Novel Thermal Management of Power Electronic Devices: High Power High Frequency Planar Gunn Diodes
Lead Research Organisation:
De Montfort University
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
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Organisations
- De Montfort University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Quantum Focus Instruments Corporation (QFI) (Collaboration)
- Cambridge CMOS Sensors (Collaboration)
- TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN (Collaboration)
- Academy of Medicine (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- Rohde and Schwarz (Collaboration)
- E2V Technologies (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Test location (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- Filtronic (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- Rohde & Schwarz (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- RFMD UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- Huawei Technologies (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Christopher Oxley (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Maricar M
(2013)
Planar Gunn Diodes and Resonators
Maricar Mohamed Ismaeel
(2014)
Design of circuits to enhance the performace of high frequency planar Gunn diodes
Montes Bajo M
(2013)
Impact ionisation electroluminescence in planar GaAs-based heterostructure Gunn diodes: Spatial distribution and impact of doping non-uniformities
in Journal of Applied Physics
Montes M
(2012)
Reduction of Impact Ionization in GaAs-Based Planar Gunn Diodes by Anode Contact Design
in IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices
R Hopper
(2016)
Academic industrial collaboration improves gas-sensing technology
in IET Partner News
Stephen A
(2013)
Improvements in thermionic cooling through engineering of the heterostructure interface using Monte Carlo simulations
in Journal of Applied Physics
Stephen A
(2014)
Micro-cooler enhancements by barrier interface analysis
in AIP Advances
| Description | Second harmonic extraction from planar Gunn diode (both GaAs and InP based) was successfully demonstrated providing opportunities with further development planar Gunn diode milli-metric and tera-hertz sources. A novel planar diamond resonator was developed which occupied less chip area than conventional resonators used on MEM's gas sensors Micro monolithic integration of GaAs based micro-coolers to active device to achieve cooling not efficient and present work indicates can only be achieved if substrate supporting the structure is very thin <10 microns. Micro-particle sensor further developed for measuring the very small differences in temperature between the cooled and hot electrodes of micro- coolers with small Seebeck coefficient (GaAs). The thermal measurement technology is now being used for MEM's gas sensors and for high temperature (>600C) miniature hot-plate measurements |
| Exploitation Route | Further development of the planar Gunn diode, in particular a more complete planar Gunn diode electrical equivalent circuit model to enable design of improved on chip circuit matching. With reference to micro-cooler the theoretical work indicated that magnitude of Seebeck coefficient is dependent on the barrier interface slope which needs to be more fully explored both theoretically and experimentally. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Security and Diplomacy |
| Description | Micro infra-red particle sensor with high emissivity, which can be placed on device (electronic etc) to obtain more accurate temperature point measurement in conjunction with an infra-red microscope. The sensors are particularly useful on materials with a low surface emissivity or materials which are transparent to infra-red radiation (semiconductors). Patent GB0821112 (EP/HO12966/1) Devices which the method has been used include MEMs (gas sensors) and mapping temperature of ultrasound transducers used in medical imaging. The technique has recently been applied to measuring high temperatures (>600C) in miniature hot-plate technologies. |
| Sector | Electronics,Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | PhD Bursary |
| Amount | £36,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | De Montfort University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2010 |
| End | 01/2014 |
| Description | PhD Bursary |
| Amount | £36,600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | De Montfort University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | RCIF2 |
| Amount | £35,792 (GBP) |
| Organisation | De Montfort University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2013 |
| End | 06/2014 |
| Title | Infra red (IR) micro-particle sensor |
| Description | To more accurately measure the surface temperature using IR technology. Many materials have a low surface emissivity for example gold or are transparent to IR making them difficult to obtain accurate surface temperatures when using IR technology. The method uses a high emissivity spherical particle which is put in iso-thermal contact with the surface of the material and at the point the temperature is to be measured. The emitted IR radiation will be close to black body giving a more accurate surface temperature at that point. The method is primarily used in conjunction with an IR microscope and micro-manipulator which enables the controlled movement of the particle across the material surface. The particle is moved across the surface and at each location the temperature is measured using the IR microscope, producing a thermal profile. The method has been successfully used to measure the thermal profile across the junction of a planar Gunn diode and the membrane of a gas sensor. The thermal spatial resolution will be dependent on the diameter of the spherical micro-particle and the optics of the IR microscope. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Method has been used to measure the temperature profile across ultrasonic transducers used in medical diagnosis. Resulting in the procedure for temperature monitoring such devices to be under review. |
| Title | IV Automation |
| Description | MSc student 'IV Automation of semiconductor devives' has enabled fast on wafer characterisation of planar Gunn diode and micro-cooler. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Speeds measurement of IV characteristics |
| Description | Cambridge CMOS sensors |
| Organisation | Cambridge CMOS Sensors |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Measurement of thermal profile of MEMS miniature heater using IR |
| Collaborator Contribution | supply of parts to be measured |
| Impact | Papers see publications |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | E2V Technologies |
| Organisation | e2v Technologies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| Start Year | 2005 |
| Description | Emissivity mesurement |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To assess using conventional IR to measure emissivity of teeth |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supply samples |
| Impact | Not determined |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Filtronic Comtek (UK) Limited |
| Organisation | Filtronic |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| Start Year | 2005 |
| Description | Measurement of high temperatures in miniature hot-plate technology |
| Organisation | Academy of Medicine |
| Country | Singapore |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The measurement of the temperature and uniformity of the temperature across miniature hot-plates. The miniature hot-plates supplied by ams |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supply of miniature hot-plates with geometrical changes |
| Impact | A paper 'Infra-Red Thermal Measurement on a Low Power Infra-Red Emitter in CMOS Technology' has been submitted to SMT for consideration of publication |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Measurement of planar Gunn diode in cavity |
| Organisation | Cranfield University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Set up packaging and measurement of devices |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supply of devices |
| Impact | None at present |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Rhode & Schwarz |
| Organisation | Rohde and Schwarz |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Measurement |
| Collaborator Contribution | Equipment signal generator, network analyser, spectrum analyser |
| Impact | A number of student projects |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Thermal measurement of gallium nitride HEMT devices |
| Organisation | Test location |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Temperature mapping |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide samples |
| Impact | Thermal performance for different die mounting technologies |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Thermal measurement of gallium nitride HEMT devices |
| Organisation | TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Temperature mapping |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide samples |
| Impact | Thermal performance for different die mounting technologies |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Thermal reflectance measurements of miniature thermal hot-plates |
| Organisation | Quantum Focus Instruments Corporation (QFI) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Thermal reflectance measurements of miniature thermal hot-plates |
| Collaborator Contribution | Use of measurement equipment |
| Impact | No output to date |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | University of Aberdeen |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Continued collaboration on micro-coolers |
| Collaborator Contribution | Computer modelling |
| Impact | papers - publications on form |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | University of Bristol |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Start Year | 2005 |
| Description | University of Glasgow |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Circuit design |
| Collaborator Contribution | Fabrication of milli-metric circuits and the use of the high frequency measurement facilities |
| Impact | Papers, please see publications |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Title | Micro-particle sensor for improved spot infra-red thermal measurements |
| Description | Micro-particle of high and known surface emissivity enables more accurate temperature measurements on low emissivity metals and multi-level semiconductor materials |
| IP Reference | GB0821112.0 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2010 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Temperature measurement of medical ultrasonic transducers Measurement of temperature on gas sensors Idea transferred to Raman thermography |
| Description | Article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Article in IET Partner News |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Electronics Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | workshop facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Papers presented by national/international in microwave/thermal. Delegates from universities, industry and MOD A number of industries asked for the workshop to be an annual event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Expert evaluator for Fondecyt National Research Funding Competition (Chile) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Influenced decision Ranking proposal |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | FP7 expert evaluator |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | On expert panel for proposal evaluation Proposal ranking |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | FP7 expert evaluator for space technology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Ranking of European proposals for space technology Proposals ranked |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Guest lecture to Physics Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Lecture on use of infra-red imaging for thermal management of advanced electronic devices |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Nanoelectronics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on nano-electronics and questions Schools asked for presentation available for resource information |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Second guest lecture to physics group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Lecture on cosmology - age and size of he universe |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |