Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. Each sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) sensor that is coated with a sensing material. In order to collect data, an impedance spectrum is acquired over a relatively narrow frequency range, such as the resonant frequency range of the LCR circuit. A multivariate signature may be calculated from the acquired spectrum to discern the presence of certain fluids and/or fluid mixtures. The presence of fluids is detected by measuring the changes in dielectric, dimensional, resistance, charge transfer, and other changes in the properties of the materials employed by observing the changes in the resonant electronic properties of the circuit. By using a mathematical procedure, such as principal components analysis (PCA) and others, multiple fluids and mixtures can be detected in the presence of one another, even in a high humidity environment or an environment wherein one or more fluids has a substantially higher concentration (e.g.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method for sensor reader calibration comprising: performing a calibration of a sensor reader wherein the calibration comprises open circuit calibration, a short circuit calibration, and a load circuit calibration, or any combination thereof in any succession; enabling connection of a pickup coil to the sensor reader to measure a sensor response; and applying a baseline correction to the sensor response, wherein the baseline correction is obtained utilizing measurements from the calibration step.

Abstract: An impedance analyzer is provided. The analyzer includes a signal excitation generator comprising a digital to analog converter, where a transfer function of the digital to analog converter from digital to analog is programmable. The impedance analyzer further includes a receiver comprising a low noise amplifier (LNA) and an analog to digital converter (ADC), where the LNA is a current to voltage converter; where the programmable digital to analog transfer function is implemented by a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and a voltage mode digital to analog converter, or a digital phase locked loop (PLL), or both. Further, a multivariable sensor node having an impedance analyzer is provided. Furthermore, a multivariable sensor network having a plurality of multivariable sensor nodes is provided.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a multi-frequency sensor assembly including a single sensor body housing with a sensing region circuit and a sensor reader disposed in the sensor body. The sensor body is configured to be in operational contact with a fluid. The sensing region circuit is configured to generate different electric fields having different frequencies in the fluid. The sensor reader includes one or more processors configured to examine one or more impedance responses of the sensing region circuit at different frequencies and to determine one or more properties of the fluid based on the one or more impedance responses that are examined.

Abstract: A multivariable sensing device for sensing one or more parameters of a process fluid disposed in a container is provided. The multivariable sensing device includes a radio frequency based sensor configured to sense a physical parameter, a chemical parameter, a biological parameter, or combinations thereof, representative of the process fluid. The radio frequency based sensor includes a sensor substrate, a radio frequency coil disposed on at least a portion of the sensor substrate, and a support structure configured to be physically coupled to the container. Further, the support structure is configured to position the radio frequency based sensor in operative proximity to an inside of the container.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a sample includes providing a sensor assembly having a sensing region with a plurality of resonant circuits, and a plurality of tuning elements. The method further includes exposing the sensor assembly to an environment comprising the sample, and probing the sample with one or more frequencies generated by the sensor assembly. Furthermore, the method includes determining an impedance of a sensor response over a measured spectral frequency range of the sensor assembly, and relating measurement of impedance of the sensor assembly to at least one environmental property of the sample.

Abstract: System includes a sensor operably coupled to a device body. The sensor includes a sensing region and at least one resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit. The sensing region is configured to be placed in operational contact with an industrial fluid. The at least one resonant LCR circuit is configured to generate an electrical stimulus that is applied to the industrial fluid via electrodes at the sensing region. The device body includes one or more processors configured to receive an electrical signal from the sensor that is representative of a resonant impedance spectral response of the sensing region in operational contact with the industrial fluid responsive to the electrical stimulus. The one or more processors are further configured to analyze the resonant impedance spectral response and determine both a water concentration in the industrial fluid and an aging level of the industrial fluid based on the resonant impedance spectral response.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a RF sensor comprising a sensing antenna and a reference antenna, wherein a sensing material is disposed upon said sensing antenna and wherein the sensing antenna is configured to test for specific analyte by measurement of the resonant impedance spectra, and the reference antenna is configured to mitigate and correct for environmental parameters and positionn. In a further embodiment, a method for sensing comprising; utilizing an RF sensor, wherein the RF sensor comprises a sensing antenna and a reference antenna, wherein said RF sensor is configured to test for a specific analyte; and, measuring a resonant impedance spectra of the sensing antenna and reference antennaat multiple frequencies to provide a subsequent multivariate analysis of a signal response from the RF sensor.

Abstract: A method for multivariable measurements using a single-chip impedance analyzer includes providing a sensor, exposing the sensor to an environmental parameter, determining a complex impedance of the sensor over a measured spectral frequency range of the sensor, and monitoring at least three spectral parameters of the sensor.

Abstract: A sensor includes a resonant transducer, the resonant transducer being configured to determine the composition of an emulsion or other dispersion. The resonant transducer has a sampling cell, a bottom winding disposed around the sampling cell, and a top winding disposed around the bottom winding. The composition of the dispersion is determined by measuring the complex impedance spectrum values of the mixture of the dispersion and applying multivariate data analysis to the values.

Abstract: A resonant sensor assembly includes a dielectric substrate having a sensing region. The sensor assembly further comprises a plurality of tuning elements operatively coupled to the sensing region, where the sensing region is coupled to the plurality of tuning elements to define a plurality of resonant circuits.

Abstract: A method is provided for selectively detecting the presence and concentration of at least four analytes in a mixture. In certain embodiments, the method comprises contacting a single sensor with the mixture of analytes, wherein the sensor comprises at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material that comprises at least two material properties that change in the presence of four or more analytes in their mixtures, and generating a multivariate sensor response pattern. The methods disclosed herein further optionally comprise performing analyte classification and analyte quantitation. Methods for selectively detecting the concentration of at least one analyte in a mixture further comprising at least one interference are also described in the instant application.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a down-hole monitoring system, comprising one or more pieces of down-hole equipment, for example a down-hole logging tool, and at least one resonant sensor for obtaining physical and chemical parameters of a down-hole fluid in proximity to the sensor. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting material properties of a down-hole fluid, the method comprising placing a resonant LCR sensor within a piece of down-hole equipment, taking sensor readings down-hole, transmitting the sensor readings to a reader device, and analyzing the sensor readings.

Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. Each sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) sensor that is coated with a sensing material. In order to collect data, an impedance spectrum is acquired over a relatively narrow frequency range, such as the resonant frequency range of the LCR circuit. A multivariate signature may be calculated from the acquired spectrum to discern the presence of certain fluids and/or fluid mixtures. The presence of fluids is detected by measuring the changes in dielectric, dimensional, resistance, charge transfer, and other changes in the properties of the materials employed by observing the changes in the resonant electronic properties of the circuit. By using a mathematical procedure, such as principal components analysis (PCA) and others, multiple fluids and mixtures can be detected in the presence of one another, even in a high humidity environment or an environment wherein one or more fluids has a substantially higher concentration (e.g.

Abstract: A system that includes a sensor for measuring a resonant impedance spectral response of an inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) resonator and correlating the measured response of one or more spectral parameters to one or more characteristics of the fluid. Such characteristics may be the age or health of the fluid and/or the identification of and concentration of components in the fluid.

Abstract: A method of recovering a target from a sample is provided. The method of recovering the target follows different steps. The steps include providing a binding element, wherein the binding elements are immobilized on a solid support, adding the sample comprising the target to the binding element to form a binding element-target complex; washing the binding element-target complex; and eluting the target from the binding element-target complex. The system for reversible detection of target in a range from 2 to 1,000,000 bind/release cycles is also provided.

Abstract: A method of recovering a target from a sample is provided. The method comprises the adding a substrate coupled binding element to the sample comprising the target to form a substrate coupled binding element-target complex; precipitating the complex by changing one or more environmental conditions of the substrate and recovering the target and the substrate coupled binding-element under mild conditions.

Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. A sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit and a sensing material disposed over a sensing region. The sensing region comprises at least a portion of the LCR circuit. Temperature-dependent response coefficients of inductance L, capacitance C, and resistance R properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material are at least approximately 5 percent different from one another. The difference in the temperature-dependent response coefficients of the properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material enables the sensor to selectively detect analyte fluids from an analyzed fluid mixture substantially independent of temperature.

Abstract: Methods for selecting a binding-element are provided. The method comprised of different steps. A first mixture is formed using at least one target molecule and a plurality of oligomers, followed by incubating the first mixture to form a second mixture comprising at least one target-bound oligomer and at least one target-unbound oligomer. Then a first accelerator is added to cleave the target-unbound oligomer and the target-bound oligomer is separated from the target molecule. This is followed by addition of a second accelerator for ligation, and a third accelerator for amplification followed by sequencing and post sequence analysis to select the binding-element.

Abstract: A field-portable impedance reader is provided. The impedance reader comprises a reader antenna, an impedance compensator, a calibrator, and a synchronous sampler. The impedance reader further comprises a digital processor that receives and processes signals from the synchronous sampler. Further, a wireless system comprising the impedance reader of the invention is provided.