SYSTEM FOR WEIGHING INDIVIDUAL MICRO- AND NANO- SIZED PARTICLES

摘要

A device for weighing micro- and nano-sized particles. The device includes a base portion, an oscillator coupled to the base portion and configured to vibrate the base portion, a first cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion, a second cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion, a first plurality of fingers coupled to the first cantilevered beam near the tip inwardly pointing toward the second cantilevered beam, and a second plurality of fingers coupled to the second cantilevered beam near the tip inwardly pointing toward the first cantilevered beam.

主权项

1. A device for weighing micro- and nano-sized particles, comprising:
a base portion; an oscillator coupled to the base portion configured to vibrate the base portion; a first cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion at a proximal end and having a tip portion at a distal end; a second cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion at a proximal end and having a tip portion at a distal end; a first plurality of fingers coupled to the first cantilevered beam near the tip inwardly pointing toward the second cantilevered beam; and a second plurality of fingers coupled to the second cantilevered beam near the tip inwardly pointing toward the first cantilevered beam, the first plurality of fingers interdigitating with the second plurality of fingers such that the first cantilevered beam and the second cantilevered beam can oscillate independent of each other, and where the interdigitating fingers separated by gaps that are sufficiently small for light reflected from the interdigitating fingers during oscillation of the first and second cantilevered beams to form a diffraction pattern.