William D Hunt

US Patent:

7053524, May 30, 2006

Filed:

May 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/139477

Inventors:

Peter J. Edmonson - Hamilton, CA
Colin K. Campbell - Ancaster, CA
William D. Hunt - Decatur GA, US

Assignee:

P.J. Edmonson Ltd. - Hamilton

International Classification:

G01S 13/80
H04Q 5/22

US Classification:

310313D, 342 51, 333153, 333154, 3405712, 34082534

Abstract:

A surface acoustic wave sensor or identification device has a piezoelectric material, and an interdigitated transducer (IDT) input/output mounted on the piezoelectric material for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and propagating a corresponding surface acoustic wave along a surface of the piezoelectric material. An IDT finger electrode array is mounted on the piezoelectric material and is operable to communicate with the IDT input/output for transmission of a modified RF signal from the device. The IDT finger electrode array has at least one finger electrode segment whose propagating characteristics are controlled to control the nature of the modified RF signal. A biolayer is mounted on the piezoelectric material and is associated with the finger electrode segment, and a fluidic chamber is associated with the biolayer. In use, the fluidic chamber contains fluid which, if a predetermined substance to be sensed or detected is present, operates to modify the biolayer which in turn controls the nature of the modified RF signal.

US Patent:

7229821, Jun 12, 2007

Filed:

Feb 16, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/354814

Inventors:

Peter J. Edmonson - Hamilton, CA
William D. Hunt - Decatur GA, US
Desmond D. Stubbs - Riverdale GA, US
Stephen T. Makk - Toronto, CA

Assignee:

P.J. Edmonson Ltd. - Hamilton, Ontario

International Classification:

C12M 3/00
H01L 41/00

US Classification:

4352871, 4352872, 310311, 310313 R, 310340, 310341, 310343

Abstract:

A deployable acoustic wave RFID/biosensor assembly has at least one protective layer, and an acoustic wave RFID/biosensor within the protective layer or layers. The acoustic wave RFID/biosensor includes an acoustic wave device, a biolayer mounted on the acoustic wave device, an electric circuit operable to actuate the acoustic wave device, and a fluidic chamber associated with the biolayer. In use, the fluidic chamber contains fluid which, if a predetermined substance to be sensed is present, operates to modify the biolayer which in turn affects the operation of the acoustic wave device. Protective fluid is provided within the protective layer or layers substantially surrounds the acoustic wave RFID/biosensor to protect the acoustic wave RFID/biosensor from damage when the RFID/biosensor assembly impacts a target and to protect the biolayer from deterioration during storage and use.

US Patent:

7413892, Aug 19, 2008

Filed:

Jun 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/863150

Inventors:

William D. Hunt - Decatur GA, US

Assignee:

Georgia Tech Research Corporation - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

C12M 1/34

US Classification:

4352872, 310311, 310313 R, 310340, 422 83, 435807, 436513, 436524, 436815, 436900, 436901

Abstract:

Acoustic wave devices coated with a biolayer are described for the detection target bio-molecules. The acoustic wave device is connected in an oscillator circuit, and the frequency shift Δf resulting from a biomolecular event is recorded. Further described are the use of Rayleigh wave surface acoustic wave devices for vapor phase detection as well as quartz crystal microbalance devices for liquid phase measurements. A biofilm on the surface of the acoustic wave device comprises of a layer of antibodies raised against a specific target molecule or antigen. Signatures for detection events are presented in the form of frequency shifts Δf(t).

US Patent:

7451649, Nov 18, 2008

Filed:

Mar 25, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/088809

Inventors:

Peter J. Edmonson - Hamilton, CA
William D. Hunt - Decatur GA, US
Desmond D. Stubbs - Riverdale GA, US
Sang Hun Lee - Duluth GA, US

Assignee:

P.J. Edmonson Ltd. - Hamilton, Ontario

International Classification:

H01L 41/00
G01N 9/24
G01N 29/00

US Classification:

73599, 310313 D

Abstract:

A biosensor detection system for detecting a particular substance has at least two biosensor devices. Each biosensor device includes a piezoelectric material, an input transducer mounted on the piezoelectric material to receive an input radio frequency signal and propagate a corresponding acoustic wave within the piezoelectric material and an output transducer mounted on the piezoelectric material to receive the acoustic wave and transmit a corresponding output radio frequency signal. A biolayer is mounted on the piezoelectric material to receive a substance to be tested and cause a corresponding change in the acoustic wave. An oscillator circuit is connected to the input transducer and to the output transducer, the oscillator circuit including an amplifier and providing an output signal indicative of a change in the acoustic wave. The biosensor devices having two different biolayers, whereby the output signals can be utilized to detect receipt of a particular substance by the biolayers of the biosensor devices.

US Patent:

7608978, Oct 27, 2009

Filed:

Jun 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/812687

Inventors:

Peter J. Edmonson - Hamilton, Ontario, CA
William D. Hunt - Decatur GA, US

International Classification:

H03H 9/58
H03H 9/64

US Classification:

310313R, 331158, 333189

Abstract:

A sensing system includes an acoustic wave device comprising a body of piezoelectric material, and a first electrode assembly mounted on the piezoelectric body whereby an appropriate input applied to the electrode assembly produces an acoustic wave in the piezoelectric body and a first frequency response. The acoustic wave device also has a second electrode assembly to produce a second frequency response, the second electrode assembly being in contact with an area sensitive to a supplied stimulus to cause a characteristic of the sensitive area to change when a supplied stimulus is sensed to thereby change the second frequency response. The acoustic wave device has an output connected to the input of an amplifier, the amplifier having an output connected to the input of a coupling device. The coupling device is connected to the input of the acoustic wave device and has an output connected to a detector. The acoustic wave device, the amplifier and the coupling device are configured to be in an “off” condition when no supplied stimulus is sensed by the sensitive area of the acoustic wave device and to be in an “on” condition when a supplied stimulus is sensed by the sensitive area.

US Patent:

7650788, Jan 26, 2010

Filed:

Oct 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/976345

Inventors:

Peter J. Edmonson - Hamilton, Ontario, CA
William D. Hunt - Decatur GA, US

International Classification:

G01H 3/12

US Classification:

73599

Abstract:

An RFID biosensor detection system for detecting particular substances has an interrogator circuit to transmit a radio frequency signal, an input transducer mounted on a piezoelectric material to receive an input radio frequency signal and propagate a corresponding acoustic wave within the piezoelectric material. At least two chemically orthogonal or semi-orthogonal biolayers are mounted on the piezoelectric material to receive substances to be tested and cause corresponding changes in the acoustic wave. An output transducer is mounted on the piezoelectric material to receive the acoustic wave and transmit a corresponding output radio frequency signal. A receiver circuit receives the corresponding output radio frequency signal and provides separate channel data indicative of the substances received.

US Patent:

7651843, Jan 26, 2010

Filed:

Sep 15, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/226261

Inventors:

Desmond D. Stubbs - Riverdale GA, US
William D. Hunt - Decatur GA, US
Peter J. Edmonson - Hamilton, CA

Assignee:

P.J. Edmonson, Ltd. - Hamilton, Ontario

International Classification:

G01N 33/53
H01L 29/80

US Classification:

435 72, 257254

Abstract:

A method of detecting and identifying bacteria, micro-organisms or plants in a liquid or gaseous medium, the bacteria, micro-organisms or plants being of the kind which produce signaling molecules in intercellular space, includes positioning a biosensor in the liquid or gaseous medium, the biosensor having a biolayer matched to specific signaling molecules to be detected whereby the biolayer is reactive thereto in a manner which varies operation of the sensor. Such variation of the operation of the biosensor is detected to thereby determine the presence and purpose of the bacteria, micro-organisms or plants in the liquid or gaseous medium.

US Patent:

7771987, Aug 10, 2010

Filed:

Jul 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/822045

Inventors:

Peter J. Edmonson - Hamilton, Ontario, CA
William D. Hunt - Decatur GA, US
Christopher D. Corso - Atlanta GA, US
Anthony Dickherber - Smyrna GA, US
Marie E. Csete - Decatur GA, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/552

US Classification:

4352872, 73 2406, 310313 R, 310313 B, 310340, 436524, 436527

Abstract:

An acoustic wave sensor assembly includes piezoelectric material, a first acoustic wave resonator element structure mounted on the piezoelectric material for interacting with an electrical signal, the acoustic wave resonator element structure being operable to interact with an acoustic wave propagating within the piezoelectric material to produce a first frequency response. Further acoustic wave resonator element structures are mounted on the piezoelectric material for interacting with electrical signals, the further acoustic wave resonator element structures being operable to interact with further acoustic waves propagating within the piezoelectric material to produce subsequent frequency responses. The first acoustic wave resonator element structure and further acoustic wave resonator element structures are combined to form a ladder or lattice filter network to produce an overall frequency response. Sensitive areas are mounted on the piezoelectric material and associated with the acoustic wave resonator element structures which, if predetermined effects to be sensed or detected are present, are modified thereby to control the nature of the frequency responses with resultant specific perturbations of the combined frequency response and thereby provide information with respect to the predetermined effects to be sensed or detected.