University of Illinois

University of California

Eaton Corporation

Acumen Scientific

J Gary Eden

Sung-Jin Park

Clark J Wagner

Paul A Tchertchian

Thomas J Houlahan, Jr

Dane J Sievers

Seung Hoon Sung

Benben Li

JeKwon Yoon

Kwang-Soo Kim

Jin Hoon Cho

Ju Gao

Andrew Price

James Frame

Thomas A DeTemple

David J Wheeler

Min Hwan Kim

Brian T Cunningham

Meng Lu

Andrey Mironov

Jason D Readle

Jose A Rivera

Brian Chung

Sung-o Kim

Peng Sun

Kuo-Feng Chen

John Darby Hewitt

Kyung-Ho Park

Paul Vannest Braun

Chang Po Liu

Jack Chen

Xiuling Li

Gang Logan Liu

Wen Huang

Manas Ranjan Gartia

Robert P Ginn

Runyu Zhang

Dennis P Greene

Zhendong Yang

Peter Peng Sun

Mark D Kraman

Tom Galvin

Jeffrey H Ma

Taek-Lim Kim

Jimmy Ni

Austin Steinforth

Hee Jun Yang

Zihao Ou

Jeffrey Putney

Steve Solomon

Kwang Soo

Paoyei Chen

Qian Chen

Zhen Dai

Thomas M Spinka

Sung-O Kim

Nels P Ostrom

Andrew J Price

Bruce A Vojak

Yin Huang

Wenyuan Chen

Kevin P Killeen

Viken Tavitian

Kevin K King

Jekwon Yoon

Kim Kwang-Soo

A light generation and light distribution method. The method includes generating laser light with a semiconductor laser or an array of semiconductor lasers at a generation location. Light generated by the semiconductor laser is guided to a frequency converter. Light converted by the frequency converter is directed to a plurality of distribution locations. The distribution locations can be remote or local. A light generation and light distribution system includes a semiconductor laser or array of lasers at a generation location. A frequency-conversion optical component modifies the wavelength of the radiation generated by the semiconductor laser to one or more desired wavelengths for disinfection, medical therapy, photochemical processes, and/or lighting. Light extraction and distribution optical components extract from the distribution system a portion of the light in the system so as to provide for one or more of disinfection, medical therapies, general or background lighting, and photochemical processes.

Light generation and distribution methods and systems for disinfection, medical therapeutics, and lighting

A method for photoresist-free photolithography to pattern a surface of conductor or semiconductor substrate and deposit a material includes surface cleaning and irradiating a surface through a mask with VUV photons from a lamp. Photons are generated with a VUV lamp having a wavelength of 160 nm-200 nm and with an intensity sufficient to alter the surface. The photons are directed through a mask pattern to alter the surface chemistry or structure in those areas of the substrate defined by the mask. Material is selectively deposited onto the surface, in those portions of the surface that are exposed to the VUV photons, or unexposed to the VUV photons, depending on the substrate surface. A method uses a seed film and then electroplates metal onto the seed film in the mask pattern. A method provides for electroless deposition of metal and another for altering surface chemistry in the mask pattern.

Photoresist-free deposition and patterning with vacuum ultraviolet lamps

The invention provides a microplasma photonic crystal for reflecting, transmitting and/or storing incident electromagnetic energy includes a periodic array of elongate microtubes confining microplasma therein and having a column-to-column spacing, average electron density and plasma column diameter selected to produce a photonic response to the incident electromagnetic energy entailing the increase or suppression of crystal resonances and/or shifting the frequency of the resonances. The crystal also includes electrodes for stimulating microplasma the elongated microtubes Electromagnetic energy can be interacted with the periodic array of microplasma to reflect, transmit and/or trap the incident electromagnetic energy.

Plasma photonic crystals with integrated plasmonic arrays in a microtubular frame

An air fed mycoplasma device includes an array of elongate microchannels formed in a plastic or ceramic having tolerance to ozone and other radicals formed when plasma is generated from air in the microchannels. The microchannels include inlets configured to accept an air feed, and outlets configured to direct plasma jets toward a surface (which may be flat or internal to a pipe, for example) or object. An array of electrodes within the plastic/ceramic housing is configured to ignite and maintain plasma in the microchannels and is isolated by the dielectric from the microchannels. A supply intake for is configured to providing a plasma medium into the microchannels.

Microplasma devices for surface or object treatment and biofilm removal

A rolled-up electromagnetic component for on-chip applications comprises: a multilayer sheet in a rolled configuration comprising at least one turn about a longitudinal axis; a core defined by a first turn of the rolled configuration; and a soft magnetic material disposed within the core, where the multilayer sheet comprises a conductive pattern layer on a strain-relieved layer. A method of making a rolled-up electromagnetic component for on-chip applications includes forming a rolled-up device comprising: a multilayer sheet in a rolled configuration having at least one turn about a longitudinal axis, where the multilayer sheet comprises a conductive pattern layer on a strain-relieved layer; and a core defined by a first turn of the rolled configuration. The method further includes introducing a soft magnetic material into the core.

Rolled-up electromagnetic component for on-chip applications and method of making a rolled-up electromagnetic component

A resonator is provided that includes opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to each other and separated to confine reflections for gain. A gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. A pump pumps the gain medium. At least one microrefractive element, or tens, hundreds, thousands, millions or more, stabilizes the resonator. The refractive element is disposed between the opposing mirrors and is configured to support a laser beam at a position of the refractive element. A method for producing laser light directs pump light onto one or a plurality of microrefractive elements. Reflections from the one or a plurality of microrefractive elements are confined in a resonator volume. Gain is provided in the resonator volume. Laser energy is emitted from the resonator volume.

Micro-refractive element stabilized resonators, lasers and multiple beam lasing

A light source for an imaging system. The light source includes a microresonator laser array having opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to one another. A laser gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. An array of microrefractive elements is arranged to stabilize the microresonator. A pump laser's output is shaped by a lens that directs it toward the micro-resonator laser array. An output lens directs a plurality of laser beams from the microresonator laser array to be incoherently combined at an object to be illuminated.

Low-speckle light source and imaging devices with micro-refractive element stabilized laser array

Non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are generated in a volume lacking interfering structures, such as electrodes, to enable photonic interaction between incident electromagnetic energy and the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas. Preferred embodiments leverage 1D, 2D, 3D and super 3D non-disperse, periodic microplasmas. In preferred embodiments, the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are elongate columnar microplasmas. In other embodiments, the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are discrete isolated microplasmas. The photonic properties can change by selectively activating groups of the periodic microplasmas.

Control of electromagnetic energy with spatially periodic microplasma devices

The invention provides methods and systems for water dissociation with microplasma generated in microchannel plasma arrays or chips. Preferred methods and systems introduce water vapor into a microchannel plasma array. Electrical power is applied to the microchannel plasma array to create a plasma chemical reaction of the water vapor in the microchannel plasma array. Dissociated hydrogen and/or oxygen gas is collected at an output of the microchannel plasma array. The water vapor can be entrained in a carrier gas, but is preferably introduced without carrier gas. Direct introduction of water vapor has been demonstrated to provide efficiencies at an above 60%. The use of carrier gas reduces efficiency, but still exceeds efficiencies of prior methods discussed in the background.

Efficient dissociation of water vapor in arrays of microchannel plasma devices

An injection-seeded whispering gallery mode optical amplifier. The amplifier includes a micro or nanoscale whispering gallery mode resonator configured to amplify a whispering gallery mode therein via a gain medium separated from the whispering gallery mode resonator but within the evanescent field of the whispering gallery mode resonator. A pump stimulates the whispering gallery mode. A plasmonic surface couples power into the whispering gallery mode resonator.

Injection-seeded whispering gallery mode optical amplifier devices and networks

A laser pumping method pumps a primary amount of energy into a laser medium to populate an intermediate level near an upper laser level. A lesser amount of energy is pumped into the laser medium to populate an excited level that lies above the upper laser level and transfers atomic or molecular population to the upper laser level by a nonradiative process. A laser device includes a laser medium supporting four levels, including a lower laser level, an upper laser level, an excited level above the laser level from which population transfers to the upper laser level via nonradiative transition, and an intermediate level within a few kT of the upper laser level.

Dual channel method for pumping and cooling lasers and laser device

Microstructured, irregular surfaces pose special challenges but coatings of the invention can uniformly coat irregular and microstructured surfaces with one or more thin layers of phosphor. Preferred embodiment coatings are used in microcavity plasma devices and the substrate is, for example, a device electrode with a patterned and microstructured dielectric surface. A method for forming a thin encapsulated phosphor coating of the invention applies a uniform paste of metal or polymer layer to the substrate. In another embodiment, a low temperature melting point metal is deposited on the substrate. Polymer particles are deposited on a metal layer, or a mixture of a phosphor particles and a solvent are deposited onto the uniform glass, metal or polymer layer. Sequential soft and hard baking with temperatures controlled to drive off the solvent will then soften or melt the lowest melting point constituents of the glass, metal or polymer layer, partially or fully embed the phosphor particles into glass, polymer, or metal layers, which partially or fully encapsulate the phosphor particles and/or serve to anchor the particles to a surface.

Phosphor coating for irregular surfaces and method for creating phosphor coatings

A gas reactor device includes a plurality of microcavities or microchannels defined at least partially within a thick metal oxide layer consisting essentially of defect free oxide. Electrodes are arranged with respect to the microcavities or microchannels to stimulate plasma generation therein upon application of suitable voltage. One or more or all of the electrodes are encapsulated within the thick metal oxide layer. A gas inlet is configured to receive feedstock gas into the plurality of microcavities or microchannels. An outlet is configured to outlet reactor product from the plurality of microcavities or microchannels. In an example preferred device, the feedstock gas is air or Oand is converted by the plasma into ozone (O). In another preferred device, the feedstock gas is an unwanted gas to be decomposed into a desired form. Gas reactor devices of the invention can, for example, decompose gases such as CO, CH, or NO.

Gas reactor devices with microplasma arrays encapsulated in defect free oxide

A preferred modular microplasma microchannel reactor device includes a microchannel array arranged with respect to electrodes for generation of plasma and isolated by dielectric from the electrodes. A cover covers a central portion of the microchannel array, while leaving end portions of the microchannel array exposed. A gas inlet and product outlet are arranged to permit flow into, through and out of the microchannel array. Reactor modules of the invention include pluralities of the modular reactor devices. The reactors devices can be arranged by a housing or a frame to be in fluid communication. A system of the invention arranges pluralities of modules. Preferred module housings, frames and reactors include structural features to create alignments and connections. Preferred modules include fans to circulate feedstock and reaction product. Other reactor devices provide plasma actuation for flow.

Modular microplasma microchannel reactor devices, miniature reactor modules and ozone generation devices

Logic devices are provided in multiple sub-collector and sub-emitter microplasma devices formed in thin and flexible, or inflexible, semiconductor materials. Logic operations are provided with one of a plurality of microplasmas forming sub-collectors with a common emitter, or a common collector plasma with a plurality of sub-emitter regions in a solid state semi-conductor pn-junction, and generating a logic output from an electrode, based upon electrode inputs to two other electrodes.

Logic function generation from single microplasma transistor devices and arrays of devices

Growing community of inventors

Champaign, IL, United States of America

J Gary Eden