A Least Square Algorithm for Optimal Heater Placement in Microsensors

摘要

In this paper we present an algorithm that yields the optimal placement of a finite number of constant power density heaters for an arbitrary desired temperature profile. Using this algorithm, the volume efficiency (the percentage of volume heated within target temperature) can be optimized using different number of heaters. For an example heating chamber, the optimized heater placement method yields 76% volume efficiency using three heaters which is close to the ultimate volume efficiency of 84 %. This is a three-fold improvement over the 26% volume efficiency achievable using a single heater. The performance of the algorithm and the resulting improvements in temperature uniformity were determined experimentally using a thermal imaging microscope.