Varactor with integrated micro-discharge source
Abstract
An apparatus that includes a varactor element and an integrated micro-discharge source is disclosed herein. In a general embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one np junction and at least one voltage source that is configured to apply voltage across the np junction. The apparatus further includes an aperture that extends through the np junction. When the voltage is applied across the np junction, gas in the aperture is ionized, forming a plasma, in turn causing a micro-discharge (of light, charge particles, and space charge) to occur. The light (charge particles, and space charge) impinges upon the surface of the np junction exposed in the aperture, thereby altering capacitance of the np junction. When used within an oscillator circuit, the effect of the plasma on the np-junction extends the capacitance changes of the np-junction and extends the oscillator frequency range in ways not possible by a conventional voltage controlled oscillator (VCO).
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1329304
- Patent Number(s):
- 9472689
- Application Number:
- 14/843,060
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2015 Sep 02
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
Citation Formats
Elizondo-Decanini, Juan M., Manginell, Ronald P., and Moorman, Matthew W. Varactor with integrated micro-discharge source. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web.
Elizondo-Decanini, Juan M., Manginell, Ronald P., & Moorman, Matthew W. Varactor with integrated micro-discharge source. United States.
Elizondo-Decanini, Juan M., Manginell, Ronald P., and Moorman, Matthew W. Tue .
"Varactor with integrated micro-discharge source". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1329304.
@article{osti_1329304,
title = {Varactor with integrated micro-discharge source},
author = {Elizondo-Decanini, Juan M. and Manginell, Ronald P. and Moorman, Matthew W.},
abstractNote = {An apparatus that includes a varactor element and an integrated micro-discharge source is disclosed herein. In a general embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one np junction and at least one voltage source that is configured to apply voltage across the np junction. The apparatus further includes an aperture that extends through the np junction. When the voltage is applied across the np junction, gas in the aperture is ionized, forming a plasma, in turn causing a micro-discharge (of light, charge particles, and space charge) to occur. The light (charge particles, and space charge) impinges upon the surface of the np junction exposed in the aperture, thereby altering capacitance of the np junction. When used within an oscillator circuit, the effect of the plasma on the np-junction extends the capacitance changes of the np-junction and extends the oscillator frequency range in ways not possible by a conventional voltage controlled oscillator (VCO).},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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patent, July 2015
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