California Institute of Technology

Eric Jones

Thomas George

Richard L Hansler

Daniel Choi

Margaret L Tuma

Michael Eastwood

A micro electromechanical system (MEMS) broad band incandescent light source includes three layers: a top transmission window layer; a middle filament mount layer; and a bottom reflector layer. A tungsten filament with a spiral geometry is positioned over a hole in the middle layer. A portion of the broad band light from the heated filament is reflective off the bottom layer. Light from the filament and the reflected light of the filament are transmitted through the transmission window. The light source may operate at temperatures of 2500 K or above. The light source may be incorporated into an on board calibrator (OBC) for a spectrometer.

Silicon micromachined broad band light source

A device for utilizing an optical infrared emitter/detector to sense substances of interest is provided. The infrared emitter/detector comprises a single crystal semiconductor, photonic band gap structure which functions both as an infrared emitter, a narrow-band filter, and as a broad-band infrared bolometer detector to exert wavelength control directly on the active element emitter/detector surface using the periodic symmetry of the photonic band gap structure to produce narrow wavelength &ldquo;forbidden&rdquo; optical transmission bands or modes to sense the presence of a specified substance in the environment. A system and method for sensing specific substances using the optical infrared emitter/detector of this invention in a sensor device is also provided. Finally, a method of manufacturing the infrared emitter/detectors of the present invention is also provided.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Eric Jones