Transducer-based sensor system and method

• Main Author: BLAKLEY, DANIEL R
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 01.05.2005
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVEREDIN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC ORINFRASONIC WAVES; MEASURING; MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PHYSICS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; TESTING

A system and method for performing rupture event scanning and other sensing operations on a sample. The method includes providing (200) a transducer (20, 42, 44, 46, 48, 82, 84, 86, 88) with an immobilized binding partner material (22) and a sample material (24, 26) disposed thereon. The sample material (24, 26) is applied to the immobilized binding partner material (22) so that, if components (26) in the sample material (24, 26) have sufficient affinity for the immobilized binding partner material (22), bonds will form between at least some of such components (26) and the immobilized binding partner material (22). The method further includes accelerating (204) the transducer (20, 42, 44, 46, 48, 82, 84, 86, 88) to induce bond breakage, where such accelerating is performed by applying a drive signal (130, 132, 134, 136) to the transducer (20, 42, 44, 46, 48, 82, 84, 86, 88). The drive signal (130, 132, 134, 136) includes a waveform (130, 132, 134, 136) having multiple frequency components that are pre-selecte