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US 10,382,039 B2Granted
Microsensor detection process
OwnerMark B Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for using microsensors elements embedded in or on articles for detecting target chemical and/or target environmental conditions of interest, including materials hazardous to human health and/or associated with illegal activity. The microsensor elements can be fabricated on a single semiconductor chip, and can be made indetectable to facilitate secure surveillance of potentially illegal activities.
Claims15
A method of detecting target chemicals comprising the steps of:
- providing a first physical article;
- embedding a chemical detection element onto a surface portion of said physical article, wherein each of the chemical detection elements comprises a single integrated circuit (IC);
- generating a sensor state based on a sensor element on said single IC, which sensor state responds to the presence of a target chemical on and/or near said first physical article;
- generating a transducer output with a transducer on said single IC coupled to the sensor element which detects said sensor state and generates an output corresponding thereto;
- interpreting said transducer output with a magnetoelectronic (ME) processing element on said single IC;
- wherein said ME processing element generates a detection value based on said interpreting said output confirming the presence of said target chemical;
- generating a chemical payload output responsive to said detection output on the single IC to indicate exposure of said first physical article to said target chemical.
4 more elements
A method of detecting hazardous materials comprising the steps of:
- providing a first physical article;
- embedding a chemical detection element onto a surface portion of said physical article, wherein each of the chemical detection elements comprises a single integrated circuit (IC);
- generating a sensor state based on a sensor element on said single IC, which sensor state responds to the presence of a target hazardous chemical on and/or near said first physical article;
- generating a transducer output with a transducer on said single IC coupled to the sensor element which detects said sensor state and generates an output corresponding thereto;
- interpreting said transducer output with a magnetoelectronic (ME) processing element on said single IC;
- wherein said ME processing element generates a detection value based on said interpreting said output confirming the presence of said target hazardous chemical;
- a microwave antenna coupled to the ME processing element and responsive to an interrogation signal to enable passive readout of said detection value;
- wherein a presence of said target hazardous chemical can be determined by interrogating said stored detection value.
5 more elements
A method of detecting targeted chemical materials comprising the steps of:
- providing a first physical paper article;
- embedding a chemical detection element onto a surface portion of said first physical paper article, wherein each of the chemical detection elements comprises a single integrated circuit (IC);
- configuring said first physical paper article into correspondence to a first target individual;
- delivering said first physical paper article to a target location for said target individual by public mail or private delivery service;
- sampling a target environment at said target address to detect the presence of a target chemical;
- generating a sensor state based on a sensor element on said single IC, which sensor state responds to the presence of said target chemical on and/or near said first physical paper article;
- generating a transducer output with a transducer on said single IC coupled to the sensor element which detects said sensor state and generates an output corresponding thereto;
- interpreting said transducer output with a magnetoelectronic (ME) processing element on said single IC;
- wherein said ME processing element generates a detection value based on said interpreting said output confirming the presence of said target chemical;
- generating a chemical payload output responsive to said detection output on the single IC to indicate exposure of said first physical paper article to said target chemical;
- receiving said first physical paper article in the form of return correspondence at a separate facility;
- reading said chemical payload output to determine exposure of said chemical detection element to said first target chemical.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.