Device for emission of high frequency signals

• US 7,288,873 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Triton Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Scenterra, Inc.
• Inventors: Salsman, Kenneth E., So, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Thanh X.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Livedalen; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US11/285,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 735/143.6, 343/701, 310/322, 310/334, 310/323.06
• US Class Current: 310/322
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/26 with electric discharge tube
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/2426 in combination with other electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/2452 Free-free beam resonators

Abstract

A device for emission of high frequency signals is provided. The emission device is capable of emission of signals in the Gigahertz (GHz) and Terahertz (THz) range. The device may utilize, for example, a cantilever comprising a material that is capable of altering its electrical properties when flexed.

Claims

1. A device that emits pulses, the device comprising:

a drive electrode;

a cantilever, wherein the cantilever comprises;

a piezoelectric layer;

a first electrical conductor positioned on a first side of the piezoelectric layer; and

a second electrical conductor positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric layer which is opposite the first side of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the cantilever oscillates between two mechanically-stressed states when a predetermined alternating voltage is applied between the drive electrode and the first electrical conductor, wherein the cantilever is in a mechanically-unstressed state when between the two mechanically-stressed states, and wherein the piezoelectric layer emits a plurality of pulses during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states; and

a third electrical conductor positioned in the vicinity of the cantilever, wherein the emitted pulses generate an electrical field that is impinged onto the third electrical conductor when the cantilever passes the third conductor during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states, and wherein the impinged electrical field generates an induced current in the third conductor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cantilever and the drive electrode are separated by a predetermined distance when the cantilever is in the mechanically-unstressed state.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the emitted pulses include pulse components that are separated in time and produce a complete voltage cycle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a pulse width of the induced current in the third conductor is a subset of or equivalent to a pulse width of an impinged electrical field generated by the emitted pulses from the piezoelectric layer.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the cantilever is a portion of either a dipole structure or an antenna structure and allows for cycling of pulses for generation of RF signals.

6. An array of the devices as per claim 5, wherein at least two devices within the array of devices are connected in series such that an emitted pulse from each device and its associated dipole structure or antenna structure is in phase with an emitted pulse from each of the other devices within the array of devices such that a resultant combination of emitted pulses from the devices is at a higher energy level than an emitted pulse from a single device within the array of devices.

7. An array of the devices as per claim 5, wherein at least two devices within the array of devices are connected in series such that an emitted pulse from each device and its associated dipole structure or antenna structure is in phase with an emitted. pulse from each of the other devices within the array of devices such that a resultant combination of emitted pulses from the devices is in temporal sequence such that pulse emissions from the array of devices appear as a continuous modulation thereby generating either amplitude modulation signals or pulse width modulation signals.

8. An array of the devices as per claim 1, wherein a delay is provided between the operations of each device within the array of devices such that the emitted pulses are capable of being combined on a common conduction line in a manner that generates continuous cycling pulses.

9. The array of devices as per claim 8, wherein the delay is caused by at least one item selected from the group consisting of control of timing or phase of the device, delay lines between the devices for a drive signal applied to the drive electrode, delay lines at an exit of the emitted pulses from each of the devices, and combinations thereof.

10. An array of the devices as per claim 1, wherein timing of an emission from one device within the array is in phase with an emission of another device within the array to create a higher magnitude pulse.

11. An array of the devices as per claim 1, wherein timing of a drive signal applied to the drive electrode generates the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states, wherein the timing of the drive signal is controlled by a combination of two cyclic wave signals, wherein the two cyclic wave signals are out of phase for only a portion of their cycles whereby the two cyclic wave signals cancel each other out when at opposite polarities such that remaining phase relationships produce pulses of shorter duration than each of the two cyclic wave signals when considered separately.

12. The array of devices as per claim 11, wherein at least one of the two cyclic wave signals is a square wave.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a diode having a barrier region, wherein at least one of the first electrical conductor or the second electrical conductor passes within the vicinity of the barrier region during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states such that an electrical field from the cantilever establishes a potential voltage across the barrier region capable of breaking down the barrier region thereby providing an onset of current flow of the diode, and wherein the third electrical conductor provides an electrical field contact between the cantilever and the diode.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a transistor including a gate electrode and a barrier region, wherein at least one of the first electrical conductor or the second electrical conductor passes within the vicinity of the gate electrode during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states such that an electrical field from the cantilever establishes a potential voltage across the gate electrode capable of breaking down the barrier region thereby providing a switching of the transistor, and wherein the third electrical conductor provides an electrical field contact between the cantilever and the transistor.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the impinged electrical field is transferred to the third electrical conductor via hot electron transfer.

16. A device that emits pulses, the device comprising:

a drive electrode;

a cantilever, wherein the cantilever comprises;

a piezoelectric layer;

a first electrical conductor positioned on a first side of the piezoelectric layer; and

a second electrical conductor positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric layer which is opposite the first side of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the cantilever oscillates between two mechanically-stressed states when a predetermined alternating voltage is applied between the drive electrode and the first electrical conductor, wherein the cantilever is in a mechanically-unstressed state when between the two mechanically-stressed states, and wherein the piezoelectric layer emits a plurality of pulses during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states; and

third and fourth electrical conductors positioned in the vicinity of the cantilever, wherein the third and fourth electrical conductors are spaced from each other, wherein the emitted pulses generate an electrical field that is impinged onto the third and fourth electrical conductors when the cantilever passes the third and fourth electrical conductors during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states, wherein the impinged electrical field generates an induced current in the third and fourth conductors corresponding to different positions of the cantilever during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states, and wherein pulses corresponding to the electrical field impinged on the third and fourth conductors occur at different times and are therefore shifted in phase relative to each other.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein a phase delay between two pulses being generated by the passing of the cantilever by the third or fourth conductors generates a phase shift between the pulses such that when the pulses are added together they produce shorter wavelength pulses than the initial pulses.

18. A device that emits pulses, the device comprising:

a drive electrode;

a cantilever, wherein the cantilever comprises;

a piezoelectric layer;

a first electrical conductor positioned on a first side of the piezoelectric layer; and

a second electrical conductor positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric layer which is opposite the first side of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the cantilever oscillates between two mechanically-stressed states when a predetermined alternating voltage is applied between the drive electrode and the first electrical conductor, wherein the cantilever is in a mechanically-unstressed state when between the two mechanically-stressed states, and wherein the piezoelectric layer emits a plurality of pulses during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states; and

a diode having a barrier region, wherein at least one of the first electrical conductor or the second electrical conductor passes within the vicinity of the barrier region during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states such that an electrical field from the cantilever establishes a potential voltage across the barrier region capable of breaking down the barrier region thereby providing an onset of current flow of the diode.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the potential voltage across the barrier region is transferred via hot electron transfer.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the cantilever is a portion of either a dipole structure or an antenna structure and allows for cycling of pulses for generation of RF signals.

21. An array of the devices as per claim 18, wherein a delay is provided between the operations of each device within the array of devices such that the emitted pulses are capable of being combined on a common conduction line in a manner that generates continuous cycling pulses.

22. The array of devices as per claim 21, wherein the delay is caused by at least one item selected from the group consisting of control of timing or phase of the device, delay lines between the devices for a drive signal applied to the drive electrode, delay lines at an exit of the emitted pulses from each of the devices, and combinations thereof.

23. An array of the devices as per claim 18, wherein timing of an emission from one device within the array is in phase with an emission of another device within the array to create a higher magnitude pulse.

24. An array of the devices as per claim 18, wherein timing of a drive signal applied to the drive electrode generates the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states, wherein the timing of the drive signal is controlled by a combination of two cyclic wave signals, wherein the two cyclic wave signals are out of phase for only a portion of their cycles whereby the two cyclic wave signals cancel each other out when at opposite polarities such that remaining phase relationships produce pulses of shorter duration than each of the two cyclic wave signals when considered separately.

25. An array of the devices as per claim 18, wherein pulses from each diode are combined out of phase to make shorter pulses.

26. An array of devices that emits pulses, each device within the array comprising:

a drive electrode;

a cantilever, wherein the cantilever comprises;

a piezoelectric layer;

a first electrical conductor positioned on a first side of the piezoelectric layer; and

a second electrical conductor positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric layer which is opposite the first side of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the cantilever oscillates between two mechanically-stressed states when a predetermined alternating voltage is applied between the drive electrode and the first electrical conductor, wherein the cantilever is in a mechanically-unstressed state when between the two mechanically-stressed states, and wherein the piezoelectric layer emits a plurality of pulses during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states; and

a transistor including a gate electrode and a barrier region, wherein at least one of the first electrical conductor or the second electrical conductor passes within the vicinity of the gate electrode during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states such that an electrical field from the cantilever establishes a potential voltage across the gate electrode capable of breaking down the baffler region thereby providing a switching of the transistor;

wherein a delay is provided between the operations of each device within the array of devices such that the emitted pulses are capable of being combined on a common conduction line in a manner that generates continuous cycling pulses.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the potential voltage across the gate electrode is transferred via hot electron transfer.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the cantilever is a portion of either a dipole structure or an antenna structure and allows for cycling of pulses for generation of RF signals.

29. The array of devices as per claim 26, wherein the delay is caused by at least one item selected from the group consisting of control of timing or phase of the device, delay lines between the devices for a drive signal applied to the drive electrode, delay lines at an exit of the emitted pulses from each of the devices, and combinations thereof.

30. An array of the devices as per claim 26, wherein timing of a drive signal applied to the drive electrode generates the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states, wherein the timing of the drive signal is controlled by a combination of two cyclic wave signals, wherein the two cyclic wave signals are out of phase for only a portion of their cycles whereby the two cyclic wave signals cancel each other out when at opposite polarities such that remaining phase relationships produce pulses of shorter duration than each of the two cyclic wave signals when considered separately.

31. An array of devices that emits pulses, each device within the array comprising:

a drive electrode;

a cantilever, wherein the cantilever comprises;

a piezoelectric layer;

a first electrical conductor positioned on a first side of the piezoelectric layer; and

a second electrical conductor positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric layer which is opposite the first side of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the cantilever oscillates between two mechanically-stressed states when a predetermined alternating voltage is applied between the drive electrode and the first electrical conductor, wherein the cantilever is in a mechanically-unstressed state when between the two mechanically-stressed states, and wherein the piezoelectric layer emits a plurality of pulses during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states; and

a transistor including a gate electrode and a barrier region, wherein at least one of the first electrical conductor or the second electrical conductor passes within the vicinity of the gate electrode during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states such that an electrical field from the cantilever establishes a potential voltage across the gate electrode capable of breaking down the barrier region thereby providing a switching of the transistor;

wherein timing of an emission from one device within the array is in phase with an emission of another device within the array to create a higher magnitude pulse.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein-the potential voltage across the gate electrode is transferred via hot electron transfer.

33. An array of devices that emits pulses, each device within the array comprising:

a drive electrode;

a cantilever, wherein the cantilever comprises;

a piezoelectric layer;

a first electrical conductor positioned on a first side of the piezoelectric layer; and

a second electrical conductor positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric layer which is opposite the first side of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the cantilever oscillates between two mechanically-stressed states when a predetermined alternating voltage is applied between the drive electrode and the first electrical conductor, wherein the cantilever is in a mechanically-unstressed state when between the two mechanically-stressed states, and wherein the piezoelectric layer emits a plurality of pulses during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states; and

a transistor including a gate electrode and a barrier region, wherein at least one of the first electrical conductor or the second electrical conductor passes within the vicinity of the gate electrode during the oscillation of the cantilever between the two mechanically-stressed states such that an electrical field from the cantilever establishes a potential voltage across the gate electrode capable of breaking down the barrier region thereby providing a switching of the transistor;

wherein pulses from each transistor are combined out of phase to make shorter pulses.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the potential voltage across the gate electrode is transferred via hot electron transfer.