System for detecting molecular structure and events

• US 20080012578A1
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cascade Microtech Incorporated (FormFactor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cascade Microtech Incorporated (FormFactor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Campbell, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/710,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/633
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/221 by investigating the dielectric properties using microwaves G01N22/00; measuring loss factors or dielectric constants per se G01R27/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/26 Measuring inductance or capacitance; Measuring quality factor, e.g. by using the resonance method; Measuring loss factor; Measuring dielectric constants ; Measuring impedance or related variables

Abstract

The molecular structure of a medium and the occurrence of events effecting the molecular structure of a medium are determined by measuring the effect on the resonant frequency and/or the dissipated current of an oscillating electric field when a sample of a medium under test occupies a portion of the region of the field.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an oscillator operable at a resonant frequency and capable of generating an electric field;

(b) a sample holder for securing a sample of said medium under test in a region of said electric field; and

(c) an instrument for detecting at least one of said resonant frequency and a loss current of said oscillator.

2. The apparatus for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test of claim 1 wherein said instrument comprises a frequency counter for detecting said resonant frequency of said oscillator.

3. The apparatus for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test of claim 1 wherein said instrument for detecting a loss current comprises a meter for measuring a replacement current for a current dissipated by said oscillator during operation at said resonant frequency.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said oscillator is a Hartley oscillator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said oscillator is a Colpitts oscillator.

6. An apparatus for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first oscillator operable at a resonant frequency and capable of generating a first electric field;

(b) a first sample holder for securing a sample of said medium under test in a region of said first electric field;

(c) a second oscillator operable at a resonant frequency and capable of generating a second electric field, said second oscillator being substantially identical to said first oscillator;

(d) a second sample holder for securing a sample of a known medium in a region of said second electric field; and

(e) an instrument for detecting at least one of said resonant frequencies of said first and said second oscillators and a loss current of each of said first and said second oscillators.

7. The apparatus for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test of claim 6 wherein said instrument comprises a frequency counter for detecting said resonant frequencies of said first and said second oscillators.

8. The apparatus for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test of claim 6 wherein said instrument for detecting a loss current of each of said first and said second oscillators comprises a meter for measuring a replacement current for a current dissipated by respectively by said first oscillator and said second oscillator during operation said respective oscillator at said respective resonant frequency.

9. A method for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a first resonant frequency of oscillation of an electric field when a portion of a region of said electric field is occupied by a sample of said medium under test;

(b) determining a second resonant frequency of oscillation of said electric field when a portion of said region of said electric field is occupied by a sample of a second medium; and

(c) comparing said first resonant frequency to said second resonant frequency.

10. The method for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test of claim 9 wherein at least one said medium under test and said second medium comprises a medium of biological origin.

11. A method for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a magnitude of a first current dissipated during resonant oscillation of an electric field when a portion of a region of said electric field is occupied by a sample of said medium under test;

(b) determining a magnitude of a second current dissipated during resonant oscillation of said electric field when a portion of said region of said electric field is occupied by a sample of a second medium; and

(c) comparing said first current to said second current.

12. The method for detecting a dielectric property of a medium under test of claim 11 wherein at least one said medium under test and said second medium comprises a medium of biological origin.