Invention:

A radically different approach to fabrication of compact radio frequency (RF) antennas and devices using non-traditional polymer-based materials, enabling improved performance and increased functionality for various emerging wireless communication and sensor devices. The relentless pursuit of device miniaturization for such systems often comes at the price of compromised performance. One of the biggest obstacles to further miniaturization of RF wireless devices is the antenna structure, which accounts for a large portion of the total size. Despite the superior properties of DRAs, they have not been widely adopted for commercial wireless applications due to complex and costly fabrication processes related to their three dimensional structure and difficulties in shaping the hard ceramic material. The new approach described in this invention to facilitate the adoption of DRAs for commercial applications is to use polymer-based materials (so-called polymer resonator antennas - PRAs). The premise of the approach was two-fold: 1) the natural softness of polymers could dramatically simplify fabrication of dielectric elements, enabling for instance the use of lithographic batch fabrication or other 3D printing or micromachining processes; 2) the elements must be effectively excited to resonate and radiate at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies.

This invention utilizes composite materials with varying permittivity values. In a broad aspect, this invention is based upon various composite materials with dielectric properties for use in microwave applications, whereby the composite material comprises a filler with relative permittivity of at least 4, and a polymer constituent, wherein the composite material has a relative permittivity of at least 3 for microwave frequencies. In some embodiments, the filler comprises a ceramic constituent.

Applications:

Some of the markets identified for this technology are:

1. Unmanned Vehicle Systems
2. Satellite Communications
3. Collision Avoidance Systems
4. RFID Systems
5. Telemetry, Tracking and Command
6. Energy Weapon System
7. Remote Sensing
8. Body Scan Applications
9. Wireless Communications
10. Industrial Applications

Advantages over existing Technology:

The natural softness of polymers and other composite materials will dramatically simplify fabrication and their low relative permittivity will further enhance the impedance bandwidth of the DRAs. Our new PRAs can further reduce the size of conventional DRAs by up to 50%, and enable modes offering additional control over bandwidth and frequency response. One of the advantages of PRAs is that numerous polymer types with special characteristics can be used to fulfill the requirements of particular applications or achieve extraordinary benefits.

Principal Inventors:

Dr. David Klymyshyn

Professor  & Graduate Chair
Dept. of Electrical & Chemical Engineering

Matt Tayfeh

PhD Candidate

Dept. Electrical & Chemical Engineering

Patent Status:

PCT - Polymer Resonator Antenna.   Filed 3 July 2014

Contact:

Raj Nayak

Technology Transfer - ICT

Tel: (306) 966-5875

raj.nayak@usask.ca

Full Technology Summary

OLED technology is garnering more acceptance among end users as it is thinner, brighter, lightweight, power efficient and offers higher contrast compared to LCDs. OLEDs offer wide viewing angles, faster response times, higher contrast ratios and more saturated colors to enhance viewing experience of end users. OLED is one of the most promising display and lighting technologies that has the capability of offering power efficiency lighting and is superior compared to the fluorescent tubes and incandescent bulbs. OLED technology also enables end user to create flexible display and lighting panels.

According to a new market research report "OLED Market by Display Application (Type - AMOLED & PMOLED, Panel-Size - Small, Medium & Large, Product - Smartphones & Others, Geography), Lighting Application (Type - Traditional & Flexible, End-User, Geography), & Geography - Global Forecast to 2020", the total OLED market is expected to reach $43.92 billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 16% between 2014 and 2020.

Due to the high fabrication cost of OLEDs as well as expensive materials needed to manufacture OLED devices, the best application of OLEDs at this time is in decorative luminaires, light-art installations, high-end feature spaces and architectural applications that exploit OLEDs’ unique properties.

Invention:

Scientists at the University of Saskatchewan have discovered a plant-source compound as a single molecule white light emitter and a technology to use this material to produce OLED devices. This game-changing technology has the potential of significantly reducing the costs of OLED devices and make OLED technology affordable for the main display and lighting industry. Key features of this invention include:

•       It works! A prototype has been developed;

•       Low cost. The cost of this material is only about 1/10 of other white light emitting materials such as FPt;

•       Secured supply: The material is plant-sourced which can be easily produced in bulk quantities;

•       Durable: The material has a very stable structure and is durable at high temperatures

Below is the key characterization of the OLED device prototype:

Opportunity:

We are looking for industry partners to maximize the commercialization potential of this technology by licensing as well as industry-engaged collaborative research.

For more information, please contact:

Frank Su, PhD, MBA, MBT

Technology Transfer Manager

306-966-1727

Frank.su@usask.ca

The invention uses the state-plane representation of the generator speed and the power angle to find out-of-step instability in power systems (loss of synchronism).  

The proposed state plane approach is much faster than all the methods currently available with the relay manufacturers.