Methods and apparatus for ultra-sensitive temperature detection using resonant devices

摘要

Methods, apparatus, and systems to improve thermal sensitivity of resonant circuits. One aspect utilizes tracking near-resonance complex impedance for a quartz resonator based calorimeter sensor to derive ultra-sensitive temperature measurement from the sensor. Another aspect includes a quartz resonant or -based calorimetric sensor placed close to but not touching the analyte being measured to eliminate mass loading effect on the temperature measurement.

主权项

1. A method of ultra-sensitive temperature measurement comprising:
a. placing a quartz resonator-based calorimetric sensor having a resonant frequency that varies with temperature near a measurement location; b. obtaining a measurand related to impedance or admittance of the sensor at a fixed reference frequency; c. converting the obtained measurand to a temperature value; d. wherein the measurand comprises one of impedance, phase of impedance, admittance, phase of admittance, the real or imaginary part of impedance, the real or imaginary part of admittance, and network analysis; and e. wherein the reference frequency is set by:
i. obtaining a plot of real and imaginary components of impedance or admittance for the sensor over a range of frequencies at and near resonant frequency of the sensor, the imaginary component comprising two inflection points;ii. selecting a frequency between the two inflection points of the imaginary component.