International Business Machines Corporation

Globalfoundries Inc.

Bernhard Klein

Thomas E Morf

Danny Elad

Lukas Kull

Dan Corcos

Noam Kaminski

A novel and useful method of visualization by detection of EM radiation being irradiated or reflected from objects in the imager's field of view using Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation software tools. The methodology provides a verification method of antenna operation from an electrical point of view since bolometer performance cannot be estimated using regular antenna parameters such as directivity, gain, impedance matching, etc. as the bolometer does not behave as an antenna but rather behaves as an absorber. An incident wave is triggered on the absorber and the absorption of the bolometer structure is estimated using commercially available Finite Element Method (FEM) software (e.g., ANSYS&#xae; HFSS software, CST MICROWAVE STUDIO&#xae;, etc.). How much of the energy is reflected is subsequently measured. The energy which is not reflected is considered to be absorbed by the absorber.

Method of simulating the absorption of plane waves using FEM software tools

There is provided a high responsivity device for thermal sensing in a Terahertz (THz) radiation detector. A load impedance connected to an antenna heats up due to the incident THz radiation received by the antenna. The heat generated by the load impedance is sensed by a thermal sensor such as a transistor. To increase the responsivity of the sense device without increasing the thermal mass, the device is located underneath a straight portion of an antenna arm. The transistor runs substantially the entire length of the antenna arm alleviating the problem caused by placing large devices on the side of the antenna and the resulting large additional thermal mass that must be heated. This boosts the responsivity of the pixel while retaining an acceptable level of noise and demanding a dramatically smaller increase in the thermal time constant.

High responsivity device for thermal sensing in a terahertz radiation detector

A novel and useful THz radiation detector comprising a suspended dipole antenna and a plurality of reflectors for achieving low thermal mass and high electrical performance. The reflectors used in the antenna do not physical contact the dipole element and are used to shape the radiation pattern in similar fashion as obtained by well-known Yagi-Uda reflectors. The dipole element is connected directly to a load resister for generating heat which is sensed by a sensing transistor. The lack of a mechanical connection to the dipole antenna element prevents any increase in the thermal capacitance of the antenna.

Dipole antenna with reflectors having low thermal mass for detection of Terahertz radiation

A novel and useful THz radiation detector comprising a suspended wideband planar skirt antenna for achieving low thermal mass and high electrical performance. The antenna comprises only the perimeter or 'skirt' of the antenna. The antenna has multiple loops where each loop comprises a conductor that covers the perimeter or skirt and includes multiple inner and outer arms. The total length of each loop has a length substantially one wavelength. One or more ports or load impedances are connected at the center of the antenna and shared by one or more loops. A thermal sensor detects the heat generated in the load resister and converts the heat energy to an electrical signal which is transmitted to read out circuitry via signal lines that run together with a holding arm. The holding arm functions as both a path for the read out signals as well as providing mechanical support for and effectively suspending the antenna.

Growing community of inventors

Zürich, Swaziland

Bernhard Klein