Optical antennas with enhanced fields and electron emission
First Claim
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1. A field-enhancing energy collection device, comprising:
- a substrate comprising a base surface, the base surface comprising a recessed structure having one or more angled wall surfaces that taper downward away from the base surface, between which one or more angled wall surfaces is formed a recess void, the recess void being empty or filled with a transparent or translucent material, the one or more angled wall surfaces coming in contact or close proximity to one another at a distance from the base surface, the one or more angled surfaces comprising an electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide optically exposed to the recess void, wherein the electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide is formed of a metallic material; and
an electrode adjacent or in close proximity to the substrate, thereby forming a gap between the electrode and the electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide,wherein the gap comprises a photovoltaic material, andwherein the field-enhancing energy collection device comprises a field enhancement region separated from the electrode.
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Abstract
An electromagnetic energy collecting and sensing device is described. The device uses enhanced fields to emit electrons for energy collection. The device is configured to collect energy from visible light, infrared radiation and ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. The device includes a waveguide with a geometry selected to enhance the electric field along a conductor to create a high, localized electric field, which causes electron emission across a gap to an electron return plane.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A field-enhancing energy collection device, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a base surface, the base surface comprising a recessed structure having one or more angled wall surfaces that taper downward away from the base surface, between which one or more angled wall surfaces is formed a recess void, the recess void being empty or filled with a transparent or translucent material, the one or more angled wall surfaces coming in contact or close proximity to one another at a distance from the base surface, the one or more angled surfaces comprising an electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide optically exposed to the recess void, wherein the electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide is formed of a metallic material; and an electrode adjacent or in close proximity to the substrate, thereby forming a gap between the electrode and the electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide, wherein the gap comprises a photovoltaic material, and wherein the field-enhancing energy collection device comprises a field enhancement region separated from the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17)
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13. A field-enhancing energy collection device, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a base surface, the base surface comprising more than one recessed structure comprised in an array of recessed structures, each recessed structure having one or more angled wall surfaces that taper downward away from the base surface, between which one or more angled wall surfaces is formed a recess void, the recess void being empty or filled with a transparent or translucent material, the one or more angled wall surfaces coming in contact or close proximity to one another at a distance from the base surface, the one or more angled surfaces comprising an electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide optically exposed to the recess void, wherein the electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide is formed of a metallic material such that each recessed structure in the array of recessed structures includes a cathode that is spaced apart from an isolated anode; and an electrode comprising the isolated anode that is in close proximity to the substrate, wherein the field-enhancing energy collection device comprises a field enhancement region separated from the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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15. A field-enhancing energy collection device, comprising:
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a support structure comprising at least one recessed structure having a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, the recessed structure having one or more angled wall surfaces that taper downward away from the first end, the one or more angled wall surfaces defining a recess void, the recess void being empty or filled with an optically transparent or translucent material, the one or more angled wall surfaces coming into contact with or close proximity to one another at or near the second end, the one or more angled surfaces comprising an electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide optically exposed to the recess void, wherein the electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide is formed of a metallic material, and wherein the support structure is formed of an optically transparent material; and an electrode adjacent to the support structure, the electrode configured to collect electrons generated upon the application of electromagnetic radiation to the at least one recessed structure, the electrode spaced apart from the electromagnetic energy conducting waveguide, wherein field-enhancing energy collection device comprises a field enhancement structure adjacent to the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification