Canon develops terahertz device with compact size, world’s highest power and potential use cases for security, 6G transmission and more

TOKYO, January 16, 2023 — Canon Inc. today announced that the company has developed a terahertz device with a compact size and the world’s highest throughput.^1:. Using semiconductor device design and manufacturing technology developed over its long history, the company has produced a device that realizes both high output and high directivity.^2:. In the coming years, terahertz technology is expected to be widely used in areas such as next-generation sensing and data transmission.

Terahertz waves are a type of electromagnetic wave that have the wavelength of radio waves and light, while having characteristics of both. Compared to widely used X-rays, they are ideal for scanning beneath the surface of objects without causing harm to the human body. With such characteristics, this technology is expected to be used in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, such as amusement park entrances and event venues, enabling high-throughput security countermeasures that do not disrupt pedestrian traffic flow. Furthermore, there are ongoing trials of using terahertz channels in next-generation 6G signal transmission, and there is potential for use in high-speed, high-volume data transmission. The new device developed by Canon produces stronger than terahertz waves and is easier to direct, thus contributing to technological innovation and product development, including the applications mentioned above, in a wide range of fields, as well as supporting the development of industries and societies. which use terahertz wave technology.

One of the most pressing problems in terahertz technology is that terahertz generators require high electrical power and thus large components. Canon’s newly developed semiconductor device, however, uses “Resonant Tunneling Diodes (RTD)”.^3:, characterized by the emission of terahertz waves from an “active antenna”, that is, an antenna integrated with a semiconductor device. So there is no need for frequency multipliers anymore^4: and other similar components used in conventional devices, allowing a device size that is approximately 1000 times smaller^5:00.

Until now, the creation of compact devices that use RTDs lead to lower output. However, Canon has successfully developed an active antenna array that contains 36 active antennas on a single semiconductor chip and is able to combine the output of all antennas, thereby enabling the world’s highest output of approximately 10x.^6:00.

Another problem facing terahertz wave technology is that terahertz waves emitted from the antennas of conventional devices tend to scatter and thus cannot travel long distances. Canon’s proprietary design technology allowed for synchronization of all antennas in the antenna array. As a result, the company achieved high leverage of approximately 20 times^7:00 of a conventional single-antenna device, without the need for lenses or other optical technologies. This in turn makes it possible to transmit long distance images and signals using a more compact device.

• 1:Among the 450 GHz output semiconductor devices. As of December 28, 2022 based on Canon research.
• 2:Directivity refers to the way in which the strength of an emitted electromagnetic signal or light varies with direction. High directivity means that energy can be focused in one direction.
• 3:A diode that exploits the tunneling phenomenon through electron resonance walls that originates from the nanoscale structures of semiconductor devices. This compact electronic device is capable of directly generating terahertz waves at room temperature.
• 4:A device that converts and outputs the frequency of an input signal to multiples of integers.
• 5:00Device volume comparison between a Canon device and conventional devices such as antennas or frequency multipliers and conversion lenses.
• 6:00Comparison between a conventional single antenna semiconductor device (about 1 mW) and the new Canon device (about 11.8 mW). Based on Canon research.
• 7:00Comparison of antenna gain between a conventional single-antenna semiconductor device (asynchronous, lensless, about 10 dB) and the new Canon device (synchronized, about 24 dB). Based on Canon research. Antenna power is a key performance parameter that indicates the ability to accumulate and emit a signal depending on the direction. Higher antenna gain means higher antenna efficiency. A difference of about 14 dB corresponds to a difference of about 20 times in terms of antenna power.

Terahertz waves are electromagnetic waves located in the frequency band of radio waves and light waves, which have a strong penetration and direction of light waves. Its frequency is set between 100 gigahertz (GHz) and 10 terahertz. Its properties make it potentially well-suited for security applications such as body scanning, non-destructive inspection of surfaces such as automotive paint coatings, and use in next-generation 6G signal transmission.

Canon has successfully developed an active antenna array integrated with a semiconductor chip capable of emitting terahertz waves. There is no need for such additional components as frequency multipliers, horn antennas^{8 o’clock} or lenses that allow for a device size that is roughly 1,000 times smaller. The more compact size of the device allows terahertz devices to be used in cameras, smartphones, and other electronic devices, thereby expanding the range of possible use cases for terahertz channels.

Using semiconductor device design and manufacturing technology developed over its long history, Canon’s active antenna, which contains 36 active antennas on a single semiconductor chip, can combine the output of all antennas, thereby enabling the world’s highest output of 450. GHz terahertz waves with a power of 10 milliwatts (mW), or about 10 times that of conventional semiconductor devices with active antennas. This higher output enables a higher resolution image to be captured and a signal to be transmitted with greater accuracy.

Using its proprietary antenna design technology, Canon successfully synchronized 36 active antennas with an accuracy of one picosecond (one trillionth of a second). As a result, the company has achieved high directivity, approximately 20 times the mass of an asynchronous antenna, without the need for lenses, horn antennas or other optical technologies.

Canon’s proprietary high-pass filter design counteracts the noise that is more likely to occur with an increase in the number of active antennas. As a result, the electronic efficiency is approximately 1.4 times that of conventional technology^9:00.

• 8 o’clockA trumpet antenna used for wireless communication.
• 9:00Compared to conventional RTD (about 0.7%) and Canon RTD (about 1%). Based on Canon research.

Active real-time imaging using Canon’s newly developed terahertz device can detect and identify hidden weapons (including firearms and ceramic knives) under the clothing of people passing by from a distance of several meters (see demo video for more information). below). In the near future, this technology is expected to be used in high-traffic areas such as amusement park entrances and event venues, enabling high-throughput security countermeasures that do not disrupt pedestrian traffic flow.

A research paper describing Canon’s newly developed terahertz device element is available in IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology, Volume 12, Issue 5, 2022.

Calling:
High power terahertz source over 10 mW at 0.45 THz using an active antenna array with integrated patch antennas and resonant-tunneling diodes

URL:
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9790085