Abstract: A phononic MEMS spectrophotometer (PMS) comprising a photonic source and a photonic detector wherein a photonic beam from the photonic source is directed through a fluid of interest and terminated into a photonic detector. The fluid may be a gas or a liquid. A preferred embodiment comprising phononic MEMS structure is nanowires formed with phononic crystal structure. Phononic nanowire support structure provides increased thermal isolation in pixels comprising thermal micro-platforms. In embodiments, a micro-platform is thermally isolated to an extent that it cools itself through spontaneous blackbody radiation at room temperature.

Abstract: A multi-stage thermoelectric cooler is processed from semiconductor starting wafers. Efficiency for cooling is enhanced with semiconductor phononic nanowires increasing the ratio of electrical conductivity to thermal conductivity within a Peltier thermoelectric device. In embodiments, the phononic structure comprises phononic crystal. Applications include micro-refrigerators for cooling photonic detectors in applications such as focal plane array (FPA) imagers and semiconductor diode detectors. Other applications for the micro-refrigerator includes providing a cooled platform for a media of interest, including chemicals, a chemical reaction, and a variety of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based battery system comprising a primary battery that spontaneously provides power that in embodiments trickle-charges a secondary battery. The battery obtains power as heat from the surrounding environment. The primary battery is powered through internal blackbody radiation, which cools a micro-platform and provides thermoelectric power at all temperatures above absolute zero with available power increasing with temperature. Lifetime of the primary battery is not limited by electrochemical degradation over time. In embodiments, the primary battery powers an application device directly without a secondary battery.

Abstract: A thermally-sensitive cantilever sensor switch with a bimorph structure based on phononic cantilever structure. Phononic structure increases switch sensitivity to incident absorbed radiation. In embodiments the zero power switch is sensitive to ambient temperature and/or incident absorbed radiation. In embodiments, multiple switches are configured within a spectrometer to provide a means of monitoring toxic components within a media of interest such as smokestake effluents and hot emitters. The switch may be structured with sensitivity to incident radiation within wavelength bands ranging from ultraviolet (UV) to MHz.

Abstract: An imager pixel comprising a micro-platform supported by phononic nanowires, the nanowires providing an extreme-level of thermal isolation from a surrounding substrate. The micro-platform in embodiments comprises thermal sensors sensitive to heat from absorbed incident longwave/shortwave photonic irradiation. In embodiments, the pixel photonic sensing structure comprises both a thermal sensor together with a separate photodiode/phototransistor/photogate for sensing RGB and NIR wavelengths. Some embodiments comprise a micro-platform with an integral Peltier thermoelectric element permitting in situ refrigeration to cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: An imager pixel comprising a micro-platform supported by phononic nanowires, the nanowires providing an extreme-level of thermal isolation from a surrounding substrate. The micro-platform in embodiments comprises thermal sensors sensitive to heat from absorbed incident longwave/shortwave photonic irradiation. In embodiments, the pixel photonic sensing structure comprises both a thermal sensor together with a separate photodiode/phototransistor/photogate for sensing RGB and NIR wavelengths. Some embodiments comprise a micro-platform with an integral Peltier thermoelectric element permitting in situ refrigeration to cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based light emitting platform (LEP) comprising a heated blackbody radiator wherein the light emitting platform is thermally isolated by nanowires having ultra-low thermal conductivity. In embodiments, the pixel is structured for broadband emission with a platform comprising an infrared surface structured for high emissivity within a broadband wavelength range. In other embodiments radiation is confined to a limited bandwidth by metamaterial and other resonant filters. In embodiments, the internal efficiency of the LEP configured for broadband operation can be higher compared with an LED.

Abstract: A thermal pixel configured as an electromagnetic emitter and/or an electromagnetic detector. The thermal pixel comprises a micro-platform suspended with semiconductor nanowires from a surrounding support platform. The nanowires comprise phononic structure providing a decrease in thermal conductivity. In some embodiments, the pixel is structured for operation within a broad bandwidth or a limited bandwidth. Metamaterial and/or photonic crystal filters provide pixel operation over a limited bandwidth. In some other embodiments, the micro-platform comprises a nanotube structure providing a broadband emission/absorption spectral response.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based light emitting platform (LEP) comprising a heated blackbody radiator wherein the light emitting platform is thermally isolated by nanowires having ultra-low thermal conductivity. In embodiments, the pixel is structured for broadband emission with a platform comprising an infrared surface structured for high emissivity within a broadband wavelength range. In other embodiments radiation is confined to a limited bandwidth by metamaterial and other resonant filters. In embodiments, the internal efficiency of the LEP configured for broadband operation can be higher compared with an LED.

Abstract: An integrated thermal sensor comprising photonic crystal elements that enable photonic elements for photonic sourcing, spectral switching and filtering, sensing of an exposed analyte and detection. In embodiments, applications are disclosed wherein these photonic elements provide a spectrophotometer, a photonic channel switch and a standalone sensor for toxic gases and vapors. An application coupled with a mobile phone is disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal pixel configured as an electromagnetic emitter and/or an electromagnetic detector. The thermal pixel comprises a micro-platform suspended with semiconductor nanowires from a surrounding support platform. The nanowires comprise phononic structure providing a decrease in thermal conductivity. In some embodiments, the pixel is structured for operation within a broad bandwidth or a limited bandwidth. Metamaterial and/or photonic crystal filters provide pixel operation over a limited bandwidth. In some other embodiments, the micro-platform comprises a nanotube structure providing a broadband emission/absorption spectral response.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing a gaseous analyte comprising semiconductor phononic nanowire structure and a micro-platform. The sensor comprises a thermal element sensitive to temperature and involving variously chemi-resistive, absorptive and phase change effects. Sensor readout includes monitoring the temperature of the micro-platform.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing a gaseous analyte comprising semiconductor phononic nanowire structure and a micro-platform. The sensor comprises a thermal element sensitive to temperature and involving variously chemi-resistive, absorptive and phase change effects. Sensor readout includes monitoring the temperature of the micro-platform.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing wave impedance of a material using an RF power source with a sensor structure comprised of a resonant electromagnetic radiative filter (MEF). The wave impedance is determined by processing a differential RF signal level within an interrogator comprising an impedance calculator. A differential RF signal between a source signal level and a response signal level affected by field coupling of the REF with a material of interest. In embodiments based on frequency scanning transmissometry (FST), the impedance spectrometer determines both the real and imaginary part of the wave impedance of the material. In embodiments the impedance spectrometer comprises an RFID transponder. In embodiments, the interrogator is disposed as payload on a UAV drone. In embodiments, the impedance spectrometer is a node within a communications network.

Abstract: A thermal pixel configured as an electromagnetic emitter and/or an electromagnetic detector operating within a limited bandwidth. The thermal pixel comprises a micro-platform thermally isolated from a surrounding off-platform region by phononic nanowires. In embodiments, the micro-platform is comprised of metamaterial and/or photonic crystal filters providing operation over a limited bandwidth. In other embodiments, the micro-platform is comprised of nanotube structure providing a broadband emission/absorption spectral response. Structural configurations for the pixel take advantage of the Kirchhoff law of thermal radiation which states that a good thermal emitter is also a good absorber. In a preferred embodiment the pixel is fabricated using a silicon SOI starting wafer.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing wave impedance of a material using an RF power source with a sensor structure comprised of a resonant electromagnetic radiative filter (MEF). The wave impedance is determined by processing a differential RF signal level within an interrogator comprising an impedance calculator. A differential RF signal between a source signal level and a response signal level affected by field coupling of the REF with a material of interest. In embodiments based on frequency scanning transmissometry (FST), the impedance spectrometer determines both the real and imaginary part of the wave impedance of the material. In embodiments the impedance spectrometer comprises an RFID transponder. In embodiments, the interrogator is disposed as payload on a UAV drone. In embodiments, the impedance spectrometer is a node within a communications network.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing the wave impedance of a material using an RF power source with a sensor structure comprised of a metamaterial radiative filter (MRF). The wave impedance is specified or monitored by processing a differential RF signal level with an impedance calculator. The differential RF signal level is obtained from a reference source signal and a response signal. RF field-coupling of the RF source with the material effects the response signal level. In embodiments, the spectrometer is physically configured for noninvasive and invasive measurements. In embodiments, the material is sensed when shielded by RF-opaque media. In embodiments, wherein the MRF has a fixed response characteristic, the dielectric constant may be obtained with a sensing structure comprised of two transponders and a single RF frequency. In embodiments wherein the MRF has a fixed response characteristic, both the dielectric constant and the loss tangent may be obtained using three transponders and a single RF frequency.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing the wave impedance of a material using an RF power source with a sensor structure comprised of a metamaterial radiative filter (MRF). The wave impedance is specified or monitored by processing a differential RF signal level with an impedance calculator. The differential RF signal level is obtained from a reference source signal and a response signal. RF field-coupling of the RF source with the material effects the response signal level. In embodiments, the spectrometer is physically configured for noninvasive and invasive measurements. In embodiments, the material is sensed when shielded by RF-opaque media. In embodiments, wherein the MRF has a fixed response characteristic, the dielectric constant may be obtained with a sensing structure comprised of two transponders and a single RF frequency. In embodiments wherein the MRF has a fixed response characteristic, both the dielectric constant and the loss tangent may be obtained using three transponders and a single RF frequency.

Abstract: An integrated thermal sensor comprising photonic crystal elements that enable photonic elements for photonic sourcing, spectral switching and filtering, sensing of an exposed analyte and detection. In embodiments, applications are disclosed wherein these photonic elements provide a spectrophotometer, a photonic channel switch and a standalone sensor for toxic gases and vapors. An application coupled with a mobile phone is disclosed.