Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of the environment is disclosed. Sensors utilize exponential growth of a signal initiated by interaction of a sensor element with characteristics of the environment. Specific substances in the environment can be detected. The sensor element may be intrinsically sensitive to the specific substance or can be coated with a material that is sensitive to the specific substance. The sensor component is designed such that it can be made to cause exponential growth of a system signal. The exponential growth of the sensor signal is produced by parametric amplification.

Abstract: A large-nanostructure probe with optically guided macroscopic scanning is disclosed for high-resolution imaging and characterization of nanostructures. The invention contemplates the use of a course positioning system, which comprises one or more quadratic index fiber optic lenses in conjunction with an optical microscope. A magnifying probe is placed in close proximity to a sample under inspection. The fiber optic lenses of the coarse positioning system are used to noninvasively carry the image of a sample-to-probe junction to the optical microscope. The optical microscope further magnifies the image, allowing for precise positioning of the probe tip to within 1 .mu.m of a desired feature on the sample surface. For ease of viewing, the magnified image from the microscope may be displayed on a monitor using a charge coupled device ("CCD") camera, if so desired. Also disclosed is a long-range probing system wherein the probe tip may be one of a variety of measurement or probing apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for recording information on a document surface to accommodate the automatic processing of documents is provided, which requires neither ink jet nor impact printing. A photosensitive material, such as a dye, is applied as a continuous coat over a field of the document surface. Selected locations within the field thereafter are irradiated with a light beam. The light beam is of an intensity and wavelength to effect a change in the light emitting properties of the photosensitive material at the selected locations. Either alphanumeric or bar encoded information may be recorded thereby on a document surface for subsequent detection by an optical reader.