Grants and Contributions:

Title:

Investigation of a surface comprised of an array of micro-electro-mechanical actuators for the dynamic control of a thermal path

Agreement Number:

EGP

Agreement Value:

$25,000.00

Agreement Date:

Mar 7, 2018 -

Organization:

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Location:

Quebec, CA

Reference Number:

GC-2017-Q4-01328

Agreement Type:

Grant

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Additional Information:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Recipient's Legal Name:

Nabki, Frederic (École de technologie supérieure)

Program:

Engage Grants for universities

Program Purpose:

High performance optical transceivers for the industrial or military markets are rated to operate in harshx000D
environments (e.g., -40ºC to 85°C). Reflex Photonics designs and produces such transceivers into modules.x000D
These modules are meant to include robust thermal control in order to ensure the stability of the transceiversx000D
over this wide temperature range. This requires heating control of the device in order to operate it above thex000D
ambient temperature. However, the excess heat generated within the module must be exhausted using thermallyx000D
efficient paths that are important to the control of the transceiver's temperature. However, these thermallyx000D
efficient paths act as a double-edged sword in cold environments, where the thermal transfer is reversed and thex000D
module is cooled by the ambient through the efficient thermal path, causing a temperature control problem andx000D
transceiver performance drift. This requires power-hungry electrically controllable thermal coolers whichx000D
Reflex Photonics wishes to eliminate in order to reduce cost and power consumption of its modules.x000D
Accordingly, Reflex Photonics wants to investigate with this Engage project how microelectromechanicalx000D
systems (MEMS) could be used to implement an array of actuators that can contact in different numbers withx000D
the module. This will allow for the variation of the thermal conductivity of the thermal path dynamically andx000D
provide a controllable thermal path that insolates the module in cold environments or can exhaust excess heat.x000D
To perform this investigation, Reflex Photonics wants to establish a new collaboration with Prof. Fredericx000D
Nabki at ETS. Prof. Nabki has extensive experience in the design and fabrication of MEMS devices and theirx000D
integration in heterogeneous systems. This will provide a viability analysis of this novel concept that can thenx000D
be implemented in Reflex Photonics' next generation transceiver modules, strengthening its market position.x000D
The concept resulting from this project will enable the implementation of a dynamically controlled thermalx000D
path surface that can have application in a wide range of applications touching microelectronics as well. Thex000D
HQP trained in this project will be two PhD students and one research professional.