Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to commercialize its “twister oven” for photoconductive switches

Background:

Photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS) are needed for high-power microwave (HPM) applications due to their fast switching and high-voltage handling capabilities. It consists of a wide bandgap material sandwiched between two electrodes, and a light source to control the flow of current between them. There is a need then to maximize the utilization of light in the PCSS.

Description:

U.S. Patent No. 11,555,965 describes LLNL’s invention of “Illumination Frustums” for photoconductive switches to capture and “frustrate” the light from leaving the frustum. LLNL researcher’s latest novel invention, “Twister Oven”, achieves this by encouraging laser light absorption in a photo conductor material. Light enters the oven twisting and reflecting, making near normal incident multi-passes onto and into a photoconductive material. The system is optimized to prevent light exiting the input port, minimizing losses at reflective surfaces.

Advantages/Benefits:

• Improved performance of photoconductive switches.
• Increases light absorption in photoconductive switches.
• Reduces photo conduction resistance
• Frustum trapping illumination under photo conductor surface electrodes

Potential Applications:

• Power Electronics
• Applications needing high voltage switches

Development Status:

Current stage of technology development: TRL 4 (Component and system validation in laboratory environment)

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

U.S. Patent No. 11,555,965 Illumination frustums for photoconductive switches issued 1/17/2023

U.S. Patent No. 10,326,038 Three-Dimensional Co-Axial Linear Photonic System issued 6/18/2019

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNLs twister oven switch should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.

2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.

3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide your electronic OR written statement by 5/19/2023. (within 30 days from the date this announcement is published) to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNLs twister oven switch.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA 94551-0808

Attention: IL-13787

Attachments/Links