Patent ID: 7849738
Filing Date: 2010-12-14
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of calibrating the detection of the physical interaction of two or more objects comprising: attaching a piezoelectric element to a contact object having an operable electrical connection to means for measuring the electrical properties of said element; mounting said contact object on a positioning device whereby the position of said contact object can be directed incrementally in at least one dimension along a substantially rectilinear path of traverse; placing a target object in the path of traverse of said contact object; measuring the electrical properties of said piezoelectric element at more than one applied alternating current frequency without interacting said contact object with said target object and recording those properties; advancing said contact object along the path of traverse until interaction occurs between said contact object and said target object; and measuring the electrical properties of said piezoelectric element while said contact object is interacting with said target object and recording those properties.