University of Michigan

Christine Eun

Yogesh B Gianchandani

Ranjit Gharpurey

Mark Kushner

Jun-Chieh Wang

Xin Luo

Zhongmin Xiong

The distance between microscale electrodes can be determined from microdischarge current and/or capacitance distribution among a plurality of electrodes. A microdischarge-based pressure sensor includes a reference pair of electrodes on a body of the sensor and a sensing pair of electrodes. One of the electrodes of the sensing pair is on a diaphragm of the sensor so that the distance between the sensing pair of electrodes changes with diaphragm movement, while the distance between the reference pair does not. Plasma and current distribution within a microdischarge chamber of the sensor is sensitive to very small diaphragm deflections. Pressure sensors can be fabricated smaller than ever before, with useful signals from 50 micron diaphragms spaced only 3 microns from the sensor body. The microdischarge-based sensor is capable of operating in harsh environments and can be fabricated along-side similarly configured capacitive sensors.

Microdischarge-based transducer

Disclosed herein are systems and devices capable of wireless communications based on RF transmissions from discharges. A transmitting device includes a discharge generator having a plurality of electrodes spaced to support generation of the discharge, and a circuit coupled to the plurality of spaced electrodes to control a supply for the discharge generator. In some embodiments, controlling the supply for the discharge generator modifies a property of the discharge to modulate the RF transmission such that the resulting RF transmission is indicative of the device state or other information to be communicated.

Wireless sensing and communication utilizing RF transmissions from microdischarges

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Christine Eun