Patent ID: 6438497
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: B01J,C40B,G01N

Abstract:
A method for characterizing one or more material properties for each of 5 or more samples, comprising the steps of:depositing said 5 or more samples on a substrate having 5 or more sensors arranged in a sensor array, wherein each sample is supported by one of said 5 or more sensors and each sensor of said 5 or more sensors characterize at least one material property of said 5 or more samples; and measuring at least one material property of said 5, or more samples at a rate of at least 1 sample every 2 minutes, wherein said measuring step includes the steps of: electronically transmitting an input signal comprising a combination of a linear ramp signal and a modulated alternating current (AC) signal superimposed on the linear ramp signal to at least one sensor of said 5 or more sensors for inputting power into at least one sample supported by said at least one sensor of said 5 or more sensors; and monitoring an output signal corresponding to the temperature change of each of said 5 or more samples in response to the input signal, wherein said monitoring step includes monitoring a modulation amplitude in said output signal and an average value of said output signal; wherein at least one sensor in the sensor array has a heater portion and a thermometer portion, said combined linear ramp signal and modulated AC signal is transmitted from an electronic circuitry through said heater portion, a direct current (DC) signal is transmitted from said electronic circuitry through said thermometer portion, and wherein the modulation amplitude in the output signal is determinative of the heat capacity of each of said 5 or more samples and the average value of the output signal corresponds with an average temperature of each said 5 or more samples.