IP Library Granted Patent US 8,643,275
Granted Patent B2
US 8,643,275 · App. 13/586,717 · Granted Feb 4, 2014

Micro-plasma field effect transistors

Inventor: Massood Tabib-Azar (Salt Lake City, UT)
Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,643,275
App. No.
13/586,717
Granted
Feb 4, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some aspects, a micro-plasma device comprises a plasma gas enclosure containing at least one plasma gas, a plasma generation circuit interfaced with the plasma gas enclosure, and a plurality of electrodes interfaced with the plasma gas enclosure. In other aspects, a micro-plasma circuitry apparatus comprises a first layer having plasma generating electrodes, a second layer having a cavity formed therein, and a third layer having a circuit formed therein. The circuit includes a micro-plasma circuit (MPC) that includes one or more micro-plasma devices (MPDs). A metallic layer covers the MPC except at locations of the MPDs. The first layer is bonded to the second layer and the second layer is bonded to the third layer, thereby forming an enclosure that contains at least one plasma gas.

Claims (32)

1. A micro-plasma device, comprising:

a plasma gas enclosure containing at least one plasma gas;

a plasma generation circuit interfaced with the plasma gas enclosure; and

a plurality of electrodes interfaced with the plasma gas enclosure, wherein the plurality of electrodes includes a source electrode and a drain electrode.

2. The micro-plasma device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one plasma gas includes at least one noble gas.

3. The micro-plasma device of claim 1 , wherein the plasma enclosure is at least partially comprised of fused silica.

4. The micro-plasma device of claim 1 , wherein the plasma generation circuit includes plasma generating electrodes.

5. The micro-plasma device of claim 4 , wherein the plasma generating electrodes are formed as an interdigital transducer (IDT).

6. The micro-plasma device of claim 4 , wherein the plasma generating electrodes are formed in a layer at least partially comprised of fused silica.

7. The micro-plasma device of claim 6 , wherein the layer is bonded to the plasma enclosure.

8. The micro-plasma device of claim 1 , wherein the plasma generation circuit includes an RF power source.

9. The micro-plasma device of claim 1 , wherein the plasma generation circuit includes a matching inductor.

10. The micro-plasma device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes further includes an insulated gate electrode.

11. The micro-plasma device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are formed in a layer at least partially comprised of fused silica.

12. The micro-plasma device of claim 11 , wherein the layer is bonded to the plasma enclosure.

13. The micro-plasma device of claim 1 , wherein the plasma generation circuit is configured to generate at least one of positive plasma ions and negative plasma ions.

14. A micro-plasma circuitry apparatus, comprising:

a first layer having plasma generating electrodes;

a second layer having a cavity formed therein;

a third layer having a circuit formed therein including a micro-plasma circuit (MPC) that includes one or more micro-plasma devices (MPDs); and

a metallic layer covering the MPC except at locations of the MPDs,

wherein the first layer is bonded to the second layer and the second layer is bonded to the third layer, thereby forming an enclosure that contains at least one plasma gas.

15. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the second layer is at least partially comprised of fused silica.

16. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the plasma generating electrodes are formed as an interdigital transducer (IDT).

17. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first layer is at least partially comprised of fused silica.

18. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least one MPD of the MPDs includes a plurality of electrodes.

19. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the MPD is configured to operate in an enhancement mode.

20. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the MPD is a metal-oxide-plasma field-effect transistor (MOPFET).

21. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the MOPFET is configured to operate as at least one of a switch or an amplifier for the MPC.

22. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the third layer is at least partially comprised of fused silica.

23. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the MPC includes a NAND gate comprised of at least two of the MPDs.

24. The micro-plasma circuitry apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the MPC includes a NOR gate comprised of at least two of the MPDs.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 1, 2015
From: UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF
To: NAVY, SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 035364/0285 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2012
From: TABIB-AZAR, MASSOOD
To: THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Reel/Frame 028873/0238 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2012
From: THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
To: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 028873/0295 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61628876 · Nov 8, 2011
Related Publication 20130113370A1 · May 9, 2013