Thin Film Blackbody Calibration Source with Graphene Thermal Spreading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blackbody radiators for calibrating optical sensors are bulky, power-intensive, and cumbersome due to the need for prolonged heating to achieve and maintain selected temperatures, posing challenges in size, weight, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A thin film structure comprising a first layer generating heat in response to applied voltage, a second layer emitting blackbody radiation, and a thermal spreading layer with a graphene sheet to reduce spatial heat variation, allowing for rapid and uniform temperature equilibrium and efficient photon emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional blackbody radiators are used for calibration, then accurate optical sensor calibration can be achieved, but the system becomes bulky, heavy, and power-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film structures including suspended membranes and thin-film blackbody coatings to create a compact calibration source. The thin-film design reduces the overall size and weight of the calibration system while maintaining the necessary thermal radiation properties for accurate optical sensor calibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite structures combining different materials with complementary properties - such as high-emissivity blackbody coatings on thin substrates, and thermal isolation structures with specific thermal conductivities. These composite materials enable the system to achieve both compact size and calibration accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If conventional blackbody radiators are used for calibration, then accurate optical sensor calibration can be achieved, but the system consumes large amounts of power
Solution Approach 1:
The thin-film design with suspended membranes creates a thermally isolated calibration source that requires less power to reach and maintain calibration temperatures. The reduced thermal mass of thin-film structures compared to conventional bulk radiators enables faster heating and lower steady-state power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration system can operate in periodic cycles, heating the blackbody source only when calibration is needed rather than maintaining continuous operation. This periodic activation reduces overall power consumption while still providing accurate calibration when required.
3Measurement precision
If conventional blackbody radiators are used for calibration, then accurate optical sensor calibration can be achieved, but the system is cumbersome and requires precise optical mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the blackbody radiation source, thermal isolation structures, and optical coupling elements into a single compact assembly. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate, complex optical mechanisms to position and image the blackbody source, simplifying the overall system while maintaining calibration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspended thin-film blackbody source can be positioned and coupled to the optical sensor within a compact package, eliminating the need for large, precise optical imaging mechanisms required by conventional bulk blackbody radiators.
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
The solution enables quick calibration of optical sensors with reduced power consumption and a more compact design, achieving equilibrium temperature in seconds and minimizing spatial temperature variation, thus providing a blackbody radiation spectrum suitable for sensor calibration with improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a first layer configured to generate heat in response to an applied voltage
Implementation Method 2
a thermal spreading layer between the first layer and the second layer, the thermal spreading layer including a graphene sheet for reducing a spatial variation of the heat in a plane of the thermal spreading layer
Implementation Method 3
a second layer configured to emit the blackbody radiation spectrum in response to the heat from the first layer
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method and thin-film structure for producing a blackbody spectrum is disclosed. A first layer of the apparatus is configured to generate heat in response to an applied voltage. A second layer is configured to emit the blackbody radiation spectrum in response to the heat from the first layer. A thermal spreading layer is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The thermal spreading layer includes a graphene sheet for reducing a spatial variation of the heat in a plane of the thermal spreading layer.