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Electronics

Latest Innovations
Flexible Data Transceivers Professor Pavan Kumar Hanumolu from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a clocking strategy for efficient clock generation, recovery, and... Read More Professor Pavan Kumar Hanumolu from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a clocking strategy for efficient clock generation, recovery, and distribution in flexible-rate transceivers. This is particularly useful in FPGAs.
Novel Vertical Hetero- and Homo- Junction Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors Based on Multi-Layer 2D Crystals The invention is a vertical hetero- and homo- junction tunnel FET (TFET) based on multi-layer black phosphorus (BP) and... Read More The invention is a vertical hetero- and homo- junction tunnel FET (TFET) based on multi-layer black phosphorus (BP) and transition metal dichalcogenides. The novel multi-layer structure allows low power and bypassing of current limits by using BP as a channel. Compared to MS2, BP has smaller bandgap, allowing electrons to swim much more easily. In addition, using multi-layer structure allows smaller contact resistance.
Non-Reciprocal Communication Device Professor Gaurav Bahl has developed a novel way to enable non-reciprocal communication with optical, acoustic and electromagnetic media. This innovation can be very small... Read More Professor Gaurav Bahl has developed a novel way to enable non-reciprocal communication with optical, acoustic and electromagnetic media. This innovation can be very small, and operate at high frequencies.
Voice Detection through a Vibration Motor Dr. Choudhury from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a method of using a device’s vibration motor to sense vocal communication like a microphone... Read More Dr. Choudhury from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a method of using a device’s vibration motor to sense vocal communication like a microphone. This method utilizes the phenomena of back-EMF and signal processing to record the phonemes that make up human vocal communication. This method proved accurate at recording intelligible sound through the vibration motor of a smart phone. Uses of this include voice-controlled wearables and a secondary microphone to augment a device’s primary microphone.
MacEtch for Ge and β-Ga₂O₃ This metal-assisted chemical etching (MacEtch) technology can be used to fabricate structure and texture on Ge and β-Ga₂O₃Et. The optoelectronic... Read More This metal-assisted chemical etching (MacEtch) technology can be used to fabricate structure and texture on Ge and β-Ga₂O₃Et. The optoelectronic devices made by this method show improvement in both optical and electrical properties. Kim et al., "Scaling the Aspect Ratio of Nanoscale Closely Packed Silicon Vias by MacEtch: Kinetics of Carrier Generation and Mass Transport," Adv. Funct. Mat., 2017
Millimeter-Scale Thermal Switch Drs. William King and Nenad Miljkovic with collaborators at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a millimeter-scale high-contrast thermal switch... Read More Drs. William King and Nenad Miljkovic with collaborators at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a millimeter-scale high-contrast thermal switch that can be used for cooling in power electronics and a variety of other electrical and thermal power systems. This liquid-metal based, electrically-controlled thermal switch controls heat transfer of thermally sensitive systems with hotspots smaller than 1 mm and as large as 1 cm and beyond. This technology has a high switching ratio (>10), high switching speed (>1Hz), and it utilizes liquid metal alloys with reduced toxicity, high thermal conductivity and surface tension. Liquid-based thermal switches are the most promising solutions for thermal management at room temperature. They allow to reduce the contact thermal resistance, enhance the operational speed and reduce heat losses. This new device will enable development of thermal circuit in the electrical and thermal power systems on a practical level.
Ultra-Low Frequency Portable RF Transmitter Professor Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new RF transmitter capable of transmitting at frequencies below 3 kHz while exploiting... Read More Professor Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new RF transmitter capable of transmitting at frequencies below 3 kHz while exploiting the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field. Transmitting at these low frequencies while taking advantage of the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field will allow for transmission of RF signals through conductive material such as water or the ground. Prior technology for transmitting radio signals at such low frequencies required very large antenna structures along with a large power input. The current technology weighs less than 10 kg and fits in a backpack. This technology has applications in the military as well as oil exploration, mining, and anywhere else where data communication is desired underground or underwater.
MiddlePolice: DDoS Prevention Software Professor Yih-Chun Hu from the University of Illinois has developed software that can protect networks against Internet attacks. In particular, it greatly reduces DDos... Read More Professor Yih-Chun Hu from the University of Illinois has developed software that can protect networks against Internet attacks. In particular, it greatly reduces DDos attacks, which plague the Internet. This new software could be used for personalized Internet security. MiddlePolice combines high protection of capability systems with the facile development of cloud-based services.
Polarization Dependent Damage-Free Laser-Assisted Plasma Etching Drs. David Ruzic and Jason Peck from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new plasma etching process assisted by a polarized pulsed laser. This... Read More Drs. David Ruzic and Jason Peck from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new plasma etching process assisted by a polarized pulsed laser. This technology addresses the need of damageless, anisotropic etching for features of 100 nm or less. It is the only known process to etch 3D structures in integrated circuits which lie along one direction, and not etch those that are perpendicular. It will enable making integrated circuits with smaller feature sizes.
Sensor Triggered Mechanical Actuation of Artificial Traps Drs. Ying Diao and Fengjiao Zhang have developed an electrically triggered shape memory device that mimics a venus flytrap to capture moving or still objects. This... Read More Drs. Ying Diao and Fengjiao Zhang have developed an electrically triggered shape memory device that mimics a venus flytrap to capture moving or still objects. This technology combines the shape memory polymers and the pressure sensors. It can be 3D printed, miniaturized and flexibly mounted on arbitrary shaped surfaces.

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