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 industrial and military markets are rated to operate in harsh**environments (e.g., -40°C 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 transceivers**over this wide temperature range. This requires heating control of the device in order to operate above the**ambient temperature. However, the excess heat generated within the module must be exhausted using thermally**efficient paths that are important to the control of the transceiver's temperature. In cold environments, the**thermal transfer is reversed and the module is cooled by the ambient through the efficient thermal path, causing**a temperature control problem and transceiver performance drift. This problem requires power-hungry**electrically controllable thermal coolers which Reflex Photonics wishes to eliminate in order to reduce cost and**power consumption of its modules.**Accordingly, Reflex Photonics wants to continue its collaboration with Prof. Nabki to investigate how**microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) could be used to implement an array of actuators that can contact in**different numbers with the module. This will allow for the variation of the thermal conductivity of the thermal**path dynamically and provide a controllable thermal path that insolates the module in cold environments or can**exhaust excess heat. The continuation of this collaboration with Prof. Nabki will be focused on the design of**devices stemming from two concepts proposed after the prior project: a transfer cell and an isolation platform.**These devices can then be the basis for thermal control of Reflex Photonics' next generation transceiver**modules, strengthening its market position.**The devices resulting from this project will enable the implementation of a dynamically controlled thermal path**surface that can have application in a wide range of applications touching microelectronics as well. The HQP**trained in this project will be one PhD student, one Master student and two research professionals.