Patent ID: 6370939
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G01G,G01K,G01N

Abstract:
A measurement apparatus comprising:(a) a liquid sample sensor comprising a first microresonator, a first heat flow sensor, and a heat sink coupled thermally to said first heat flow sensor, wherein said first heat flow sensor is thermally coupled to said first microresonator; and further wherein said first microresonator is capable of measuring a signal relating to one or more properties at a surface of said first microresonator, and said first heat flow sensor is capable of measuring the flow of heat from a liquid sample disposed on said surface of said first microresonator to the heat sink; and (b) a liquid reference sensor comprising a second microresonator, a second heat flow sensor coupled thermally to said second microresonator, and a heat flow sink coupled thermally to said second heat flow sensor; wherein said liquid reference sensor is isolated from the liquid sample in contact with said first microresonator; and further wherein said second microresonator is capable of measuring a reference signal relating to said one or more properties at a surface of said second microresonator and said second heat flow sensor is capable of measuring a reference signal relating to the flow of heat from said surface of said second microresonator to the heat sink coupled thermally to said second heat flow sensor.