Sensors using optical RF oscillators
AssigneeStc.Unm
InventorMani Hossein-Zadeh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical microresonator based RF oscillator sensor for measuring mass, temperature, and particle/molecule concentration. An optical energy source is coupled to the optical microresonator to generate optical power oscillations at Rf frequencies. A stable or reference RF oscillation frequency is established which allows for measuring oscillation frequency variations induced by the interaction of the substance with the optical microresonator.
Claims16
A method of using an optical microresonator based RF oscillator as a sensor comprising the following steps:
- generating optical power oscillations at RF frequencies by coupling an optical energy source to said optical microresonator;
- establishing a stable RF oscillation frequency;
- and
- optionally measuring the RF oscillation frequency variation induced by a substance to be measured as said substance interacts with said optical microresonator.
A method of using a radiation pressure driven optomechanical RF oscillator as a mass sensor comprising the following steps:
- generating optical RF power oscillations by coupling an optical energy source to said optomechanical microresonator, said oscillations are created by said radiation pressure;
- establishing a stable RF oscillation frequency;
- and
- optically measuring the RF oscillation frequency variation induced by added mass on the optomechanical microresonator.
A method of using an optical microresonator based RF oscillator having an evanescent field as a molecule concentration sensor comprising the following steps:
- generating optical power oscillations at RF frequencies by coupling an optical energy source to said optical microresonator;
- establishing a stable RF oscillation frequency;
- and
- optically measuring the RF oscillation frequency variation induced by the molecules to be measured as said molecules interact with said evanescent field of said optical microresonator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.