| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090108959 | Contour-Mode Piezoelectric Micromechanical Resonators - A contour mode micromechanical piezoelectric resonator. The resonator has a bottom electrode; a top electrode; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The piezoelectric resonator has a planar surface with a cantilevered periphery, dimensioned to undergo in-plane lateral displacement at the periphery. The resonator also includes means for applying an alternating electric field across the thickness of the piezoelectric resonator. The electric field is configured to cause the resonator to have a contour mode in-plane lateral displacement that is substantially in the plane of the planar surface of the resonator, wherein the fundamental frequency for the displacement of the piezoelectric resonator is set in part lithographically by the planar dimension of the bottom electrode, the top electrode or the piezoelectric layer. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090117555 | Microfluidic Flow Lysometer Device, System and Method - The invention provides a device, system and method that enables a microfluidic flow lysometer cell analyzer. Using a population of suspended living cells. cell surface molecule detection reagents, and cell cytoplasm (or nuclear) molecule detection reagents, this microfluidic cell analyzer can rapidly analyze a population of cells by running them on a one-at-a-time basis through small capillary channels. The cell's morphology or surface markers are analyzed, then the cells are lysed, and the molecules present in the cell's cytoplasm or nuclear material are analyzed. Cell morphology is then analyzed as the cell surface molecules are correlated with the molecules present in the same cell's cytoplasm or nucleic acids, and this correlated cell population data is then presented to a user for interpretation. The invention also addresses issues such as device fouling, correction for experimental artifacts (incomplete cell lyis, variable cell debris volume effects), and inadequate data collection that hampered earlier efforts in this area. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090144963 | Contour-Mode Piezoelectric Micromechanical Resonators - A contour mode micromechanical piezoelectric resonator. The resonator has a bottom electrode; a top electrode; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The piezoelectric resonator has a planar surface with a cantilevered periphery, dimensioned to undergo in-plane lateral displacement at the periphery. The resonator also includes means for applying an alternating electric field across the thickness of the piezoelectric resonator. The electric field is configured to cause the resonator to have a contour mode in-plane lateral displacement that is substantially in the plane of the planar surface of the resonator, wherein the fundamental frequency for the displacement of the piezoelectric resonator is set in part lithographically by the planar dimension of the bottom electrode, the top electrode or the piezoelectric layer. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090155918 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING BIOMETRICAL DATA - A method and apparatus suitable for monitoring biometrical data (e.g., pH level of a grape) of living organisms is disclosed. A method for monitoring biometrical data includes providing a chemical matter having a chemical agent, contacting the chemical matter with a biological matter, detecting a change in the chemical matter to produce a signal, altering the signal into an electrical signal, and obtaining biometrical data from the electrical signal. An apparatus for determining biometrics data of a living organism includes a capillary tube configured to receive fluid from the living organism, a hydrogel solution having a volume responsive to one or more characteristics of the fluid, a capacitor having at least one plate responsive to the volume of the hydrogel solution, and an inductor coupled to the capacitor. The inductor and the capacitor form a circuit having a resonant frequency. Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously provide a wireless and powerless device for determining biometrics data of living organisms. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20100162824 | CAPACITIVE STRAIN SENSOR - Provided are capacitive strain sensors. In certain embodiments, the capacitive strain sensor can continuously and accurately measure strain in corrosive ambient conditions and may operate up to 370° C. or more in air. The sensor includes a differential capacitor that includes a bending beam structure. In some instances, the sensor is configured to increase the effect of strain in a substrate along a sensing axis while attenuating the effect of cross-axis strain. Also provided are methods of making the capacitive strain sensors, e.g., using Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) fabrication techniques, and methods of using the capacitive strain sensors. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100243904 | CHITIN-BASED CANTILEVER BIMORPHS AND READOUT DEVICES - An infrared sensor with at least one cantilever beam functionalized with chitin, chitosan or their derivatives that can be tailored to be sensitive to certain IR bands for detection and does not require cooling is described. The functional layers expand differently than the structural layer of the cantilever beam causing the beam to bend in response to exposure to infrared radiation. The sensor can be adapted to optical, piezoresistive, capacitive and piezoelectric methods of detect beam deflection. Sensitivity can be increased with a reflective layer to increase the absorption of infrared radiation by the functional layer. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110097229 | Feedback Controlled Syringe Pump - Provided is an automated syringe pump that includes a syringe plunger controller and an elastic member, such as a spring, positioned between a rigid member and a syringe plunger retainer. The controller may include a transducer, such as a linear potentiometer, for generating a signal representative of force applied to a syringe plunger present in the syringe plunger retainer. In addition, the controller may include a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller that provides for at least one of constant pressure on the syringe plunger and constant flow rate of fluid out of a syringe operated by the automated syringe pump. Also provided are methods, systems and kits using the automated syringe pumps. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110107962 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATORS - Piezoelectric actuators are provided. In some instances, the piezoelectric actuators are high-precision piezoelectric actuators. The piezoelectric beams may have a bi-chevron configuration. Also provided are methods of making the piezoelectric actuators, e.g., using Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) fabrication techniques, and methods of using the piezoelectric actuators, e.g., as valves in fluid dispensing systems. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110133856 | Contour-Mode Piezoelectric Micromechanical Resonators - A contour mode micromechanical piezoelectric resonator. The resonator has a bottom electrode; a top electrode; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The piezoelectric resonator has a planar surface with a cantilevered periphery, dimensioned to undergo in-plane lateral displacement at the periphery. The resonator also includes means for applying an alternating electric field across the thickness of the piezoelectric resonator. The electric field is configured to cause the resonator to have a contour mode in-plane lateral displacement that is substantially in the plane of the planar surface of the resonator, wherein the fundamental frequency for the displacement of the piezoelectric resonator is set in part lithographically by the planar dimension of the bottom electrode, the top electrode or the piezoelectric layer. | 06-09-2011 |
