Magnetoelastic sensor for characterizing properties of thin-film/coatings
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining viscosity characteristics of a thin-film layer, comprising:
- a sensor element having a base magnetostrictive element at least one surface of which is at least partially coated with the thin-film layer, said sensor element operatively arranged to vibrate within a time-varying interrogation magnetic field;
a receiver, remote from said sensor element, to measure a plurality of values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of said sensor element to identify a magneto-elastic resonant frequency value for said sensor element; and
a processor adapted for determining at least one of the viscosity characteristics using a value for density of the thin-film layer and a value for mass of said base magnetostrictive element and said magneto-elastic resonant frequency value.
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Abstract
An apparatus for determining elasticity characteristics of a thin-film layer. The apparatus comprises a sensor element having a base magnetostrictive element at least one surface of which is at least partially coated with the thin-film layer. The thin-film layer may be of a variety of materials (having a synthetic and/or bio-component) in a state or form capable of being deposited, manually or otherwise, on the base element surface, such as by way of eye-dropper, melting, dripping, brushing, sputtering, spraying, etching, evaporation, dip-coating, laminating, etc. Among suitable thin-film layers for the sensor element of the invention are fluent bio-substances, thin-film deposits used in manufacturing processes, polymeric coatings, paint, an adhesive, and so on. A receiver, preferably remotely located, is used to measure a plurality of values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of the sensor element in either characterization: (a) the measure of the plurality of values is used to identify a magneto-elastic resonant frequency value for the sensor element; and (b) the measure of the plurality of successive values is done at a preselected magneto-elastic frequency.
65 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining viscosity characteristics of a thin-film layer, comprising:
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a sensor element having a base magnetostrictive element at least one surface of which is at least partially coated with the thin-film layer, said sensor element operatively arranged to vibrate within a time-varying interrogation magnetic field;
a receiver, remote from said sensor element, to measure a plurality of values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of said sensor element to identify a magneto-elastic resonant frequency value for said sensor element; and
a processor adapted for determining at least one of the viscosity characteristics using a value for density of the thin-film layer and a value for mass of said base magnetostrictive element and said magneto-elastic resonant frequency value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
wherein pc denotes density of the thin-film layer, L denotes a length of said magnetostrictive element, mc denotes a mass of said magnetostrictive element, fo is a resonant frequency of said magnetostrictive element, m′
denotes a mass of said sensor element, and f denotes a resonant frequency of said sensor element.
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8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises an electromagnetic pick-up coil, said time-varying interrogation magnetic field comprises a pulse, said magneto-elastic emission is an electromagnetic emission, said magnetostrictive element is ribbon shaped and made of an alloy.
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9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises an electromagnetic pick-up coil, and further comprising:
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a processor for determining the viscosity characteristics;
a field generating coil, remote from said receiver pick-up coil, for generating said time-varying interrogation magnetic field; and
a receptacle for accepting said sensor element when so determining.
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10. An apparatus for determining viscosity characteristics of a thin-film layer of a fluent bio-substance, comprising:
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a sensor element having a base magnetostrictive element at least one surface of which is at least partially coated with the thin-film layer, said sensor element operatively arranged to vibrate within a time-varying interrogation magnetic field;
a receiver, remote from said sensor element, to measure a plurality of successive values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of said sensor element at a preselected magneto-elastic frequency; and
a processor adapted for producing a response profile, using said values for emission intensity, for the bio-substance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
the fluent bio-substance comprises a drop of blood;
said blood is deposited atop said at least one surface nearby said free-end; and
said processor further adapted for determining, using said response profile, a blood clotting time.
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13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
- said receiver comprises an electromagnetic pick-up coil;
the fluent bio-substance comprises a biologic agent and-bleed; and
said response profile comprises a bioactive reaction response curve for the bio-substance.
- said receiver comprises an electromagnetic pick-up coil;
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14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said receiver comprises an electromagnetic pick-up coil, and further comprising:
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said preselected magneto-elastic frequency is a resonant frequency value for said sensor element;
a field generating coil, remote from said receiver pick-up coil, for generating said time-varying interrogation magnetic field; and
a receptacle for accepting said sensor element when so producing.
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15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said response profile comprises a coagulation reaction curve represented by a plurality of successive voltage values respectively associated with said plurality of successive values for magneto-elastic emission intensity measured, plotted against time over a selected response-time interval.
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16. A method for determining viscosity characteristics of a thin-film layer at least partially coating a surface of a base magnetostrictive element, comprising the steps of:
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applying a time-varying interrogation magnetic field to a sensor element comprising the base magnetostrictive element and thin-film layer, operatively arranged to vibrate in response to said interrogation magnetic field;
remotely measuring a plurality of values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of said sensor element to identify a magneto-elastic resonant frequency value therefor; and
using a value for density of the thin-film layer and a value for mass of the base magnetostrictive element and said magneto-elastic resonant frequency value, determining at least one of the viscosity characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
wherein pc denotes density of the thin-film layer, L denotes a length of said magnetostrictive element, m0 denotes a mass of said magnetostrictive element, f0 is a resonant frequency of said magnetostrictive element, m′
denotes a mass of said sensor element, and f′
denotes a resonant frequency-of said sensor element.
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20. A method for determining viscosity characteristics of a thin-film layer of a fluent bio-substance at least partially coating a surface of a base magnetostrictive element, comprising the steps of:
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applying a time-varying interrogation magnetic field to a sensor element comprising the base magnetostrictive element and thin-film layer, operatively arranged to vibrate in response to said interrogation magnetic field;
remotely measuring, over a response-time interval, a plurality of successive values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of said sensor element at a preselected magneto-elastic frequency; and
using said values for emission intensity, producing an--elasticity a response profile for the bio-substance. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification