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US 7,741,934 B2Granted
Coupling a signal through a window
AssigneeVirgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsJonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method is provided that includes a window for coupling a signal between cavities of a device or between cavities of different devices. A wall or microstructure is formed on a surface and defines a cavity. The window is formed in the wall and comprises at least a portion of the wall and is electrically conductive. The cavity can be sized to resonate at various frequencies within the terahertz portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and generate an electromagnetic wave to carry the signal. The window allows surface currents to flow without disruption on the inside surface of the cavity.
Claims40
A device for coupling an electromagnetic wave, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a wall disposed on the substrate, the wall defining a resonant cavity to the electromagnetic wave at least one frequency between 0.1 THz and 7 PHz, and having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- and
- a window formed in the wall, and having a portion of the window adjacent to the cavity comprising at least a portion of the inner surface, wherein the electromagnetic wave is transmitted through the window to the cavity to induce resonance in the cavity, wherein the window comprises a thickness less than a penetration depth of the window.
1 more element
A device for coupling an electromagnetic wave, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a wall disposed on the substrate, the wall defining a resonant cavity to the electromagnetic wave at least one frequency between 0.1 THz and 7 PHz, and having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- and
- a window formed in the wall, and having a portion of the window adjacent to the cavity comprising at least a portion of the inner surface, wherein the electromagnetic wave is transmitted through the window to the cavity to induce resonance in the cavity, wherein the window comprises a thickness greater than a penetration depth of the window.
1 more element
A device for coupling an electromagnetic wave, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a wall disposed on the substrate, the wall defining a resonant cavity to the electromagnetic wave at least one frequency between 0.1 THz and 7 PHz, and having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- and
- a window formed in the wall, and having a portion of the window adjacent to the cavity comprising at least a portion of the inner surface, wherein the electromagnetic wave is transmitted through the window to the cavity to induce resonance in the cavity, wherein the window comprises a thickness generally equal to a penetration depth of the window.
1 more element
A device for coupling an electromagnetic wave, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a wall disposed on the substrate, the wall defining a resonant cavity to the electromagnetic wave at least one frequency between 0.1 THz and 7 PHz, and having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- and
- a window formed in the wall, and having a portion of the window adjacent to the cavity comprising at least a portion of the inner surface, wherein the electromagnetic wave is transmitted through the window to the cavity to induce resonance in the cavity, further comprising a focusing device operatively associated with the window.
1 more element
A method for coupling a signal, comprising:
- providing a wall disposed on a substrate, the wall defining a resonant cavity to the signal and having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- forming a window in the wall, and having a portion of the window adjacent to the cavity comprising at least a portion of the inner surface;
- transmitting an electromagnetic wave carrying the signal through the window to the cavity to induce resonance in the cavity;
- and
- providing energy to an outer surface of the wall and using the energy to stimulate plasmons having varying fields.
2 more elements
A method for coupling a signal, comprising:
- providing a wall disposed on a substrate, the wall defining a resonant cavity to the signal and having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- forming a window in the wall, and having a portion of the window adjacent to the cavity comprising at least a portion of the inner surface;
- and
- transmitting an electromagnetic wave carrying the signal through the window to the cavity to induce resonance in the cavity, wherein transmitting the electromagnetic wave through the window comprises receiving the electromagnetic wave through the window into the cavity and onto the inner surface, wherein receiving the electromagnetic wave comprises stimulating plasmons having varying fields on the inner surface.
1 more element
A method for coupling a signal, comprising:
- providing a wall disposed on a substrate, the wall defining a resonant cavity to the signal and having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- forming a window in the wall, and having a portion of the window adjacent to the cavity comprising at least a portion of the inner surface;
- and
- transmitting an electromagnetic wave carrying the signal through the window to the cavity to induce resonance in the cavity;
- wherein the window filters the electromagnetic wave to limit first and second frequency ranges that pass through the window,
- wherein coupling the electromagnetic wave comprises passing a first electromagnetic wave having the first frequency range through the window into the cavity and onto the inner surface;
- providing energy to an outer surface and coupling the energy through the wall and onto the inner surface;
- and
- wherein transmitting the electromagnetic wave through the window and coupling the energy through the wall comprises stimulating plasmons having varying fields on the inner surface.
6 more elements
A method for coupling a signal, comprising:
- providing a wall disposed on a substrate, the wall defining a resonant cavity to the signal and having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- forming a window in the wall, and having a portion of the window adjacent to the cavity comprising at least a portion of the inner surface;
- and
- transmitting an electromagnetic wave carrying the signal through the window to the cavity to induce resonance in the cavity,
- wherein the window filters the electromagnetic wave to limit first and second frequency ranges that pass through the window,
- wherein transmitting the electromagnetic wave comprises passing a first electromagnetic wave having the first frequency range through the window into the cavity and onto an inner surface;
- and
- wherein passing the first electromagnetic wave comprises stimulating plasmons having varying fields on the inner surface.
5 more elements
A method for coupling a signal, comprising:
- providing a wall disposed on a substrate, the wall defining a cavity having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- transmitting an electromagnetic wave carrying the signal through first and second windows, further comprising providing energy to an outer surface of the wall and using the energy to stimulate plasmons having varying fields;
- and providing the first and second windows disposed in the wall, and having a portion of at least one of the first and second windows adjacent to the cavity and comprising at least a portion of the inner surface, said first and second windows filtering the electromagnetic wave to limit first and second frequency ranges through the first and second windows, respectively.
A method for coupling a signal, comprising:
- providing a wall disposed on a substrate, the wall defining a cavity having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- providing first and second windows disposed in the wall, and having a portion of at least one of the first and second windows adjacent to the cavity and comprising at least a portion of the inner surface, said first and second windows filtering an electromagnetic wave to limit first and second frequency ranges through the first and second windows, respectively;
- and
- transmitting the electromagnetic wave carrying the signal through the first and second windows,
- wherein transmitting the electromagnetic wave comprises receiving first and second electromagnetic waves having the first and second frequency ranges, respectively;
- and
- wherein receiving the first and second electromagnetic waves comprises passing the first and second electromagnetic waves through the respective first and second windows into the cavity and onto the inner surface.
4 more elements
A method for coupling a signal, comprising:
- providing a wall disposed on a substrate, the wall defining a cavity having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- providing first and second windows disposed in the wall, and having a portion of at least one of the first and second windows adjacent to the cavity and comprising at least a portion of the inner surface, said first and second windows filtering an electromagnetic wave to limit first and second frequency ranges through the first and second windows, respectively;
- and
- transmitting the electromagnetic wave carrying the signal through the first and second windows,
- wherein transmitting the electromagnetic wave comprises receiving a first electromagnetic wave having a first frequency range through the first window into the cavity and onto the inner surface;
- further comprising providing the energy to an outer surface and coupling energy through the wall and onto the inner surface;
- and
- wherein receiving the first electromagnetic wave and coupling the energy through the wall comprises stimulating plasmons having varying fields on the inner surface.
5 more elements
A method for coupling a signal, comprising:
- providing a wall disposed on a substrate, the wall defining a cavity having an electrically conductive inner surface;
- providing first and second windows disposed in the wall, and having a portion of at least one of the first and second windows adjacent to the cavity and comprising at least a portion of the inner surface, said first and second windows filtering an electromagnetic wave to limit first and second frequency ranges through the first and second windows, respectively;
- and
- transmitting the electromagnetic wave carrying the signal through the first and second windows,
- wherein transmitting the electromagnetic wave comprises receiving a first electromagnetic wave having the first frequency range through the first window into the cavity and onto the inner surface;
- and
- wherein passing the first electromagnetic wave comprises stimulating plasmons having varying fields on the inner surface.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.