Circuits | Office of Technology Licensing

Available Technologies by Category
Scalable Manufacturing Approach of Graded Polymer Thin Film Has Potential for Widespread Use	Combines slot die coating with a custom roll-to-roll imaging system to allow for efficient, rapid, and scalable fabrication of high-quality gradient thin films. An improved manufacturing process over existing techniques because it uses broad material combinations and yields higher quality patterned thin films. Incorporates multiple materials to increase the application of patterned thin films across industries, including microelectronics, energy technologies, and environmental systems.	8994
Leverage the Advantages of Aluminum Nitride for Superior Ultra-Wide Bandgap Semiconductors for High-Power, High-Temperature Diodes and Transistors	Metal modulated epitaxy method enables the production of p-type beryllium-doped aluminum nitride films as key components in ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors for the first time. Achieves high reverse breakdown voltage—a significant advantage over wide bandgap materials such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride. Improves current conduction over best previous results in p-type aluminum nitride (AIN) by 30,000,000 times and n-type AlN by 6,000 times.	8666
Overvoltage Surge Protection System for Distributed Energy Resources	iMOV is a dynamic system capable of achieving voltage surge clamping within 20% of the system’s nominal voltage. This effectively provides protection for highly sensitive semiconductors present in DER-associated power converters. This system is built upon a metal oxide varistors (MOV) foundation, whose material composition inherently allows rapid device connection of 500 picoseconds for quicker response times. iMOV uses integrated microprocessors and sensors in a cloud-based architecture that provides protection against cyberattacks, reduces system cost, and allows system and power grid monitoring.	9190
Soft Wireless Sternal Patch for Detecting Systemic Vasoconstriction Using Photoplethysmography	A wireless, soft sternal patch includes integrated skin-like, photolithographically patterned electronics specifically tuned to continuously measure vasoconstriction from the sternum. In overnight trials, the device detected sleep apnea and hypopnea with 95% precision and 100% sensitivity compared to data professionally scored by licensed clinicians. Use of this patch on the chest could improve detection of key markers of numerous harmful health conditions.	9170
Intelligent Eye-Tracking System Offers Next-Gen Technology for Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) Applications	This system uses an AI accelerator chip with 4X higher throughput to achieve over 300 FPS, greatly improving processing speed without loss of accuracy. EyeCoD achieves faster communication time by using a lens-less camera that reduces distance between the camera and the accelerator chip. Using a “predict-then-focus” model, this system creates highly accurate images as well as improves visual privacy.	9202
Metasurface Enables Rapid, Sensitive, and Low-Cost Permittivity Characterization of Dielectric Materials at Radio Frequencies	Characterize complex permittivity of dielectric materials at radio frequencies quickly and at lower cost than with existing techniques. The electronically reconfigurable system allows integration of active electronics for tunability and eliminates the need for several masks to achieve the needed bandwidth. Measure individual frequencies by swapping out only the metasurfaces, which can be used on a wide range of sample thicknesses.	9078
Patient-Centered Biofeedback Headset Can Isolate, Monitor, and Analyze Vocal Output in Real Time for Optimal Voice Modulation in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease	Innovative headset offers real-time haptic feedback for vocal improvement and increased patient autonomy. Device stores easily accessible data for therapist review and fine-tuning of preset therapeutic thresholds to continually improve vocal output. Lightweight, low-profile, battery-powered headset are favorable for all-day wear and use omnidirectional microphones for optimal comfort.	9134
D-Band Vector Modulator Phase Shifter (VMPS) Achieves Higher Bandwidth	Uses tapered delay lines at the input to generate differential quadrature signals that enable wider bandwidth and result in higher speed communications Reaches a moderate gain of 1.5 decibels at a center frequency of 128 GHz, while simultaneously achieving higher bandwidth of 35 GHz than any other mmWave VMPS in silicon Has low power consumption, using only 20.3 mW of average DC power from a 1.5 V supply	9180
High-Performance Analog Processor Offers Potential to Expand Capabilities of Radio Frequency (RF) Systems	TRAFFIC is the first generalized, high-performance analog finite impulse response processor technology that enables direct throughput processing of RF signals within the RF and microwave spectrums. The device enables multiple-function RF capabilities and significantly reduces the size, weight, and power requirements of RF technologies. TRAFFIC has unique performance benefits that allow it to operate reliably in extreme environments, including high performance across wide temperature ranges and radiation-intense applications.	8143
Parametric Resonance Approach for Efficient, Versatile Acoustic Power Transfer for Implantable/Wearable Devices, Sensing, and Communications	New class of transducers utilizes parametric resonance to convert acoustic energy from an ultrasonic source to a sustained electrical signal. Technology powers implantable biomedical devices, small wearable sensors, and other wireless charging applications. Simple yet robust generation of stable electromechanical frequency combs is also possible in both air and liquid environments using a capacitive micro-resonator array.	7635, 9075
DetectIV Offers Noninvasive Early IV Infiltration and Extravasation Detection	DetectIV provides a continuous, noninvasive, and wireless IV infiltration and extravasation detection system. The sensor does not cover the IV site and works well with all skin types—significant improvements over existing detection devices. The device detects infiltrations on average 2 hours ahead of nursing standard of care making it an effective early detection system that prevents extended hospital stays.	7207
Spin-Coated Polymer Collars Prevent Solder Wicking	Extend product lifespan: Increasing the stability of the contact between socket paddles and the Au surface allows for the BGAs to be in use longer Stability: Adding the mechanical reinforcement of the polymer collars allows for stronger thermodynamically stable solder joints Simple manufacturing: Spin coating the polymer onto the package is a simple manufacturing process.	8747
Fully Passive, Long-Range Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) via 5G	Large coverage: Provides a unique combination of large angular coverage and turn-on sensitivity in both planar and bent configurations Long range: Demonstrates the potential for RFIDs with practical reading ranges over 1.8 km Scalable: Scales in size to a precise degree, enabling selection of the optimal tradeoff between size and harvested power/reading range	8141, 8439
Adaptive Broadband Impedance Matching in Ultrasound Front-End Electronics	High performance: Improves power transfer and acoustic reflectivity Flexible: Enables multimodal and tunable operation of CMUTs Efficient: Provides optimal matching for co-design of CMUT electronics	8342
A Low-Loss Broadband Quadrature Signal Generation Technique for Highly Balanced Signals	Superior: Provides lower loss, wider bandwidth, better mismatch reduction, zero power consumption, and more balanced quadrature signals compared with other currently available technologies Validated: Achieves an average IRR of 37.5 dB across 40-76 GHz and 33.5 dB across 40-102 GHz, with each stage of the network enhancing IRR by approximately 8 dB in verification of proof-of-concept image-reject mixers Convenient: Eliminates the need for additional calibration and tuning and has reduced sensitivity to fabrication process variations	7888
Heat Dissipation for Microelectronic Systems via Capillary Trap	Effective: Dissipates large heat fluxes via 3D heat spreading and evaporative cooling that could approach kW/cm2 and beyond while keeping the surface temperature under 90oC Preventive: Mitigates coolant dry-out at the critical heat flux levels that result in a rapid and large temperature rise and thus cause device burn-out Efficient: Exploits high cooling capabilities associated with phase-change heat transfer through evaporation	6272
A First-of-its-Kind, Ultra-Low Voltage Single-Element Amplified Backscatter System	Streamlined: Uses a single element—one tunnel diode with few passive components—to achieve dual functionality of simultaneous oscillation and reflection-amplification Efficient: Combines the features of conventional RFIDs and tunnel diode-based reflection amplifiers while using an extremely low biasing voltage of only 88 mV, consuming only 20 μW, and offering a reflection gain of 48 dB Long range: Provides the highest observed gain in the literature for a given input power	8375
Highly Effective Motion Capture Marker for Small Aerial Robots	Robust: Improves the reliability and accuracy of the motion capture measurement by eliminating excessive reflection Easy to use: Consists of only a miniature driver circuit and illumination stripe while requiring a simple plug-in power supply to operate Lightweight: Accommodates small robots with limited payload capacity—total weight of an active marker is approximately 1 gram	8528
Soft-Switching, Solid-State Transformers and Converters	Cost savings- larger transformers are expensive to build and costly to maintain Space savings- simple, symmetrical architecture with minimal device and component count Higher reliability- less power losses	7292
Ultra-Thin Interposer Assemblies for Higher Integrated Circuit Bandwidth	Scalable, with connections above, below, and beside the interposer Lower cost, less complex manufacturing through interposer-package integration Testable, both before and after device integration	5453

Technologies