Electronics using heat rather than charge for carrying information ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of using heat as a medium for carrying information in electronics, as suggested by a recent article. Participants explore the implications of this idea for electrical engineering, its relation to existing technologies, and potential future developments in the field.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how heat could be used as an information carrier instead of charge, seeking clarification on its implications for electrical engineers.
  • One participant suggests that thermal circuits can be modeled similarly to electronic circuits, indicating that electrical engineers could adapt to this new paradigm.
  • Another participant draws a comparison to existing infrared control technologies, questioning what is fundamentally new about using heat in this context.
  • Some participants mention applications like thermostats and heat controls, suggesting that heat management is already prevalent in various technologies.
  • A few participants introduce the idea that quantum mechanics may play a role in this new approach to electronics, particularly in the context of nanoelectronics.
  • One participant proposes the concept of using heat in bubble jet printers as a method for transferring information, highlighting a potential application of heat-based information transfer.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with some agreeing on the potential for heat-based information transfer while others remain skeptical or seek clarification on its novelty and practicality. The discussion does not reach a consensus on the implications or feasibility of this concept.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference existing technologies and applications, but there is uncertainty regarding the specific mechanisms and advantages of using heat for information transfer compared to traditional electronic methods.

Ryuk1990
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Electronics using heat rather than charge for carrying information!?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=magnetism-confirmed-to-control-the-flow-of-heat

So the article states it's been confirmed that magnetism controls heat. It also mentions that future electronics could use heat as an information carrier instead of charge.

How would this work? What does that mean for electrical engineers? Would EEs begin learning heat information signal control in universities or would some other discipline take over?
 
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Thermal circuits are easily modeled by equivalent electronic circuits (the same forms of equations describe both domains), so EEs will be sitting pretty. Fire up Spice and solve your thermal circuits!
 


Ryuk1990,

So the article states it's been confirmed that magnetism controls heat. It also mentions that future electronics could use heat as an information carrier instead of charge.

How would this work? What does that mean for electrical engineers? Would EEs begin learning heat information signal control in universities or would some other discipline take ove

Isn't that a fancy way of saying infrared control. Don't we have that today to control TVs? Don't EEs learn infrared techniques now? What's new?

Ratch
 


Ratch said:
Ryuk1990,

Isn't that a fancy way of saying infrared control. Don't we have that today to control TVs? Don't EEs learn infrared techniques now? What's new?

Ratch

no this isn't optical (wireless)
this is within a physical "circuit"

Dave
 


Ryuk1990,

no this isn't optical (wireless)
this is within a physical "circuit"

OK, then how about thermostats for controlling coolent flow in automobiles or furnace heating in buildings? Honeywell and others make zillions of heat controls for a variety of applications. Ratch
 


I think there is something quantum about what Ryuk1990 has posted.
 


256bits said:
I think there is something quantum about what Ryuk1990 has posted.

Yes, but aren't EEs concerned with quantum mechanics when designing nanoelectronics?
 


Ryuk1990 said:
Yes, but aren't EEs concerned with quantum mechanics when designing nanoelectronics?

Doesn't that answer your question. Specialized EE dealing with the very small. For the majority of EE's this is not applicable.
 


A bubble jet printer came to mind. Boil blobs of ink to transfer information (printed word) onto paper using electronically generated heat.
 

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