Electromagnetic piezoelectric acoustic sensor
US7207222B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/0257
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to an electromagnetic piezoelectric acoustic sensor (EMPAS). The sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor plate spaced apart from an induced dynamic electromagnetic field, such as from an electromagnetic coil through which AC current flows. The electromagnetic field induces vibration in the sensor plate by fluctuating the aligned dipole moments of the piezoelectric material. Changes on the surface of the sensor plate can be detected by variation in resonance frequency of the sensor plate. The invention represents an improvement over conventional sensor methodologies in that no metallization of the sensor surface is required, and no permanent magnet is needed. The sensor may be used to detect absorption of molecules or biomolecular interactions between probe and target molecules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.