Abstract: An apparatus configured to alternate the application of first and second gate voltages to a gate electrode of a photodetector. A first change in electrical current is relative to a predetermined measurement of electrical current taken at the first gate voltage in the absence of incident electromagnetic radiation, and a second change in electrical current is relative to a predetermined measurement of electrical current taken at the second gate voltage in the absence of the incident electromagnetic radiation. The photodetector comprises a channel, and source and drain electrodes configured to enable flow of electrical current through the channel. Quantum dots are configured to generate charge carriers on exposure to the incident electromagnetic radiation. The gate electrode is configured to generate an electric field upon the application of a gate voltage thereto, and process the signal to at least partially remove any changes in electrical current which are attributed to noise.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a layer of channel material, source and drain electrodes configured to enable a flow of electrical current through the channel material, and a layer of quantum dot material configured to generate electron-hole pairs on exposure to electromagnetic radiation to produce a detectable change in the electrical current indicative of one or more of the presence and magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation. The layer of quantum dot material is positioned between the channel material and a layer of conductive material. The layers of channel and conductive material have work functions such that respective built-in electric fields are created at the interfaces between the layer of quantum dot material and the channel and conductive material. The electric field at each interface acts in the same direction to promote separation of the electrons and holes of the electron-hole pairs to facilitate production of the detectable change in electrical current.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to alternate the application of first and second gate voltages to a gate electrode of a photodetector. A first change in electrical current is relative to a predetermined measurement of electrical current taken at the first gate voltage in the absence of incident electromagnetic radiation, and a second change in electrical current is relative to a predetermined measurement of electrical current taken at the second gate voltage in the absence of the incident electromagnetic radiation. The photodetector comprises a channel, and source and drain electrodes configured to enable flow of electrical current through the channel. Quantum dots are configured to generate charge carriers on exposure to the incident electromagnetic radiation. The gate electrode is configured to generate an electric field upon the application of a gate voltage thereto, and process the signal to at least partially remove any changes in electrical current which are attributed to noise.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a layer of channel material, source and drain electrodes configured to enable a flow of electrical current through the channel material, and a layer of quantum dot material configured to generate electron-hole pairs on exposure to electromagnetic radiation to produce a detectable change in the electrical current indicative of one or more of the presence and magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation. The layer of quantum dot material is positioned between the channel material and a layer of conductive material. The layers of channel and conductive material have work functions such that respective built-in electric fields are created at the interfaces between the layer of quantum dot material and the channel and conductive material. The electric field at each interface acts in the same direction to promote separation of the electrons and holes of the electron-hole pairs to facilitate production of the detectable change in electrical current.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program wherein the method comprises: providing a first input signal to a sensor; measuring a first output signal provided from the sensor in response to the first input signal and calculating capacitance of the sensor from the first measured output signal; providing a second input signal to the sensor; measuring the output signal provided from the sensor in response to the second input signal and calculating resistance of the sensor from the second measured output signal; wherein the first and second input signals are provided at different times.

Abstract: An apparatus and plurality of sensors where the apparatus includes a plurality of coupling elements; a plurality of attachment portions configured to enable a plurality of sensors to be removably attached to the apparatus; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program instructions; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to individually address each of the plurality of coupling elements to obtain a reading from each of the plurality of sensors attached to the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus including first and second sensor elements, the first sensor element includes a first sensor material. The second sensor element includes a second sensor material. The first sensor material is configured such that an electrical property of the first sensor material is dependent upon the temperature of the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located. The second sensor material is configured such that the same electrical property of the second sensor material is dependent upon the relative vapor pressure of a fluid in the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located, the respective temperature and fluid relative vapor pressure dependencies of the first and second sensor materials allowing the temperature and fluid relative vapor pressure of the environment to be determined based on combined measurements of the electrical property of the first and second sensor materials in the environment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program wherein the method comprises: providing a first input signal to a sensor; measuring a first output signal provided from the sensor in response to the first input signal and calculating capacitance of the sensor from the first measured output signal; providing a second input signal to the sensor; measuring the output signal provided from the sensor in response to the second input signal and calculating resistance of the sensor from the second measured output signal; wherein the first and second input signals are provided at different times.

Abstract: An apparatus including a sensor array, configured to produce an array output value in response to an environmental stimulus, and a controller, the sensor array including a plurality of sensors and a common output terminal connected to the respective outputs of the sensors, each sensor having first and second electrodes configured to output a respective sensor output value in a particular environment based on the areas of the first and second electrodes and/or the spacing therebetween, the controller configured to control which of the sensors are connected to the common output terminal using respective switches to vary the effective area and/or spacing of the sensor array such that the array output value at the common output terminal, based on the contribution of the respective sensor output values of the connected sensors, is held at a reference value.

Abstract: An apparatus including a sensor array, configured to produce an array output value in response to an environmental stimulus, and a controller, the sensor array including a plurality of sensors and a common output terminal connected to the respective outputs of the sensors, each sensor having first and second electrodes configured to output a respective sensor output value in a particular environment based on the areas of the first and second electrodes and/or the spacing therebetween, the controller configured to control which of the sensors are connected to the common output terminal using respective switches to vary the effective area and/or spacing of the sensor array such that the array output value at the common output terminal, based on the contribution of the respective sensor output values of the connected sensors, is held at a reference value.

Abstract: An apparatus including first and second sensor elements, the first sensor element includes a first sensor material. The second sensor element includes a second sensor material. The first sensor material is configured such that an electrical property of the first sensor material is dependent upon the temperature of the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located. The second sensor material is configured such that the same electrical property of the second sensor material is dependent upon the relative vapour pressure of a fluid in the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located, the respective temperature and fluid relative vapour pressure dependencies of the first and second sensor materials allowing the temperature and fluid relative vapour pressure of the environment to be determined based on combined measurements of the electrical property of the first and second sensor materials in the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus and plurality of sensors where the apparatus includes a plurality of coupling elements; a plurality of attachment portions configured to enable a plurality of sensors to be removably attached to the apparatus; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program instructions; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to individually address each of the plurality of coupling elements to obtain a reading from each of the plurality of sensors attached to the apparatus.

Abstract: A system includes a particle optical system and a photosensitive detector. The particle optical system includes a charged particle beam source and an objective lens. The charged particle beam source is configured to generate a charged particle beam that travels along a particle beam path, and the objective lens is configured to focus the particle beam onto an object plane of the particle optical system. The system is configured such that a light beam path of the system extends from the object plane to the photosensitive detector.