Cantilevered probe detector with piezoelectric element
First Claim
1. A method for analyzing a target chemical species, the method comprising:
- driving signals to a plurality of sensor probes of a chemical detection system, the sensor probes having an outer surface including a material that interacts with one or more target chemical species;
sensing input signals received from the sensor probes after interaction of the target chemical species with the outer surface of the sensor probes; and
detecting, identifying, and/or characterizing the target chemical species on at least one sensor probe via a first process based on the input signals received from the sensor probe, and detecting, identifying, and/or characterizing the target chemical species on another sensor probe via a second process based on the input signals received from the sensor probe, the second process being different than the first.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed chemical detection system for detecting a target material, such as an explosive material, can include a cantilevered probe, a probe heater coupled to the cantilevered probe, and a piezoelectric element disposed on the cantilevered probe. The piezoelectric element can be configured as a detector and/or an actuator. Detection can include, for example, detecting a movement of the cantilevered probe or a property of the cantilevered probe. The movement or a change in the property of the cantilevered probe can occur, for example, by adsorption of the target material, desorption of the target material, reaction of the target material and/or phase change of the target material. Examples of detectable movements and properties include temperature shifts, impedance shifts, and resonant frequency shifts of the cantilevered probe. The overall chemical detection system can be incorporated, for example, into a handheld explosive material detection system.
147 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing a target chemical species, the method comprising:
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driving signals to a plurality of sensor probes of a chemical detection system, the sensor probes having an outer surface including a material that interacts with one or more target chemical species; sensing input signals received from the sensor probes after interaction of the target chemical species with the outer surface of the sensor probes; and detecting, identifying, and/or characterizing the target chemical species on at least one sensor probe via a first process based on the input signals received from the sensor probe, and detecting, identifying, and/or characterizing the target chemical species on another sensor probe via a second process based on the input signals received from the sensor probe, the second process being different than the first. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for analyzing a target chemical species, the method comprising:
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driving signals to a plurality of sensor probes of a chemical detection system, the sensor probes having an outer surface including a material that interacts with one or more target chemical species; sensing input signals received from the sensor probes after interaction of the target chemical species with the outer surface of the sensor probes; and detecting, identifying, and/or characterizing the target chemical species of each of the plurality of sensor probes via a plurality of processes based on the input signals received from the sensor probes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for analyzing a target chemical species, the method comprising:
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driving signals to a plurality of sensor probes of a chemical detection system, the sensor probes having an outer surface including a material that interacts with one or more target chemical species; sensing input signals received from the sensor probes after interaction of the target chemical species with the outer surface of the sensor probes; and detecting, identifying, and/or characterizing the target chemical species based on results from a plurality of processes and comparing those results to a database. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification