ROHM has started providing samples of the smallest* THz wave oscillation and detection devices available in the market. These devices use semiconductor elements called Resonant Tunneling Diodes (RTDs).
Terahertz waves are expected to be used in future ultra-fast communication technologies as well as non-destructive testing, imaging, and sensing in the medical and healthcare industries. By making these devices available, terahertz wave applications are advanced.
With an output power ranging from 10 to 20µW, ROHM has created a 0.5mm x 0.5mm RTD chip for terahertz wave production and detection that can oscillate and detect terahertz waves at a frequency of 320GHz (typ.).
Samples of this RTD element placed in a 4.0 x 4.3 mm PLCC chip, which is frequently used for LEDs, will be made available by ROHM. Even in locations with limited space, this breakthrough makes it simple to design terahertz wave applications due to its incredibly small size, which is usually less than one thousandth that of conventional oscillators.
A dynamic range of 40dB (typ.) can be obtained by orienting the antenna surfaces of the oscillation and detecting devices so that they face one another and are 10 mm apart.
Their capacity to oscillate and detect terahertz waves at ambient temperature avoids the requirement for cooling equipment that certain conventional technologies require, and both the oscillator and detector maintain a driving power consumption of 10mW (typ.).
These small, low-power devices can be used in a variety of applications because they are essentially insensitive to the working environment.
At less than a tenth of the cost of traditional equipment, ROHM provides samples of terahertz wave oscillation and detection devices for $990.0/unit (excluding tax).
In order to make it simple for customers to incorporate the devices into a research and development setting, ROHM also offers evaluation kits that come with an evaluation board and other parts.
Please visit contact page on ROHM’s website or get in touch with a sales representative for additional information. Before sample products and evaluation kits can be sold, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) must be signed with ROHM.
Key Comments
Professor Safumi Suzuki, Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo
“Terahertz waves are expected to be applied to various fields such as imaging, sensing, and wireless communications due to their excellent characteristics and high degree of safety. However, research and development for commercialization has traditionally required large-scale equipment and substantial costs.
In this context, the RTD terahertz wave device – developed through years of collaborative research with ROHM – is an ultra-small 4.0mm × 4.3mm device that challenges conventional norms while featuring astonishingly low power consumption and implementation costs. With the launch of device samples, we anticipate that many private companies and research institutions will begin exploring terahertz wave research.
We hope that the use of terahertz waves in various fields will lead to the creation of new applications with functions that were previously difficult to achieve. Going forward, we will continue to contribute to society through the development of terahertz wave devices in partnership with ROHM.”
Ken Nakahara, General Manager of Center, ROHM Research & Development Center, ROHM Co., Ltd.
“The terahertz (THz) R&D team and I are very excited and proud to have reached the point where we can bring this technology to market. We have dedicated ourselves to THz devices for about 15 years; the journey has not been easy. We gathered the forces of industry, academia, and government along the way, and have successfully established the position that ROHM holds today.
The team understands that this announcement is just a small step toward the commercialization of THz technology, but at the same time, it is a giant leap for us. We believe that this small beginning will grow big and contribute to the well-being of our society.”