A magnesium zinc oxide (MZO) nanostructure modified quartz crystal microbalance (MZO.sub.nano-QCM) takes advantage of the unique sensing ability and biocompatibility of MZO-based nanostructures, and combines them with the dynamic impedance spectrum capability of the bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices including QCM, to form a real-time, noninvasive and label-free cell monitoring biosensor, specifically detecting the susceptibility and resistance of bacterial and fungal strains and cancer cells to various antibiotic and antifungal drugs and anticancer drugs, respectively.

A method for measuring mass of a micro- and nano-sized particle. The method includes placing the micro- or nano-sized particle on a resonator having an oscillator and a first and second cantilevered arms with interdigitating finger, energizing the oscillator at a selective frequency thereby causing mechanical vibration in the first and second cantilevered arms, directing a light beam from a light source onto the interdigitating fingers, sensing intensity of light of the reflected diffraction pattern by at least one photodetector positioned about at least one of the modes, varying the frequency by sweeping a range of frequencies and correlating the sensed intensity to mass to thereby determine the mass of the micro- or nano-sized particle.

A force detection sensor includes a base member having a first surface subjected to an external force and a second surface having a normal direction different from the first surface, and electrode fingers placed on the second surface, wherein an arrangement direction of the electrode fingers is different from the normal direction of the first surface in a plan view of the second surface. Further, the second surface includes a surface of a piezoelectric material. A constituent material of the piezoelectric material is quartz crystal. The first surface crosses an electrical axis of the quartz crystal.

A method for measuring mass of a micro- and nano-sized particle. The method includes placing the micro- or nano-sized particle on a resonator having an oscillator and a first and second cantilevered arms with interdigitating finger, energizing the oscillator at a selective frequency thereby causing mechanical vibration in the first and second cantilevered arms, directing a light beam from a light source onto the interdigitating fingers, sensing intensity of light of the reflected diffraction pattern by at least one photodetector positioned about at least one of the modes, varying the frequency by sweeping a range of frequencies and correlating the sensed intensity to mass to thereby determine the mass of the micro- or nano-sized particle.

A device for weighing micro- and nano-sized particles. The device includes a base portion, an oscillator coupled to the base portion configured to vibrate the base portion, a first cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion at a proximal end and having a tip portion at a distal end, and a second cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion at a proximal end and having a tip portion at a distal end, each of the first and second cantilever beams further having a first plurality of fingers near the first tip portion inwardly pointing and a second plurality of fingers near the second tip portion inwardly pointing, respectively, such that the entirety of each cantilever beam is positioned in a side-by-side manner next to the entirety of the other forming substantially mirror images of one another, the first plurality of fingers interdigitating with the second plurality of fingers such that the first cantilevered beam and the second cantilevered beam can oscillate independent of each other, the interdigitating fingers separated by gaps that are configured to reflect light from the interdigitating fingers during oscillation of the first and second cantilevered beams to form a diffraction pattern.

An optomechanical device with mechanical elements and optical filters for actuating and/or detecting movement of the elements, including a support, and on the support: an array of mechanical elements anchored to the support and configured to move with respect thereto, and an actuating and/or detection device actuating the elements and/or detecting movement of the elements or frequency variations of the movement. The actuating and/or detection device includes an array of optical filters. Each filter resonates at a particular wavelength and is coupled to one of the elements. The actuating and/or detecting device is positioned in vicinity of all or some of the elements, between the elements and the support. The optical filters are fixed with respect to the support and the mechanical elements and the optical filters are superimposed.

A mass measuring apparatus includes a transferring and gripping device for removing an article from a seat of a movement device, holding the article in a measuring position, and then reinserting the article into the seat. The transferring and gripping device includes a gripping element for holding the article, an actuator for operating with an actuating signal on the gripping element to make the gripping element vibrate at a specific resonance frequency, a sensor for measuring a vibration response signal of the gripping element vibrating and supporting the article in the measuring position, a processing unit for receiving the vibration response signal and controlling the actuator to generate an actuating signal to make the gripping element vibrate at an operating resonance frequency, and then calculating a mass of the article by comparing the operating resonance frequency with the resonance frequency of the gripping element.

Provided is a nanoporous cantilever including a substrate in a shape of a plate, a tip formed at a front end of the substrate, and a nanoporous structure formed on the tip. Due to the nanoporous structure including nanopores and nanochannels formed on the tip, the nanoporous cantilever greatly increases in detection sensitivity for a material to be detected when compared to a cantilever according to a related art, and may obtain a surface-enhanced Raman signal and thus achieve discrimination of a molecule to be detected.

A filter arrangement of a vehicle includes a filter, preferably an active carbon filter, a sprung suspension for the vibrational mounting of the filter in the vehicle, a sensor unit for determining a variable corresponding to the current weight of the filter from a vibrational movement of the filter, and an analyzing unit for calculating a filling degree of the filter from the filter weight determined, taking the empty weight of the filter into account. The filter is suspended such that the filter can vibrate about a rotational axis fixed to the vehicle.

Apparatus and related methods are provided for automatically recalibrating a SAW scale for changing environmental factors. During a period of time when there is no change to a weight applied to the scale, readings of SAW transducers which relate to weight indications and environmental factor indications are taken for two adjacent operating modes of the scale, and two calibrated weight calculations are made utilizing those readings. The difference in calibrated weight calculations is then related to a variable utilized to transform the readings into weights, which is updated, thereby recalibrating the scale.