Patent ID: 7302829
Filing Date: 2007-12-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A contactless sensor device operable for sensing water vapor or a predetermined chemical vapor, the sensor device comprising: a thin film, wherein the thin film comprises: a sensing layer, wherein the sensing layer comprises one of a nanostructured layer and a self-assembled monomolecular layer; a soft magnetic layer disposed directly or indirectly adjacent to the sensing layer; wherein the thin film has a first mass, a first density, and a first magnetostrictive resonance frequency prior to the sensing layer adsorbing a predetermined amount of a predetermined vapor; and wherein the thin film has a second mass, a second density, and a second magnetostrictive resonance frequency subsequent to the sensing layer adsorbing the predetermined amount of the predetermined vapor; at least one microheater disposed between the sensing layer and the soft magnetic layer; a driving coil disposed indirectly adjacent to and at a predetermined distance from the thin film, the driving coil operable for generating an alternating-current magnetic field used to query a shift in the magnetostrictive resonance frequency of the thin film from the first magnetostrictive resonance frequency to the second magnetostrictive resonance frequency; and a measuring coil disposed indirectly adjacent to and at a predetermined distance from the thin film, the measuring coil operable for measuring and quantifying the shift in the magnetostrictive resonance frequency of the thin film from the first magnetostrictive resonance frequency to the second magnetostrictive resonance frequency.