Carbon nanotube devices and method of fabricating the same
View Patent ↗An imaging system includes an RF source, a focal plane array and device for focusing the RF signal from the RF source. The focal plane array includes a plurality of carbon nanotube mixers for capturing RF signals and down-converting the signals to a selected bandwidth and output an output signal. The device focuses the RF signal output from said RF source onto the focal plane array.
1. An imaging system, comprising:
an RF source;
a focal plane array comprising a plurality of carbon nanotube mixers for capturing RF signals, down-converting said signals to a selected bandwidth, and outputting an output signal; and
means for focusing an RF signal output from said RF source onto said focal plane array.
2. The imaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of said carbon nanotube mixers comprises:
at least a pair of diodes including first and second carbon nanotube diodes, each carbon nanotube diode including a p-n junction;
an RF input coupled with each of said diodes; and
a local oscillator (LO) input coupled with each of said diodes.
3. The imaging system as recited in claim 2 , wherein said at least a pair of diodes comprises:
a substrate;
first and second electrodes formed on the surface of said substrate and separated by a first gap;
fourth and third electrodes formed on the surface of the substrate and separated by a second gap, a portion of said fourth and said third electrodes being formed in said first gap;
a first p-n junction carbon nanotube diode connecting said first electrode with said third electrode;
a second p-n junction carbon nanotube diode connecting said first electrode with said fourth electrode;
a third p-n junction carbon nanotube diode connecting said second electrode with said third electrode; and
a fourth p-n junction carbon nanotube diode connecting said second electrode with said fourth electrode.
4. The imaging system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the p-side of said first diode is coupled with the n-side of said second diode, the p-side of said second diode is coupled with the n-side of said third diode, the p-side of said third diode is coupled with the n-side of said fourth diode, and said p-side of said fourth diode is coupled with the n-side of said first diode.
5. The imaging system as recited in claim 2 , wherein said RF input comprises at least one metallic carbon nanotube antenna.
6. The imaging system as recited in claim 2 , wherein said LO input comprises at least one metallic carbon nanotube antenna.
7. The imaging system as recited in claim 2 , wherein said RF source produces a signal having a frequency over 1 THz.
8. The imaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said means for focusing comprises a plurality of mirrors.
9. The imaging system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising processing means for processing an output of said focal plane array to generate an image.
10. The imaging system as recited in claim 9 , further comprising a display device coupled with said processing means for displaying said image.
11. The imaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each said mixer comprises at least four carbon nanotube devices arranged in a diode quad configuration; said RF input being coupled to a first pair of carbon nanotube devices and a local oscillator input being coupled to a second pair of carbon nanotube devices.
12. The imaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each said mixer comprises a plurality of carbon nanotube field effect transistors (FET).
13. A focal plane array comprising:
a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT) capturing RF signals, down-converting said signals to a selected bandwidth, and outputting an output signal;
wherein each of said CNT mixers comprises:
a diode quad including first, second, third and fourth carbon nanotube diodes, each carbon nanotube diode including a p-n junction;
an RF input coupled with each of said diodes; and
a local oscillator (LO) input coupled with each of said diodes;
wherein said diode quad comprises:
a substrate;
first and second electrodes formed on the surface of said substrate and separated by a first gap;
fourth and third electrodes formed on the surface of the substrate and separated by a second gap, a portion of said fourth and said third electrodes being formed in said first gap;
a first p-n junction carbon nanotube diode connecting said first electrode with said third electrode;
a second p-n junction carbon nanotube diode connecting said first electrode with said fourth electrode;
a third p-n junction carbon nanotube diode connecting said second electrode with said third electrode; and
a fourth p-n junction carbon nanotube diode connecting said second electrode with said fourth electrode.
14. The focal plane array as recited in claim 13 , wherein the p-side of said first diode is coupled with the n-side of said second diode, the p-side of said second diode is coupled with the n-side of said third diode, the p-side of said third diode is coupled with the n-side of said fourth diode, and said p-side of said fourth diode is coupled with the n-side of said first diode.
15. The focal plane array as recited in claim 14 , wherein said LO input comprises at least one metallic carbon nanotube antenna.
16. An imaging method comprising steps of:
focusing RF signals output from an RF source onto a focal plane array comprising a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT) mixers for capturing RF signals, down-converting said signals to a selected bandwidth, and outputting an output signal; and
processing the output signal from said focal plane array to generate an image.
17. The imaging method as recited in claim 16 , wherein each said mixer comprises a plurality of carbon nanotube field effect transistors (FET).
18. The imaging method as recited in claim 16 , wherein each said mixer comprises at least four carbon nanotube devices arranged in a diode quad configuration; said RF input being coupled to a first pair of carbon nanotube devices and a local oscillator input being coupled to a second pair of carbon nanotube devices.