Skip to main content

Electronics

Latest Innovations
Magnetic-free Solution for On-chip Optical Communication Dr. Bahl from the University of Illinois has discovered a new method to create non-reciprocal property without using external magnetic field. The method employs... Read More Dr. Bahl from the University of Illinois has discovered a new method to create non-reciprocal property without using external magnetic field. The method employs Brillouin Stimulated Induced Transparency (BSIT), by adding a laser and a specifically designed microns-sized resonator. Applying BSIT can significantly reduce the size and cost, and also bring about the possibility for magnet-free on-chip application.
RMPA Compact Pattern-Reconfigurable Microstrip Parasitic Arrays This invention is a class of low-power smart antennas, operating at millimeter and microwave frequencies, which are controlled by electronically manipulating the... Read More This invention is a class of low-power smart antennas, operating at millimeter and microwave frequencies, which are controlled by electronically manipulating the direction of an antenna's signal using solid-state technology. These smart antennas are fully compatible with the existing wireless technology, as well as next generation wireless antenna arrays. Details This class of reconfigurable antennas consists of three similar antenna designs, each with its own benefits. The antenna types benefit from compact size and low power consumption, the main difference between the antennas being the geometry of the parasitic array and the method for switching microstrip polarity. How it works The three variations each have three equal spaced parallel strips printed on a grounded dielectric substrate. The center strip is driven with an SMA probe feed, and the linerally polarized antenna is matched by moving the probe location along the x-axis of the center strip. The two outer strips are parasitic and each of them contains one load in the center. When the switches are activated, or the varactors tuned, the effective electrical length of the parasitic strip changes and it alters the induced current on the parasitic strip, changing the antenna's effective radiation pattern up to +35. Applications Home/Office networking and Wi-Fi: Wireless LANs and WANs will benefit from increased range with fewer dropped connections and faster connection speeds, while users of related technologies like wireless voice over internet protocol (VoIP) would enjoy greater mobility and signal clarity. Bluetooth and other M2M systems: MIMO antenna arrays will be the backbone of countless machine-to-machine devices that rely on intercommunication in order to function. This algorithm would decrease the size of such devices while ensuring continued reliability. Handheld devices: The market demands connectivity in handheld electronics. Portable gaming devices, for instance, require access to community forums, and pocket PCs are equipped with internet browsers and multimedia software to communicate with desktop computers and wireless routers. GPS systems: A constant signal is imperative for high-accuracy GPS devices. This suite of improved antenna technologies could provide for the incorporation of GPS systems into a range of portable devices, which are currently inhibited by size, power, or portability. Cellular communications: These technologies will boost cell phone signal and range, while simultaneously minimizing power consumption and miniaturizing device size. Large or phased arrays of smart antennas: Antennas can be constructed on a large scale to improve long distance communication in cell phone broadcast towers and government/military base stations. Benefits Increase Signal to Noise Ratio: By scanning and switching the antenna's radiation pattern, the antenna system can both circumvent noise and suppress multiple path interference while maintaining communication over a single frequency. Compact size: Typically, pattern reconfigurability is achieved by using phased arrays. Phased arrays are too large for use in size-sensitive applications such as consumer electronics devices. This antenna's conformal/ planar design is ideally suited for use in these small applications. Elegant Control System: Employing a design of two or four switches, this out-of-phase antenna array consumes minimal power and has negligible computing requirements.
Method for Isolating Antennas Using Meandered-Line Ground Plane Surface Wave Filter A wireless communication device includes multiple antennas spaced apart from each other. Also included is a dielectric substrate with electrically conductive... Read More A wireless communication device includes multiple antennas spaced apart from each other. Also included is a dielectric substrate with electrically conductive ground areas along the substrate opposite the antennas. Signal coupling is decreased between the antennas by connecting the ground areas together with an isolation structure. In one nonlimiting form, this structure includes an electrically conductive meander line structure.
Improved Ion-Implanted pn Junctions in Semiconductors The invention improves the process of ion implantation and annealing, which is used to introduce dopants into a semiconductor to make pn junctions. The... Read More The invention improves the process of ion implantation and annealing, which is used to introduce dopants into a semiconductor to make pn junctions. The improvements control the motion of bulk semiconductor defects such as interstitial atoms through control of surface chemistry. This leads to a reduction of the depth and electrical resistance of the pn junction. Details The invention concerns process improvements to ion implantation and annealing technology, which is used to introduce dopants into a semiconductor in order to make pn junctions. The improvements control the motion of bulk semiconductor defects such as interstitial atoms through control of surface chemistry. The surface chemistry changes the intrinsic ability of the surface to absorb defects that diffuse to it. The preferential loss of Si interstitials keeps electrically active dopant fixed in the lattice by inhibiting the "kick out" reaction that makes such dopant atoms mobile and inactive. The interstitial loss rate is controlled by the introduction of an additional step in the annealing process. The surface chemistry also changes the interaction of electrically charged defects with charges at the surface by greatly reducing the charge buildup at the surface and therefore reducing the surface repulsion effect, which increases the activated dopant concentration. Applications This technology can be applied to almost any product that uses higher end (< 90 nm) integrated circuits. Not relevant to technologies that use lower resolution since current pn junction technology is acceptable. Examples of such applications include: Computers Communications Electronics Benefits Pn junction with reduced depth and increased dopant activation: Leads to transistor devices with higher performance Compatible with current manufacturing technologies: Avoids the large costs associated with paradigm-changing technologies Adjusted loss rate of interstitials to the surface: Offers highly controllable mechanism for defect engineering.
Quantum Nanopore Structure The invention provides a quantum well active region for an optoelectronic device. The quantum well active region includes barrier layers of high bandgap material.... Read More The invention provides a quantum well active region for an optoelectronic device. The quantum well active region includes barrier layers of high bandgap material. A quantum well of low bandgap material is between the barrier layers. Three-dimensional high bandgap barriers are in the quantum well. A preferred semiconductor laser of the invention includes a quantum well active region of the invention. Cladding layers are around the quantum well active region, as well as a waveguide structure.
Curved Coupled Waveguide Array A semiconductor laser that includes an active region, claddings and electrical contacts to stimulate emissions from the active region, where a coupled waveguide... Read More A semiconductor laser that includes an active region, claddings and electrical contacts to stimulate emissions from the active region, where a coupled waveguide guides emission. The waveguide includes a broad area straight coupling region that fans out into an array of narrower Individual curved coupled waveguides at an output facet of the laser. The individual curved coupled waveguides are curved according to Lorentzian functions that define the waveguide curvature as a function of position along the device. The integral length of each individual curved coupled waveguide differs from adjacent individual curved coupled waveguides by an odd number of half-wavelengths. The coupled waveguide array shapes the optical field output of the semiconductor laser such that a large fraction of the power is emitted into a small angular distribution using interference phenomena. A laser of the invention produces high power output with a very high quality, narrow beam shape.
Transistor Quantum Cascade Laser A method for producing light emission, including the following steps: providing a transistor structure that includes a semiconductor base region disposed between a... Read More A method for producing light emission, including the following steps: providing a transistor structure that includes a semiconductor base region disposed between a semiconductor emitter region and a semiconductor collector region; providing a cascade region between the base region and the collector region, the cascade region having a plurality of sequences of quantum size regions, the quantum size regions of the sequences varying, in the direction toward the collector region, from a relatively higher energy state to a relatively lower energy state; providing emitter, base and collector electrodes respectively coupled with the emitter, base, and collector regions; and applying electrical signals with respect to the emitter, base, and collector electrodes to cause and control light emission from the cascade region.
Impurity-Induced Method for High-Power Single-Mode Laser Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a method for vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) to provide high-power output with good beam... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a method for vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) to provide high-power output with good beam quality. The method use Zn-diffusion to create disordering and filter out high order mode of the laser. As a result, VCSEL with larger aperture, which permits higher power, will still output single mode light with tight focus. This technology provides laser for energy-assisted magnetic recording, which could be used in next generation hard disk drive.
Microdischarge Photodetectors This invention allows for the production of a family of photodetectors that are sensitive in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions of the spectrum.... Read More This invention allows for the production of a family of photodetectors that are sensitive in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions of the spectrum. Despite previous knowledge of photo responses to low pressure gas discharges, this technology is the first to achieve these responses without using plasma as the photosensitive element. The plasma instead amplifies the number of photoelectrons produced by the cathode's avalanche effect. Furthermore, the electronic properties of the photocathode material determine the spectral response of the photodetector. These photocathodes can then be composed of different materials to optimize the photodetector for more specific responsiveness. Details As the spatial dimensions of microplasma devices have continued to decrease they have become attractive for an increasingly wide range of applications. The microdischarge devices this technology enables are sensitive detectors of visible, near-IR, and UV radiation and significantly extend the use of silicon devices. The wavelength range over which microdischarge detectors are photosensitive can be extended by simply changing the photocathode material Therefore, detectors have a significant advantage over their semiconductor counterparts because of the wavelength agility available with a single, rugged device structure. Furthermore, the crystalline quality of the semiconductor photocathode in the microplasma device is unlikely to be critical. Consequently, one has the option of micromachining the detector from silicon and overcoating the cathode with a film of the appropriate semiconductor (or other material). Since this detector is fabricated in silicon, large arrays of devices can be produced economically. To date, arrays as large as 250,000 (500 x 500) have been tested successfully. These photodetectors combined with other advances in microdischarge technology lead to a bright future for nearly any application involving light. Information about other devices and applications using UIUC Microdischarge technology is available on request. Benefits Amenable to mass production: This invention can be readily integrated with other electronic or optoelectronic devices. Inexpensive: Because this device does not depend on the existence of a p-n junction the crystalline quality of the semiconductor is not an issue. More sensitive: This invention provides a photodetector in the visible and UV that is considerably more sensitive than commercial Si photodiodes.
Atomic Lasers with Excimer (Exciplex)-Assisted Absorption The invention provides in one of the embodiments for either a continuous wave (cw) or pulsed alkali laser having an optical cavity resonant at a wavelength defined... Read More The invention provides in one of the embodiments for either a continuous wave (cw) or pulsed alkali laser having an optical cavity resonant at a wavelength defined by an atomic transition, a van der Waals complex within the optical cavity, the van der Waals complex is formed from an alkali vapor joined with a polarizable gas, and a pump laser for optically pumping the van der Waals complex outside of the Lorentzian spectral wings wherein the van der Waals complex is excited to form an exciplex that dissociates forming an excited alkali vapor, generating laser emission output at the wavelength of the lasing transition.

Pages