Patent ID: 8213007

Claim:
A sensor-network system for spectrally sensing a chemical or biological substance, comprising: a plurality of probe assemblies each comprising: a sensor comprising a nano structured surface configured to adsorb molecules of a sample material captured adjacent to the sensor; a laser configured to emit a laser beam to illuminate the molecules adsorbed to the nano structured surface; and a spectrometer configured to obtain spectral data from light scattered by the molecules adsorbed to the nano structured surface; and a control center, comprising: a computer storage configured to store one or more spectral signatures each associated with a chemical or biological substance; and a spectral analyzer in communication with the computer storage, wherein the spectral analyzer is configured to determine, in the spectral data, a spectral signature matching at least one of the spectral signatures stored in the computer storage thereby to identify, in the sample material, the chemical or biological substance associated with the one of the spectral signatures.