| THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20100279425 | NANOCRYSTALLINE INDIUM TIN OXIDE SENSORS AND ARRAYS - A sensor for sensing gaseous chemicals includes a substrate, a variable resistance nanocrystalline ITO thin film formed on the substrate, and electrodes electrically coupled to the thin film. A sensor array assembly includes a sensor slide and a perforated interface circuit. The interface circuit abuts and electrically couples the sensor slide. The sensor slide includes several spaced apart ITO film strips formed on a slide substrate. A common electrode is electrically coupled to a common portion of each ITO film strip providing an electrically conductive path across the common portions of each of the plurality of spaced apart ITO film strips. A discrete electrode is electrically coupled to a discrete portion of each ITO film strip. The interface circuit is configured to abut and electrically couple to the sensor slide. A conductive discrete electrode pad electrically couples each of the plurality of discrete electrodes of the sensor slide to discrete terminals on the interface circuit. A conductive common electrode pad is associated with and electrically couples the common electrode of the sensor slide to a common electrode on the interface circuit. Apertures in the interface circuit expose the thin film to the environment. Resistance changes in a detectible manner upon exposure to sensible chemicals at ambient temperature, such as 1,2,2-Trimethylpropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (soman, GD), O-Ethyl S-(2-isopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothiolate (VX), distilled bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide (mustard, HD), carbonyl chloride, Phosgene (CG) and cyanogen chloride (CK), ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, acetylene, propane, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, ethanol, methanol, volatile organic compounds and industrial toxic chemicals. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100251802 | QUARTZ CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE WITH NANOCRYSTALLINE OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR THIN FILMS AND METHOD OF DETECTING VAPORS AND ODORS INCLUDING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS AND VOLATILIZED CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS - A nanocrystalline ITO thin film formed on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) facilitates detection of gaseous compounds emitted from an analyte. Adsorption of gas molecules onto the nanocrystalline ITO thin film changes the resonant frequency of the quartz crystal. Parameters such as the frequency of oscillation, surface resistance, integrated frequency response, integrated surface resistance response, initial response slope, average return to baseline slope, and/or return to baseline time/initial response time ratio of the quartz crystal with the nanocrystalline ITO thin film formed thereon are determined. Using the determined parameters and principal component analysis, principal components for the gaseous compounds are also determined. These determined principal components may be compared with known principal components corresponding to known analytes. The analyte may include any distinguishable substance, in any state that emits at least one gaseous compound that can be adsorbed on the nanocrystalline ITO thin film. Nonlimiting examples of analytes include alcoholic beverages, fruits, explosive compounds, VOCs, petroleum-based fuels, alkanes, aldehydes and ketones. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20090221025 | SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RAPIDLY DETERMINING CONCENTRATIONS OF MICROBIAL ORGANISMS USING INTERFACIAL PHOTO-VOLTAGES - A system for detecting a wide range of microbial organisms, including virus, and determining concentrations in near real-time to determine titer, without the requirement to grow micro-organisms includes an electrometer configured to measure photo-induced interfacial voltages and an electrode assembly with a substrate and at least one electrode on a surface of the substrate electrically coupled to the electrometer. An attachment factor is applied to an exposed surface of each electrode. The attachment factor is effective for interaction with the microbial organism. A transparent vessel for containing the electrolytic solution is provided. The microbial organism may be contained in the electrolytic solution or applied to the coated electrode before being submerged in the electrolytic solution. A light source is configured to controllably produce a flash of activating light directed through the transparent vessel at the electrode causing a sensible photo-induce interfacial voltage indicative of the microbial organism and titer. A corresponding method includes steps of preparing the electrode surfaces with an attachment factor and exposing the submerged electrode surfaces to a flash of activating light to induce interfacial voltages indicative of a determined microbial agent and titer. | 09-03-2009 |
