Various embodiments of an apparatus for measuring binding kinetics of an interaction of an analyte material present in a fluid sample are disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensing resonator having at least one binding site for the analyte material; actuation circuitry adapted to drive the sensing resonator into an oscillating motion; measurement circuitry coupled to the sensing resonator and adapted to measure an output signal of the sensing resonator representing resonance characteristics of the oscillating motion of the sensing resonator; and a controller coupled to the actuation and measurement circuitry, wherein the controller is adapted to detect an individual binding event between the at least one binding site and a molecule of the analyte material.

A photoacoustic detection system (20) includes a detector (22) that has a chamber (24), a pulsed light source (26), piezoelectric tuning forks (28), and a photosensor (30). The chamber has an inlet and an outlet for flow of an analyte. The pulsed light source is adjacent the chamber and is operable to emit a light beam along a path through the chamber. The tuning forks are arranged along the path, and each of the tuning forks is operable to emit first sensor signals. The photosensor is arranged along the path and is operable to emit second sensor signals. A controller (38) is connected to receive the first and second sensor signals. The controller is configured to determine whether a target species is present in the analyte based on the first sensor signals and determine whether the target species is present in the analyte based on the second sensor signals.

Methods and apparatus for electrochemical analysis of water include acid cleaning a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), stabilizing a QCM in analyte solution, and analyzing the solution by chronoamperometry and measuring a frequency shift of the QCM. The method may further include cleaning the QCM in an acid solution prior to stabilizing the QCM in analyte solution. The apparatus may provide at least semi-automated electrochemical analysis of water including determining a concentration of an analyte in a water sample, and communicating the concentration of the analyte over a network. The analyte may be manganese.

Devices, systems, methods, and kits of parts for monitoring operation of an electron beam additive manufacturing systems are disclosed. A monitoring system includes one or more measuring devices positioned on the at least one wall in the interior of a build chamber of the additive manufacturing system. Each one of the one or more measuring devices includes a piezoelectric crystal. The monitoring system further includes an analysis component communicatively coupled to the one or more measuring devices. The analysis component is programmed to receive information pertaining to a frequency of oscillation of the piezoelectric crystal. A collection of material on the one or more measuring devices during formation of an article within the build chamber causes a change to the frequency of oscillation of the piezoelectric crystal that is detectable by the analysis component and usable to determine a potential build anomaly of the article.

Various embodiments of an apparatus for measuring binding kinetics of an interaction of an analyte material present in a fluid sample are disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensing resonator having at least one binding site for the analyte material; actuation circuitry adapted to drive the sensing resonator into an oscillating motion; measurement circuitry coupled to the sensing resonator and adapted to measure an output signal of the sensing resonator representing resonance characteristics of the oscillating motion of the sensing resonator; and a controller coupled to the actuation and measurement circuitry, wherein the controller is adapted to detect an individual binding event between the at least one binding site and a molecule of the analyte material.

An acoustic receiver and method for acoustic logging. The acoustic receiver comprises a housing and a sensor subassembly, which is located within the housing. The sensor subassembly comprises a mount and a cylindrical piezoelectric crystal coupled to the mount. The sensor subassembly also comprises an isolation ring positioned between one of the ends of the cylindrical piezoelectric crystal and the mount. The isolation ring directly engages the crystal and the mount. The method of acoustic logging comprises receiving an acoustic signal using an acoustic receiver, which comprises a cylindrical piezoelectric crystal coupled to a mount without an adhesive material. The method also comprises converting the acoustic signal into an electrical signal by the cylindrical piezoelectric crystal and transmitting the electrical signal to a processor via a conductor coupled to the cylindrical piezoelectric crystal.

An apparatus comprising, a monolithic crystal comprising a substrate portion and at least one oscillator; a first electrode provided at a first location of the oscillator; a second electrode provided at a second location of the oscillator; a gap separating the oscillator from the substrate portion, exposing a side surface of the oscillator; and one or more tethers that extend across the gap so that the oscillator is supported by the substrate portion.

A substance detection system and a substance detection method are provided. The temperature identifying portion identifies a surface temperature of the quartz substrate, based on a difference between a deviation of the fundamental wave frequency from at least any predetermined reference fundamental wave frequency of the reference crystal resonator and the detecting crystal resonator and a deviation of the third harmonic frequency from a predetermined reference third harmonic frequency. The substance identifying portion identifies a temperature at which a contaminant attached to the detecting crystal resonator is desorbed from the detecting crystal resonator to identify the contaminant based on the temperature at which the contaminant is desorbed. The temperature is identified based on a difference between the fundamental wave frequency of the reference crystal resonator and the fundamental wave frequency of the detecting crystal resonator measured by the frequency measuring portion and the temperature identified by the temperature identifying portion.

A system includes a sensor comprising a sensor bonding layer disposed on a surface of the sensor, wherein the sensor bonding layer is a metallic alloy. An inlay includes a planar outer surface, wherein the inlay may be disposed on a curved surface of a structure. A structure bonding layer may be disposed on the planar outer surface of the inlay, wherein the structure bonding layer is a metallic alloy. The sensor bonding layer is coupled to the structure bonding layer via a metallic joint, and the sensor is configured to sense data of the structure through the metallic joint, the structure bonding layer, and the sensor bonding layer. The inlay comprises at least one of a modulus of elasticity, a shape, a thickness, and a size configured to reduce strain transmitted to the sensor.

To provide a technique for expanding a measurement dynamic range and performing a stable detection in a sensing sensor using a crystal resonator. A spacer is disposed between an oscillator circuit that oscillates a crystal resonator and a base body that cools an oscillator circuit to a cryogenic temperature, and an oscillator circuit board includes a heater resistor that heats the oscillator circuit. Therefore, the temperature of the oscillator circuit that does not fall below a functional limit temperature and is a low temperature as much as possible can be provided. A negative resistance of the oscillator circuit can be increased, the measurement dynamic range can be expanded, and the crystal resonator can be stably oscillated.