Engineering

Latest Innovations
Scalable and Cost-effective Method to Fabricate Quantum Dot Films Dr. Seok Kim and Dr. Moonsub Shim from the University of Illinois have developed dry means to pattern QD films over large areas with high resolution while maintaining... Read More Dr. Seok Kim and Dr. Moonsub Shim from the University of Illinois have developed dry means to pattern QD films over large areas with high resolution while maintaining desired properties. This method avoids standard solution based processing and microfabrication methods which are chemically incompatible with quantum dots. Their method of transfer printing is a scalable and cost-effective approach to manufacturing the next generation of QD lighting, display, and photovoltaic technology. Photoluminescence (PL) images of patterned QD films on ODTS coated Si substrates. (a) Red, green, and blue (RGB) QD films patterned in circle, triangle, and star shapes. (b) RGB QD square arrays. (c) Red QD film patterned into ‘UIUC’. All scale bars are 50 microns. (d) PL spectra of patterned RGB QD films.
Device for the Combination of Semiconductor Processes Professor Gary Eden from the University of Illinois has developed a device that leverages the recent development of efficient, flat vacuum ultraviolet/ultraviolet lamps to... Read More Professor Gary Eden from the University of Illinois has developed a device that leverages the recent development of efficient, flat vacuum ultraviolet/ultraviolet lamps to perform two or more semiconductor fabrication processes in the same chamber. This invention is expected to significantly lower the cost of manufacturing electronic devices. This invention also introduces a new photolithography process that does not require chemical processing of a photoresist in a separate tool or by wet chemical processing. This process alone will lower the cost of photolithography and make sub-200 nm resolution photolithography accessible to a broader community of users. Fig: SEMS of patterns formed in acrylic films by irradiating the films through a photomask with a 172 nm flat lamp
High Speed Single-Mode VCSELS Dr. Milton Feng, from the University of Illinois, has developed single mode Oxide-VCSELs that are able to transmit data signals over longer distances, at higher speeds... Read More Dr. Milton Feng, from the University of Illinois, has developed single mode Oxide-VCSELs that are able to transmit data signals over longer distances, at higher speeds and with better fidelity than previously possible. Using self-aligned oxidation procedure they are able to uniformly oxidize the mode selective aperture layer and achieve higher transmission rates without sacrificing fidelity. VCSELs are important for use in 3D biosensors, consumer electronics as well as industrial cutting.
High Dynamic Range Polarization Camera Dr. Gruev from the University of IL has developed a bio-inspired polarization camera. The camera enables high-resolution imaging in less ideal lighting with high... Read More Dr. Gruev from the University of IL has developed a bio-inspired polarization camera. The camera enables high-resolution imaging in less ideal lighting with high dynamic range of around 140dB. This low-cost camera has potential for application in automobile imaging and agricultural remote sensing. Publications - Missael Garcia, Tyler Davis, Steven Blair, Nan Cui, and Viktor Gruev, "Bioinspired polarization imager with high dynamic range," Optica 5, 1240-1246 (2018)
Atomic Layer Deposition of Thin Films with Arrays of Microcavity Plasmas Dr. Eden from the University of IL has developed a deposition tool that can be used for plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. The deposition tool consist of a... Read More Dr. Eden from the University of IL has developed a deposition tool that can be used for plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. The deposition tool consist of a microchannel/cavity arrays that allow for even distribution of the precursor when creating thin film layers. No external plasma sources are needed and the thin films produced have a very uniform layer.
Multi-Color Discrete Infrared Spectroscopy Dr. Rohit Bhargava and graduate student Kevin Yeh have developed a new method and device for infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The invention overcomes current limitations in... Read More Dr. Rohit Bhargava and graduate student Kevin Yeh have developed a new method and device for infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The invention overcomes current limitations in fourier-transform based IR approaches which suffer from high signal-to-noise ratios and slow data acquisition speed. The invention uses an assembly of quantum cascade lasers, point-scanning, and scanning at discrete wavelengths to increase the speed of data acquisition and reduce scan time. The invention takes advantage of the ability to identify and classify a sample without the need to scan a continuous spectral range and perform Fourier Transformation post-acquisition. The technology could be applied to several industries including the pharmaceutical, environmental, and food industries.
Phase and Intensity Modulator Comprising of a RE-Doped Fiber Dr. Dragic from the University of IL has developed a phase and intensity modulator using rare earth doped ytterbium fiber. The modulators are unconventional because they... Read More Dr. Dragic from the University of IL has developed a phase and intensity modulator using rare earth doped ytterbium fiber. The modulators are unconventional because they do not cause phase change through the passage of light. The fiber absorbs the light and heats up causing phase change to occur.
Optimal Toolpath Generation System and Method for Additively Manufactured Composite Materials Prof. Daniel Tortorelli and Mr. Felipe Fernandez Ayala from the University of Illinois have developed a system and method for optimal toolpath generation for additively... Read More Prof. Daniel Tortorelli and Mr. Felipe Fernandez Ayala from the University of Illinois have developed a system and method for optimal toolpath generation for additively manufactured composite structures. With this techniques, it is easy to impose Direct Ink Writing (DIW) manufacturing constraints such as no overlap, no sag of just-printed material, minimum radius of curvature of each toolpath, and toolpath continuity. In addition, to minimize manufacturing cost, the system formulates and solves a travelling salesman problem to obtain the shortest continuous toolpath for each layer that avoids overlap and crossing holes.
Micro Pinch Valve for Soft Robotics Dr. Zhang has developed a flow regulator that is light and small enough to be built into every actuator. The micro pinch value specifically controls the cross-section area... Read More Dr. Zhang has developed a flow regulator that is light and small enough to be built into every actuator. The micro pinch value specifically controls the cross-section area of the flow channel according to the voltage applied to it. The flow regulator reduces the number of tubes typically needed for fluid-driven soft robots and reduces need for sealing components. It also simplifies design to actuator pressure supply, resolving the scalability problem of fluid powered robots. The embeddable component facilitates onboard control and modularity to enable soft robots to have many degrees of freedom of motion. Increased degrees of freedom of motion equips soft robots the capability to preform complex tasks. Applications Primary uses for soft robotics are within medicine and agriculture. Benefits of using the flow regulator include augmented capabilities of agricultural robots to enhance safe co-working among human labor and increased efficiencies of careful handling of soft crops. Rendering of the micro pinch valve Onboard controls for the micro pinch valve Modularity enabling many degrees of freedom
360 Degree Attitude Control of Satellites 360 degree attitude control of satellites is an aerospace technology that allows satellites and spacecraft to achieve arbitrarily large (360°+) rotations in a low- and no-... Read More 360 degree attitude control of satellites is an aerospace technology that allows satellites and spacecraft to achieve arbitrarily large (360°+) rotations in a low- and no-atmosphere environment. This hardware technology achieves attitude adjustment without the use of a consumable propellant or constantly spinning flywheels. Use of propellant exacerbates jitter interferes with satellite function, while spinning flywheels requires failure-prone sliding contacts. The invention instead features variable-length appendages that utilize transverse oscillations and moment of inertia adjustments to achieve both fine and arbitrarily large rotations. By lengthening the appendage for an “up-stroke” and shortening it for the “down-stroke,” an angular momentum differential is created to allow the satellite or spacecraft to return to its original position/state, but reoriented in a different direction (with respect to a static “space” frame of reference). Repeating the “strokes” allows for arbitrarily large net rotations. The technology was presented at the ASME Conference in September 2019. Application 360 degree attitude control is applicable to spacecraft and satellite manufacturers that serve primarily consumer industries such as TV, radio, broadband, mobile, and earth observation services. Prototype model of 360 Degree Attitude Control of Satellites This rotational mechanism for attitude control is repeated as many times as necessary to achieve the desired orientation.