Research Terms
The University of Central Florida invention is a wireless, passive sensor and system for space-limited, high-temperature, harsh environments such as combustion turbines. Polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) enable the sensor to survive corrosive gases as well as high temperatures. In one example application, the technology can sense parameters in any section of a turbine engine at temperatures above 1,000 degrees Celsius. Besides surpassing existing technologies with its high-temperature capabilities, the UCF invention offers a low profile and conformal shape so that the aerodynamic flow inside turbines and other structures remains undisturbed.
Partnering Opportunity: The research team is seeking partners for licensing, research collaboration, or both.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a patch antenna that addresses the issues associated with high-efficiency bandpass filters by integrating a microstrip patch antenna with a Co-Planar Waveguide (CPW) resonator filter. The invention improves both bandwidth and efficiency of the antenna system, while eliminating the need for bulky external connections prone to induce noise and loss. The filter and antenna are co-designed as a single unit where the antenna works as both a resonator and a port of the filter, providing wider bandwidths, precision optimized antenna/filter performance, and lower cost to manufacture.
Patch antennas are ideal for communication and radar systems, because of their ease of fabrication and low profile. However, when high efficiency bandpass filters are added to reject out-of-band noise and interference, they typically require coaxial connections adding bulk or detuning the filter response of the low-profile antenna, thus degrading the performance. Due to the high Q (quality) of the currently available patch antennas, any performance loss or signal degradation in their narrowband operation window is highly undesirable as bandwidth enhancement comes at the expense of efficiency.
Technical Details
The UCF patch antenna is integrated with a cavity resonator. The antenna acts as both part of the cavity filter and as a radiating element for the cavity filter/antenna system. The design of the antenna was rigorously synthesized to ensure that the integrated filter/antenna has all the analogues of an equivalent three-pole filter in terms of resonators, internal couplings, and external couplings. Due to the high Q factor (~700) of the cavity resonator and near loss-less transition between the antenna and filter, the overall efficiency of the filter/antenna system approaches 91 percent. This new filter/antenna architecture enables compact and low-loss RF front ends and phased array systems.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a reconfigurable modular antenna array that can be programmed to operate over several different frequency bands while still using a common antenna aperture. The antenna and transmitter design work as a mix-and-match antenna array that is easily configurable and scalable to specific applications. This simplicity allows for an easily manufactured design that is capable of polarization diversity and single-side radiation over several bands. Thus, the technology can cover a wide frequency range without having to redesign the antenna system.
Technical Details
The invention comprises a reconfigurable antenna array and methods for reconfiguring the array. By using a slot-ring design and RF switches, the technology provides frequency reconfigurability and polarization diversity without grating lobes. It can operate in S band (2-4 GHz), C band (4-8 GHz), and X band (8-12 GHz) and is switchable in between the bands. With varactors, the antenna array can cover the frequency range by continuously tuning the center frequency with a relatively narrow instantaneous bandwidth. Alternatively, a fractal shape enables the antenna array to realize a full-band instantaneous bandwidth. Each frequency band has its own feeding lines.
Partnering Opportunity
The research team is looking for partners and potential licensees to develop the technology further for commercialization.
Stage of Development
Prototype available.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed wireless ceramic temperature and pressure sensors that provide real-time operational monitoring. These sensors have enhanced sensitivity and can measure and tolerate temperatures greater than 1300 degrees Celsius, and pressures of 300-700 psi.
Turbine engines play a prominent role in power generation and aircraft propulsion. Current turbine designs have been limited by the lack of sensors capable of providing reliable, detailed physical and chemical data at high temperatures (for example, greater than 1000 degrees Celsius). Advanced near-zero emission turbine technology currently in development will require a new generation of real-time operational monitoring based on sensors that can withstand the harsh temperatures and conditions involved.
Technical Details
The enhanced sensor capability of the UCF invention is due to nano-structured polymer derived ceramic (PDC) materials, which have excellent thermo-electric properties. Unlike conventional ceramic materials, PDC-based micro-devices can be fabricated using well-developed semiconductor processing technologies. In addition, the cost for fabricating the passive PDC sensors is relatively low due to the small quantities of materials required.
These ceramic materials are incorporated into a MEMS-based device and coupled to a wireless radio frequency (RF) antenna. A wireless RF reader measures changes in an RF resonator based on a physical or environmental parameter. Since the wireless RF reader can be spaced apart from the RF resonator, for high temperature applications the wireless RF reader can be positioned outside the high temperature region. This allows sensing in otherwise difficult to reach sections of a turbine engine, including around the turbine blades.
