University College Cork

Sensl Technologies Limited

National University of Ireland, Cork

Alan Mathewson

John Carlton Jackson

John Alderman

Russell Duane

Ann Concannon

Nathan Jackson

Zbigniew Olszewski

The invention provides a monolithic integrated mesh device for atomization or pumping of a fluid or liquid comprising a plurality of apertures and a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material is bonded to the mesh device at an atomic scale. In one embodiment the monolithic micro-fabricated device of the invention includes piezoelectric material that eliminates the need for expensive assembly process and improves reliability. This also has advantage of requiring lower operating voltage and less complicated circuitry.

Monolithic integrated mesh device for fluid dispensers and method of making same

An apparatus for photon counting is disclosed that comprises a sensor element () comprising a photon detector () and a capacitance () for applying a potential difference across the detector (). The apparatus also comprises switching circuitry () for connecting the sensor element () operatively to a voltage source () during a refresh period to charge the capacitance () to achieve a predetermined potential difference across the detector () above a threshold value, and for substantially isolating the sensor element () from the voltage source () during a sensing period in which the charged capacitance () maintains a potential difference across the detector () above the threshold value and in which the detection of a photon by the detector () causes at least some of the charge on the capacitance () to discharge through the detector (). The apparatus also comprises control circuitry () for controlling the switching circuitry () to initiate refresh and sensing periods in alternating sequence. In one aspect, the control circuitry () is adapted to control the switching circuitry () to initiate successive refresh periods at predetermined intervals.

Photon counting apparatus

The invention provides a method of manufacturing an avalanche diode comprising the steps of applying a mask () over an active diode region () in a wafer (), and damaging the region the surrounding the active diode region by breaking bonds in the semiconductor lattice to provide gettering sites in this surrounding region.

Photodiode

A negative resistance device (NRD) has a MOSFET-like structure, and is biased by shorting the gate and source together at a fixed applied potential and applying a different fixed potential to the drain, and sweeping the bulk potential towards the drain potential, causing the bulk current to exhibit a negative resistance characteristic. The NRD may be used in a memory circuit (,) in which a resistor (R) is connected between the bulk (,) and a fixed potential. Two States of the circuit at which the current through the resistor matches that through the bulk of the NRD are stable, providing for bistable memory operation.

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Currabinny, Ireland

Alan Mathewson