US 12,104,967 B2
Electromechanical force sensor based on extrema degeneracy point with nonlinear response
Ramathasan Thevamaran, Madison, WI (US); Jizhe Cai, Madison, WI (US); Tsampikos Kottos, Farmington, CT (US); Fred Ellis, Middletown, CT (US); and Rodion Kononchuk, Meriden, CT (US)
Assigned to Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed by Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US); and Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT (US)
Filed on Feb. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/681,320.
Prior Publication US 2023/0273077 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. G01L 1/14 (2006.01)
CPC G01L 1/142 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor, comprising:
a first resonator having an effective gain;
a second resonator having an effective loss;
a coupling circuit connected between the first resonator and the second resonator; and
a processing unit, wherein:
at least one of the first resonator, the second resonator, or the coupling circuit comprises a variable capacitor having a capacitance that varies as a function of a force applied to the variable capacitor; and
the processing unit is configured to tune the first resonator and the second resonator at an extrema degeneracy point with a non-linear response to the force, inject an input signal into the first resonator or the second resonator after tuning the first resonator and the second resonator at the extrema degeneracy point, receive an output signal from the first resonator or the second resonator, the output signal having a first frequency extrema point and a second frequency extrema point, and determine a magnitude of the force based on a difference between the first frequency extrema point and the second frequency extrema point.