Brewer Science, Inc.

U.S. Photonics, Inc.

Other

The Board of Governors of Southwest Missouri State University

Ryan E Giedd

Jacob D Conner

Terry Lowell Brewer

Mary G Moss

James J Kaufmann

Jonathan J Fury

Robert Christian Cox

Christopher Landorf

Erik Harker

Yongqiang Wang

Vijaya Kayastha

Nicholas Anthony

A process and electronic hardware and software system for rapidly heating and cooling an active sensing layer of a gas sensor is provided. A series of high-energy pulses is run through a CNT electrically-active layer, heating the layer to varying temperatures. The influence by various gases on the electrical conductivity of the layer can be used to identify gases (e.g., water vapor, alcohol, methane, O, CO, and CO). Advantageously, the same structure can also be used as a nanoheater, either within or outside the context of the gas sensor. The device can acquire a unique gas spectra in seconds, and thus accurately determine gas type and mixtures of gases based on a library of known spectra.

Energetic pulse clearing of environmentally sensitive thin-film devices

Printed resistive-based sensors and transducers comprising a thin, electronically 'active' sensing layer within a dielectric and/or metallic layered structure are provided. The electronic resistance of the active sensing layer is measured during a change in the sensor environment. By utilizing a multi-layered architecture around the active sensing layer, the electronic signal of the sensing element can be improved. By carefully selecting the architecture and materials that surround the active sensing layer, the sensitivity, stability, and selectivity of the sensor to detect changes in the environment are improved. This design allows for a number of specific application areas for environmental sensing.

Thin-film resistive-based sensor

A sensor system comprises a first sensor, a second sensor, a high pass filter, and a summation unit. The first sensor senses an environmental parameter and outputs a first electronic signal with a response having a first time constant. The second sensor senses the environmental parameter and outputs a second electronic signal with a response having a second time constant greater than the first time constant. The high pass filter has a filter time constant roughly equal to the second time constant and filters the first electronic signal, outputting a filtered first electronic signal in which changes in a level or value of the first electronic signal with transition times that are less than the filter time constant are passed. The summation unit receives the filtered first electronic signal and the second electronic signal and outputs a sum of the filtered first electronic signal and the second electronic signal.

Environmental sensor system and signal processor

The present invention is directed to an RFID device. The RFID device includes a brace affixed to an inductor or capacitor. The brace is constructed from a material structurally responsive to a predetermined stimulus, such that stimulus-responsive structural alterations to the brace structurally alters the inductor, capacitor, or other RFID subcomponent of the RFID circuit capable of generating a current alteration, which in turn alters the signal frequency of the RFID.

Analysis of stimulus by RFID

The present invention is directed to a stimulus monitoring system. The system includes an RFID device, item, interrogation device, and reception device. The RFID device includes a brace affixed to an inductor or capacitor. The brace is constructed from a material structurally responsive to a predetermined stimulus, such that stimulus-responsive structural alterations to the brace structurally alters the inductor, capacitor, or other RFID subcomponent of the RFID circuit capable of generating a current alteration, which in turn alters the signal frequency of the RFID.

The present invention is directed to a stimulus monitoring process. The process includes exposing an RFID device to an environment. The RFID has characteristics that alter based on exposure to the environment, which in turn alter a response signal emanating from the RFID device in response to an interrogation signal.

The present invention includes an electron-discharge signal system with a supercharged electron source and process therefor. The system may be any signal modification unit such as a klystron, magnetron, traveling wave tube, etc. The system includes a heat-responsive electron source, supercharger, collector, a wave modification assembly, and a bleeder module. The electron source discharges an electron beam along a predetermined electron path. The supercharger heats the electron source upon absorption of electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined signal characteristic redirected by the system. The bleeder module redirects a portion of the system's output signal to the supercharger, which heats in response thereto. In other embodiments, the system may be operated entirely by electromagnetic radiation from a freestanding signal source.

Supercharged electron source in a signal emission system

The present invention includes a system and process for measuring an item in an energy rich environment. The measurement RFID device combusts at a energy level less than that produced by the system, whether the energy derives from the item or an external source.

The present invention is directed to an uncooled, infrared detector which includes a sensor having an amorphous surface layer containing organic carbon and a high dopant concentration which possesses an improved temperature coefficient of resistivity, as well as improved responsivity, and which may be patterned to form a focal plane array by means of common microlithographic techniques. The present invention is additionally directed to an &ldquo;ion beam mixing&rdquo; process for preparing the present infrared sensor.

Doped, organic carbon-containing sensor for infrared detection and a process for the preparation thereof

Organic films are applied from solvent solution to a substrate, then are ion implanted to have resistivity in the kilohm/square to gigaohm/square range. The films are then patterned by standard lithographic procedures, with surprisingly little loss of conductivity, in spite of contact with organic solvents or acidic or basic etchant solutions during the patterning process. Both structures which contact the substrate, and freestanding conductive polymer bridges, can be formed. The invention provides a method of producing electrical devices which does not require the use of single crystal semiconductor substrates or deposition of inorganic semiconductors. The resulting devices are highly resistant to damage from abrasion, solvents, acids, bases, and moisture.

Method for making airbridge from ion-implanted conductive polymers

The invention is an apparatus and method for making a polymer bolometer. The apparatus consists of a current supply and current receiving paths affixed to a substrate. Bridging the current supply paths and current receiving paths is an electrically conductive polymer. The polymer bolometer may be fabricated using conventional photolithographic techniques.

Conducting-polymer bolometer

An electrical type strain gauge for measuring both micro and macro deformations. The gauge may be constructed from thin films of homogeneously conductive polymers, including soluble polyaniline-based conducting polymers and ion-implanted organic polymers. The gauges are characterized by unexpected piezoresistivity from materials having high bulk resistivity, thermal stability, good flexibility, photoimageability and without adding carbon or metal particulate material to the polymer.

Growing community of inventors

Springfield, MO, United States of America

Ryan E Giedd