Patent Publication Number: US-2015083376-A1

Title: Cold-formed sachet modified atmosphere packaging

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/882,368, filed on Sep. 25, 2013, entitled “COLD-FORMED SACHET MODIFIED ATOMSPHERIC PACKAGING, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to forming gas-filled packages and, in particular, to cold-formed sachet modified atmosphere packaging. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In laptop computers and other electronics, hot components near the inner case wall often create external hotspots that can be uncomfortable or dangerous to the user. In other words, when an electrical component is being used, the electrical component may generate heat. This electrical component may transfer heat to the enclosure of the device, thereby to the user, which essentially creates a hotspot on the enclosure that may be uncomfortable or dangerous to the user especially in the case of a metal enclosure. 
     The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) provides a set of standards for electrical devices, which includes a maximum temperature limit for areas on the device itself. Typically, most electronic manufacturers adhere to this requirement by limiting the temperature below the maximum temperature provided by the IEC. One particular example of an IEC standard indicates that if the device has a surface (e.g., easily conducts heat) the metal surface has to be held at a lower temperature than a plastic surface. For example, with heated metal surfaces, the heat can quickly be transferred to the user touching the hot metal surface; therefore, the metal surface can feel relatively hot even at a relatively low temperature. However, metal surfaces for electrical devices are typically used because they can quickly transfer heat from the hot electrical component, thereby keeping the hot electrical component cooler. As such, in some situations, a hotspot on the metal enclosure may occur over the hot electrical component. Further, in the event that an electrical component (e.g., CPU) is processing video graphics, the metal case enclosure may be very hot in the area of the CPU. Plastic surfaces also can develop hotspots in the same or similar ways. 
     Generally, in order to avoid a hot spot on the metal case enclosure, a system designer may create an air gap between the hot component and the enclosure. The size of the air gap may be relatively proportional to the usefulness of the insulation, e.g., the larger the air gap between the hot component and the enclosure, the better the insulation. As such, the size of the air gap may be considered a critical item for determining the overall thickness of the device. With that said, in the area of consumer electronics, thinner electronic devices may be more marketable. In contrast, bulkier consumer electronics may have a perception of being lower quality. Therefore, there may be an incentive to design an electronic device as thin as possible, which greatly affects the air gap, thereby affecting the heat transferred to the user. 
     SUMMARY 
     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     In a first general aspect, a method of forming a pouch containing a gas includes drawing a first elongated sheet of gas-impermeable material from a supply of the material in a drawing direction, where the sheet of material has a transverse profile perpendicular to the drawing direction that includes a channel. A second elongated sheet of material is drawn, such that a first portion of the first sheet and a first portion of the second sheet are substantially parallel to each other. The gas is injected between the first portion of the first sheet and the first portion of the second sheet, and the gas is injected between side edges of the first portions of the first and second sheets. First and second lengths of the first and second sheets are sealed to each other, where the first and second lengths are substantially parallel to the drawing direction, to form first and second side edges of the pouch. Third and fourth lengths of the first and second sheets are sealed to each other, where the third and fourth lengths are substantially perpendicular to the drawing direction, to form first and second end edges of the pouch. 
     Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the first and second sheets can each include a metal layer. Injecting the gas can include providing the gas to a location between the first portion of the first sheet and the first portion of the second sheet and between the first and second lengths of the sheets through a duct and a nozzle located between the first portion of the first sheet and the first portion of the second sheet and between the first and second lengths of the sheets. A transverse profile of the duct can be shaped to from the channel in the first sheet as the first sheet is drawn past the duct in the drawing direction. The first sheet can be drawn in the drawing direction through an opening between the duct and a block that together form a progressive die set, where the first sheet does not include the channel before it is drawn into the opening and where drawing the sheet through the opening forms the channel in the first sheet. 
     The gas can be injected as the first sheet and the second sheet are drawn in the drawing direction. Sealing the first, second, third, and fourth lengths of the first and second sheets to each other can include sealing, in a first sealing operation, the first, second, and third lengths of the first and second sheets to each other; and then sealing, in a second sealing operation, the fourth lengths of the first and second sheets to each other. The first sealing operation can include forming the first side edge, the second side edge, and the first end edge of a first pouch, and the second sealing operation can include forming the second end edge of the first pouch and forming a first side edge, a second side edge, and a first end edge of a second pouch. In addition, in a third sealing operation, fifth lengths of the first and second sheets can be sealed to each other to form a second end edge of the second pouch. The first sealing operation can include forming substantially simultaneously the first side edge, the second side edge, and the first end edge of a first pouch. the first sealing operation includes forming the first side edge, the second side edge, and the first end edge of a first pouch by pressing the first, second, and third lengths of the first and second sheets together with a linearly-translated tool. The second sealing operation can include forming the second edge of the first pouch by pressing the fourth lengths of the first and second sheets together with the tool 
     The first sealing operation can include, in a first continuous sealing operation, sealing the third length of the first and second sheets to each other, and then progressively sealing the first and second lengths of the first and second sheets to each other, starting from ends of the first and second lengths that are proximate to the third length, progressing along the first and second lengths, and ending with ends of the first and second lengths that are proximate to the fourth length. The first sealing operation can include forming the first side edge, the second side edge, and the first end edge of a first pouch by pressing the first, second, and third lengths of the first and second sheets together with a rotating tool, where the second sealing operation includes forming the second edge of the first pouch by pressing the fourth lengths of the first and second sheets together with the tool. The first pouch can be cut away from the second pouch. 
     Sealing the first, second, third, and fourth lengths of the first and second sheets to each other can include applying heat to the lengths. Sealing the first, second, third, and fourth lengths of the first and second sheets to each other can include applying pressure to the lengths. 
     The gas can be an insulating gas that has a lower heat conductivity than air (e.g., xenon.) 
     The gas can be injected at a rate such that a pressure of the gas in the pouch after the pouch has been sealed is greater than atmospheric pressure. 
     The first sheet can be drawn in the drawing direction through an opening in a progressive die set, where the first sheet does not include the channel before it is drawn into the opening and where drawing the sheet through the opening forms the channel in the first sheet. 
     The first sheet can be rolled between a pair of parallel, counter-rotating, non-cylindrical rollers, where the rollers have profiles as a function of their lengths that define the channel in the first sheet when the sheet is rolled between the rollers. 
     In another general aspect, a device includes a heat-dissipating component, one or more heat-generating components, where at least one heat-generating component is located in proximity to an inner surface of the heat-dissipating component, and where a gap exists between the at least one heat-generating component and the inner surface of the heat-dissipating component. The device also includes an thermal insulator, located in the gap, the insulator including a structure enclosing an insulating gas, the insulating gas having a thermal conductivity lower than air, where the structure enclosing the insulating gas includes a material having a thermal conductivity greater than air and has transverse dimension at least 1.3 times greater than a transverse dimension of the heat-generating component. 
     Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the structure can include a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 15 Watts per meter-Kelvin or having a thermal conductivity greater than 150 Watts per meter-Kelvin. The insulating gas can have a thermal conductivity that is lower than 50% of the thermal conductivity of air. The structure enclosing the insulating gas can be in contact with the heat-generating component and in contact with the heat-dissipating component. The heat-dissipating component can include a metal (e.g, aluminum). 
     The thermal conductivity and dimensions of the structure can be selected such when the heat-generating component is generating heat, the heat from the heat-generating component is conducted through the structure to the heat-dissipating component and raises the temperature of the heat-dissipating component by a threshold amount, compared to when the heat-generating component is not generating heat, over an area that is greater than an area over which the temperature of the heat-dissipating component would be raised by the threshold amount in the absence of the insulator, while maintaining a peak temperature of the heat-dissipating component that is lower than a peak temperature of the heat-dissipating component that would exist in the absence of the insulator. 
     The dimensions and materials of the insulator can be selected such that a heat transfer rate between the heat-generating component and the heat-dissipating component is greater than in the presence of the insulator than in the absence of the insulator. The dimensions and materials of the insulator are selected such that a heat transfer rate between the heat-generating component and the heat-dissipating component is less than in the presence of the insulator than in the absence of the insulator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates different modes of heat transfer across a gap according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates heat transfer by conduction across the gap according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a temperature distribution on a surface of an enclosure without an insulator provided in the gap according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an insulator provided within the gap that is effective for reducing heat transfer when the gap is relatively small such that conduction dominates heat transfer according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator including a flexible pouch structure having a three-sided pouch seal according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator including a flexible pouch structure having a four-sided pouch seal according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5C  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator including a dual-tray structure according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5D  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator including a single tray structure covered with a film according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5E  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator including a flexible tube structure having end seals according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the insulator of  FIG. 5D  at least partially embedded into the enclosure according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a temperature distribution across a surface of the enclosure with and without the insulator according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 8A  illustrates a perspective of a laptop computer according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8B  illustrates a cross sectional view of the laptop computer depicting the insulator according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a system for fabricating sealed pouches containing an insulating gas. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of an example transverse profile of the material used for a pouch that contains insulating gas. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of a system for forming the transverse profile in a sheet of material. 
         FIG. 12A  is a schematic top view of the system for forming sealed pouches containing an insulating gas. 
         FIG. 12B  is a schematic side view of the system of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 12C  is a schematic diagram of a transverse profile of a sheet of material that includes a channel for receiving and containing insulating gas. 
         FIG. 13A  is a schematic top view of the system for forming sealed pouches containing an insulating gas. 
         FIG. 13B  is a schematic side view of the system of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 13C  is a schematic diagram of a transverse profile of a sheet of material that includes a channel for receiving and containing insulating gas. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An insulation solution is disclosed herein, which is effective for reducing heat transfer across relatively small gaps for electrical devices, in which conduction dominates over radiation and convection in terms of heat transfer. For example, the embodiments may provide an insulator including an insulator structure enclosing an atmospheric pressure gas or near-atmospheric pressure gas having a thermal conductivity lower than air. The insulator may be provided within a gap that exists between at least one heat-generating component and an inner surface of an enclosure of a device, where the device may be a laptop computer, a personal computer, a smart phone, or generally any type of electrical device having one or more components that generate heat, and where a user may come into contact with a heated surface. In one specific embodiment, the atmospheric pressure gas may include Xenon, which has a thermal conductivity of about 0.005 Watts per meter-Kelvin, or about 20% less than air, and may be effective for reducing heat transfer when conduction dominates over convection and radiation. However, the embodiments encompass the use of other inert gases such as Krypton, refrigerant gases, and other gases with a low thermal conductivity (e.g., lower than air). 
     Generally, the embodiments may encompass many different types of insulator structures enclosing an atmospheric pressure gas having a thermal conductivity lower than air, e.g., a means for enclosing atmospheric pressure gas. In one example, the insulator structure (or means for enclosing atmospheric pressure gas) may include a thin-walled structure capable of housing a gas (e.g., see  FIG. 4 ). In a more detailed embodiment, the insulator structure (or means for enclosing atmospheric pressure gas) may be a flexible pouch structure having a three-sided seal such as a flexible polymer or polymer-metal pouch similar to a juice container (e.g. catsup/mustard single serving pouch) (e.g., see  FIG. 5A ). Other forms may include a flexible pouch structure having a four-sided seal (e.g., see  FIG. 5B ), a dual tray structure (e.g., see  FIG. 5C ), a tray structure covered with a film/foil (e.g., see  FIG. 5D ), and a tube structure having end seals similar to a toothpaste casing (e.g., see  FIG. 5E ). Also, the insulator may be at least partially embedded into the enclosure (e.g., see  FIG. 6 ). When embodied into an electrical device, these types of insulators may provide good insulation across gaps that are relatively small in order to reduce heat transfer when conduction dominates over radiation and convection (e.g., see  FIG. 7 ). These and other features are further described below. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates different modes of heat transfer across a gap according to an embodiment. Generally, heat transfer may be accomplished through radiation, conduction, natural convection, and/or forced convection. For example, a heat-generating component  102  having a relatively high temperature (T 1 ) may transfer heat via a gap  103  to a heat-absorbing component  104  (also known as a heat-dissipating component) having a relatively lower temperature (T 2 ) via radiation, conduction, natural convection, and/or forced convection. The heat-generating component  102  may be any type of component capable of generating heat due to the operation of the component itself. In the context of electrical devices, the heat-generating component  102  may include a computer processing unit (CPU) or generally any type of component that generates heat when employed within the electrical device. The heat-absorbing component  104  may be any type of component capable of absorbing heat. In the context of electrical devices, the heat-absorbing component  104  may be a case or enclosure capable of housing the heat-generating component  102 . For example, the heat-absorbing component  104  may be a metal or non-metal case that houses several electrical components. 
     Also, the heat-generating component  102  may include a temperature (T 1 ) that is higher than the temperature (T 2 ) of the heat-absorbing component  104 . Naturally, the heat generated by the heat-generating component  102  may transfer to the lower temperature component, e.g., the heat-absorbing component  104 , via radiation, conduction, natural convection, and/or forced convection, as further explained below. 
     Generally, heat transfer by radiation is driven by the difference between the absolute temperature of a heat emitting body (e.g., the heat-generating component  102 ) and one or more cooler surrounding regions (e.g., the heat-absorbing component  104 ), which may absorb heat from electromagnetic radiation that is derived from black body emissions, where the emissions may be a function of the absolute temperature of the heat-generating component  102 . With emissivity=1 (e.g., perfect black body radiation), conduction through air dominates in the gap  103  when the gap  103  is smaller than approximately 3.7 mm, and as emissivity decreases, this crossover point increases proportionately. 
     Heat transfer by conduction is the transfer of heat through the material itself such as a liquid, gas, or a solid at a rate proportional to the thermal conductivity of the material, which may be relatively high for materials such as a diamond, copper, and aluminum, and lower for liquid or gas materials. Stated another way, heat transfer by conduction is the transfer of heat through the material of the gap, which may be air or any type of gas, liquid, or solid. 
     Heat transfer by convection is the transfer of heat from one place to another by the movement of fluids (e.g., gases, liquids). In particular, forced convection is a mechanism, or type of transport in which fluid motion is generated by an external source such as a fan. In contrast, heat transfer by natural convection (also referred to as free convection), occurs due to temperature differences between the heat-generating component  102 , and the heat-absorbing component  104  which affect the density, and thus relative buoyancy, of the fluid. Convection cells are formed due to density differences within a body, where there is a circulated pattern of fluid cooling the body. In particular, the fluid surrounding the heat source receives heat, becomes less dense and rises, and then the surrounding, cooler fluid then moves to replace it. For instance, the density of a fluid decreases with increasing temperature because of volumetric expansion, which may induce natural convection flow. However, this depends on the configuration of the components, as explained below. 
     For example, with respect to natural convection between parallel horizontal plates in air (e.g., where the hotter plate is on top), this configuration is inherently stable because the lighter fluid is already above the cooler heavier fluid. There is no tendency for this system to move away from the state of equilibrium, and any heat transfer between the plates will be accomplished via conduction and, when closely spaced, radiation. With respect to natural convection between parallel vertical plates in air, the gap  103  has to be approximately 7 mm for natural convection to begin to matter. For example, convection cells generally cannot form when the gap  103  is less than 7 mm. As such, conduction and radiation will dominate over natural convection (i.e., free convection) from component to case when the size of the gap  103  is less than 7 mm, and conduction will dominate over natural convection and radiation from component to case when the size of the gap  103  is less than 3.7 mm. 
     For 1 mm gaps (which are common in laptop computers or other electrical devices), conduction also dominates heat transfer over radiation and convection. As such, as discussed herein, the size of the gap  103  when conduction dominates over radiation and convection may be approximately any size less than 3.7 mm, and may be occasionally referred to as a small gap. Also, the inventor has recognized that the size of the gap  103  affects the amount of conduction heat flow across the gap  103 , as discussed with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates heat transfer by conduction across the gap  103  according to an embodiment. In this example, the heat-generating component  102  may include a CPU, and the heat-absorbing component  104  may include an enclosure that houses the CPU. A first gap  103 - 1  may exist between a component (or portion) of the heat-generating component  102  and an inner surface  106  of the enclosure, and a second gap  103 - 2  smaller than the first gap  103 - 1  may exist between the CPU portion and the inner surface  106  of the heat-absorbing component  104 . A relatively larger conduction heat flow may exist across the second gap  103 - 2 , and a relatively smaller conduction heat flow may exist across the first gap  103 - 1 . As such, the heat transferred across the second gap  103 - 2  may result in a hotspot  107 , which is a relatively hot/warm region on an outer surface  109  of the enclosure where a user may make contact. The heat transferred to the enclosure (e.g., the heat-absorbing component  104 ) may be subsequently transferred to the surrounding ambient air via natural convection. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a temperature distribution  108  on the outer surface  109  of the heat-absorbing component  104  without an insulator provided in the gap  103  according to an embodiment. For instance, the temperature distribution  108  shows the difference in temperature across the outer surface  109  of the heat-absorbing component  104 , which increases towards the area of the hotspot  107  in  FIG. 2  where the gap  103  is smaller. 
     An insulator may be provided in the gap  103  to reduce the amount of heat transfer when a higher amount of heat exists than what is desired. However, as demonstrated above, the size of the gap  103  affects the type of heat transfer (e.g., conduction, convection, or radiation), which affects the type of insulation used to counter the heat transfer. In one example, a hard vacuum surrounded by a metal surface may be provided as an insulator, which is effective for eliminating convection and conduction. However, the problem of insulating with a vacuum is that for any kind of flat application atmospheric pressure tends to collapse the container walls. This may be countered by posts or pillars, however, the posts or pillars typically end up becoming a major heat leak, reducing the performance of the vacuum insulator. 
     For relatively larger gaps, adding insulation such as fiberglass is relatively effective because the fiberglass breaks up the ability of the convection cells to form, thereby preventing heat transfer by convection. As such, with larger gaps, insulation such as fiberglass or low density styrene foam, or urethane forms is useful because they reduce heat transfer by convection. Although these types of insulators are effective to prevent heat transfer by natural convection/radiation, they still allow conduction flow through the gaps that are filling the insulation, and then through the insulation material itself. Because most solids have higher thermal conductivity as compared to gases, conventional insulators typically use a low density material such as loose fiberglass or aerogel that is mostly gas. Also, with respect to reducing heat transfer by radiation, solutions such as MLI (multi-layer insulation) have been utilized. MLI may consist of many layers of a reflective material in tiny gaps for purposes of insulating in vacuums or with large temperature differences (e.g., aerospace and some exotic automotive under-hood applications). 
     However, the difficulty increases when the gaps are relatively small such as approximately less than 3.7 mm, and increases when the gaps are even smaller such as approximately equal to or less than 1 mm. Generally, within electrical devices such as laptop computers, personal computers, and smart phones, smaller gaps (e.g., less than 2 mm) are more common due to market pressures of creating smaller and thinner devices. In this context, for small gaps, convection cells cannot form. Therefore, preventing heat transfer by convection is no longer important. Essentially, the small gap contains stagnant air, and if at least a portion of the stagnant air in the gap  103  is replaced by an insulator such as a solid, it makes matters worse because the solid-based insulator has higher thermal conductivity than air. Therefore, insulating small gaps with foam and/or fiberglass will not be effective for reducing heat transfer across the gap  103 . Even nanopore insulation materials that depend on the Knudsen effect suffer from this limitation. As such, instead of placing a solid based material for use as an insulator in the gap  103 , the embodiments encompass providing an insulator structure enclosing an atmospheric pressure gas with a thermal conductivity lower than air for use as an insulator, as further discussed below. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an insulator  110  provided within the gap  103  that is effective for reducing heat transfer when the gap  103  is relatively small such that conduction dominates heat transfer according to an embodiment. For example, the insulator  110 , located in the gap  103 , may include an insulator structure  114  enclosing one or more atmospheric pressure gases  116 , where the one or more atmospheric pressure gases  116  may have a thermal conductivity lower than air. In one embodiment, the atmospheric pressure gas  116  may include Xenon, which has a thermal conductivity 20% of air and may be effective for reducing heat transfer when conduction dominates over convection and radiation. However, the embodiments encompass the use of other inert gases such as Krypton, refrigerants, and other gases that have a thermal conductivity lower than air. Generally, the insulator structure  114  may be a container capable of housing a gas, where the container has a thickness (Width). As such, when employed with an electrical device such as a laptop computer (shown in more detail with respect to  FIG. 8 ), the insulator  110  may reduce local heat transfer, reduce localized hotspots, and improve the user experience. However, the insulator  110  may be applied to any application where a planar source (e.g., the heat-generating component  102 ) and a heat sink (e.g., the heat-absorbing component  104 ) meet across a gap. In one example, the insulator  110  may protect any kind of heat-sensitive component within an enclosure. 
     It is noted that the insulator  110  may be filled with one type of atmospheric pressure gas  116  such as a Xenon, or include multiple types of atmospheric pressure gases  116  such as Xenon and Argon, as further explained below. In addition, it is noted that the insulator  110  (over time) may include other types of gases, which have permeated into the insulator structure  114 , which is also further discussed below. 
     The insulator structure  114  may include a single material that is arranged to enclose the atmospheric pressure gas  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air. For instance, the insulator structure  114  may include a flexible material such as a polymer or polymer-metal based material, or a metal-based material such as steel or aluminum, for example. Also, the insulator structure  114  may include a plurality of layers such one or more layers of the polymer or polymer-metal based material and one or more layers of the metal-based material. In some examples, one or more of the layers may be bonded to itself or another layer using a sealant such that a cavity exits inside the structure, where the cavity is then filled with the atmospheric pressure gas  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air. 
     With respect to the width of the insulator structure  114 , ideally the material(s) that constitute the insulator structure  114  has zero thickness, e.g., all the space is reserved for the atmospheric pressure gas  116 . Generally, since the material(s) that constitute the insulator structure  114  have a higher thermal conductivity than the atmospheric pressure gas  116 , the material(s) may be considered a thermal short-circuit that reduces the gap by a corresponding thickness (Width). For the gap  103  having a length less than 1 mm, the thickness of the material(s) are critical, and, in one embodiment, the thickness of the insulator structure  114  may be in the range of 12-120 microns to be effective for reducing heat transfer when conduction dominates over radiation and convection. 
     Also, according to another embodiment, the insulator structure  114  may include not only the one or more atmospheric pressure gases  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air such as Xenon (and Argon), but also a light gas  117  such as helium or hydrogen, for example. In words, the Xenon-filled or other gas-filled insulator structure  114  may be infused with a relatively small amount of the light gas  117  such as helium or hydrogen. In contrast to Xenon or the other atmospheric pressure gases discussed herein, helium and hydrogen have a relatively high thermal conductivity, which may be six times that of air. As such, one of ordinary skill in the art may consider it counter-intuitive to include the light gas  117  in the insulator structure  114 , which is designed to prevent heat transfer across the gap  103  when conduction dominates over convection and radiation. For instance, the inclusion of the light gas  117  actually increases thermal conductivity—not reduces it. 
     However, the inclusion of the light gas  117  into the insulator structure  114  containing Xenon and/or other atmospheric gasses discussed herein allows a person to detect the leakage of the insulator structure  114  in a fairly easy manner. For example, helium or hydrogen has a property that it escapes very easily, and will transfer through even solid metals at a measurable rate. In particular, mass spectrometer leak detectors have been developed to detect miniscule quantities of gas (e.g., helium) leakage by applying a vacuum to the outside of a vessel filled with, and then using the mass spectrometer leak detector to detect individual molecules or atoms in the pumped exhaust of the detector. As such, according to an embodiment, a certain percentage of the light gas  117  may be infused into the insulator structure  114  for performing one or more non-destructive tests with the insulator structure  114 , and to determine if the insulator structure  114  has any very small leaks that might affect its service life. 
     In one particular embodiment, the atmospheric pressure gas  116  may be intentionally spiked with the light gas  117  such as approximately 2% of the light gas  117  by weight. The 2% of the light gas  117  may increase the thermal conductivity of the atmospheric pressure gas  116  by approximately 20%. However, because the light gas  117  escapes relatively easier, the insulator  110  of the embodiments will actually improve over the lifespan of the insulator  110  as the light gas  117  disappears from the insulator structure  114  over time. Also, the inclusion of the light gas  117  may provide an effective mechanism for performing a leak test on the insulation material at the end of the production line. 
     As indicated above, the insulator structure  114  may include multiple types of atmospheric pressure gases  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air. For example, the insulator structure  114  may include a secondary atmospheric pressure gas (e.g., Argon) besides the primary atmospheric gas  116  (e.g., Xenon). This secondary atmospheric pressure gas may include Argon or a similar type of gas, which has a higher permeation rate than the primary atmospheric pressure gas (Xenon). Also, the outward permeation rate of the secondary atmospheric pressure gas may be similar to the inward permeation rate of gases that are outside the insulator structure  114  (e.g., similar permeation rate to nitrogen and/or oxygen). However, the thermal conductivity of the secondary atmospheric pressure gas may be sufficiently low to not have an excessive effect on the overall thermal conductivity of the gas mixture (e.g., lower than air). Permeation of a particular gas is driven by the partial pressure on each side of a barrier. A particular gas moves from a region with a higher partial pressure to a region of lower partial pressure, regardless of the total pressure. This is why a helium-filled latex balloon quickly deflates even though the total pressure inside and outside the balloon is very similar. 
     For example, assuming that the primary atmospheric pressure gas  116  is Xenon, Xenon has a relatively large molecule, which has a low permeation rate through the insulator structure  114 . In other words, Xenon tends to stay within the insulator structure  114 , and not leak outside the structure. However, other gases such as oxygen and nitrogen can permeate into the insulator structure  114  (e.g., oxygen and nitrogen have a smaller molecule and may permeate into the insulator structure  114 ), and may increase the size of the insulator structure  114  and cause the structure to swell. The enlarged size of the insulator structure  114  may interface with surrounding components. For example, over time, the insulator structure  114  may result in an oversized pouch (e.g., the increased size due to the addition of the oxygen and/or nitrogen), which may affect the operation of the device or other components within the device. 
     As such, according to the embodiments, the insulator structure  114  may include Xenon and, optionally, the light gas  117 , but also a secondary atmospheric pressure gas such as Argon, which has a thermal conductivity lower than air (e.g., about 50% lower, but higher than Xenon) and a permeation rate similar to nitrogen and oxygen. Therefore, the insulator  110  may include two types of atmospheric pressure gases having a thermal conductivity lower than air. However, the secondary atmospheric pressure gas (e.g., Argon) may have a higher thermal conductivity than Xenon (or any other similar atmospheric pressure gas  116 ), but still sufficient enough to be effective for reducing heat transfer across the gap  103 . Further, the secondary atmospheric pressure gas may have a permeation rate higher than Xenon, and, perhaps, similar to oxygen and/or nitrogen. As a result, as the oxygen and/or nitrogen permeate into the insulator structure  114 , the secondary atmospheric pressure gas (e.g., Argon) is permeating out of the insulator structure  114 , thereby keeping the insulator structure  114  around the same (or substantially similar) size. 
       FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrate the insulator  110  having the insulator structure  114  enclosing the atmospheric pressure gas  116  according to a number of different embodiments. Although  FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrate specific embodiments of the insulator structure  114 , the embodiments may include any type of structure enclosing the atmospheric pressure gas  116 , e.g., the general insulator structure of  FIG. 4 . 
     In one example,  FIG. 5A  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator  110   a  including a flexible pouch structure having a three-sided pouch seal according to an embodiment. The flexible pouch structure may include a polymer or polymer-metal material that is arranged in a “pouch”, which is heat sealed along three-sides using a sealant  126 . The left portion of  FIG. 5A  illustrates the top view of the flexible pouch structure, and the right portion of  FIG. 5A  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken across the section line A-A. In this example, a single portion  127  of the polymer or polymer-metal material may be folded in half, and the sealant  126  is used along three-sides of a heat-sealed area  122  of the insulator  110   a  in order to seal the pouch structure, thereby creating a pouch. The sealant  126  may include an adhesive, solder, or any type of sealant known in the art that is effective for sealing a polymer, polymer-metal, or metal material. The bursting strength of the seals may be strong enough to survive transient overpressure when the system is dropped on a hard surface. As a result, a cavity  124  inside the flexible pouch structure exists, and is filled with the one or more atmospheric pressure gases  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air, e.g., Xenon, Argon, as well as possibly the light gas  117  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     According to one embodiment, the flexible pouch material may include a plurality of layers such as a printable polymer outer-layer, an aluminum layer, inner polymer layer, and one or more adhesive or heat-sealed layers. The flexible pouch structure may be formed by placing continuous rolls of the flexible pouch material through a machine which heat seals the plurality of layers, and seals the three-sides of the flexible pouch structure, thereby producing the flexible pouch structure having a three-sided seal similar to a single serving mustard package. 
     According to another embodiment, the flexible pouch material may include a polymer or polymer-based layer and a barrier layer such as metal, glass, or a ceramic. For example, a polymer or polymer-based layer may be considered highly permeable to the atmospheric pressure gas  116  used in the insulation layer, and permeable to gases in general. As such, in order to reduce the ability of the atmospheric pressure gas  116  to permeate through the package, the package film can incorporate a barrier layer that is developed from metal, glass, or a ceramic, which are generally considered impermeable to gasses. In one particular embodiment, the barrier layer may include a thin layer of aluminum foil, where the thickness of the aluminum foil still permits the insulator structure  114  to be flexible (e.g., in the range of about 20 microns to about 40 microns thick). In another embodiment, the barrier layer may include a glass or ceramic or silicon dioxide layer. However, in the glass or ceramic or silicon dioxide layer approach, this layer tends to crack, which allows the gas to pass through the cracks in the film without going through the glass or ceramic or silicon dioxide material, and then those leaks dominate the transport of gas out of the insulator structure  114 . 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator  110   b  including a flexible pouch structure having a four-sided seal according to an embodiment. The flexible pouch structure of the insulator  110   b  may include the flexible pouch material, described above with reference to the insulator  110   a.  However, the flexible pouch material is sealed along four-sides using the sealant  126 . The left portion of  FIG. 5B  illustrates the top view of the pouch structure having the four-sided seal, and the right portion of  FIG. 5B  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken across the section line B-B. In this example, two portions (e.g., a first portion  133 - 1  and a second portion  133 - 2 ) of the flexible pouch material may be sealed together using the sealant  126  along four sides of a heat-sealed area  130  of the insulator  110   b  in order to seal the pouch structure, thereby creating a pouch. As a result, a cavity  132  inside the pouch structure exists, which is filled with the one or more atmospheric pressure gases  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air, e.g., Xenon, Argon and, optionally, the light gas  117 . 
     The insulator  110   a  and the insulator  110   b  may be applied as insulators to provide insulation over a specified area, e.g. such as a heat-generating component  102  that generates a relatively large amount of heat that creates a hotspot that may contact with the user. 
       FIG. 5C  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator  110   c  including a dual-tray structure according to an embodiment. For example, the left portion of  FIG. 5C  illustrates a top view of the dual-tray structure, and the right portion of  FIG. 5C  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken across the section line C-C. In this example, a first tray structure  135 - 1  and a second tray structure  135 - 2  may be bonded together such that a cavity  134  exists between the first tray structure  135 - 1  and the second tray structure  135 - 2 , where the cavity  134  is filled with the one or more atmospheric pressure gases  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air and, optionally, the light gas  117 . The first tray structure  135 - 1  and the second tray structure  135 - 2  may be bonded together with a sealant  139 . The sealant  139  may include the types of sealants with respect to sealant  126 , or a solder weld, for example. The second tray structure  135 - 2  may be symmetrical to the first tray structure  135 - 1 , or vice versa. 
     Further, each of the first tray structure  135 - 1  and the second tray structure  135 - 2  may include a flat portion with raised edges. Also, each of the first tray structure  135 - 1  and the second tray structure  135 - 2  may be composed of aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or other metals, or of metal and polymer composite films, which may be configured as a tray. In one example, a thickness of each of the first tray structure  135 - 1  and the second tray structure  135 - 2  may be in the range of 20 microns to 100 microns, generally. Also, it is noted that if the thickness of the metal in the tray structure is too thin, the metal may include one or more pin holes, which allow the atmospheric pressure gas  116  to escape or atmospheric gasses to penetrate the package. 
       FIG. 5D  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator  110   d  including a single tray structure  137  covered with a film  138  according to an embodiment. The left portion of  FIG. 5D  illustrates a top view of the insulator  110   d,  and the right portion of  FIG. 5D  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken across the line D-D. In one embodiment, the film  138  may be a non-metallic film such as any type of plastic material. Alternatively, the film  138  may be a metallic foil such as aluminum or stainless steel, for example. Similar to the first and second tray structures  135 , the single tray structure  137  may include a stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or other metal tray, or metal-polymer composite that is arranged as a flat portion with raised edges. However, in this embodiment, only a single tray structure  137  is used. The film  138  may be heat-sealed to the single tray structure  137  using the sealant  139  such that a cavity  136  exists between the film  138  and the single tray structure  137 , where the cavity  136  is filled with the one or more atmospheric pressure gases  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air and, optionally, the light gas  117 . 
       FIG. 5E  illustrates a top view and a cross-sectional view of an insulator  110   e  including a flexible tube structure  144  (e.g., similar to toothpaste tubing) having end seals  140  according to an embodiment. The left side of  FIG. 5E  illustrates a top view of the insulator  110   e,  and the right side of  FIG. 5E  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken across the section line E-E. In this example, the tubing structure  144  may include a flexible tube material such as a polymer or polymer-metal material that is arranged in a circular form, where inside the tubing exists an initially circular cavity  142  that is filled with the atmospheric pressure gas  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air. Both ends of the tubing structure  144  are sealed with the sealant  126  as shown with respect to the top view of the insulator  110 E. The tube may be flattened in service to fit within the gap  103 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the insulator  110   d  of  FIG. 5D  at least partially embedded into the heat-absorbing component (e.g., the enclosure) according to an embodiment. For example, in  FIG. 6 , the insulator  110   d  may be at least partially embedded into the enclosure of the device. In particular, the single tray structure  137  may be embedded into the heat-absorbing component  104 , e.g., the enclosure of a device. The film  138  may be provided over the surface of the heat-absorbing component  104 , which encloses the single tray structure  137 . It is also noted that the insulator  110   c  of  FIG. 5C  may be arranged in a similar manner, e.g., at least a portion of one of the first tray structure  135 - 1  and the second tray structure  135 - 2  may be embedded into the enclosure. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a temperature distribution  150  across a surface of the heat-absorbing component  104  with and without the insulator  110  according to an embodiment. For example, in  FIG. 7 , the insulator  110  is provided within the gap  103  existing between the heat-generating component  102  and the heat-absorbing component  104 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the insulator  110  is effective for reducing the peak temperature on the surface of the heat-absorbing component  104 , when the gap  103  is small enough such that conduction dominates heat transfer over radiation and convection. In contrast, filling the gap  103  with air, and without the insulator  110  of the embodiments may result in a higher surface temperature in the area of the hotspot  107  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The insulator  110  may have side walls  111  that connect a top wall in thermal contact with the heat-generating component  102  and a bottom wall in thermal contact with considered the heat-dissipating component  104 . Although the insulator  110  may be filled with a gas having a thermal conductivity lower than air, the sidewalls of the insulator  110  may have a thermal conductivity higher than air, and the sidewalls therefore may conduct heat from the heat-generating component  102  to the heat-dissipating component  104 . For example, the sidewalls may include aluminum (with thermal conductivity of about 205 W per meter-Kelvin), aluminum oxide (with a thermal conductivity of about 30 W per meter-Kelvin), copper (with a thermal conductivity of about 400 W per meter-Kelvin), stainless steel (with a thermal conductivity of about 16 W per meter-Kelvin), or other materials having a thermal conductivity greater than air. 
     In some implementations, this may be advantageous because it may allow heat to be transferred away from the heat-generating component  102  to the heat-dissipating component  104 , while spreading the heat over a relatively large area of the heat-dissipating component  104  and thus avoiding a hotspot having a high peak temperature on the heat-dissipating component  104 . In some implementations, when the transverse dimension of the insulator (e.g., the radius, R ins , of the insulator when the insulator is disk-shaped) is larger than a critical transverse dimension (e.g., the radius, R crit , of the insulator when the insulator is disk-shaped), then the heat transfer rate from the heat-generating component  102  to the heat-dissipating component  104  is higher than the heat transfer rate in the absence of the insulator, and the hotspot may have a higher temperature than in the absence of the insulator. The critical transverse dimension depends parameters such as the size and dimensions of the insulator, the material, size, and dimensions of which the insulator, and the gas(es) with which the insulator is filled. For example, when the walls of the insulator are relatively thick and when a high thermal conductivity material is used for the walls of the insulator, the critical transverse dimension may be relatively low. In contrast, when the walls of the insulator are relatively thin and when a low thermal conductivity material is used for walls of the insulator, the critical transverse dimension may be relatively high. 
     In some implementations, when a transverse dimension of the insulator is sufficiently large compared to a transverse dimension of the heat-generating component  102 , heat from the heat-generating component can be transferred through the insulator to the heat-dissipating component  104  to a larger area of the heat-dissipating component then in the absence of the insulator. In some implementations, the transverse dimension of the insulator can be 1.3 times greater than a transverse dimension of the heat-generating component. In other implementations the transverse dimension of the insulator can be 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 times greater than a transverse dimension of the heat-generating component. For example, heat can be conducted through the structure to the heat-dissipating component and can raise the temperature of the heat-dissipating component by a threshold amount, compared to when the heat-generating component is not generating heat, over an area that is greater than an area over which the temperature of the heat-dissipating component would be raised by the threshold amount in the absence of the insulator. At the same time, when the insulator is present within the gap between the heat-generating component and the heat-dissipating component, a peak temperature of the heat-dissipating component can be lower than a peak temperature of the heat-dissipating component that would exist in the absence of the insulator. 
       FIG. 8A  illustrates a perspective of a laptop computer  200 , and  FIG. 8B  illustrates a cross sectional view of the laptop computer  200  taken across the section line F-F according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 8B , the laptop  200  may include a display  202 , a keyboard portion  204 , and an enclosure  210  housing a circuit board  208  having one or more CPUs  206 . The enclosure  210  may be considered the heat-absorbing component  104 , and the one or more CPUs  206  may be considered the heat-generating component  102 , of the previous figures. A gap may exist between one or more CPUs  206  and an inner surface of the enclosure  210 . According to the embodiments, the insulator  110  may be located, within the gap, between the CPU  206  and the inner surface of the enclosure  210 . As indicated above, the insulator  110  may include the insulator structure  114  encompassing the atmospheric pressure gas  116  having a thermal conductivity lower than air. The insulator structure  114  may include a generic structure as discussed with reference to  FIG. 4 , or any of the more specific embodiments of  FIGS. 5-6 . 
     Further consideration is now given to techniques for fabricating the pouches described above. Because gas impurities in a pouch filled with an insulating gas (e.g., xenon) can significantly reduce the thermal insulation capability of the pouch, it is desirable to fill the pouches with little contamination of background gases (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen). However, because many insulating gases are relatively expensive, techniques for creating pouches filled with an insulating gas should use the supply of xenon economically and waste as little gases possible. In addition, pouches filled with an insulating gas must use films and seals that have very low permeability, so that atmospheric gases do not leak in and the insulating gas does not leak out over the intended lifetime of the pouch. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a system  900  for fabricating sealed pouches containing an insulating gas. The system includes a container  902  holding the insulating gas. Gas from the container  902  flows through a regulator  904  that regulates the flow rate of the gas and into a passageway  906  (e.g., a tube) that is open at one end  908  to deliver gas to a region where the pouches are formed. 
     The system  900  also includes a material  910  that is used to enclose the pouches and to contain the insulating gas. The material  910  can be a flexible film that is sufficiently impermeable to contain a sufficient concentration of the insulating gas in, and to exclude atmospheric gas from, the pouch for the lifetime of the pouch (e.g., greater than 30,000 hours). For example, the material can include a metal (e.g., aluminum) film layer having sufficient thickness and integrity to maintain a specific gas composition within a pouch created from the material for the lifetime of pouch. For example, the material  910  may include an aluminum layer having a thickness of 20 μm or more. 
     The material  910  can be supplied to the region where the pouches are formed in a number of different ways. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the material  910  can be supplied as a sheet on a roller  912 , and that is unrolled from the roller  912  and fed to the region where the insulating gas exits the nozzle  908  of the passageway  906 . In some implementations, the width, W, of the material  910  on the roller  912  can be more than twice the width of the finished pouches, and after the material  910  is unrolled from the roller  912 , the material can be folded over itself along a fold line  914 . For some materials  910 , the fold line  914  can be defined by scoring, perforating, or even slitting the material along the fold line. The scoring, perforating, slitting can be performed in-line, while the material  910  is being fed off the roller  912 , or can be performed off-line, e.g., before the material  910  is rolled onto the roller  912  or before the material is fed through the sealing mechanisms described below, which form sealed pouches of insulating gas contained within the material  910 . In other implementations, it may be unnecessary to score, perforating, or slit the material  910  along the fold line  914 , and the material may be folded along the fold line  914  without otherwise altering the integrity of the material  910  at the fold line  914 . 
     After the material has been folded along the fold line  914 , opposite edges of the material  910  are in close proximity to one another, such that two sheets of the material  910  are in close proximity to each other and can be sealed against each other by a sealing mechanism. For example, the sealing mechanism can include a heated roller or plate  916  that can heat seal the opposite edges of the material against each other. Another heated roller or plate  918  can create a heat seal of different sides of the material along the fold line  914 . In other implementations, one or more adhesive materials can be used to seal opposite edges of the material to each other and to create a seal along the fold line. In still other implementations, a combination of heat and adhesive materials can be used to create the seals. In still other implementations, heat can be applied to create a heat seal independent of the rollers  916 ,  918 . For example, the rollers can be used to press the different sides of the material together, and then heat can be applied to seal the different sides of the material. In other implementations, the seals can be created by soldering, brazing, welding, etc. the different sides of the material together to create a gas-impermeable seal. 
     In some implementations, to create the two sheets of material that are in close proximity to each other near the rollers  916 ,  918 , rather than using a single roll of material and then folding the material in half along a fold line  914 , two rolls of material can be used, and the sheets of material from the two different rolls can be placed into close proximity to each other near the rollers  916 ,  918 , while still allowing the insulating gas passageway  906  to extend between the two sheets of material. In other implementations, the material  910  need not be fed from a roll  912 , but can be fed as a flat sheet toward the sealing mechanism (e.g.,  916 ,  918 ). The sealing mechanism simultaneously forms the top of the last pouch and the beginning of the next pouch. 
     End seals  920   a,    920   b,    920   c,    920   d  can be formed in the material  910  by an additional sealing mechanism  922 . Thus, the sealing mechanism  922  can seal top and bottom layers of the material  910  along a line that is perpendicular to the direction  926  in which the material  910  is fed. The sealing mechanism  922  can be located close to the end  908  of the insulating gas passageway  906 , so that after one end seal (e.g.,  920   b ) is formed, then insulating gas is fed into the area within the two sheets of material  910  as the material is fed along the production line (e.g., as the material  910  is unrolled from the roller  912  and is moved downward in  FIG. 9 ). Then, after the material has been fed a predetermined distance, a subsequent end seal is formed (e.g., seal  920   a ), so that insulating gas is completely sealed within a pouch defined by two end seals (e.g., seal  920   b  and seal  920   a ) and two edge seals (e.g., the seals formed by the sealing mechanisms  916 ,  918 ). After sealed pouches have been formed, the material can be cut by a cutting mechanism  924  along the midpoint of each end seals to create individual pouches filled with insulating gas. 
     In some implementations, a transverse profile (i.e., a profile in the direction that is transverse to the feed direction  926  of the material in  FIG. 9 ) can be formed in the material  910  before the top and bottom sheets of the material are sealed together by the sealing mechanism, so that sealing of the edges of the material is facilitated and so that the shape of the pouch can be consistently defined.  FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of an example transverse profile of the material. 
     In some implementations, the transverse profile can be formed in the material before it is rolled onto roller  912 .  FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of an example transverse profile  1000  of the material  910 . In some implementations, the transverse profile can be symmetric about a fold line  1002 , about which the material is folded. The transverse profile can have channels  1004  and  1006 , which mate with each other when the material  910  is folded about the fold line  1002  to form a pouch that can contain an insulating gas. The transverse profile can have first flat sections  1010  and  1008 , and second flat sections  1012  and  1014 , which mate with each other, respectively, when the material is folded about the fold line  1002  and which can be sealed against each other to create a gas impermeable pouch that defines a cavity within the channels  1004 ,  1006  when the channels mate with each other. To facilitate folding about the fold line, the transverse profile of the material can include a feature  1016  (e.g., a scoring, perforation, or slitting of the material), where the feature  1016  is located on the fold line  1002 . 
     The transverse profile of the material  910  can be formed in a variety of ways. For example, in one implementation,  FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of a system  1100  for forming the transverse profile in a sheet of material. The system  1100  can include a top roller  1102  and a bottom roller  1104  between which the material  910  is rolled. The top roller  1102  can rotate in one direction about a central axis of the roller, while the bottom roller up rotates the opposite direction about a central axis of the roller. Each roller  1102 ,  1104  can be cylindrically symmetric about a central axis of the roller and the profile of the roller along the length of the roller can be chosen such that the profile as a function of length approximates the desired transverse profile of the sheet shown in  FIG. 10 . Thus, as a flat sheet of material  910  is rolled between the rollers  1102 ,  1104 , the flat sheet is deformed into a sheet having the transverse profile shown in  FIG. 10 . In some implementations, the material  910  can be rolled between a series of roller pairs, which successively convert the transverse profile of the material from a flat sheet into a sheet having the transverse profile shown in  FIG. 10 . For example, each pair of rollers may deform the profile of the sheet a bit more than the previous pair until the desired transverse profile is achieved. In some implementations, the roller pairs, rather than having complementary profiles along their lengths as shown in  FIG. 11 , may include a first roller that includes a transverse profile whose radius varies along the length of the roller (e.g., a profile that matches the desired profile  1000  of the material) and a second roller composed of soft, deformable material that can deform into a profile that is complementary to the first roller&#39;s profile when the first roller is pressed against second roller with the material between the two rollers. 
     The channels  1004 ,  1006  can be formed in the material  910  at different stages within the processing of the material. For example, referring again to  FIG. 9 , the channels can be formed in the material  910  before the material is loaded onto the roller  912 . Then, when the material  910  is unrolled from the roller and said downstream in the direction  926  for processing the channels, shown by dotted lines  928  in  FIG. 9  can be used to form the pouches when side and edge seals are created by the sealing mechanisms shown in  FIG. 9 . In another implementation, the material on the roller  912  can be unformed (i.e., flat), and after the material is unrolled from the roller  912  and before the material is folded over itself, the channels can be formed in the material (e.g., using techniques described in reference to  FIG. 11 ). 
     In some implementations, a channel may be formed only in one side of a pouch. For example, referring again to  FIG. 10 , the transverse profile of the material may include channel  1004 , but channel  1006  may be missing, such that the material is flat between portion  1014  and portion  1008 . Then, when the material is folded about fold line  1002  and seals are formed between portion  1008  and  1010  and between portion  1012  and portion  1014 , respectively, a pouch can be formed by the channel  1004  with a flat sheet of material over the channel. 
       FIGS. 12A ,  12 B, and  12 C are schematic diagrams of another system  1200  for forming pouches containing insulating gas.  FIG. 12A  is a schematic top view of the system  1200 .  FIG. 12B  is a schematic side view of the system  1200  along section G-G′ in  FIG. 12A .  FIG. 12C  is a schematic diagram of a transverse profile of the sheet of material along section H-H′ in  FIG. 12B  that includes a channel for receiving and containing insulating gas. A bottom sheet  1202  can be fed in a feed direction  1204  through the system. The bottom sheet  1202  can have a transverse profile that includes a channel  1206 , as shown in  FIG. 12C . The channel can be formed in a variety of ways including using techniques similar to those described above with respect to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In other implementation, the channel can be formed though a progressive die set in which the material drawn over a die that progressively changes the profile of the material from that of a flat sheet to a profile that includes the channel  1206  between raised flanges  1207 A,  1207 B. Thus, the channel  1206  is formed between raised flanges  1207 A,  1207 B of the sheet  1202  and a bottom floor  1209  of the sheet  1202 . A top sheet  1208  can be fed through the system at an average rate matched to the rate at which the bottom sheet  1202  is fed. The top sheet  1208  can be fed around a roller  1210  and brought into close proximity to the bottom sheet  1202 . 
     When the top and bottom sheets are in close proximity to one another, a pre-purge gas can be introduced between the sheets via a duct, passageway, tube, or the like  1212 . The pre-purge gas can include one or more gases having properties that improve the process of sealing the top sheet  1208  to the bottom sheet  1202  or that improve the performance of the final insulating-gas containing pouch product. For example, the pre-purge gas can include heated nitrogen having a very low water content, which may advantageously remove water vapor from the surface of the top and bottom sheets  1208 ,  1202  and from the gap between the sheets. In another example, the pre-purge gas can include a gas having a composition that is similar or identical to the insulating gas that is used in the pouch. Downstream from the pre-purge gas, the insulating gas can be introduced to the region between the top sheet  1208  and the bottom sheet  1202  for example, the insulating gas can be introduced through a duct  1214  that injects the gas into the area between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in a region of the system  1200  where the top sheet and the bottom sheets are sealed together. For example, the duct  1214  can have a T-shape or a J-shape, such that it can be supported from the side of the sheet with the gas flowing around the corner of the duct so that gas can be introduced from the side of the sheets, flow around a corner in the duct, and then the emitted from a nozzle  1215  at the end of a tube deep within the sealing region of the system. The nozzle may be considered to be the structure at and toward the end of the duct  1214  from which gas is emitted. The duct  1214  can be shaped such that gas is introduced in a combination of axial and transverse directions through a portion of the duct that is between the top sheet  1208  and the raised flanges  1207 A,  1207 B of the bottom sheet  1202 . When the duct bends from its transverse direction and continues in the feed direction  1204 , the duct also bends in a direction away from the top sheet  1208  and toward the floor  1209  of the channel  1206  of the bottom sheet  1202 . Thus, the nozzle  1215  at the end of the duct from which insulating gas is emitted can be located within the channel between the raised flanges  1207 A,  1207 B and the bottom floor  1209 . 
     As mentioned above, the insulating gas is emitted from the duct  1214  in a region of the system in which the top sheet  1208  is sealed to the bottom sheet  1202 . In one implementation, the top sheet  1208  can be sealed to the bottom sheet  1202  with a “gang-forming” process in which the side edges and one end edge of a pouch are formed simultaneously in a first step, and then the second end edge is formed in a second step of the process. For example, as shown in  FIG. 12A , a U-shaped press  1220  may be stamped on to the top sheet to pressure- and/or heat-seal the top sheet  1208  to the bottom sheet  1202  at the two side edges of a pouch and at one end edge, during a first step of the sealing process. The U-shaped press may have a “U” that lies in a plane, in which case the press  1220  is moved linearly (e.g., in direction  1223 ) to form the seal. The motion of the material  1202 ,  1208  in the feed direction  1204  may be momentarily halted during this sealing step. In another implementation, the “U” may be defined on a rotating member that rotates at a rate that the surface speed matches the speed at which the material is fed in the feed direction  1204 , in which case the U-shaped seal is formed quickly as the member rotates but all edges of the U-shaped seal are not formed simultaneously. This first step of the sealing process may be performed while insulating gas is injected from the nozzle  1215  at the end of the duct  1214  into the channel between the top sheet  1208  and the bottom sheet  1202 . Then, after the material has been fed downstream in the direction  1204  by a distance slightly less than the overall length of the U-shaped press  1220 , the press may again contact and seal the films together to seal the top sheet to the bottom sheet completely containing and isolating the insulating gas, in a second step of the process. 
     In this manner, the base of the U of the press  1220  may be used to form both end edges of a pouch. Because insulating gas is continuously injected into the region between the top sheet  1208  and the bottom sheet  1202  as the material is fed downstream indirection  1204 , when the second end edge is sealed by the U-shaped press  1220  the channel  1206  between the top sheet  1208  and the bottom sheet  1202  can be filled with a relatively high purity of insulating gas, and a relatively low amount of gas is lost from the pouches as they are formed. The thicker line  1222  in  FIG. 12B  is used to illustrate a sealed side edge between the top sheet  1208  and the bottom sheet  1202 . Pouches that have been filled with insulating gas and totally sealed can be cut from the moving material by a cutting device  1224  by cutting the seal near the midline between two formed pouches, so that individual pouches filled with insulating gas are created. 
     In another implementation, the press  1220  can be H-shaped, where the horizontal bar of the “H” can be located toward the bottom of the “legs” of the “H.” With an H-shaped press, the press can be can be stamped to seal the top and bottom sheets when the horizontal bar of the “H” is slightly downstream from the end of the nozzle  1315 , which may allow a larger gas pocket between the top and bottom sheets to exist just after the press is stamped than when a U-shaped press is used. 
       FIGS. 13A ,  13 B, and  13 C are schematic diagrams of another system  1300  for forming pouches containing insulating gas.  FIG. 13A  is a schematic top view of the system  1300 .  FIG. 13B  is a schematic side view of the system  1300 .  FIG. 13C  is a schematic sectional view of the system  1300  through section J-J′ that is shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B . In the system  1300 , a bottom sheet  1302  can have a transverse profile that includes a channel, as shown in  FIG. 13C . The channel can be formed by using a duct  1314  through which insulating gas flows and/or a nozzle opening  1315  from which insulating gas is emitted between the bottom sheet  1302  and the top sheet  1308  as one part of a progressive die set through which the material of the bottom sheet  1302  is drawn, as explained in more detail below. The nozzle opening  1315  may be considered to be the structure at and toward the end of the duct  1314  from which gas is emitted. The nozzle opening itself may be tapered at the its downstream end to allow gas to flow out of the gas and into between the top and bottom sheets while the sheets are being sealed to each other without pressure from the emitted gas breaking or preventing the seal between the top and bottom sheets. 
     A bottom sheet  1302  can be fed in a feed direction  1304  through the system  1300  at an average rate matched to the rate at which the top sheet is fed. For example, the top sheet  1308  and bottom sheet  1302  can be pinched between one or more pairs of counter-rotating rollers  1330 ,  1332  that draw the sheet  1302  in the feed direction  1304 . A top sheet  1308  can be fed around rollers  1310 A,  1310 B,  1310 C and brought into close proximity to the bottom sheet  1202 . The top sheet  1308  can be fed through the system  1300  at an average rate matched to the rate at which the bottom sheet  1302  is fed. For example, the top sheet  1308  can be pinched between the one or more pairs of counter-rotating rollers  1330 ,  1332  that drawn the sheet  1308  in the feed direction  1304 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13C , the bottom sheet  1302  can have a transverse profile that includes a channel  1306  between raised flanges  1307 A,  1307 B, where the channel includes a bottom floor  1309 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 13C , the duct  1314 , on one side, and a block  1340 , on another side, can form two parts of a die set through which the bottom sheet  1302  is drawn, and the profiles of the duct  1314  and the block  1340  can define an opening through which the bottom sheet  1302  is drawn to form the channel in the bottom sheet  1302 . The profile of the duct  1314  and the block  1340  define an opening that corresponds to the desired profile of the bottom sheet  1302  (i.e., including the channel in the bottom sheet) at one point along the feed direction  1304  of the sheet or over a finite distance of the feed direction. Although the opening between the duct  1314  and the block  1340  that corresponds to the desired transverse profile of the bottom sheet  1302  is shown to occur at section J-J′ at the end of the duct  1314 , in other implementations the opening with such a shape may occur upstream of the end of the nozzle while the gap between the duct  1314  and the block  1340  may be substantially greater at the end of the nozzle. In still other implementations, the block  1340  may not extend all the way to the end of the nozzle  1315 , and the opening between the duct  1314  and the block  1340  that corresponds to the desired transverse profile of the bottom sheet  1302  can occur upstream of the end of the nozzle (e.g., at one point along the feed direction or over a finite distance along the feed direction). 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 13B , for example, at the portion of the block  1340  and the duct  1314  where the bottom sheet  1302  begins to pass between the block and the duct, the opening between the block  1340  and the duct  1314  can be greater than the thickness of the bottom sheet and greater the opening shown in  FIG. 13C . Then, at points further downstream in the feed direction  1304 , the opening between the block  1340  and the duct  1314  may gradually begin to change into the shape shown in  FIG. 13C . This may allow the bottom sheet  1302  to be fed smoothly between the duct  1314  and the block as the sheet is drawn in the feed direction  1304 . Thus, the desired channel in the bottom sheet  1302  can be formed by using the duct  1314  at the end of the duct as one part, or the entirety, of a progressive die set that is used to form the channel in the sheet. 
     When the top sheet  1308  and the bottom sheet  1302  are in close proximity to one another, a pre-purge gas can be introduced between the sheets via a duct, passageway, tube, or the like  1312 . For example, the pre-purge gas can flow through a rectangular duct  1312  in a direction that is transverse to the feed direction  1304  and then can flow out of holes in bottom of the duct that face the top and/or bottom sheets or that face the downstream direction of the feed direction. 
     The pre-purge gas can include one or more gases having properties that improve the process of sealing the top sheet  1308  to the bottom sheet  1302  or that improve the performance of the final insulating-gas containing pouch product. For example, the pre-purge gas can include heated nitrogen having a very low water content, which may advantageously remove water vapor from the surface of the top and bottom sheets  1308 ,  1302  and from the gap between the sheets. In another example, the pre-purge gas can include a gas having a composition that is similar or identical to the insulating gas that is used in the pouch or be one of the components of the final desired gas mixture (e.g., Argon or Xenon). Using an inexpensive gas (e.g., Argon) allows optimizing performance of the completed part while reducing the cost of more expensive gas (e.g., Xenon). 
     Downstream from the duct  1312  that introduces the pre-purge gas, the insulating gas can be introduced to the region between the top sheet  1308  and the bottom sheet  1302 . For example, the insulating gas can be introduced through the duct  1314  that injects the gas via nozzle opening  1315  into the area between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in a region of the system  1300  where the top sheet and the bottom sheets are sealed together. For example, the duct  1314  can have a generally “T” or “J” shape, such that it can be supported from the side of the sheet with the gas flowing around the corner of the duct so that gas can be introduced from the side of the sheets, so that gas can be introduced from the side of the sheets, flow around a corner in the duct, and then can be emitted from the end of the nozzle  1315  deep within the sealing region of the system. The duct  1314  and nozzle  1315  can be shaped such that gas is introduced substantially in the transverse direction through a portion of the duct that is between the top sheet  1308  and the raised flanges  1307 A,  1307 B of the bottom sheet  1302 , and that when the duct bends and continues in the feed direction  1304 , the duct also bends in a direction away from the top sheet  1308  and toward the floor  1309  of the channel of the bottom sheet  1302 . Thus, the duct  1314  can form the channel in the bottom sheet, and the end of the nozzle from which insulating gas is emitted can be located within the channel between the raised flanges  1307 A,  1307 B and the bottom floor  1309 . 
     As mentioned above, the insulating gas is emitted from the duct  1314  in a region of the system in which the top sheet  1308  is sealed to the bottom sheet  1302 . In one implementation, the top sheet  1308  can be sealed to the bottom sheet  1302  with a “gang-forming” process in which the side edges and one end edge of a pouch are formed simultaneously in a first step, and then the second end edge is formed in a second step of the process. For example, as shown in  FIG. 13A , an H-shaped press  1320  may be stamped on to the top sheet to pressure- and/or heat-seal the top sheet  1308  to the bottom sheet  1302  at the two side edges of a pouch and at one end edge, during a first step of the sealing process. The H-shaped press may have an “H” that lies in a plane, in which case the press  1320  is moved linearly to form the seal. The motion of the material  1302 ,  1308  in the feed direction  1304  may be momentarily halted during this sealing step. In another implementation, the “H” may be defined on a rotating member that rotates at a rate that the surface speed matches the speed at which the material is fed in the feed direction  1304 , in which case the H-shaped seal is formed quickly as the member rotates but all edges of the H-shaped seal are not formed simultaneously. This first step of the sealing process may be performed while insulating gas is injected from the duct  1314  into the channel between the top sheet  1308  and the bottom sheet  1302 . Then, after the material has been fed downstream in the direction  1304  by a distance slightly less than the overall length of the H-shaped press  1320 , the press may again contact and seal the films together to seal the top sheet to the bottom sheet completely containing and isolating the insulating gas, in a second step of the process. The “top” legs of an H from a first pressing step may overlap with the “bottom” lets of an H of a second pressing process to entirely seal a pouch. 
     In another implementation, the press  1320  can be U-shaped, and the can be used to seal pouches in a manner similar to that described above with respect to  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B, and  12 C. 
     Because insulating gas is continuously injected into the region between the top sheet  1308  and the bottom sheet  1302  as the material is fed downstream indirection  1304 , when two consecutive H-shaped pressing operations can create seal a pouch defined by a section of the top sheet and a section of the bottom sheet, where the pouch is filled with a relatively high purity of insulating gas, and a relatively low amount of gas is lost from the pouches as they are formed. The thicker line  1322  in  FIG. 13B  is used to illustrate a sealed side edges  1307 A,  1307 B between the top sheet  1308  and the bottom sheet  1302  as in  FIG. 13C . The thin line  1323  in  FIG. 13B  is used to illustrate the floor of the bottom of the channel in the bottom sheet  1302  as in  FIG. 13C . Pouches that have been filled with insulating gas and totally sealed can be cut from the moving material by a cutting device  1324 , so that individual pouches filled with insulating gas are created. Surplus material of the top and bottom sheets around the sealed edges of the pouch also can be cut away by the cutting device  1324 . 
     It will be appreciated that the above embodiments that have been described in particular detail are merely example or possible embodiments, and that there are many other combinations, additions, or alternatives that may be included.