US 12,078,550 B2
Thermochromic temperature sensor
Lyle Small, Colorado Springs, CO (US); Timothy J. Owen, Colorado Springs, CO (US); Ruizheng Wang, Colorado Springs, CO (US); and Medhanei Abraha, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Assigned to Chromatic Technologies, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed by Chromatic Technologies, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/835,983.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/908,986, filed on Oct. 1, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/827,715, filed on Apr. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0309607 A1, Oct. 1, 2020
Int. Cl. G01K 3/00 (2006.01); C09B 9/00 (2006.01); C09D 11/037 (2014.01); C09D 11/50 (2014.01); G01K 11/16 (2021.01)
CPC G01K 11/16 (2013.01) [C09B 9/00 (2013.01); C09D 11/037 (2013.01); C09D 11/50 (2013.01); G01K 3/005 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A temperature sensor, comprising:
a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
a dye;
a developer; and
a solvent;
wherein upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold; and
wherein said solvent comprises a mixture of (i) one ester having Formula I and a first R group and another said ester having Formula I and a second R group which is different from said first R group, (ii) one said ester having Formula III and another said ester having Formula IV, or (iii) one said ester having Formula VII and another said ester having Formula VIII:

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein R in Formula I can be (i) a straight-chain or branched alkyl group, (ii) a straight-chain or branched alkenyl group, or (iii) a straight-chain or branched alkynyl group, wherein any of said groups can be unsubstituted or substituted; and
wherein R in Formula I can have 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, or 19 carbon atoms;

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein m and n in Formula VII can each be an integer between 1 and 15; and

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein m and n in Formula VIII can each be an integer between 2 and 15.