Reference number : GC-2017-Q4-01328, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Nabki, Frederic (École de technologie supérieure), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Quebec|Québec, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : High performance optical transceivers for the industrial or military markets are rated to operate in harsh_x000D_
environments (e.g., -40ºC to 85°C). Reflex Photonics designs and produces such transceivers into modules._x000D_
These modules are meant to include robust thermal control in order to ensure the stability of the transceivers_x000D_
over this wide temperature range. This requires heating control of the device in order to operate it above the_x000D_
ambient temperature. However, the excess heat generated within the module must be exhausted using thermally_x000D_
efficient paths that are important to the control of the transceiver's temperature. However, these thermally_x000D_
efficient paths act as a double-edged sword in cold environments, where the thermal transfer is reversed and the_x000D_
module is cooled by the ambient through the efficient thermal path, causing a temperature control problem and_x000D_
transceiver performance drift. This requires power-hungry electrically controllable thermal coolers which_x000D_
Reflex Photonics wishes to eliminate in order to reduce cost and power consumption of its modules._x000D_
Accordingly, Reflex Photonics wants to investigate with this Engage project how microelectromechanical_x000D_
systems (MEMS) could be used to implement an array of actuators that can contact in different numbers with_x000D_
the module. This will allow for the variation of the thermal conductivity of the thermal path dynamically and_x000D_
provide a controllable thermal path that insolates the module in cold environments or can exhaust excess heat._x000D_
To perform this investigation, Reflex Photonics wants to establish a new collaboration with Prof. Frederic_x000D_
Nabki at ETS. Prof. Nabki has extensive experience in the design and fabrication of MEMS devices and their_x000D_
integration in heterogeneous systems. This will provide a viability analysis of this novel concept that can then_x000D_
be implemented in Reflex Photonics' next generation transceiver modules, strengthening its market position._x000D_
The concept resulting from this project will enable the implementation of a dynamically controlled thermal_x000D_
path surface that can have application in a wide range of applications touching microelectronics as well. The_x000D_
HQP trained in this project will be two PhD students and one research professional., program purpose french : High performance optical transceivers for the industrial or military markets are rated to operate in harsh_x000D_
environments (e.g., -40ºC to 85°C). Reflex Photonics designs and produces such transceivers into modules._x000D_
These modules are meant to include robust thermal control in order to ensure the stability of the transceivers_x000D_
over this wide temperature range. This requires heating control of the device in order to operate it above the_x000D_
ambient temperature. However, the excess heat generated within the module must be exhausted using thermally_x000D_
efficient paths that are important to the control of the transceiver's temperature. However, these thermally_x000D_
efficient paths act as a double-edged sword in cold environments, where the thermal transfer is reversed and the_x000D_
module is cooled by the ambient through the efficient thermal path, causing a temperature control problem and_x000D_
transceiver performance drift. This requires power-hungry electrically controllable thermal coolers which_x000D_
Reflex Photonics wishes to eliminate in order to reduce cost and power consumption of its modules._x000D_
Accordingly, Reflex Photonics wants to investigate with this Engage project how microelectromechanical_x000D_
systems (MEMS) could be used to implement an array of actuators that can contact in different numbers with_x000D_
the module. This will allow for the variation of the thermal conductivity of the thermal path dynamically and_x000D_
provide a controllable thermal path that insolates the module in cold environments or can exhaust excess heat._x000D_
To perform this investigation, Reflex Photonics wants to establish a new collaboration with Prof. Frederic_x000D_
Nabki at ETS. Prof. Nabki has extensive experience in the design and fabrication of MEMS devices and their_x000D_
integration in heterogeneous systems. This will provide a viability analysis of this novel concept that can then_x000D_
be implemented in Reflex Photonics' next generation transceiver modules, strengthening its market position._x000D_
The concept resulting from this project will enable the implementation of a dynamically controlled thermal_x000D_
path surface that can have application in a wide range of applications touching microelectronics as well. The_x000D_
HQP trained in this project will be two PhD students and one research professional., agreement title english : Investigation of a surface comprised of an array of micro-electro-mechanical actuators for the dynamic control of a thermal path, agreement title french : Investigation of a surface comprised of an array of micro-electro-mechanical actuators for the dynamic control of a thermal path, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2018-03-07, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada