Patent — available for licensing
Integrated-Photonic Electromagnetic Signal Detector
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
In remote sensing and communication systems, designers constantly face the challenge of maintaining high detection sensitivity while minimizing Size, Weight, Power consumption, and Cost (SWaP-C). Small satellites and portable communication devices, for instance, have strict size and power constraints yet require accurate detection of electromagnetic signals across microwave to millimeter-wave frequencies. Although electronics-based receivers can provide excellent performance, their components tend to increase both power consumption and overall device footprint. Developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the Integrated-Photonic Electromagnetic Signal Detector (ESD) addresses these challenges by integrating photonic crystal technology with an electro-optic (EO) polymer and a compact antenna structure to achieve miniaturization without sacrificing precision. Furthermore, by converting an incoming electromagnetic signal into an optical domain response, the device significantly reduces reliance on traditional electronics. Thus, this NASA innovation is a promising solution for high-performance sensing or communications applications where minimized SWaP-C is essential.