Patents by Inventor Athanasios J. Syllaios
Athanasios J. Syllaios has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11022823Abstract: switchable optical filter that is based on carrier injection induced semiconductor to metal phase transition (SMT) of vanadium oxide-based (e.g., VO2) thin films may reversibly change from optically transparent to opaque while undergoing such phase transition. Electrical carrier injection may be established by an electric field or by photoexcitation. The SMT may also be induced by a combination of applying an electric field and optical flux. Such a switchable optical filter, when inserted in the optical path of an optical radiation sensor, may be used to control and/or limit high power optical beams, such as a laser beam impinging on one or more sensor elements. Since the SMT may be configured to occur at ultrafast time scales (e.g., approximately 100 femtoseconds), it may also act as a beam shutter and/or as a fast optical beam modulator.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: University of North TexasInventor: Athanasios J. Syllaios
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Publication number: 20190049755Abstract: The present application discloses embodiments of a switchable optical filter that is based on carrier injection induced semiconductor to metal phase transition (SMT) of vanadium oxide-based (e.g., VO2) thin films which can reversibly change from optically transparent to opaque while undergoing such phase transition. Electrical carrier injection may be established by an electric field or by photoexcitation. The SMT may also be induced by a combination of applying an electric field and optical flux. Such a switchable optical filter, when inserted in the optical path of an optical radiation sensor, may be used to control and/or limit high power optical beams, such as a laser beam impinging on one or more sensor elements. Since the SMT may be configured to occur at ultrafast time scales (e.g., approximately 100 femtoseconds), it may also act as a beam shutter and/or as a fast optical beam modulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventor: Athanasios J. Syllaios
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Patent number: 8765514Abstract: A center region of conductive material/s may be disposed or “sandwiched” between transition regions of relatively lower conductivity materials to provide substantially low defect density interfaces for the sandwiched material. The center region and surrounding transition regions may in turn be disposed or sandwiched between dielectric insulative material to form a sandwiched and transitioned device structure. The center region of such a sandwiched structure may be implemented, for example, as a device layer such as conductive microbolometer layer for a microbolometer detector structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.Inventors: Athanasios J. Syllaios, Michael F. Taylor, Sameer K. Ajmera
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Publication number: 20140159032Abstract: A center region of conductive material/s may be disposed or “sandwiched” between transition regions of relatively lower conductivity materials to provide substantially low defect density interfaces for the sandwiched material. The center region and surrounding transition regions may in turn be disposed or sandwiched between dielectric insulative material to form a sandwiched and transitioned device structure. The center region of such a sandwiched structure may be implemented, for example, as a device layer such as conductive microbolometer layer for a microbolometer detector structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: June 12, 2014Inventors: Athanasios J. Syllaios, Michael F. Taylor, Sameer K. Ajmera
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Patent number: 8610070Abstract: Pixel-level monolithic optical element configurations for uncooled infrared detectors and focal plane arrays in which a monolithically integrated or fabricated optical element may be suspended over a microbolometer pixel membrane structure of an uncooled infrared detector element A monolithic optical element may be, for example, a polarizing or spectral filter element, an optically active filter element, or a microlens element that is structurally attached by an insulating interconnect to the existing metal interconnects such that the installation of the optical element substantially does not impact the thermal mass or thermal time constant of the microbolometer pixel structure, and such that it requires little if any additional device real estate area beyond the area originally consumed by the microbolometer pixel structure interconnects.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Schimert, Thomas P. Fagan, III, Athanasios J. Syllaios
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Patent number: 8227755Abstract: Optically transitioning pixel-level filtering using a multi-level structure that includes an isolated optically transitioning filter element that is suspended over a corresponding radiation detector element in a one-to-one relationship to provide, for example, one or more features such as spectral detection and/or selective radiation immunity.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Thomas P. Fagan, III, John F. Brady, Thomas R. Schimert, Athanasios J. Syllaios
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Patent number: 8153980Abstract: Systems and methods for color correcting radiation by alternately focusing a first radiation spectrum on a first radiation spectrum detector, and then focusing at least one additional radiation spectrum on at least one additional radiation spectrum detector.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.Inventors: John F. Brady, Athanasios J. Syllaios, Thomas R. Schimert, William L. McCardel, Roland W. Gooch
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Publication number: 20110266441Abstract: Optically transitioning pixel-level filtering using a multi-level structure that includes an isolated optically transitioning filter element that is suspended over a corresponding radiation detector element in a one-to-one relationship to provide, for example, one or more features such as spectral detection and/or selective radiation immunity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2010Publication date: November 3, 2011Inventors: Thomas P. Fagan, III, John F. Brady, Thomas R. Schimert, Athanasios J. Syllaios
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Publication number: 20110266443Abstract: Pixel-level monolithic optical element configurations for uncooled infrared detectors and focal plane arrays in which a monolithically integrated or fabricated optical element may be suspended over a microbolometer pixel membrane structure of an uncooled infrared detector element A monolithic optical element may be, for example, a polarizing or spectral filter element, an optically active filter element, or a microlens element that is structurally attached by an insulating interconnect to the existing metal interconnects such that the installation of the optical element substantially does not impact the thermal mass or thermal time constant of the microbolometer pixel structure, and such that it requires little if any additional device real estate area beyond the area originally consumed by the microbolometer pixel structure interconnects.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2010Publication date: November 3, 2011Inventors: Thomas R. Schimert, Thomas P. Fagan, III, Athanasios J. Syllaios
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Patent number: 7718965Abstract: Microbolometer infrared detector elements that may be formed and implemented by varying type/s of precursors used to form amorphous silicon-based microbolometer membrane material/s and/or by varying composition of the final amorphous silicon-based microbolometer membrane material/s (e.g., by adjusting alloy composition) to vary the material properties such as activation energy and carrier mobility. The amorphous silicon-based microbolometer membrane material/s materials may include varying amounts of one or more additional and optional materials, including hydrogen, fluorine, germanium, n-type dopants and p-type dopants.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Athanasios J. Syllaios, Thomas R. Schimert, Michael F. Taylor
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Patent number: 7655909Abstract: Infrared detector elements and methods for forming infrared detector elements in which the top metal layer of CMOS circuitry of the detector element is employed as a lead metal reflector for the infrared detector.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Schimert, Athanasios J. Syllaios, William L. McCardel, Roland W. Gooch
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Patent number: 7528061Abstract: Systems and methods for solder bonding that employ an equilibrium solidification process in which the solder is solidified by dissolving and alloying metals that raise the melting point temperature of the solder. Two or more structure surfaces may be solder bonded, for example, by employing heating to melt the solder and holding the couple at a temperature above the initial solder melting point of the solder until interdiffusion reduces the volume fraction of liquid so as to form a solid bond between surfaces before cooling to below the initial melting point of the solder.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Athanasios J. Syllaios, John H. Tregilgas, Roland W. Gooch
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Patent number: 7462831Abstract: Systems and methods for bonding semiconductor devices and/or multiple wafers, in the form of a first segmented wafer and a second unsegmented wafer which may have different temperature coefficients of expansion (TCE), and which may be bonded together, with or without the presence of a vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Roland W. Gooch, Athanasios J. Syllaios, Thomas R. Schimert, William L. McCardel
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Patent number: 7459686Abstract: Systems and methods for providing multi-spectral image capability using an integrated multi-band focal plane array that, in one example, may be employed to simultaneously image in the visible spectrum and infrared spectrum using an integrated dual-band focal plane array, e.g., by including visible imaging circuitry within read out integrated circuitry (ROIC) used to readout infrared detector elements within the same pixel element/s.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Athanasios J. Syllaios, Thomas R. Schimert, William L. McCardel, Roland W. Gooch, John F. Brady
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Patent number: 7375331Abstract: Methods for making optically blind reference pixels and systems employing the same. The reference pixels may be configured to be identical to, or substantially identical to, the active detector elements of a focal plane array assembly. The reference pixels may be configured to use the same relatively longer thermal isolation legs as the active detector pixels of the focal plane, thus eliminating joule heating differences. An optically blocking structure may be placed in close proximity directly over the reference pixels.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2007Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Schimert, Athanasios J. Syllaios, Roland W. Gooch, William L. McCardel
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Patent number: 7262412Abstract: Methods for making optically blind reference pixels and systems employing the same. The reference pixels may be configured to be identical to, or substantially identical to, the active detector elements of a focal plane array assembly. The reference pixels may be configured to use the same relatively longer thermal isolation legs as the active detector pixels of the focal plane, thus eliminating joule heating differences. An optically blocking structure may be placed in close proximity directly over the reference pixels.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Schimert, Athanasios J. Syllaios, Roland W. Gooch, William L. McCardel
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Publication number: 20070170363Abstract: Infrared detector elements and methods for forming infrared detector elements in which the top metal layer of CMOS circuitry of the detector element is employed as a lead metal reflector for the infrared detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: July 26, 2007Inventors: Thomas R. Schimert, Athanasios J. Syllaios, William L. McCardel, Roland W. Gooch
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Publication number: 20070170360Abstract: Systems and methods for bonding semiconductor devices and/or multiple wafers, in the form of a first segmented wafer and a second unsegmented wafer which may have different temperature coefficients of expansion (TCE), and which may be bonded together, with or without the presence of a vacuum.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: July 26, 2007Inventors: Roland W. Gooch, Athanasios J. Syllaios, Thomas R. Schimert, William L. McCardel
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Publication number: 20070170359Abstract: Systems and methods for providing multi-spectral image capability using an integrated multi-band focal plane array that, in one example, may be employed to simultaneously image in the visible spectrum and infrared spectrum using an integrated dual-band focal plane array, e.g., by including visible imaging circuitry within read out integrated circuitry (ROIC) used to readout infrared detector elements within the same pixel element/s.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: July 26, 2007Inventors: Athanasios J. Syllaios, Thomas R. Schimert, William L. McCardel, Roland W. Gooch, John F. Brady
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Patent number: 7220621Abstract: A method for manufacturing optically-transparent lids includes etching sub-wavelength structures on a surface of a lid wafer. The structures may be arrayed in a hexagonally closed-packed pattern.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Athanasios J. Syllaios, Roland W. Gooch, Thomas R. Schimert, Edward G. Meissner