes thermal optical measurements and a prototype photomultiplier-based sensor configuration; commercialization was not established.

Commercial opportunity

The method may interest sensor, instrumentation, and process-monitoring developers. Licensing or joint development would require validation of calibration accuracy, response time, cycling durability, drift, packaging, photomultiplier integration, manufacturing consistency, environmental tolerance, and cost against established temperature-measurement methods. Production throughput would also require assessment.

Patent classifications

WIPO IPC

C08G61/02Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
G01K11/20Measuring temperature or quantity of heat; thermally sensitive elements not otherwise provided for

CPC

C08G61/02Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
G01K11/20Measuring temperature or quantity of heat; thermally sensitive elements not otherwise provided for
C08G2261/1422Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/1424Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/1428Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/143Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/18Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/228Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/312Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/3327Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/94Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds

Inventors

First inventorOsamah Abdulrahman Aldaghri
InventorKhalid Hassan Ibnouf Ahmed
InventorHajo Idriss Mohammed Idriss
InventorAhmed Alsadig Ahmed

Keywords

thermo-optical analysis
temperature measurement
PDH-CN
curcumin oil
conjugated polymer
exciplex
photomultiplier
emission intensity

Patent document and drawings

The patent publication is mapped to this record. Patent drawings remain within that publication; no separately cleared public media package has been supplied.