Microsensor chemical detection system & elements
AssigneeNonvologic LLC
InventorMark B. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A chemical detection system includes microsensor elements adapted to detect target chemical and/or target environmental conditions. The microsensor elements can be fabricated on a single semiconductor chip, and include carbon nanotubes, magnetoelectronic processing components, non-volatile memory, and micromechanical structures for controlling an expression of a readout substance.
Claims23
A chemical detection system situated on a single semiconductor chip, comprising:
- a carbon nanotube (CNT) sensor circuit configured with a resistance state that is responsive to the presence of a target chemical and/or target environmental condition when exposed to a target environment;
- a transducer coupled to the CNT sensor circuit configured to detect said resistance state and generate an output corresponding thereto;
- a magnetoelectronic (ME) processing circuit coupled to said transducer and including one or more magnetoelectronic gates adapted to perform a first sequence of operations during an operational mode on said output from said transducer;
- wherein a detection output is generated by the ME processing circuit having a detection value based on said first sequence of operations confirming the presence of said target chemical and/or target environmental condition;
- further wherein said ME processing circuit is configured to not consume power in a quiescent mode;
- a non-volatile memory coupled to said ME processing circuit for storing said detection value;
- a readout substance situated in a storage chamber of said single semiconductor chip;
- one or more micromechanical structures responsive to said detection output, and adapted to cause said first readout substance to be released from said storage chamber in response to said detection value;
- wherein a presence of said target chemical and/or target environmental condition can be determined by detecting said first readout substance released from said chamber.
A chemical detection system situated on a single semiconductor chip, comprising:
- a carbon nanotube (CNT) sensor circuit configured with a resistance state that is responsive to the presence of a target chemical and/or target environmental condition when exposed to a target environment;
- a transducer coupled to the CNT sensor circuit configured to detect said resistance state and generate an output corresponding thereto;
- a magnetoelectronic (ME) processing circuit coupled to said transducer and including one or more magnetoelectronic gates adapted to perform a first sequence of operations during an operational mode on said output from said transducer;
- wherein a detection output is generated by the ME processing circuit having a detection value based on said first sequence of operations confirming the presence of said target chemical and/or target environmental condition;
- further wherein said ME processing circuit is configured to not consume power in a quiescent mode;
- a non-volatile memory coupled to said ME processing circuit for storing said detection value;
- a microwave antenna coupled to the non-volatile memory and responsive to an interrogation signal to enable passive readout of said stored detection value;
- wherein a presence of said target chemical and/or target environmental condition can be determined by interrogating said stored detection value.
The system of claim 21, wherein said microwave antenna is selectively activatable by a current pulse generated by the ME processing circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.