Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)

Ultrasonic transducers are seeing widespread use in low-intensity applications such as medical imaging,x000D
non-destructive testing and ranging, or in high-intensity ones like cleaning and liquid emulsification. Forx000D
decades, piezoelectric transducers have been the workhorse in ultrasonics. However, micro-machinedx000D
capacitive transducers are currently attracting significant interest. A unique advantage over their bulkx000D
piezoelectric counterpart lies in their lower mechanical impedance, offering the potential for a betterx000D
impedance match with low-density fluidic media such as air. The operation of such transducers is also muchx000D
less sensitive to temperature. Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) are usually integratedx000D
closely with their interface electronic circuits forming complete stand-alone ultra-compact systems. This canx000D
allow ultrasonic systems to be integrated into handheld devices. The research group of Prof. Nabki hasx000D
developed a novel Silicon Carbide CMUT, and demonstrated a proof of concept prototype showcasing thex000D
device's potential, and gaining the interest of Olympus Corporation, an international company with many R&Dx000D
operations in Canada. Olympus operates in industrial, medical and consumer markets, and specializes in optics,x000D
electronics and precision engineering, with products deployed in Canada and around the world. Notably,x000D
Olympus is a world-leading manufacturer of innovative non-destructive testing (NDT) instruments that arex000D
used in industrial and research applications. It has a large operation in Quebec City of about 400 people, whichx000D
handles R & D and production.x000D
Throughout this Engage Plus project, Olympus is planning to expand its extensive testing plans of thex000D
previously fabricated CMUTs as part of a previous Engage project. The characterization will include flawx000D
detection, beam profiling, and uniformity inspection. A second fabrication run will be performed to optimizex000D
the CMUT's performance and durability. Finally, a demonstration kit will be developed for a smartphone thatx000D
includes both the 5 MHz and 15 MHz CMUTs. This project will provide training for two Ph.D. students.