Hi-Z Technology, Inc.

John C. Bass

Education:

BSME University of California, Berkeley, 1959
MSME University of California, Berkeley, 1965

Licenses:

P.E. in Mechanical Engineering, California, 1962
Certificate M-12791

Mr. Bass is a cofounder and Vice President of Hi-Z Technology, Inc. His current assignments include the development of new applications and modules for both conventional and quantum well thermoelectric systems. He initiated the development of the thermoelectric generator for the Diesel engines. Also, he initiated the development of both the self-powered pellet stove and self-powered heater for recreation vehicles. He has recently completed programs to develop a prototype generator for sensor systems which harvest its energy from small differences in the ambient environment. Mr. Bass was the original Principal Investigator for the 40 mW radioisotope thermoelectric generator development and was responsible for the initial thermoelectric module design for that generator as well as the current module design which includes an electric circuit with parallel redundancy.

Mr. Bass obtained both his BS (1958) and his MS (1965) in mechanical engineering from the University of California Berkeley. He is registered as a professional engineer, mechanical engineering in California. His activities previous to Hi-Z include Chief Engineer, Systems and Design at General Atomic (1959 - 1970 and 1974 - 1987), President of Bass Engineering, (1970 - 1974) and Design Engineer at Aerojet General Nucleonics (1957 - 1959).

While at General Atomic, he participated in several diverse projects including the design of components for the HTGR and the direct cycle HTGR, zinc air battery reverse osmosis, the direct conversion (including thermoelectric, thermophotovoltaics, and the fixed mirror solar concentrator. Bass Engineering manufactured tide gauges based on an electro-ophical principle.

Mr. Bass is the inventor of record on more than ten patents ranging from nuclear power plant components, thermoelectric components, and a burner atomizer. Also, he has several thermoelectric patents pending.