Patents Assigned to Virgin Island Microsystems, Inc.
-
Patent number: 7679067Abstract: A multi-frequency receiver for receiving plural frequencies of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light) using a beam of charged particles shared between plural resonant structures. The direction of the beam of charged particles is selectively controlled by at least one deflector. The beam of charged particles passing near the resonant structure is altered on at least one characteristic as a result the presence of the electric field induced on the corresponding resonant structure. Alterations in the beam of charged particles are thus correlated to data values encoded by the electromagnetic radiation.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Virgin Island Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Jean Tokarz, Lev Gasparov
-
Patent number: 7659513Abstract: A detector system for performing at least one of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation at a low-terahertz frequency. The detection of electromagnetic radiation at low-terahertz frequencies can be useful in the detection of various chemicals. Preferably a detector includes a microresonant structure that is caused to resonate by electromagnetic radiation at a low-terahertz frequency. The resonance is detected by detecting an altered path of a charged particle beam.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E. Maines
-
Patent number: 7655934Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a plurality of ultra-small resonant structures, each of said structures constructed and adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at a particular wavelength when a beam of charged particles is passed nearby. A combiner mechanism constructed and adapted to combine data from a data source with the EMR emitted by at least one of the ultra-small resonant structures.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Virgin Island Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Henry Davis
-
Patent number: 7656094Abstract: An electronic transmitter or receiver employing electromagnetic radiation as a coded signal carrier is described. In the transmitter, the electromagnetic radiation is emitted from ultra-small resonant structures when an electron beam passes proximate the structures. In the receiver, the electron beam passes near ultra-small resonant structures and is altered in path or velocity by the effect of the electromagnetic radiation on structures. The electron beam is accelerated to an appropriate current density without the use of a high power supply. Instead, a sequence of low power levels is supplied to a sequence of anodes in the electron beam path. The electron beam is thereby accelerated to a desired current density appropriate for the transmitter or receiver application without the need for a high-level power source.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
-
Patent number: 7646991Abstract: An optical transmitter produces electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light) of at least one frequency (e.g., at a particular color frequency) by utilizing a resonant structure that is excited by the presence a beam of charged particles (e.g., a beam of electrons) where the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted along a communications medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable). In at least one embodiment, the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation is higher than that of the microwave spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Virgin Island Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
-
Patent number: 7626179Abstract: We describe an ultra-small structure that produces visible light of varying frequency, from a single metallic layer. In one example, a row of metallic posts are etched or plated on a substrate according to a particular geometry. When a charged particle beam passed close by the row of posts, the posts and cavities between them cooperate to resonate and produce radiation in the visible spectrum (or even higher). A plurality of such rows of different geometries can be etched or plated from a single metal layer such that the charged particle beam will yield different visible light frequencies (i.e., different colors) using different ones of the rows.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Virgin Island Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E Maines
-
Publication number: 20090290604Abstract: A charged particle beam including charged particles (e.g., electrons) is generated from a charged particle source (e.g., a cathode or scanning electron beam). As the beam is projected, it passes between plural alternating electric fields. The attraction of the charged particles to their oppositely charged fields accelerates the charged particles, thereby increasing their velocities in the corresponding (positive or negative) direction. The charged particles therefore follow an oscillating trajectory. When the electric fields are selected to produce oscillating trajectories having the same (or nearly the same) frequency as the emitted radiation, the resulting photons can be made to constructively interfere with each other to produce a coherent radiation source.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2006Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E. Maines
-
Patent number: 7619373Abstract: We describe an ultra-small resonant structure that produces electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light) at selected frequencies. The resonant structure can be produced from any conducting material (e.g., metal such as silver or gold). In one example, a number of rows of posts are etched or plated on a substrate, with each row having a particular geometry associated with the posts and cavities between the posts. A charged particle beam is selectively directed close by one of the rows of posts, causing them to resonate and produce radiation (e.g., in the visible spectrum at a predominant frequency). Directing the charged particle beam at a different row yields radiation at a different predominant frequency.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E Maines
-
Patent number: 7605835Abstract: An imaging device includes an image carrier; and an array of ultra-small light-emitting resonant structures constructed and adapted to emit light onto the image carrier, at least one of said ultra-small light-emitting structures emitting light in response to exposure to a beam of charged particles. The image carrier may be a drum. One or more imaging devices may be incorporated in a copying machine; a printer; or facsimile machine.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan Gorrell
-
Publication number: 20090230332Abstract: Plasmon-enable devices such as ultra-small resonant devices produce electromagnetic radiation at frequencies in excess of microwave frequencies when induced to resonate by a passing electron beam. The resonant devices are surrounded by one or more depressed anodes to recover energy from the passing electron beam as/after the beam couples its energy into the ultra-small resonant devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: Sidney E. Buttrill
-
Patent number: 7586167Abstract: A sensor device includes a substrate having first and second regions of first and second conductivity types, respectively. A junction having a band-gap is formed between the first and second regions. A plasmon source generates plasmons having fields. At least a portion of the plasmon source is formed near the junction, and the fields reduce the band-gap to enable a current to flow through the device.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
-
Patent number: 7586097Abstract: When using micro-resonant structures, it is possible to use the same source of charged particles to cause multiple resonant structures to emit electromagnetic radiation. This reduces the number of sources that are required for multi-element configurations, such as displays with plural rows (or columns) of pixels. In one such embodiment, at least one deflector is placed in between first and second resonant structures. After the beam passes by at least a portion of the first resonant structure, it is directed to a path such that it can be directed towards the second resonant structure. The amount of deflection needed to direct the beam toward the second resonant structure is based on the amount of deflection, if any, that the beam underwent as it passed by the first resonant structure. This process can be repeated in series as necessary to produce a set of resonant structures in series.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E Maines
-
Patent number: 7583370Abstract: A device for coupling an input signal to an output signal includes a metal transmission line; an ultra-small resonant receiver structure operatively connected to an end of the transmission line constructed and adapted receive the input signal and to cause at least part of the input signal to be passed along the transmission line in the form of plasmons; an ultra-small resonant transmitter structure operatively connected to another end of the transmission line and constructed and adapted to receive at least some of the plasmons corresponding to the input signal on the transmission line and to transmit the received signal as an output signal; a source of charged particles constructed and adapted to deliver a beam of charged particles along a path adjacent the ultra-small resonant receiver structure, wherein the input signal is encoded in the beam of charged particles; and a detector mechanism constructed and adapted to detect the output signal from the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure and to provide aType: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Paul Hart
-
Patent number: 7579609Abstract: A waveguide conduit is constructed and adapted to capture the light emitted by the at least one nano-resonant structure. The nano-resonant structure emits light in response to excitation by a beam of charged particles, The source of charged particles may be an ion gun, a thermionic filament, a tungsten filament, a cathode, a field-emission cathode, a planar vacuum triode, an electron-impact ionizer, a laser ionizer, a chemical ionizer, a thermal ionizer, or an ion-impact ionizer.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E. Maines
-
Patent number: 7573045Abstract: Nanoantennas are formed on a substrate (e.g., silicon) and generate light via interactions with a charged particle beam, where the frequency of the generated light is based in large part on the periodicity of the “fingers” that make up the nanoantennas. Each finger has typical dimensions of less than 100 nm on the shorter side and typically less than 500 nm on the longer, but the size of the optimal longer side is determined by the electron velocity. The charged particle may be an electron beam or any other source of charged particles. By utilizing fine-line lithography on the surface of the substrate, the nanoantennas can be formed without the need for complicated silicon devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Jean Tokarz, Michael E. Maines, Mark Davidson
-
Patent number: 7569836Abstract: A device includes first and second chips, each chip containing at least one electronic circuit. The second chip has one or more receivers. A deflection mechanism operationally connected to an electronic circuit of the first chip directs a charged particle beam to different ones of the receivers, based, at least in part, on a data signal provided by the electronic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan Gorrell
-
Patent number: 7560716Abstract: A beam of charged particles (e.g., an electron beam) from a charged particle source can be selectively applied to a pair of electrodes. For example, the charged particles can be electrons that are directed toward a first electrode when the charge difference between the electrodes is in one state and directed toward the second electrode when the charge difference between the electrodes is in another state. The electrodes are configured so that the beam of charged particles oscillates between the first and second electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
-
Patent number: 7557365Abstract: A device couples energy from an electromagnetic wave to charged particles in a beam. The device includes a micro-resonant structure and a cathode for providing electrons along a path. The micro-resonant structure, on receiving the electromagnetic wave, generates a varying field in a space including a portion of the path. Electrons are deflected or angularly modulated to a second path.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Lev V. Gasparov, Michael E. Maines, Paul Hart
-
Patent number: 7558490Abstract: An electronic receiver for decoding data encoded into light is described. The light is received at an ultra-small resonant structure. The resonant structure generates an electric field in response to the incident light. An electron beam passing near the resonant structure is altered on at least one characteristic as a result of the electric field. Data is encoded into the light by a characteristic that is seen in the electric field during resonance and therefore in the electron beam as it passes the electric field. Alterations in the electron beam are thus correlated to data values encoded into the light.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Jean Tokarz, Lev Gasparov
-
Patent number: 7557647Abstract: An electronic receiver for decoding data encoded into electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light) is described. The light is received at an ultra-small resonant structure. The resonant structure generates an electric field in response to the incident light and light received from a local oscillator. An electron beam passing near the resonant structure is altered on at least one characteristic as a result of the electric field. Data is encoded into the light by a characteristic that is seen in the electric field during resonance and therefore in the electron beam as it passes the electric field. Alterations in the electron beam are thus correlated to data values encoded into the light.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson