Piezoelectric resonator, process for the fabrication thereof including its use as a sensor element for the determination of the concentration of a substance contained in a liquid and/or for the determination of the physical properties of the liquid

US6196059A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Conrad Kosslinger · Hersbruck, DE
• Erich Uttenthaler · Hersbruck, DE
• Andreas Nitsch · Stade, DE
• Thomas Harle · Stadtbergen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 11, 1998
• Grant date: Mar 6, 2001
• Expiry date: Aug 11, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/0426
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Disclosed is a piezoelectric resonator, a process for the fabrication thereof and its use as a sensor element, which implemented in a through-flow cell, is integratable in a measurement system for the determination of the concentration of a substance contained in a liquid and/or for the determination of the physical properties of the liquid. The piezoelectric resonator is designed plane and is provided on its surface with electric contact areas for an electrode and a counter electrode, which is connectable to a signal source as well as to a measurement device. For measuring, the piezoelectric resonator is brought into contact with the to-be-examined liquid on one side, with the resonator responding to the accumulation of the mass of the to-be-detected substance or to a change in the physical properties of the liquid by changing its resonance frequency and/or oscillation amplitude. The present invention is distinguished by the fact that the piezoelectric resonator is provided with contact electrode areas which is contactable from one single side of the resonator. The resonator is the heart piece of a sensor element, which is integrated in a through-flow cell. The through-flow cell u…