Patents Assigned to Government of the USA, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Patent number: 11287334
    Abstract: An optomechanical pressure-measurement system measures pressure in the range of 10?6 Pa-10?2 Pa by measuring various properties of a vibrational mode of an ultra-thin membrane member. With independent measurements of the thickness and density of the membrane, in addition to the measured vibration mode properties, the system can operate as a primary pressure sensor. The membrane member is mounted on a vibration-isolated mount and is excited by a drive force. A laser beam impinges on the excited membrane, and an optical phase detector detects the amplitude of the oscillations, as well as parameters of the laser beam affected by the membrane vibration. In one embodiment, a mechanical damping is computed based on the amplitude or frequency shift (depending on the pressure range), and the pressure based on the ring-down time of the membrane vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: University of Maryland, College Park, Government of the USA, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Stephen Eckel, James Fedchak, Thomas Purdy, Robinjeet Singh