Chemical sensor with oscillating cantilevered probe and mechanical stop
First Claim
1. A method of detecting a chemical species with an oscillating cantilevered probe, comprising:
- driving a cantilevered beam into oscillation with a drive mechanism coupled to the cantilevered beam;
tapping a free end of the oscillating cantilevered beam against a mechanical stop, the mechanical stop coupled to a base end of the cantilevered beam;
exposing a treated portion of the cantilevered beam to the chemical species, wherein the oscillation of the cantilevered beam is altered when exposed to the chemical species;
measuring an amplitude of the oscillating cantilevered beam with a sense mechanism; and
comparing the amplitude with a reference value.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method of detecting a chemical species with an oscillating cantilevered probe. A cantilevered beam is driven into oscillation with a drive mechanism coupled to the cantilevered beam. A free end of the oscillating cantilevered beam is tapped against a mechanical stop coupled to a base end of the cantilevered beam. An amplitude of the oscillating cantilevered beam is measured with a sense mechanism coupled to the cantilevered beam. A treated portion of the cantilevered beam is exposed to the chemical species, wherein the cantilevered beam bends when exposed to the chemical species. A second amplitude of the oscillating cantilevered beam is measured, and the chemical species is determined based on the measured amplitudes.
172 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a chemical species with an oscillating cantilevered probe, comprising:
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driving a cantilevered beam into oscillation with a drive mechanism coupled to the cantilevered beam; tapping a free end of the oscillating cantilevered beam against a mechanical stop, the mechanical stop coupled to a base end of the cantilevered beam; exposing a treated portion of the cantilevered beam to the chemical species, wherein the oscillation of the cantilevered beam is altered when exposed to the chemical species; measuring an amplitude of the oscillating cantilevered beam with a sense mechanism; and comparing the amplitude with a reference value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for sensing a chemical species, comprising:
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a cantilevered beam having a mechanical stop coupled to a base end and comprising a treated portion; a drive mechanism coupled to the cantilevered beam for oscillating the beam and tapping the beam against the mechanical stop; and a sense mechanism that measures an oscillation amplitude when the treated portion of the cantilevered beam is exposed to the chemical species. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A handheld system for sensing a chemical species comprising:
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at least one cantilevered beam, wherein at least one cantilevered beam includes a treated portion;
a mechanical stop coupled to a base end of each cantilevered beam; anda piezoelectric drive-sense mechanism coupled to each cantilevered beam; wherein the chemical species is sensed based on an oscillation amplitude of each of the at least one cantilevered beams when the treated portion of at least one cantilevered beam is exposed to the chemical species. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification