US 12,292,327 B2
High temperature near-field probe for sensing and energy harvesting applications based upon thermal emission
Paul Richard Ohodnicki, Allison Park, PA (US); and Sheng Shen, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH—OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on May 17, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/667,223.
Application 18/667,223 is a continuation of application No. 17/233,819, filed on Apr. 19, 2021, granted, now 12,013,285.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/011,377, filed on Apr. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0302207 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. G01J 1/04 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
CPC G01J 1/0425 (2013.01) [G02B 6/4206 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A near-field probe compatible with near-infrared electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
an optical waveguide; and
a photonic thermal emitting structure separate from and directly connected to an end face of the optical waveguide, wherein the photonic thermal emitting structure is structured and configured to emit near-field energy responsive to at least one environmental parameter of interest, wherein the near-field probe is structured and configured to enable extraction of the near-field energy to a far-field by coupling the near-field energy into one or more guided modes of the optical waveguide, wherein the photonic thermal emitting structure includes a plurality of surfaces, a nano-gap provided between the surfaces, and a near-infrared plasmonic thermal emitter comprising a near-field thermally emissive material that is provided in the nano-gap, wherein a proximal end of the photonic thermal emitting structure is directly connected to the end face of the optical waveguide, and wherein the nano-gap and the near-field thermally emissive material are located at a distal; end of the photonic thermal emitting structure.