Metal-Semiconductor-Metal GeSn Photodetectors on Silicon for Short-Wave Infrared Applications

Metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors (MSM PDs) are effective for monolithic integration with other optical components of the photonic circuits because of the planar fabrication technique. In this article, we present the design, growth, and characterization of GeSn MSM PDs that are suitable for photonic integrated circuits. The introduction of 4% Sn in the GeSn active region also reduces the direct bandgap and shows a redshift in the optical responsivity spectra, which can extend up to 1800 nm wavelength, which means it can cover the entire telecommunication bands. The spectral responsivity increases with an increase in bias voltage caused by the high electric field, which enhances the carrier generation rate and the carrier collection efficiency. Therefore, the GeSn MSM PDs can be a suitable device for a wide range of short-wave infrared (SWIR) applications.

Membrane-Enhanced Lamina Emergent Torsional Joints for Surrogate Folds

Lamina emergent compliant mechanisms (including origami-adapted compliant mechanisms) are mechanical devices that can be fabricated from a planar material (a lamina) and have motion that emerges out of the fabrication plane. Lamina emergent compliant mechanisms often exhibit undesirable parasitic motions due to the planar fabrication constraint. This work introduces a type of lamina emergent torsion (LET) joint that reduces parasitic motions of lamina emergent mechanisms, and presents equations for modeling parasitic motion of LET joints. The membrane joint also makes possible one-way joints that can ensure origami-based mechanisms emerge from their flat state (a change point) into the desired configuration. Membrane-enhanced LET (M-LET) joints, including one-way surrogate folds, are described here and show promise for use in a wide range of compliant mechanisms and origami-based compliant mechanisms. They are demonstrated as individual joints and in mechanisms such as a kaleidocycle (a 6R Bricard linkage), degree-4 origami vertices (spherical mechanisms), and waterbomb base mechanisms (an 8R multi-degrees-of-freedom origami-based mechanism).

Pseudo-Rigid-Body Modeling of a Single Vertex Compliant-Facet Origami Mechanism

Recently, there has been an increased interest in origami art from a mechanism design perspective. The deployable nature and the planar fabrication method inherent to origami provide potential for space and cost-efficient mechanisms. In this paper, a novel type of origami mechanisms is proposed in which the compliance of the facets is used to incorporate the spring behavior: compliant facet origami mechanisms (COFOMs). A simple model that computes the moment characteristic of a single vertex COFOM has been proposed, using a semispatial version of the pseudo-rigid-body (PRB) theory to model bending of the facets. The PRB model has been evaluated numerically and experimentally, showing good performance. The PRB model is a potential starting point for a design tool which would provide an intuitive way of designing this type of mechanisms including their spring behavior, with very low computational cost.

A Pseudo Rigid Body Model of a Single Vertex Compliant-Facet Origami Mechanism (SV-COFOM)

Recently, there has been an increased interest in origami art from a mechanism design perspective. The deployable nature and the planar fabrication method inherent to origami provide potential for space and cost efficient mechanisms. In this paper, a novel type of origami mechanisms is proposed in which the compliance of the facets is used to incorporate spring behavior: Compliant Facet Origami Mechanisms (COFOMs). A simple model that computes the moment characteristic of a Single Vertex COFOM has been proposed, using a semi-spatial version of the Pseudo-Rigid Body (PRB) theory to model bending of the facets. The performance of this PRB model has been evaluated numerically and experimentally, and showed performance comparable to a Finite Element model with 122 elements. The PRB model is a potential starting point for a design tool which would provide an intuitive way of designing this type of mechanisms including their spring behavior, with very low computational cost.

Robogami: A Fully Integrated Low-Profile Robotic Origami

Intelligent robotic systems that can react to unprogrammed tasks and unforeseen environmental changes require augmented “softness.” Robogami, a low-profile origami robot, addresses intrinsic (material-wise) and extrinsic (mechanism-wise) softness with its multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) body driven by soft actuators. The unique hardware of the Robogami and its submillimeter thick construction enable diverse transformations as those achievable by the paper origami. The presented Robogami shows the first fully integrated version that has all the essential components including its controller within a thin sheet. Construction of this robot is possible via precise, repeatable, and low cost planar fabrication methods often reserved for microscale fabrications. In this research, we aim at expanding the capabilities of Robogamis by embedding bidirectional actuation, sensing, and control circuit. To assess the performance of the proposed sensors and actuators, we report on the performance of these components in a single module and in the four-legged crawler robot.

Optimization Analysis on the Transmission Characteristics of Semi-Circle Long-Range Dielectric-Loaded Surface Plasmon-Polariton Waveguides

Semi-circle long-range dielectric-loaded surface plasmon-polariton waveguide (LR-DLSPPW) is proposed, in which a thin and narrow metal stripe (15-nm-thick and 500-nm-wide) is sandwiched between a semi-circle dielectric ridge(with the refractive index of 1.535 ,the radius of 777 nm) and a dielectric film (with the refractive index of 1.493) supported by low-index substrate (with the refractive index of 1.34). The mode effective index, propagation length, mode width and figures of merit of the fundamental mode supported using the finite-element method are calculated at the telecom wavelength λ =1.55μm for different dimensions (t) of the dielectric film. It was calculated that the optimized structure have the maximized parameters with figures of merit 3.75×10¬6and propagation length 3.7mm at t=570 nm. The semi-circle LR-DLSPPW structure is found to exhibit about 20% increase of the propagation length as compared to the conventional rectangular LR-DLSPPW while ridge thickness t≤600 nm. The proposed configuration allows for easy connection to electrodes enabling, and is technologically simple being compatible with planar fabrication using UV-lithography.