Engineering

Latest Innovations
Nanophotonic non-reciprocal circuit Dr. Gaurav Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a nanophotonic non-reciprocal circuit. The invention allows light to travel only in one... Read More Dr. Gaurav Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a nanophotonic non-reciprocal circuit. The invention allows light to travel only in one direction and has great application potential in atomic clocks, gravimetry and optical isolators. This is the first time that any circuit that has been able to operate in the GHz region.
Flat panel display with increased clarity Dr. Paul Braun from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new design architecture for backlit LCDs.... Read More Dr. Paul Braun from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new design architecture for backlit LCDs.
Magnetically Responsive Micro-structured Surfaces Dr. Seok Kim from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a versatile surface material that will serve as a general-purpose platform for fluid and... Read More Dr. Seok Kim from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a versatile surface material that will serve as a general-purpose platform for fluid and light manipulations for micro and macroscale. Potential applications include: digital microfluidics, biomedical devices, virtual blinds, camouflage surfaces, and micromirror arrays. Compared to similar surfaces, this responsive surface consists of micropillars integrated with large area platelets, which increases the areal fraction of opaque regions on the surface and increases the tuning range of transmittance. It does not require heating to create a vapor layer, and allows the use of soft, ferromagnetic micropillars and offers a more efficient assembly process than prior works. Lastly, it allowed control over the final configuration of the platelets, either in-plane or out-of-plane configurations, for the very first time.
Volumetric Optical Integrated Circuit Elements (V.O.I.C.E.) This technology enables the fabrication of multiple plans of interconnected passive photonic devices with the volume of a silicon wafer. The fabrication technique uses... Read More This technology enables the fabrication of multiple plans of interconnected passive photonic devices with the volume of a silicon wafer. The fabrication technique uses porous silicon as a scaffold for photoresist in a direct laser write process to make graded index (GRIN) optics and photonic elements. This technology has the potential to dramatically improve the speed, density, and energy efficiency in applications like telecommunications, computing, data storage and transfer and consumer electronics.
Unlimited Resolution Optical Microscopy The development of unlimited resolution imaging systems based on the fundamentally odd-symmetric polarization topology which breaks the 145-year-old law of Abbe’s... Read More The development of unlimited resolution imaging systems based on the fundamentally odd-symmetric polarization topology which breaks the 145-year-old law of Abbe’s resolution limit. With this technology, two objects separated by an arbitrarily small gap can be distinguished using a conventional far-field imaging system that has an arbitrarily low numerical aperture of the objective lens. The system allows imaging of nanoparticles and nanostructure which was previously not achievable by conventional optic microscopes.
Photonic Resonator Outcoupler Microscopy (PROM) A novel label-free microscopy modality that quantitatively measures the scatter-induced changes in reflected intensity from a photonic crystal biosensor surface to reveal... Read More A novel label-free microscopy modality that quantitatively measures the scatter-induced changes in reflected intensity from a photonic crystal biosensor surface to reveal the kinetic evolution and spatial features of focal adhesions (FA) that form at the cell-surface interface. Compared to a sensing approach in which image contrast is generated by the dielectric permittivity of attached cell components, PROM provides contrast in reflected resonant intensity that is induced by the refractive index contrast of localized protein clusters that occur at the cell-surface interface that comprise FA sites. PROM is expected to be a highly useful tool that can reveal the mechanisms of biological processes that occur near the cell membrane when it is attached to extracellular matrix materials during apoptosis, stem cell differentiation, migration, division, and metastasis.
Photonic Resonator Absorption Microscopy (PRAM) A novel label-free microscopy modality that quantitatively measures the scatter-induced changes in reflected intensity from a photonic crystal biosensor surface to reveal... Read More A novel label-free microscopy modality that quantitatively measures the scatter-induced changes in reflected intensity from a photonic crystal biosensor surface to reveal the kinetic evolution and spatial features of focal adhesions (FA) that form at the cell-surface interface. Compared to a sensing approach in which image contrast is generated by the dielectric permittivity of attached cell components, PROM provides contrast in reflected resonant intensity that is induced by the refractive index contrast of localized protein clusters that occur at the cell-surface interface that comprise FA sites. PROM is expected to be a highly useful tool that can reveal the mechanisms of biological processes that occur near the cell membrane when it is attached to extracellular matrix materials during apoptosis, stem cell differentiation, migration, division, and metastasis.
Low Quantum Defect Fiber Lasers via Yb-Doped Multicomponent Fluorosilicate Optical Fiber Dr. Dragic from the University of IL has developed a low-quantum defect fiber-based laser. This invention assists with the management of... Read More Dr. Dragic from the University of IL has developed a low-quantum defect fiber-based laser. This invention assists with the management of thermal energy (quantum defect heating) which can lead to failure of an optical fiber when power scaling fiber-based lasers. A Yb-doped multicomponent flurosilicate optical fiber reduces quantum defect heating in the fiber-based laser. Fiber-based lasers have applications in the automotive, medical, and electronics industries.
Frequency Independent Framework for Synthesis of Programmable Non-reciprocal Network Dr. Songbin Gong and his group from the University of Illinois have developed a framework for synthesizing frequency-independent multi-port nonreciprocal networks. The... Read More Dr. Songbin Gong and his group from the University of Illinois have developed a framework for synthesizing frequency-independent multi-port nonreciprocal networks. The framework is highly expandable, can have an arbitrary number of ports while simultaneously sustaining balanced performance, and provide unprecedented programmability of non-reciprocity. Unlike the conventional approaches, non-reciprocal performance of the network is only dependent of the time delays, instead of phase delays, and therefore is frequency independent. This technology could inspire new ways of implementing multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication systems. 4-port switch module prototype
Graphene Classifier This technology is a classifier based on a ferroelectric graphene transistor. In contrast to traditional current-mode classifiers based on CMOS technologies (which require... Read More This technology is a classifier based on a ferroelectric graphene transistor. In contrast to traditional current-mode classifiers based on CMOS technologies (which require 23 transistors per pixel), this classifier requires only one transistor per pixel. The device provides a new solution for image recognition with reduced circuit complexity, enhanced energy efficiency, and faster processing speed. Applications include signal or image processing and recognition.