Thin film emitter-absorber apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A tunable device for selectively coupling electromagnetic radiation comprising:
- a first electrically conductive layer including a plurality of discrete surface elements formed on or in the layer;
an electrically insulating intermediate layer defining a first surface in communication with the electrically conductive surface layer;
a second, continuous electrically conductive layer in communication with a second surface of the electrically insulating intermediate layer; and
an electrode in electrical communication with at least one of the first electrically conductive layer, the electrically insulating intermediate layer, and the second continuous, electrically conductive layer, the plurality of discrete surface elements resonantly coupling at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation with respect to the continuous electrically conductive layer;
wherein the first electrically conductive layer, the electrically insulating intermediate layer, and the second continuous, electrically conductive layer form a wavelength selective element having at least one reflection or absorption-emission band; and
wherein the wavelength selective element comprises a material having a material property that is variable in response to an external signal applied to the device, and wherein variation of the material property tunes the at least one reflection or absorption-emission band.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing a tunable absorption-emission band in a wavelength selective device are disclosed. A device for selectively absorbing incident electromagnetic radiation includes an electrically conductive surface layer including an arrangement of multiple surface elements. The surface layer is disposed at a nonzero height above a continuous electrically conductive layer. An electrically isolating intermediate layer defines a first surface that is in communication with the electrically conductive surface layer. The continuous electrically conductive backing layer is provided in communication with a second surface of the electrically isolating intermediate layer. When combined with an infrared source, the wavelength selective device emits infrared radiation in at least one narrow band determined by a resonance of the device. In some embodiments, the device includes a control feature that allows the resonance to be selectively modified. The device has broad applications including gas detection devices and infrared imaging.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A tunable device for selectively coupling electromagnetic radiation comprising:
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a first electrically conductive layer including a plurality of discrete surface elements formed on or in the layer; an electrically insulating intermediate layer defining a first surface in communication with the electrically conductive surface layer; a second, continuous electrically conductive layer in communication with a second surface of the electrically insulating intermediate layer; and an electrode in electrical communication with at least one of the first electrically conductive layer, the electrically insulating intermediate layer, and the second continuous, electrically conductive layer, the plurality of discrete surface elements resonantly coupling at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation with respect to the continuous electrically conductive layer; wherein the first electrically conductive layer, the electrically insulating intermediate layer, and the second continuous, electrically conductive layer form a wavelength selective element having at least one reflection or absorption-emission band; and wherein the wavelength selective element comprises a material having a material property that is variable in response to an external signal applied to the device, and wherein variation of the material property tunes the at least one reflection or absorption-emission band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A tunable infrared emitter comprising:
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a first electrically conductive layer including a plurality of discrete surface elements formed on or in the layer; an electrically insulating intermediate layer defining a first surface in communication with the electrically conductive surface layer; a second, continuous electrically conductive layer in communication with a second surface of the electrically insulating intermediate layer; and an infrared source in thermal communication with at least one of the first electrically conductive layer, the electrically insulating layer and the second, continuous electrically conductive layer, the infrared source generating broadband infrared radiation, the plurality of discrete surface elements electromagnetically coupling at least a portion of the broadband infrared radiation, wherein the first electrically conductive layer, the electrically insulating intermediate layer, and the second continuous, electrically conductive layer form a wavelength selective element having at least one infrared reflection or absorption-emission band; and wherein the wavelength selective element comprises a material having a material property that is variable in response to an external signal applied to the device, and wherein variation of the material property tunes the at least one reflection or absorption-emission band; and wherein the wavelength selective element interacts with the broadband infrared radiation to produce a narrowband infrared emission. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A controllable wavelength selective device, comprising:
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a first electrically conductive layer including a plurality of discrete surface elements formed on or in the layer; an electrically insulating intermediate layer defining a first surface in communication with the electrically conductive surface layer; a second, continuous electrically conductive layer in communication with a second surface of the electrically insulating intermediate layer, wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive layer;
the electrically insulating intermediate layer; and
the second, continuous electrically conductive layer comprises a material having an electrical conductivity which is controlled in response to an external signal applied to the device;wherein the first electrically conductive layer, the electrically insulating intermediate layer, and the second continuous, electrically conductive layer form a wavelength selective element having at least one reflection or absorption-emission band; and wherein a property of the at least one reflection or absorption-emission band is controlled in response to the conductivity of the material. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of manufacturing a wavelength selective device comprising:
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forming a continuous, electrically thin conductive ground layer on a substrate; applying an electrically thin insulating layer to a top surface of the ground layer; forming an electrically thin outer conductive layer on the electrically thin insulating layer, forming a plurality of discrete surface elements on or in the outer conductive layer; forming a wavelength selective element having at least one infrared reflection or absorption-emission band comprising the electrically thin conductive ground layer, the electrically thin insulating layer, and the electrically thin outer conductive layer; and wherein forming the wavelength selective surface comprises forming the wavelength selective surface to comprise a material having a material property that is variable in response to an external signal applied to the device, wherein variation of the material property tunes the at least one reflection or absorption-emission band. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification