Quantum Dot Magnetic Sensor Cell Without Mechanical Scanners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic field sensors using color centers and mechanical scanners face challenges in miniaturization, particularly for mobility-based applications, due to the inability to sufficiently reduce sensor size.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic field sensor cell and array design featuring a color center surrounded by sector-shaped slices with photoluminescent quantum dots, where light from the quantum dots is reflected and focused onto the color center, eliminating the need for mechanical scanners by integrating the sensor into a compact chip-like structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If mechanical scanners are used to scan color centers, then magnetic field mapping capability is achieved, but sensor size cannot be sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical scanner with an optical system consisting of sector-shaped slices with photoluminescent quantum dots that optically address color centers. This substitution eliminates moving mechanical parts while maintaining the ability to scan and map magnetic fields, thereby enabling sensor miniaturization for mobility-based applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces photoluminescent quantum dots as intermediary elements between the optical excitation source and the color centers. These quantum dots convert excitation light into wavelengths that efficiently excite the color centers, enabling optical addressing without mechanical scanning and facilitating compact sensor design
2Device complexity
If sector-shaped slices with quantum dots are used, then mechanical scanners are eliminated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical addressing system into multiple discrete sector-shaped slices, each containing photolumlescent quantum dots. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing and assembly, where each slice can be independently fabricated and then precisely positioned around the color center, managing the complexity of precise alignment through modular construction
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 design enables high sensitivity magnetic field measurement without mechanical scanners, allowing for miniaturization and integration into small, compact integrated chips.
Implementation Method 1
a photoluminescent quantum dot placed in the body of the sector-shaped slice, wherein the sector-shaped slice is configured such that light from the quantum dot is reflected toward and emitted out of the narrow end
Implementation Method 2
the sector-shaped slice is configured such that light from the quantum dot is reflected toward and emitted out of the narrow end
Implementation Method 3
a narrow end formed into a grating structure
Implementation Method 4
a color center arranged in an inner portion of a substrate, wherein the color center comprises one or more single-defect photon emitters
Data Source
AI summary
Technology provides for a magnetic field sensor cell including a color center arranged in a substrate, where the color center includes single-defect photon emitters, and a plurality of sector-shaped slices provided on the substrate, where each sector-shaped slice includes a body having a transparent material having a first refractive index formed into a raised sector shape having a narrow end formed into a grating structure, and a photoluminescent quantum dot placed in the body of the sector-shaped slice, where the sector-shaped slice is configured such that light from the quantum dot is reflected toward and emitted out of the narrow end, where the plurality of sector-shaped slices are arranged around the color center such that the narrow end of each slice of the plurality of slices points toward the color center. An array of magnetic field sensor cells can be arranged on the substrate.