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

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