Mechanical resonator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid sensor employing a mechanical resonator, comprising:
- a resonator portion adapted for resonating in a fluid under test; and
an electrical connection between the resonator portion and a source of an input signal, including at least one electrode that is at least partially covered by a dielectric material;
wherein the resonator portion, the electrical connection or both includes a base material and a performance-tuning material that is different from the base material, is relatively hydrophobic, and exhibits a porosity of less than about 5% of its volume.
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Abstract
A sensor and methods for making and using the same in which a mechanical resonator is employed, comprising a resonator portion for resonating in a fluid without the substantial generation of acoustic waves; and an electrical connection between the resonator portion for oscillating and a source of an input signal; wherein the portion for resonating, the electrical connection or both includes a base material and a performance-tuning material that is different from the base material.
221 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A fluid sensor employing a mechanical resonator, comprising:
- a resonator portion adapted for resonating in a fluid under test; and
an electrical connection between the resonator portion and a source of an input signal, including at least one electrode that is at least partially covered by a dielectric material;
wherein the resonator portion, the electrical connection or both includes a base material and a performance-tuning material that is different from the base material, is relatively hydrophobic, and exhibits a porosity of less than about 5% of its volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a resonator portion adapted for resonating in a fluid under test; and
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11. A fluid sensor employing a mechanical resonator, comprising:
- a resonator portion including at least two tines adapted for resonating in a fluid under test; and
an electrical connection including at least one electrode formed of a metal selected from gold, platinum, silver, chromium, aluminum, nickel, titanium or mixtures thereof between the resonator portion and a source of an input signal, wherein the resonator portion includes;
a doped or undoped base material that exhibits a dielectric constant that is substantially constant over a temperature range from at least about 0°
C. to about 100°
C., and is selected from the group consisting of quartz, lithium niobate, zinc oxide, lead zirconate titanate (PZT), gallo-germanates (e.g., Langasite (La3Ga5SIO14), Langanite, or Langatate), diomignite (lithium tetraborate), bismuth germanium oxide, gallium phosphate, gallium nitride, aluminum nitride or combinations thereof; and
a performance-tuning material that is relatively hydrophobic, exhibits a porosity of less than about 5% of its volume, is stable at about 150°
C., is different from the base material and is selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics, metals, metal carbides or nitrides, diamond, diamond-like carbon, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- a resonator portion including at least two tines adapted for resonating in a fluid under test; and
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24. A method for making a resonator, comprising:
- a) forming a plurality of resonators on a common substrate;
the resonators including;
a resonator portion adapted for resonating in a fluid; and
an electrical connection including at least one electrode formed of a metal selected from gold, platinum, silver, chromium, aluminum, nickel, titanium or mixtures thereof between the resonator portion and a source of an input signal, wherein the resonator portion includes;
a doped or undoped base material that exhibits a dielectric constant that is substantially constant over a temperature range from at least about 0°
C. to about 100°
C., and is selected from quartz, lithium niobate, zinc oxide, lead zirconate titanate (PZT), gallo-germanates, diomignite (lithium tetraborate), bismuth germanium oxide, gallium phosphate, gallium nitride, aluminum nitride or combinations thereof; and
a performance-tuning material that is different from the base material and is selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics, metals, metal carbides or nitrides, diamond, diamond-like carbon, and combinations thereof; and
b) separating the resonators from each other. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
- a) forming a plurality of resonators on a common substrate;
Specification