Physical Sensors & Devices

Due to their small size, micro-sensors experience complex phenomena including the emergence of nonlinearities, affecting the intrinsic properties of the system and commonly known to reduce its performance. In the case of micro-resonators, while larger displacement typically leads to lower SNR, it also increases the nonlinearity of the system, altering both frequencies and quality factors which in turn decrease stability and thus performance. However, a careful control of these nonlinearities opens the way for new implementation schemes and improved stability in micro-sensors, such as...

Large area networks of sensors which are flexible and can be laminated conformally on nonplanar surfaces can enable many different applications in areas such as prosthetics, display technology, and remote stimuli monitoring. For large area applications, printed electronics are favorable over traditional photolithography and shadow mask technology from a cost and throughput point of view and we demonstrate proof-of-concept for such a printed “electronic skin” system by printing a carbon nanotube based thin film transistor (TFT) active matrix backplane using a reverse roll to plate...

The goal of this project is to realize a micro rate-integrating gyroscope that produces an output signal proportional to rotation angle rather than rotation rate. This device would eliminate the need of integrating the gyroscope's rate output to obtain the angle. Gyroscope resonators have at least two resonant modes that can be coupled by Coriolis force. Difference in damping coefficients and stiffness of the resonant modes of the MEMS resonator known as anisodamping and anisoelasticity are main sources of error in RIG. So realizing a micro rate-integrating gyroscope can be achieved...

Chronic cutaneous wounds affect millions of people each year and take billions of dollars to treat. Formation of pressure ulcers is considered a "never event" - an inexcusable, adverse event that occurs in a healthcare setting. Current monitoring solutions (pressure-distributing beds, repositioning patients every few hours, etc) are very expensive and labor intensive. In response to this challenge, we are developing a novel, flexible monitoring device that utilizes impedance spectroscopy to measure and characterize tissue health, thus allowing physicians to objectively monitor...