Passive sensor system using ultrasonic energy

Abstract

A passive sensor system utilizing ultrasonic energy is disclosed. The passive sensor system includes at least one ultrasonically vibratable sensor and an ultrasonic activation and detection system. The sensor has at least one vibration frequency which is a function of a physical variable to be sensed. The ultrasonic activation and detection system excites the sensor and detects the vibration frequency from which it determines a value of the physical variable. The sensor includes a substrate having at least one cavity therein, and a vibratable membrane overlying the cavity. Another preferred embodiment of the sensor is a compensated sensor pair including a first sensor whose vibration frequency is responsive to the physical variable to be sensed, and a second sensor whose vibration frequency is non-responsive to the physical variable to be sensed. The second sensor provides a reference vibration frequency for compensating for the effect of other physical variables on the vibration frequency of the first sensor. Another preferred embodiment of the compensated sensor pair includes a second sensor which has a different response characteristic than that of the first sensor to the physical variable to be sensed. In still another preferred embodiment of the compensated sensor of the present invention each of the pair of sensors has multiple vibratable membranes overlying multiple cavities.