Patent ID: 9562888
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: G01N

Claim:
1. An analyte sensor, comprising: a substrate; a composite micro- or nano-electro-mechanical (MEMS; NEMS) resonator comprising a structure configured to be driven into resonance and which is double-clamped such that it is coupled to the substrate at a plurality of edge locations of the structure, and a volume-sensitive reactive coating covering at least a portion of a surface of the structure, which is characterized by a volumetric change upon exposure to a given analyte, wherein the volumetric change comprises a change in a stress value of the resonator, further wherein the change in the stress value of the resonator comprises a measurable change in a resonance frequency of the resonator, further wherein the resonator is in a compressively-stressed, statically-buckled state that is not at a buckling transition point of the resonator when driven into resonance, wherein the resonator is in the form of a dome or drum.