News Announcements
- August 6, 2007— Samuel C. Collins Award Presented to Dr. William Little
- September 08, 2006— Cryogenic Coolers Just Keep Cooling – 60,000 Hours and Counting!
- July 01, 2006— MMR Technologies Announces New Chief Operating Officer
- April 15, 2006— MMR Technologies Announces Director of Marketing and Sales
- December 15, 2004— Partnership Formed with Advanced Measurement Technology
- August 05, 2003— Turnkey Hall Effect Measurement System
- April 28, 2003— Variable Temperature Micro-Probe Systems
- October 15, 2002— Agreement Between EDAX, Inc. and MMR Technologies
- January 15, 2002— Advances in CryoCoolers
- February 02, 2001— Lower Cost Cryogenic Cooling Systems
- October 10, 2000— Release of The X-Cooler
- August 01, 2000— Stellar Performance of MMR’s Cryogenic Coolers
Samuel C. Collins Award Presented to Dr. William Little
August 6, 2007— The Samuel C. Collins Award for outstanding contributions to cryogenic technology was presented to MMR’s Dr. William A. Little at the 2007 Cryogenic Engineering Conference. The Samuel C. Collins Award is awarded to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the identification and solution of cryogenic engineering problems and has additionally demonstrated a concern for the cryogenic community through service and leadership to this community. The award is open to all persons without regard to national origin, and it has only been awarded 13 times since it was instituted in 1965.
“I was surprised,” commented Dr. Little, “as MMR is by any measure a small part of cryogenics. I am not even an engineer, I am a physicist!” Dr. Little accepted the prestigious award as a tribute to the engineers and others at MMR Technologies who have contributed to this development.
William Little is professor (Emeritus) of experimental condensed matter physics at Stanford University, and the President and CEO of MMR Technologies. Previously, MMR Technologies and Dr. Little have also been the recipients of two R&D 100 Awards, for their micro-miniature refrigerators and in-office liquid nitrogen generators.
Cryogenic Coolers Just Keep Cooling
60,000 Hours and Counting!
September 08, 2006— MMR Technologies’ cryogenic cooling systems have had a rich history incorporated into instrumentation for use in government military applications, research and development applications and consumer electronics.
Today, MMR Technologies is proud to announce the results of its continuous lifetime testing for the low cost 80K cryocoolers. Each of these coolers has logged more than 60,000 hours of continuous operation at either 80K or 120K under a load of 2W. No measurable loss of performance of any of these coolers has been seen during the entire period of testing. These coolers just keep going!
Tony Cartelli, Vice President of Operations, commented, “MMR has the technology, the knowledge, and the expertise to produce low cost, high quality cryogenic coolers with features that far outweigh anything else on the market! We are looking forward to the next four and a half years and reaching 100,000 hours of continuous operation!”
MMR Technologies Announces New Chief Operating Officer
July 01, 2006— MMR Technologies, Inc. an analytical instrumentation company specializing in variable temperature controller and materials characterization systems, recently hired Antonino Cartelli as the Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Cartelli will take over the day-to-day activities of the Company to bring MMR Technologies towards ISO 9001 certification and to implement system of best practices to ensure quality instrument manufacturing. Additionally, Mr. Cartelli will oversee the design and development of both product improvements and new products.
“We are excited to have Mr. Cartelli join our team of professionals,” said William Little, president and CEO of MMR Technologies. “We look forward to moving to the next level and welcome Tony’s expertise in high volume manufacturing and the design and development of new products”. Dr. Little will stay on as the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Executive Officer, working towards the development of new instrument designs and novel approaches to material properties measurements.
About MMR Technologies, Inc.
MMR Technologies, Inc was founded in 1980 to capitalize on the development at Stanford University of micro-miniature, photo-lithographically fabricated, cryogenic refrigerators. These refrigerators provide the cooling for MMR's line of instruments for the characterization of materials. MMR Technologies also provides OEM manufacturing of low-cost, reliable, closed cycle cryogenic coolers for use in a variety of applications. MMR Technologies is based in Mountain View, CA in the heart of Silicon Valley.
MMR Technologies Announces Director of Marketing and Sales
April 15, 2006— MMR Technologies, Inc. an analytical instrumentation company specializing in variable temperature controller and materials characterization systems, announced today Lee Asplund will be joining the management team as the Director of Marketing and Sales on May 1. Ms. Asplund will develop and manage all aspects of the marketing plans for MMR Technologies and establish a new sales management program.
“I am thrilled to see Lee coming on board at MMR Technologies”, stated Robert Paugh, the recently retired Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “I believe she will help bring a fresh approach to marketing and sales to MMR, and open doors to new markets and applications.”
Ms. Asplund comes to MMR Technologies with extensive experience in a wide range of analytical instrumentation, microscopy, and chemical analysis. She has worked closely with customer service and support, marketing, and sales teams on a global basis.
Strategic sPartnership Formed with Advanced Measurement Technology
December 15, 2004— Advanced Measurement Technology of Oakridge, TN and MMR Technologies of Mountain View, CA today announced the renewal of their 2000 strategic partnership agreement with Ametek, where MMR Technologies will function as an OEM manufacturer for Ametek’s production needs. MMR Technologies will continue to manufacturer the X-Cooler for operation at 80K (-193 C) for the cooling of high purity Germanium photon detectors under an exclusive agreement for the ORTEC division of Ametek. The detectors are used for X-ray and gamma-ray detection and the monitoring of the movement of radioactive materials. Previously these detectors had been cooled with liquid nitrogen.
“We are very excited about the continued relationship with Ametek. It is a tremendous opportunity for both companies,” stated Robert Paugh, vice president of sales and marketing. “Our X-Coolers have long been known as low cost, extremely reliable, closed cycle cryogenic coolers; it is amazing to see the number of applications that they can be integrated with, and to have the opportunity to reach into new market.”
About AMETEK, Inc.
AMETEK Advanced Measurement Technology is a division of AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE-listed, ticker symbol: AME) a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electric motors with annual sales of nearly $1.2 billion.
Turnkey Hall Effect Measurement System Automates Resistivity, Carrier Concentration and Carrier Mobility Measurements for The Research Laboratory
August 05, 2003— MMR Technologies' complete Hall Effect Measurement system is designed to provide totally automatic measurements of the electrical properties of semiconductor and high temperature superconductor materials using the Van der Pauw measurement technique. Measurements can be performed at any user selected temperature between 70 K and 730 K.
- Resistivities can be measured over the range of 10 -4 Ohm-cm to 10 +13 Ohm-cm.
- Carrier mobilities can be measured over the range of 1 cm 2/volt-sec to 10+7 cm 2/volt-sec.
- Carrier concentrations can be measured over the range of 10 +3 cm-3 to 10+19 cm-3.
Complete System
The delivered system includes all required Hall measurement hardware, the cryogenic cooling system, the measurement and control electronics and the menu driven, user friendly software required to set up and interface to the user's computer. System becomes available for immediate use in making measurements of material properties. All the user has to do is attach four leads to the sample and install the sample in the cryogenic/thermal stage dewar.
Van der Pauw Measurement Technique
The Van der Pauw measurement technique permits measurements of resistivity which are virtually independent of sample geometry. Four leads are attached anywhere on the perimeter of the sample. Current is passed between two of the leads and the resulting voltage is measured between the other two leads. The measurement functions of the leads are permuted to allow each lead to serve as both a current supply lead and as a voltage measurement lead in combination with each of the other leads. These measurements, plus the knowledge of the thickness of the sample provide sufficient information to determine the resistivity of the sample. The permutations of the current and voltage leads allow the user to eliminate the effects of thermoelectric EMF and other sources of measurement error. By repeating these measurements in a known magnetic field, the direction of which is automatically reversed by the system as measurements are made, the Hall mobility and carrier concentration characteristics of the material can be determined.
Low Field Magnet System
Model M-50
The compact, air cooled, bipolar M-50 Benchtop Electromagnet is designed to be used with MMR's Model MPS-50 Programmable Power Supply, and the LTHS-D Hall System Dewar, to provide rapid and simple determination of Hall Mobilities and other parameters of semiconductors over a wide range of sample temperatures from 80 K to 730 K (-193°C to 450°C). It provides a reversible vertical field of 3500 gauss between flat 2.5 inch by 3.0 inch pole pieces with an 0.75 inch gap. The size of the gap can be increased by using special shims.
Model MPS-50
The MPS-50 is a 240 watt, fully reversible power supply providing up to 8 amperes at up to ±30 volts. It is continuously controllable over both the current and voltage range windows. The unit can be programmed to provide completely automatic operation in the current or the voltage mode using commands generated by a Visual Basic program running in the host computer. With the MPS-50, field reversal of the MMR M-50 electromagnet becomes automatic and measurements may be done with either sign field or at zero field.
Model M-150 C-Frame Electromagnet
This electromagnet is supplied with a 38mm face diameter pole pair to provide highest possible field versus current values. It may be operated with currents of up to 40 amps, supplied by the power supply available from MMR Technologies (Model MPS-150). Higher current operation is possible, but the customer will have to use power supplies other than the Model MPS-150. For high current operation(>20 amps), the magnet must be water cooled.
Variable Temperature Micro-Probe Systems Simplify The Electrical Characterization of Materials and Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy Measurements
April 28, 2003— A precisely controlled temperature environment, free of vibration and microphonics, has been combined by MMR Technologies with a micro-probe system having up to seven probes. Each probe moves on three axes, with orthogonal travel, and with positioning accuracy of better than 50 microns to provide a unique Variable Temperature Micro-Probe platform for measuring the electrical properties of materials and performing precise Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy ("DLTS") measurements. This compact, high performance material characterization station has been designed for industrial and laboratory applications where precise temperature control and stable electrical measurement conditions are required.
Joule-Thomson Thermal Stage System
MMR's patented, Joule-Thomson cryogenic cooling/hot stage system automatically provides very precise, user selected, sample temperatures within the range of 30 K to 730 K. Repeating measurements at multiple temperatures to determine temperature dependencies are made simple and straightforward, and can be placed under user-software control. Temperatures, stable to within a few tens of millidegrees Kelvin (in 80K-400K range), can be sustained for operating periods of hours. Such temperature stability is required for accurate DLTS measurements. The unique microchannel design of the refrigerator produces a level of microphonics or vibration that is on the angstrom level in amplitude. This is an extremely important feature when accurate CV measurements are being made.
Unique System Design
The micro-probes, up to seven per system, are housed in a ruggedly constructed, room temperature, aluminum housing mounted on an aluminum base plate. The housing is easily evacuated to eliminate moisture condensation on station windows and a turbo pump port is provided to minimize such condensation on the surface of cooled samples. Electrical access to each probe is provided through hermetically sealed SMA connectors. The probe-to-ground leakage current is less than 1 pico amp/volt. The probes have travel of 1" in each of the "X" and "Y" directions and 0.25" in the "Z" direction. These probes eliminate the need for bonding leads to the sample. The probes can be moved from location to location on the sample, making multiple measurements quick and easy.
Probe Configuration
There are two new versions of this system. One accommodates from one to a maximum of four probe manipulator assemblies. The other accommodates from one to a maximum of seven probe manipulator assemblies. Probe assemblies can be added or retrofitted at any time until the probe capacity of the system has been reached.
DLTS Measurements
Variable, precise, stable temperature control allows contaminants such as Fe, Cu and Ni to be easily identified and detected in semiconductor materials such as gallium, arsenide, amorphous silicon, mercury cadmium telluride and others as measurements are made at different sample temperatures. The user must supply DLTS electronics and software.
Four-point Resistivity Measurements
Two probes are used to apply a current through the material being characterized. Two probes are used to measure the voltage produced by the current. The user must supply current source and voltage measurement electronics.
Characterization of Semiconductor Devices
Probes can be used to access device contacts to activate the device, like a diode laser. Optical access to the device enables the User to collect and analyze the optical output of the device.
Accessory for Studies to Below 15K
A continuous-flow, liquid helium cryostat accessory is available for installation into the microprobe system. Minimum temperatures depend on the heat load of the sample and the heat leak through the probes in contact with the sample. "No load" minimum temperatures below 15K can be achieved.
Optical Interrogation of Materials
A flexible optical fiber accessory, with a hermetically sealed feed-through, enables the user to install the fiber in a probe manipulator and to position the end of the optical fiber directly over the material or the device being characterized.
Exclusive OEM Agreement Formed between EDAX, Inc and MMR Technologies
October 15, 2002— On October 1, 2002, MMR Technologies, Inc. entered into an exclusive OEM manufacturing agreement with EDAX, Inc., a unit of the AMETEK materials analysis division, to supply closed cycle 80 Kelvin Kleemenko cryocoolers for integration into modular photon detector systems.
“Our Kleemenko cryocoolers are a perfect fit with the EDAX detector systems in applications where temperature is critical to success,” commented Dr. William Little, CEO and president of MMR Technologies..
About EDAX, Inc.
EDAX is the global leader in Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis, Electron Backscatter Diffraction and Micro X-Ray Fluorescence systems. EDAX manufactures markets and services high-quality products and systems for leading companies in semiconductors, metals, and geological, biological, material and ceramics markets. EDAX is a unit of AMETEK Materials Analysis Division. AMETEK, Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electric motors with annualized sales of more than $1.2 billion.
Advances in Cryocoolers
January 15, 2002— Cryocoolers have long been used for night vision in the military, and in the semiconductor industry in cryopumps, but have found little use in electronics and consumer markets because of cost. This is beginning to change. At a recent workshop in San Diego in October 2001 major advances were reported in the reliability of the present generation of coolers and dramatic reductions in cost. The workshop, the third in a series, entitled MCALCIII sponsored by Strategic Analysis, Inc., drew participants from the Cryocoolers community, and users and potential users from the communication, electronics and medical communities.
At the meeting, Dr. William Little, CEO of MMR Technologies, reported on the status of MMR's Kleemenko cycle cooler program. Two classes of coolers had been developed under a DARPA program. One for operation at 120K (-153 C), and the other for 80K (-193C). The 120K prototypes, built in 1996, were the first truly low cost cryocoolers. They have now logged over five and half years (51,000 hrs) of continuous operation at 120K, with virtually zero maintenance! The 80K coolers, developed later, began operation in 1999, have now logged almost 20,000 hrs each, likewise with no maintenance. Production of the 80K coolers was begun in April, 2001 at MMR's new cryocooler manufacturing facility in Mountain View, California and now is at a level of about 30/month. The present facility is capable of producing about double that number, and further expansion of the facility is under way.
Dr. Little reported on the use of MMR's coolers for low noise amplifiers for the communication industry, for X-Ray detectors (See below), and cryosurgical applications. He gave a glimpse of other developments which will capitalize on the low cost and high reliability of these new coolers. Further details of the MCALC III meeting can be obtained from Strategic Analysis, Inc.
Announcing Lower Cost, Cryogenic Cooling Systems For Use in Materials Research in College and University Laboratories
February 02, 2001— MMR Technologies, Inc. introduces 24 newly configured laboratory cooling and thermal stage systems to ensure that inexpensive cryogenic cooling and above ambient heating will be available for a wide variety of materials research programs in university laboratories. These new systems are designed to provide user friendly, reliable and inexpensive operation. They operate with nitrogen gas and do not require the handling of a liquid cryogen at any time thus ensuring safety in the laboratory.
A Wide Variety of Applications
These systems can be used for temperature characterization of infrared detector materials, characterizing the performance of APD's, CCD arrays and FET's, cooling and temperature stabilizing integrated circuits and CCD arrays, cooling and temperature tuning of laser diodes, performance of Raman spectroscopy at low temperatures, cooling of samples so in FTIR and IR spectrometers, performance of absorption and transmission spectroscopy, fluorescence studies, and two photon absorption and photoluminescence studies.
A Solution for Limited Budgets
With reductions in Government funding for most research programs, it is becoming increasingly difficult for research program managers to find funds for the purchase of research systems and laboratory instruments. The cryogenic systems being introduced by MMR Technologies are priced 15% to 33% below similar systems presently on the market.
Two Temperature Controllers Available
For simple laboratory applications where research will be performed at set temperatures and will not be changed frequently, Model K-77 manual temperature controller is suggested. This controller provides temperatures with an accuracy of ±2K and temperature stability of ±0.1K. For more sophisticated laboratory applications where research will be performed at many different temperatures that may be changed frequently the Model K-20 programmable temperature controller is suggested. This controller provides temperature readings with an accuracy of ±0.5K and a temperature stability of ±0.05K. Ramping of temperatures can be programmed with start and finish temperatures and ramp rate. This controller can also be interfaced to a personal computer or workstation to place it under complete software control. Control and data acquisition software is available.
Operating Temperatures as Low as 70K, as High as 730K
A new cooler design permits the user to obtain temperatures below 70K using a vacuum pump on the exhaust of the refrigerator to reduce the vapor pressure, hence the boiling temperature, of the nitrogen cryogen which cools the sample being studied. Systems are calibrated for operation down to 80K or for operation to below 70K.
Vacuum Chambers Designed for Materials Science, Optical, and Spectroscopy Measurements
Vacuum chambers which provide thermal insulation for the thermal stage or cooler system and the sample being studied have been configured for a variety of materials research applications.
System Configurations Match Applications
- A multipurpose, variable temperature system (U100 Series) is configured for use with an optical microscope and for use in benchtop applications.
- A spectroscopy measurement variable temperature system (U200 Series) is configured for studies requiring multiple windows on different optical axis. It is used for a variety of Raman and spectroscopic applications.
- An optical transmission, variable temperature system (U300 Series) is configured for short optical working distance applications involving optical reflectance and/or transmission.
U100 Series
- A multipurpose vacuum chamber provides easy user-friendly access to sample during its installation on the cold stage of the refrigerator and offers many configurations for electrical connections to the sample being studied. The chamber is designed to mount on a microscope stage to provide visual monitoring of the sample as it is cooled.
- Lids of different heights are available to accommodate different sample sizes. An interleaf (spacer) is available to provide even more room for the sample and to accommodate additional electrical feedthrough (high voltage, high current, multipin).
U200 Series
- A Raman spectroscopy vacuum chamber provides orthogonal optical access to the sample from at least three directions. Different windows are available for use with different optical wavelengths. This chamber can be used for a variety of materials spectroscopy measurements.
- Removable window mounts are available as an option feature and allow the user to switch window materials to match the optional bandwidth of the experiment.
As many as five windows can be provided upon special request.
U300 Series
- A vacuum chamber for optical properties studies provides a special sample mounting fixture that is compatible with transmission and absorption studies.
- Optional working distances of as little as 3mm can be provided.
- Different sample heights (0 to 6mm) can be accommodated.
Release of the X-Cooler
October 10, 2000— At a large international meeting here today Perkin-Elmer instruments, ORTEC division announced the release of the X-COOLER, a lightweight, compact, low power cryogenic cooler for the cooling of ORTEC's High Purity Germanium detectors for Gamma Spectroscopy. The Cooler, designed and manufactured by MMR Technologies, Inc., of Mountain View, California is the culmination of a joint development program between the two companies. The cooler has a tiny footprint 10.4" x 11.8" and is just 7.3" in height. A 10ft long umbilical cord separates the cold-head from the compressor module and the cold-head interfaces to all ORTEC HPGe detector types. Input power is under 300W, and cooling is provided at 80K. An ORTEC spokesperson commented, "At Last, a real alternative to Liquid Nitrogen!".
Stellar Performance of MMR’s Cryogenic Coolers
August 01, 2000— MMR announced today the results of life testing of its low-cost 120K and 80K coolers. Three of the 120K Class of Coolers, developed under a Contract from the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington in 1994, had been under test at NRL for the past three years. These tests were terminated in December, 1999 at which time MMR's three coolers had logged 16,054hrs, 17,134hrs and 15,410 hrs respectively at 120K under a load of 2W, each. The only malfunction reported was the failure of two temperature controllers, apparently from oxidation of contacts on a circuit board. No measurable loss of performance of any of the coolers was seen during the entire period of the tests. At MMR a similar cooler has now logged over 38,500hrs of continuous operation at 120K.
In October, 1999 MMR completed the successful development of its 80K Class of low-cost coolers. These coolers, similar in design to the 120K units, use a single stream, multi-component, mixed refrigerant throttle expansion cooling cycle, known as the Kleemenko cycle. Prototypes of these coolers have all now logged in excess of 7,800hrs of continuous operation at 80K to-date, with no loss of performance during this period. This stellar performance and that of the 120K coolers is attributed to the proprietary 'Self-Cleaning' feature incorporated in the design. An additional feature is that these coolers can operate continuously at 80K in a 60C hostile environment! The first of a series of Cooled Low Noise Microwave Amplifiers using this new class of cooler will be released in September, 2000. Other applications will follow.
Dr. William Little, MMR's Chairman remarked that, "MMR's 80K cryocooler's greater reliability and lower cost than that of any competing cooler, finally provides the enabling technology for the wide scale utilization of High Temperature Superconductivity for cryoelectronics - a dream we have nurtured for many years!".
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