Axial IR Detector Using Cylindrical Vector Beams Without Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IR detectors face challenges in achieving high frame-rate videos without excessive cooling requirements, which are costly and complex, while microbolometer-based detectors consume high power and require current flow for operation.
Innovation Solution
The use of azimuthal cylindrical vector beams (CVBs) in conjunction with nonlinear Lorentz forces to rectify the fast-oscillating electric field, employing a polarization control element (PCE) and a rectifying element (RE) that includes toroid pairs to generate a Hall voltage for signal representation, without the need for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If photoelectric effect-based IR detectors are used to achieve high frame-rate videos, then imaging speed is improved, but cooling requirements increase leading to higher cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cooling system with a magnetic field-based detection mechanism. The detector uses a magnetic field to convert electromagnetic radiation directly into electrical signals through the Hall effect, eliminating the need for cryogenic cooling systems while maintaining high frame-rate imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using magnetic field strength and Hall voltage instead of temperature-based cooling mechanisms. This parameter transformation allows the detector to operate at room temperature while achieving high imaging speeds through magnetic field-induced carrier generation.
2Device complexity
If microbolometer-based detectors are used to avoid cooling, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption increases and frame rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the resistive heating mechanism of microbolometers with a magnetic field-based Hall effect mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous current flow through sensing elements, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining simplicity without cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The detector uses the incident electromagnetic radiation itself to generate the detection signal through the Hall effect, rather than requiring external power sources or current flow. The radiation energy is directly converted into electrical signals, making the system self-powered and eliminating continuous power consumption.
3Device complexity
If microbolometer-based detectors are used to avoid cooling, then device complexity is reduced, but frame rate is limited to low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal inertia-limited microbolometer mechanism with a magnetically-responsive Hall effect mechanism. This substitution enables instantaneous response to radiation changes without thermal lag, achieving high frame rates while maintaining simplicity without cooling systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high frame-rate videos in the IR range without cooling requirements and reduces power consumption, leveraging the properties of CVBs and Lorentz forces to efficiently convert electromagnetic radiation into DC signals.
Implementation Method 1
a polarization control element (PCE) configured to receive incident radiation and having a substrate with a shape to polarize said incident radiation into a cylindrical vector beam (CVB)
Implementation Method 2
a rectifying element (RE) configured to receive the CVB and generate a signal representing information of the incident radiation. The RE may include at least one toroid pair having a high conductivity toroid and a low conductivity toroid concentric with the high conductivity toroid, where each toroid pair, in response to receiving the CVB, creates a Hall voltage used to generate said signal
Implementation Method 3
an EM detector makes use of a physical phenomenon to generate a DC signal in response to the incoming high-frequency radiation such as visible light. For example, the ubiquitous imaging chips that exist in all modern cellular phones, use the photoelectric effect to convert the visible light from individual pixels into a DC voltage
Implementation Method 4
each toroid pair, in response to receiving the CVB, creates a Hall voltage used to generate said signal representing information of the incident radiation
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic radiation detector according to the present invention comprises a polarization control element (PCE) configured to receive incident radiation and having a substrate with a shape to polarize said incident radiation into a cylindrical vector beam (CVB), and a rectifying element (RE) configured to receive the CVB and generate a signal representing information of the incident radiation. The RE may include at least one toroid pair having a high conductivity toroid and a low conductivity toroid concentric with the high conductivity toroid, where each toroid pair, in response to receiving the CVB, creates a Hall voltage used to generate said signal representing information of the incident radiation.