Sandia Corporation

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

Other

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Los Alamos National Security, LLC

Roy H Olsson

Kenneth Wojciechowski

Ihab Fathy El-Kady

Todd Bauer

Darren W Branch

Matt Eichenfield

Thomas A Friedmann

Charles M Reinke

Michael David Henry

James G Fleming

Christopher Nordquist

Peggy J Clews

Khalid Mikhiel Hattar

Michael Wiwi

Stephen Buerger

Frederick McCormick

Aleem Siddiqui

David K Novick

Bongsang Kim

Carol Fleming, Legal Representative

Deepesh K Kholwadwala

Blythe G Clark

Sara Jensen Homeijer

Stuart B Van Deusen

Mehmet Fatih Su

Maryam Ziaei-Moayyed

Jonathan W Wittwer

Janet Nguyen

Andrew John Gross

Zheng Wang

Vincent Mark Hietala

Paul Davids

Randy J Shul

Peter Thomas Rakich

Darwin K Serkland

Jonathan A Lovseth

Anna Tauke-Pedretti

Grant Biedermann

Vadim Olen

Peter Schwindt

Matthew G Blain

Patrick Edward Hopkins

Robert Newgard

Ryan Camacho

Benjamin Griffin

Sean Michael Scott

Andrew Jay Leenheer

James E Stevens

Travis Ryan Young

Thomas A Plut

Daniel L Stick

Karl Douglas Greth

James Kenneth Douglas

Rajen Chanchani

Melanie R Tuck

Christopher Dyck

Robert C Potter

Jinkyoung Yoo

Brian S Swartzentruber

Collin J Delker

Jeremy Moore

Camille Padilla

Tracy C Peterson

Catalina Ahlers

Gary A Patrizi

Embodiments of neural interfaces according to the present invention comprise sensor modules for sensing environmental attributes beyond the natural sensory capability of a subject, and communicating the attributes wirelessly to an external (ex-vivo) portable module attached to the subject. The ex-vivo module encodes and communicates the attributes via a transcutaneous inductively coupled link to an internal (in-vivo) module implanted within the subject. The in-vivo module converts the attribute information into electrical neural stimuli that are delivered to a peripheral nerve bundle within the subject, via an implanted electrode. Methods and apparatus according to the invention incorporate implantable batteries to power the in-vivo module allowing for transcutaneous bidirectional communication of low voltage (e.g. on the order of 5 volts) encoded signals as stimuli commands and neural responses, in a robust, low-error rate, communication channel with minimal effects to the subjects' skin.

Neural interface methods and apparatus to provide artificial sensory capabilities to a subject

An amplifying radiofrequency device includes a piezoelectric film and a semiconductor amplifier layer. The piezoelectric film is conformed as an acoustic waveguide. The piezoelectric film has a principal acoustic propagation direction parallel to the principal conduction direction of the amplifier layer. Interdigitated transducers are positioned on the piezoelectric film to respectively launch an acoustic wave in response to an input RF signal, and transduce the acoustic wave back to an output RF signal. There is a distance of less than the acoustic wavelength between the semiconductor amplifier layer and the piezoelectric film. The piezoelectric film has a thickness of less than the acoustic wavelength. According to a method for making such a device, a stack of III-V layers is epitaxially grown on a III-V substrate, wherein the stack comprises a first etch stop layer, a second etch stop layer, an amplifier layer, and a contact layer. The stack is bonded to a lithium niobate film. The III-V substrate is removed by etching down to the first etch stop layer. Deposition windows are opened by etching from the first etch stop layer down to the contact layer. Metal contact electrodes are deposited in the deposition windows.

Hybrid semiconductor-piezoacoustic radiofrequency device

A micromechanical resonator is disclosed. The resonator includes a resonant micromechanical element. A film of annealable material deposited on a facial surface of the element. In one instance, the resonance of the element can be adjusting by using a feedback loop to control annealing of the deposited film.

Trimming method for microresonators and microresonators made thereby

A radio frequency (RF) receiver comprises a passive impedance transforming voltage amplifier and a resonant, latching micromechanical switch having a deflectable bridge, an RF actuation electrode receivingly connected to the amplifier, and a DC bias electrode positioned to latch the switch in a closed position by electrostatic attraction when energized by a suitable voltage. The bridge is configured with a mechanical mode of vibration that periodically urges the switch toward the closed position.

Microsystems-based method and apparatus for passive detection and processing of radio-frequency signals

Methods and apparatus for removing heat from an object for the purpose of cooling or for the purpose of generating electrical power are disclosed. In an embodiment, at least two field-effect transistors (FETs) are operated under inversion. While the FETs are being operated, heat is conducted from the object through body portions of said FETs to an element configured for dissipating the conducted heat.

Method and apparatus of enhanced thermoelectric cooling and power conversion

The present invention relates to methods for suppressing spurious modes in microresonators. In particular embodiments, such spurious modes can be reduced by providing one or more structural components that effectively reduce the acoustic velocity in the transducer domain. Additional methods and microresonators are described herein.

Methods for suppressing spurious modes in microresonators

A spur cancelling, electromechanical filter includes a first resonator having a first resonant frequency and one or more first spurious responses, and it also includes, electrically connected to the first resonator, a second resonator having a second resonant frequency and one or more second spurious responses. The first and second resonant frequencies are approximately identical, but the first resonator is physically non-identical to the second resonator. The difference between the resonators makes the respective spurious responses different. This allows for filters constructed from a cascade of these resonators to exhibit reduced spurious responses.

Attenuation of spurious responses in electromechanical filters

An optical second-harmonic generator (or spontaneous parametric down-converter) includes a microresonator formed of a nonlinear optical medium. The microresonator supports at least two modes that can be phase matched at different frequencies so that light can be converted between them: A first resonant mode having substantially radial polarization and a second resonant mode having substantially vertical polarization. The first and second modes have the same radial order. The thickness of the nonlinear medium is less than one-half the pump wavelength within the medium.

Second harmonic generation in resonant optical structures

Thermally isolated devices may be formed by performing a series of etches on a silicon-based substrate. As a result of the series of etches, silicon material may be removed from underneath a region of an integrated circuit (IC). The removal of the silicon material from underneath the IC forms a gap between remaining substrate and the integrated circuit, though the integrated circuit remains connected to the substrate via a support bar arrangement that suspends the integrated circuit over the substrate. The creation of this gap functions to release the device from the substrate and create a thermally-isolated integrated circuit.

Method of making thermally-isolated silicon-based integrated circuits

Thermally-isolated silicon-based integrated circuits and related methods

A single crystal micromechanical resonator includes a suspended plate of lithium niobate or lithium tantalate. The suspended plate and a support structure are formed from a single crystal.

Single crystal micromechanical resonator

The present invention relates to a single crystal micromechanical resonator. In particular, the resonator includes a lithium niobate or lithium tantalate suspended plate. Also provided are improved microfabrication methods of making resonators, which does not rely on complicated wafer bonding, layer fracturing, and mechanical polishing steps. Rather, the methods allow the resonator and its components to be formed from a single crystal.

Single crystal micromechanical resonator and fabrication methods thereof

The present invention provides methods for etching semiconductor devices, such aluminum nitride resonators. The methods herein allow for devices having improved etch profiles, such that nearly vertical sidewalls can be obtained. In some examples, the method employs a dry etch step with a primary etchant gas that omits BCl, a common additive.

Methods for dry etching semiconductor devices

A microresonator with an input electrode and an output electrode patterned thereon is described. The input electrode includes a series of stubs that are configured to isolate acoustic waves, such that the waves are not reflected into the microresonator. Such design results in reduction of spurious modes corresponding to the microresonator.

Microresonator electrode design

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Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Roy H Olsson