Sensors
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated glass tube. A thermocouple converts temperature to an output voltage which can be read by a voltmeter. For accuracy, most sensors are calibrated against known standards.
(Wikipedia, Sensors, 2/7/2011)
Applications
Electrical Applications
Electroactive Polymers
Molecular Recognition
Recent US Patents
2/15/2011
7,886,621
Digital foam
Smith, Thomas and Piekarwski of the University of South Australia, Australia, has developed a displacement sensor element and a haptic sensor arrangement using two or more displacement sensor elements are provided. The displacement sensor element includes an electrically conductive elastomeric foam which is elastomeric along at least one axis and having at least one electrical characteristic that changes when the elastomeric member is compressed along the least one axis by a tactile force. (RDC 8/23/2011)
Recent Journal Articles
2/4/2011
Responsive Polymers in Biology and Technology
(53 – 97) Polymer Reviews 51 #1 (2011)
Bajpai et al of the Government Autonomous Science College, India reviews the state-of-the-art of the applications of various stimuli responsive polymers and describes their structure-property relationships. This review article also presents insights into synthetic strategies of these polymer systems and their major applications in areas such as controlled drug delivery, chromatography, sensors, biotechnology, etc. (RDC 1/4/2011)