Abstract: A metamaterial pixel providing an electromagnetic emitter and/or en electromagnetic detector operating within a limited bandwidth. The metamaterial pixel is comprised of plasmonic elements arranged within a periodic photonic crystal array providing an electromagnetic emitter and/or an electromagnetic detector adapted in embodiments for operation at selected bandwidths within the wavelength range of visible out to a millimeter. Performance of the pixel in applications is enhanced with nanowires structured to enhance phononic scattering providing a reduction in thermal conductivity. In embodiments multiple pixels are adapted to provide a spectrometer for analyzing thermal radiation or electromagnetic reflection from a remote media. In other embodiments emitter and detector pixels are adapted to provide an absorptive spectrophotometer. In other embodiments one or more of metamaterial pixels are adapted as the transmitter and/or receiver within a communication system.

Abstract: An infrared spectrometer chip including a suspended micro-platform, the suspended micro-platform being configured as a thermal detector with integrated photonic and phononic structure. The chip in embodiments includes temperature controlled elements including a photonic source, filter, sensor and detector. Thermoelectric devices are disposed on the micro-platform.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the permittivity and/or the impedance of a material are based on transmitting a first RF signal to a transponder coupled to the material. The transponder is equipped with a resonant antenna coupled to the material such that the response of the antenna is affected by the material. The signal strength of a second RF signal transmitted by the transponder in response to the first RF signal, and received by an interrogator, is measured. The interrogator can calculate both the real part and the imaginary part of the complex impedance of the material from multiple measurements of the signal strength of the second RF signal taken at a plurality of frequencies of the first RF signal.

Abstract: An impedance spectrometer comprised of a thermal micro-platform supported with phononic structured nanowires disposed within a micromachined structure is provided to identify, monitor and characterize a gas, vapor, solid or liquid analyte. The impedance sensor and analyte sensing element in embodiments are formed from a semiconductor SOI starting wafer.

Abstract: A radiation dosimeter comprising a thermal micro-platform with a plurality of nanowires having phononic structures providing improved thermal isolation of the micro-platform. In embodiments, thermo-luminescent, MOS transistor and PIN diode sensors for x-ray, gamma, charged particles and neutron irradiation are disposed on the micro-platform. In a preferred embodiment the dosimeter is fabricated using a silicon SOI starting wafer.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the permittivity and/or the impedance of a material are based on transmitting a first RF signal to a transponder coupled to the material. The transponder is equipped with a resonant antenna coupled to the material such that the response of the antenna is affected by the material. The signal strength of a second RF signal transmitted by the transponder in response to the first RF signal, and received by an interrogator, is measured. The interrogator can calculate both the real part and the imaginary part of the complex impedance of the material from multiple measurements of the signal strength of the second RF signal taken at a plurality of frequencies of the first RF signal.

Abstract: A sensor system with energy harvesting has an energy-harvesting mode of operation and a load-enabling mode of operation, enabled at separate times. The system includes an antenna, an impedance-matching network, an RF switch, inductive and diode components (for forming a resonant RF-to-DC voltage multiplication circuit in conjunction with other elements of the system), a DC switch, an energy-storage device, and a primary load circuit.

Abstract: A thermoelectric pixel includes a micro-platform and a device layer having one or more support layers suspended at a perimeter thereof. The pixel includes structures which reduce thermal conductivity and improve platform planarity. In embodiments providing an infrared sensor, carbon nanotubes are used to enhance infrared absorption into the sensor pixel. In other embodiments, the pixel provides a thermoelectric energy harvester.

Abstract: A thermoelectric pixel includes a micro-platform and a device layer having one or more support layers suspended at a perimeter thereof. The pixel includes structures which reduce thermal conductivity and improve platform planarity. In embodiments providing an infrared sensor, carbon nanotubes are used to enhance infrared absorption into the sensor pixel. In other embodiments, the pixel provides a thermoelectric energy harvester.

Abstract: An “integrated” Fabry-Perot interferometer, such as for use in a spectrophotometer, is fabricated by attaching two micro-machined semiconductor-on-insulator wafers to one another. One mirror is formed on each micro-machined wafer. One mirror is supported by a thermally insulated, suspended micro-platform. In some embodiments, interferometer cavity length is adjustable. Detectors are disposed at least partially within the micro-platform. In some embodiments, the interferometer, a light source, and other circuitry and components, such as wireless communications components, are contained in a sealed package that includes a sampling region, thereby providing an integrated spectrophotometer. The integrated spectrophotometer can be implanted, for example, in animal tissue environments, such as for analyzing various compounds in the blood.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the permittivity and/or the impedance of a material are based on transmitting a first RF signal to a transponder coupled to the material. The transponder is equipped with a resonant antenna coupled to the material such that the response of the antenna is affected by the material. The signal strength of a second RF signal transmitted by the transponder in response to the first RF signal, and received by an interrogator, is measured. The interrogator can calculate both the real part and the imaginary part of the complex impedance of the material from multiple measurements of the signal strength of the second RF signal taken at a plurality of frequencies of the first RF signal.

Abstract: An “integrated” Fabry-Perot interferometer, such as for use in a spectrophotometer, is fabricated by attaching two micro-machined semiconductor-on-insulator wafers to one another. One mirror is formed on each micro-machined wafer. One mirror is supported by a thermally insulated, suspended micro-platform. In some embodiments, interferometer cavity length is adjustable. Detectors are disposed at least partially within the micro-platform. In some embodiments, the interferometer, a light source, and other circuitry and components, such as wireless communications components, are contained in a sealed package that includes a sampling region, thereby providing an integrated spectrophotometer. The integrated spectrophotometer can be implanted, for example, in animal tissue environments, such as for analyzing various compounds in the blood.

Abstract: A thermoelectric micro-platform includes a suspended micro-platform, the suspended micro-platform being configured as a support layer with a device layer disposed thereon. Two arrays of series-connected thermoelectric devices are disposed partially on the micro-platform. One array is operated as Peltier coolers and the other array is operated as Seebeck sensors.

Abstract: A multi-band antenna is disclosed that can operate in two different frequency bands through two different modes of operation. It can operate as a radio antenna for coupling energy into or out of a radio signal in a radio frequency band; or it can operate as a magnetic antenna for coupling energy into or out of a magnetic signal in a lower frequency band. A radio signal is a signal consisting of an electromagnetic wave; a magnetic signal is a signal consisting of a magnetic field. The multi-band antenna achieves the two modes of operation in a compact volume of space comparable to the volume of space occupied by an equivalent single-band antenna.

Abstract: RFID tags that must operate in the presence of ionizing radiation need to be radiation hardened in order to achieve reliable operation. This disclosure teaches several RFID tags that achieve radiation hardening without requiring the use of special-purpose radiation-hardened electronic devices. RFID tags typically use an antenna made of metal for achieving reliable radio communications. Radiation hardening is achieved by shaping the antenna such that the metal of the antenna acts as a shield for the radio circuits.

Abstract: A multi-band antenna is disclosed that can operate in two different frequency bands through two different modes of operation. It can operate as a radio antenna for coupling energy into or out of a radio signal in a radio frequency band; or it can operate as a magnetic antenna for coupling energy into or out of a magnetic signal in a lower frequency band. A radio signal is a signal consisting of an electromagnetic wave; a magnetic signal is a signal consisting of a magnetic field. The multi-band antenna achieves the two modes of operation in a compact volume of space comparable to the volume of space occupied by an equivalent single-band antenna.

Abstract: A thermoelectric micro-platform includes a suspended micro-platform, the suspended micro-platform being configured as a support layer with a device layer disposed thereon. Two arrays of series-connected thermoelectric devices are disposed partially on the micro-platform. One array is operated as Peltier coolers and the other array is operated as Seebeck sensors.

Abstract: An IR sensor includes a suspended micro-platform having a support layer and a device layer disposed thereon. IR absorbers are disposed in or on the device layer. IR radiation received by the IR absorbers heats an on-platform junction of each of a plurality of series-connected thermoelectric devices operating in a Seebeck mode, the devices producing a voltage indicative of the received IR. Other thermoelectric devices are used to cool the platform, and a pressure sensing arrangement is used to detect loss of vacuum or pressure leaks.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for wireless monitoring of corrosion as it occurs in a corrodible object. The system comprises one or more wireless corrosion sensors. A wireless corrosion sensor comprises an antenna assembly for transmitting and receiving radio signals. In the antenna assembly, at least part of the antenna assembly is made out of a corrodible material, such that, as the corrodible material undergoes corrosion, radio signals that are transmitted or received are affected. A remote system can estimate the extent of corrosion that has occurred by monitoring radio signals that are transmitted through the antenna assembly as it undergoes corrosion.

Abstract: A multi-band antenna is disclosed that can operate in two different frequency bands through two different modes of operation. It can operate as a radio antenna for coupling energy into or out of a radio signal in a radio frequency band; or it can operate as a magnetic antenna for coupling energy into or out of a magnetic signal in a lower frequency band. A radio signal is a signal consisting of an electromagnetic wave; a magnetic signal is a signal consisting of a magnetic field. The multi-band antenna achieves the two modes of operation in a compact volume of space comparable to the volume of space occupied by an equivalent single-band antenna.