Northeastern University

Zhenyun Qian

Matteo Rinaldi

Vageeswar Rajaram

Yu Hui

Cristian Cassella

Sungho Kang

Sila Deniz Calisgan

Antea Risso

Sungho (Ryan) Kang

Zero-power system for remote monitoring of heat sources is provided. The systems detect failure indicators of remote equipment including power substations, oil rigs, large inaccessible machinery in a factory, and communications equipment. The systems also can be used to detect the presence of people in buildings or in other locations, so as to improve HVAC utilization in large buildings. When the zero-power monitoring systems detect heat sources, such as the presence of people, failure indicators, or a targeted environmental signal, a circuit is closed using the energy of the detected radiation, and activating an RFID tag, a radio transmitter, or an alarm. The monitoring systems can remain deployed and active for many years without the need for battery replacement.

Zero power micromechanical switch-based sensing and monitoring system

Ultra-low power methods and sensor devices are provided for determining the presence and magnitude of electromagnetic radiation or other signals. The sensor devices and methods provide both qualitative and quantitative analyses and can be deployed in remote locations for continuous monitoring over years without requiring a replacement power supply.

Sensor and method using bi-stable digitizing micromechanical switches for analog measurement of input signals

Zero power wireless sensors, devices, and systems are used for crop water content monitoring. The sensors consume no power while monitoring for the presence of dry crop conditions. Infrared reflectance from plants is measured and when selected spectral conditions are met, a circuit is closed, activating an alarm, an RFID tag, or a radio transmitter. The deployed sensors consume no power while monitoring, reducing or eliminating the need to change batteries.

Zero-power wireless system for crop water content monitoring

A zero-power plasmonic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is capable of specifically sensing electromagnetic radiation and performing signal processing operations. Such devices are highly sensitive relays that consume no more than 10 nW of power, utilizing the energy in detected electromagnetic radiation to detect and discriminate a target without the need of any additional power source. The devices can continuously monitor an environment and wake up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific trigger signature of electromagnetic radiation, such as vehicular exhaust, gunfire, an explosion, a fire, a human or animal, and a variety of sources of radiation from the ultraviolet to visible light, to infrared, to terahertz radiation.

Zero power plasmonic microelectromechanical device

An ultra-miniaturized, low-cost, and maintenance-free chemical sensor is capable of continuously monitoring the concentration of specific volatile organic compound (VOC) vapors released from crop plants and green plants under distress from pests or disease. The sensor is based on micromechanical structures and relies on the mechanical actuation induced by the chemical interaction between the VOCs and materials in the microstructure to passively generate a wake-up bit when the concentration of VOCs exceeds a predetermined value. The sensor does not consume power while in standby mode (i.e., when certain VOC vapors are not present), and wirelessly communicates the location of impending outbreaks upon detection of a predetermined concentration of certain VOC vapors.

Zero-power wireless chemical sensor for agricultural pests and disease monitoring

A resonator including a piezoelectric plate and an interdigital electrode is provided. A ratio between a thickness of the plate and a pitch of the interdigital electrode may be from about 0.5 to about 1.5. A radiation detector including a resonator and an absorber layer capable of absorbing at least one of infrared and terahertz radiation is provided. A resonator including a piezoelectric plate and a two-dimensional electrically conductive material is provided.

Nano- and micro-electromechanical resonators

A resonator includes a piezoelectric plate and interdigitated electrode(s). The interdigitated electrode includes a plurality of conductive strips disposed over a top surface of the piezoelectric plate. A two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is excited in a cross sectional plane of the piezoelectric plate in response to an alternating voltage applied through the interdigitated electrode. The two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is a cross-sectional Lam&#xe9; mode resonance (CLMR) or a degenerate cross-sectional Lam&#xe9; mode resonance (dCLMR).

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Boston, MA, United States of America

Zhenyun Qian