Technologies Available for Licensing

1-50 of 52 technologies matching "sensors" RSS ATOM

A perspective depiction of an example ring-shaped optical photodetector element including a plurality of integrated sensing regions having different dopants for multi-wavelength detection

Uncooled Multifunction Wideband Sensors

32899 – UCF researchers have developed a photodetector able to operate at room temperature and measure spectral ranges including microwave, THz, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR while maintaining image detail. Current commercial photodetectors are limited by the sensor’s spectral responsivity, requiring multiple sensors or unique configurations to image and sense a wide spectral range. A new nanostructured... Read More

Microscope image of graphene transistor.

Graphene-based Plasmonic Phototransistor Provides Broadly Tunable, Narrowband Photo-response

33098 – Graphene phototransistor provides up to 40 percent change in channel conductance for spectral sensing and situational awareness applications Currently, there are no fast, highly sensitive graphene-based photo detectors with a narrow but broadly tunable bandwidth for spectral sensing and situational awareness applications. Extensive effort has been made in this direction through the... Read More

Optical block diagram showing a hybrid lens distance sensor for reflective targets according to the present invention

Low Cost and High Resolution Optical Distance Sensor with a Large Dynamic Range

31603 – This invention provides means and methods for the creation of an optical distance sensor comprised of a laser, hybrid (digital and analog) lens for ideal distance range and resolution, and an optical imager to measure target path length. The invention also makes use of a beam splitter to allow for remote sensing of object distance, motion displacement, 3D structure and spatial profile. ... Read More

Depiction of layered structure of skin and the attenuation of incident light on the skin by various phenomena such as absorption and scattering.

Non-Invasive Sensor for Determining Blood-Sugar Levels in Diabetics and Characterizing Materials

30733 – Integrated sensor characterizes optically dense materials by distinguishing the scattering and absorption coefficients of the materials from the incident light Non-invasive monitoring of various patients’ parameters, such as glucose concentrations, offers many advantages over invasive measurements. Patients could monitor themselves intermittently or continuously, without the need to... Read More

An exemplary evanescent-mode resonator pressure sensor including a coupling structure

Wireless Ceramic Sensors for Gas Turbines

31879 – Sensitive, real-time monitoring at high temperatures Turbine engines play a prominent role in power generation and aircraft propulsion. The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that by 2020, gas turbines will account for 40% of the U.S. power generation industry. Current turbine designs have been limited by the lack of sensors capable of providing reliable, detailed physical and chemical... Read More

Experimental system for the differential Shack-Hartmann curvature sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention

Improved Differential Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Curvature Sensor

30559 – The design of a differential Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor made of a twice split input wavefront, into the x-, y- and z-axis, that are each sampled by a lenslet array and compared to determine the wavefront’s local curvature In any optical system, aberrations are present in the light’s wavefront. These aberrations are deviations from a perfect spherical wavefront. These errors come... Read More

Top view of the mask design of the hydrogen micro sensor, and the exploded view of the same showing the resistive temperature sensor of the hydrogen micro sensor

Micro Electro-mechanical Room Temperature Hydrogen Sensor

30305 – A micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device that incorporates its own UV radiation source and thin film technology to detect hydrogen at low concentrations and at room temperature Hydrogen gas is currently used for a variety of industrial, commercial and scientific purposes. While extremely useful, it is also highly combustible, even at concentrations as low as 4% by volume. The... Read More

Block diagram of an infrared (IR) imager constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention

Enhanced Conduction Structure for Improving Infrared Microbolometer Sensors Without the Need for Cooling

30886 – Methods and apparatus for an enhanced conduction structure used in infrared (IR) microbolometer sensors. The desire to “see” in complete darkness or through obscurants such as smoke or fog has driven the development and adoption of thermal imaging technology in numerous industries. Thermal imaging devices provide the observer with instruments that can collect and convert the thermal... Read More

Cerium oxide coated electrode with electronic circuit

Faster Detection of Free Radicals

30949 – A nanoceria based regenerative radical sensor for plasma testing, food quality control, or drug development UCF researchers have developed an electrochemical sensor for the measurement of free radicals, or materials that generate free radicals, in solution. Ideal for biomedical, pharmaceutical, or sensor companies, this sensor has a long lifetime with the option of multiple uses. With an... Read More

Passive Wireless Sensor System Utilizes Piezoelectric MEMS Resonator

33162 – UCF researchers have invented a passive wireless sensor system that includes a piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonator that can be configured to sense one or more physical parameters such as temperature, pressure, viscosity, and mass. This system is complementary metal oxide semiconductor based, which utilizes silicon substrates and fab line processing techniques, and is... Read More

Laser modified rectangular and/or square patches along the circumference and length of the wire

Material Reduces Electrical Conductivity in MRI, Sensor, and Energy Applications

32399 – Induction heating occurs when eddy currents heat conductive material due to the inherent electrical resistance. The traditional use of a highly conductive metallic material slightly reduces induction heating by reducing the amount of energy introduced into the material via the skin effect, but the resulting induction heating may still be too high for certain applications. For example,... Read More

Schematic representation of the fabrication and use of the ISE.

Ready-to-Use Paper Ion Sensor for On-Site Analysis

33425 – Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are highly important for ion detection. Paper-based ISEs are a simple, low cost, and disposable alternative to conventional solid-contact ISEs. However, widespread use of paper-based ISEs has been limited due to poor detection limits (in the micromolar range), reliability, and selectivity. UCF researchers have developed novel ultra-sensitive paper-based ISEs... Read More

Schematic illustrations of the fabrication procedure of a five-hole probe

Ultra High Temperature Micro-Electro-Mechanical (MEMS)-Based Smart Sensors for Monitoring Gas Turbines and other Similar Extreme Environments

30235 – Process for producing novel Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based smart sensors for use in harsh, ultra-high temperatures environments Materials technology has had a profound impact on the evolution of human civilization. One of the most important advances in material technology has been the focused development of smart materials. These materials have inherent sensing properties... Read More

(a) and (b) show simplified representations of an intrisic and an extrinsic fiber optic based sensor system, respectively, according to an embodiments of the present invention

Ultra-sensitive Detection of Environmental Contaminants and biologically important molecules Using Coated Quantum Dots

30939 – Methods and apparatus for efficiently generating the reagents (quantum dots with a partial and/or fully semi-conducting outer shell for the selective detection of several substances) and the optical system for detecting said substances. The rise of industry has provided humanity with numerous benefits. Unfortunately, harmful byproducts often result from these advancements. For example,... Read More

Mosquitoes feeding on the Passive Insect Surveillance Sensor Device

Low-Cost Device Catches, Kills and Identifies Vectors with Infectious Diseases

33502 – According to the World Health Organization, vector-borne diseases account for more than 17 percent of all infectious diseases, causing more than 1 million deaths annually. Confirmed cases of Dengue fever (DENV), Zika (ZIKV) or chikungunya (CHIKV) in the Americas over the past few years now pose a heightened risk for epidemics in the U. S., as well as in the traditional endemic areas like... Read More

The assembled BOD sensor of the present invention

Water Quality Testing in the Palm of Your Hand

30257 – UCF researchers have designed a reliable, easy to manufacture, and inexpensive microfluidic portable water sensor with disposable cartridges—capable of determining microbe growth, chlorine content, purity, or temperature. Microfluidics, or “lab-on-a-chip” technology, is experiencing explosive growth in the fields of chemistry, biology, electronics, and computers. These small devices work... Read More

The injection molding method of fabricating the one-piece microfluidic package

Interconnecting Microfluidic Package and Fabrication Method

31566 – The field of microfluidics is aimed at developing miniaturized devices that can robustly sense specific properties of a sample utilizing minimal sample volumes. Development of biological and chemical microfluidic sensors is challenging due to the lack of adequate packaging platforms and standardized tubing. Creating connections between various microfluidic devices is cumbersome due to fragile... Read More

Top view depiction of an exemplary micromixing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention

A Passive Micro-Mixer for Use With Micro- Fluidic Sensors in Medical, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Applications

31571 – The invention provides the means, materials and methods for creating an in-line passive micro-mixer to be combined with a micro-fluidic sensor. This device makes use of variations in side-wall shapes to alter the flow rates of miscible liquids. These side-wall shapes are comprised of polymer resins cast from a silicon wafer mold. The field of micro-fluidics is growing rapidly, with... Read More

A retaining wall's tilt can easily be monitored with this technology

High-Accuracy Structural Health Monitoring Method Detects Small Pattern Changes with Fewer Sensors

32433 – UCF researchers have developed a way to detect small pattern changes in sensed data, particularly in field monitoring applications, using auto-modulating pattern (AMP) detection. Small pattern changes are difficult to identify in the presence of substantial environmental effects that act as noise and conceal them. In some situations, such as monitoring the tilt of a retaining wall over time... Read More

Fabrication and Characterization of 3D Printed, 3D Microelectrode Arrays (MEAs) with Spin-Coated Insulation and Functional Electrospun 3D Scaffolds

33871 – New MEA Fabrication Technology Enables the Development of Rapid Assays with 3D Cell-Based Biosensors for Toxicity Testing, Disease Modeling and Optical/Electrical Stimulation of Cell Types Exploded view of the 3D MEA: 3D microtowers, metallization, laminate insulation and containment culture well with a close-up of 10 recording sites per patch. Fully functional for “disease in a... Read More

Perspective view of an embodiment of a sensor including a plurality of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs)

Optical Detector for Improved Signal Amplification

33034 – A new method of signal amplification has been developed by a UCF researcher to offer improved signal amplification utilizing optical gain rather than traditional gain in the detector. The novel approach to optical signal amplification does not require active electronic elements, avoiding problems such as thermal run away that can cause a detector to become inoperative in harsh environments.... Read More

Photograph of prototype (top) and block diagram of control electronics (bottom). Labeled elements are 1) QCL, 2) parabolic mirror, 3) mode-limiting apertures, 4) vapor cell, 5) output coupler, 6) scanning Fabry Perot, 7) detector, 8) source of analyte vapor.

Stabilize QCL Systems with Dynamic Alignment to Detect Trace Gases

32827 – Rapid and accurate detection of trace gases and vapors at parts-per-billion mixing ratios is critical in applications from environmental monitoring to military objectives and homeland security. Conventional analytical instruments tend to be bulky, expensive, limited to the detection of a single analyte—or require advanced training to distinguish and identify the characteristic signals of... Read More

Illustration of the system capturing and identifying contaminated areas in a mock medical procedure

System Monitors Medical Procedures to Detect Sterile Field Contamination

33396 – UCF researchers have developed an automated detection system aimed at helping to prevent and reduce the number of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) contracted during medical procedures. The new System for Detecting Sterile Field Events tracks activity during training or an actual medical procedure and identifies actions (such as contact-related events) that violate the sterile field and... Read More

Figure 1. Schematic view of the imaging operational concept.

Cost-Effective Imaging System Uses RF Magnetic Field and Loop Bolometer Array to Produce MRI-Quality Images

33853 – New system can generate detailed images of internal body structures and identify defects embedded in electronic circuits UCF researchers have designed a new imaging system that captures detailed, 3D views of an object’s internal structures and is more affordable, compact and transportable than other systems. The invention is safe to use for both medical and scientific applications, since... Read More

A schematic diagram of a perspective view of another embodiment of concentric coupled RCSE-QCLs, each with ring-shaped spiral-wedge phase shifter

Ring-Cavity Surface Emitting QCL with Higher Power and Excellent Beam Quality

33010 – Most commercially available quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are edge-emitting, yet this invention from University of Central Florida involves ring-cavity surface-emitting QCLs (RCSE-QCLs) that are concentrically nested to combine power, coupled to insure coherent emission, and phase controlled with integrated optical delays to engineer the beam profile. This novel method obtains high-power... Read More

Example applications of spatially variant photonic crystals (SVPCs): (left) A standard SVPC bend; (middle) An SVPC bend with a lens multiplexed into the lattice; (right) The same multiplexed device with the source beam incident at an angle.

Photonics Apparatus Provides Groundbreaking Light Bending Capability

33687 – New device enables telecommunications networks and high-performance computers to transfer data through tight twists and turns at light speed and without energy loss Researchers at UCF and the University of Texas at El Paso have designed and developed a device that can bend and steer data-carrying light beams through tighter turns and with higher efficiency than current technologies. The... Read More

An exemplary thermal conduction switch in a parallel setup according to an embodiment of the invention

Shape Memory Alloy Based Thermal Conduction Switch for on Demand Heat Transfer

31191 – This invention embodies a thermal conduction switch based on shape memory alloy material to provide on-demand heat transfer between reservoirs kept at different temperatures Thermal conduction switches play an important role in heat management for numerous systems. They are used in spacecraft and satellites for applications such as cooling of reservoirs and equipment, and long-term... Read More

A schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the hybrid differential optical sensing system to deliver compressed sensing.

Active and Passive Optical Imaging System to Reduce Storage and Compression Time

32122 – Compressed sensing, which is often based on random measurement bases, is a useful technique that samples and significantly compresses a signal at a much faster rate. However, currently available methods have two key challenges; when used in practical systems, such as computed tomography, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), random measurement is incompatible... Read More

Non-invasive, Low Cost, Portable Glucose Monitoring System

31028 – Methods and apparatus for creating a portable noninvasive glucose monitoring system, which includes a sensing solution containing specially designed nanoparticles sensitive to very minute changes in glucose level. Diabetes mellitus is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. It is a medical disorder characterized by persistent variable hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), resulting... Read More

Example showing a silicon stretchable focal plane array (FPA) circuitry made using the invention and shaped into a hemisphere for a lens assembly.

New Process and Applications for Flexible Electronic and Optoelectronic Circuits

33601 – Fabrication technology creates stretchable circuits for advanced imaging and wearable electronic devices UCF researchers have developed a new fabrication process for making stretchable electronic and optoelectronic devices, circuits or systems that can conform or deform to specific shapes. The new process enables manufacturers to make circuits for advanced imaging systems, wearable... Read More

Finite Difference Time Domain calculation of the energy density around a metal nanoparticle under plane wave excitation

Method of Generating Frequency Tunable Resonant Scatterers

30287 – Apparatus, methods, systems and devices for enhancing optical emissions by tuning the resonant states of conductive structures In many applications, such as optical, mechanical and acoustic sensing, displays of optical information are based on scattering of optical fields with specific frequencies on various scattering structures. These actions are significantly more efficient when the... Read More

Structural model of electrical property tuning via defect engineering in MoS2 single-layer as a function of oxygen plasma exposure time. With the increase of the plasma exposure time, insulating MoO3 domains are formed in MoS2. The MoO3-rich defect regions not only change the atomic sites locally, where they replace the S atoms, but also lead to lattice distortions. With increasing plasma exposure, the distortion also increases.

Oxygen Plasma Treatment Significantly Boosts Electrical Resistivity in TMDC Materials

33246 – Among the various types of two dimensional (2D) materials, graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS) have received the most attention. Researchers have noted that although graphene has a very high carrier mobility, the lack of a band gap limits its application in nanoelectronic and optical devices. Known for their extraordinary electrical, mechanical, and optical properties, single-layer and... Read More

A schematic diagram of a capillary ionic transistor

Capillary Ionic Transistor: Simple, Cost-Effective, One-Step Procedure

32918 – The Capillary Ionic Transistor (CIT) nanodevice provides control of ionic transport through the nanochannel by gate voltage for use by pharmaceutical companies, medical instruments companies, hospitals, research organizations, microelectromechanical systems companies, and the chemical industry. Nanofluidic devices such as ionic diodes and ionic transistors form key elements in ionic... Read More

Figure 1. Illustration of the new vehicle detection system with RFB technology alerting a wrong-way driver. Courtesy of the Central Florida Expressway Authority.

Wrong-Way Driver Detection Technologies can Help Prevent Head-On Collisions

33441 – New systems leverage vehicle and roadside technologies to thwart head-on collisions caused by wrong-way drivers Researchers at UCF and the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) have patented methods for systems that help prevent head-on collisions when drivers wrongfully enter roadways. The technologies (UCF IDs: 33441, 33714, and 33716) can be used to alert and stop wrong-way drivers... Read More

Schematic diagram of a graphene plasmonic-cavity structure, according to the invention

Monolayer Graphene Optical Detector Offers Exceptional Light Absorption

33758 – New low-cost graphene-based, light absorber increases the efficiency and performance of mid-IR photodetectors, photovoltaic devices and modulators UCF researchers have invented a graphene-based optical detector device with an unprecedented light absorption value of 60 percent in the mid infrared spectral domain. Historically, graphene’s low optical absorbance ( Various strategies use... Read More

Example use of the UCF Tactile-Visual Wound Simulation Unit in a military combat situation.

Tactile-Visual Wound Simulation Unit for Realistic Hands-On Training

33827 – Multi-Sensory, Interactive Training Unit Lets Combat Medics See, Feel and Treat Lifelike, 3D Wounds UCF researchers have invented an innovative, multi-sensory, interactive training system that realistically mimics wounds and provides constant, dynamic feedback to medical trainees as they treat the wounds. Almost like a video game in real-life, the Tactile-Visual Wound (TVW) Simulation Unit... Read More

Tandem hot metal strip rolling machinery

Control Model for Tandem Hot Metal Strip Rolling

32121 – In the manufacturing and processing of metals, especially steel, tandem metal strip rolling is a critical process. Almost half of all finished steel products worldwide start in sheet or strip form produced using hot strip rolling processing—very often in a tandem hot strip finishing mill. Challenged by a hostile high-temperature environment and no space for sensors, the strip rolling process... Read More

Block diagram representation of an example PV system including a disclosed system controller that implements a disclosed sun tracking algorithm

Increase PV Power Output with Fine-Tuned Solar Tracking

32221 – To capture the most energy possible every day, a photovoltaic (PV) panel must follow the sun through the sky. This movement is complicated by atmospheric scattering from cloud cover, altering the maximum point of power production, and must also account for the sun’s gradually shifting position through seasons. Conventional automation requires sensors to determine the location of the sun, or a... Read More

Schematic diagrams showing the Zr02 45 nanocrystallites forming loose-aggregates

Inexpensive Room Temperature Synthesis of High Quality Zirconia Powders for Materials Applications

30025 – The invention is the first method which utilizes sol-gel processing techniques and a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) polymer to generate nano and submicron sized zirconia powders which contain 100% tetragonal phase zirconium at room temperature. Zirconium is a well-known structural ceramic, which exhibits a resistance to wear, abrasion, impact fracturing, corrosion, an ability to withstand... Read More

Block diagram of an exemplary system for detecting and identifying biological pathogens or chemical contaminants

Airborne Contamination Detection via Optical Waveform Matching

31080 – The invention represents a method for the detection of airborne contaminants by means of optical correlation between a known target response and the sample of question. By spectrally shaping a broadband probe source, this technology may selectively test for specific agents over a broadband range of wavelengths. In today’s world, airborne chemicals and biological agents, both innocent and... Read More

Schematic diagram showing the formation of the CNT filled with Pd-nanoparticles in the arc-discharge in solution method

Super Absorbent Palladium Filled Carbon Nanotubes for the Storage and Detection of Hydrogen Gas

30222 – A one-step arc-discharge in solution method for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes containing metals, such as palladium Hydrogen gas is currently utilized for a variety of industrial, commercial and scientific purposes. In the future the world looks to utilizing this gas as a sustainable energy alternative to fossil fuels, but many challenges must be overcome in order to bring hydrogen... Read More

Figure 1. Example method of fabricating a device using the invention

New Technology Offers Thin-Film Integration Compatible with Silicon Photonics Foundry Production

33647 – Invention can dramatically improve the efficiency and reliability of analog integrated photonic systems for high-speed telecommunications in the 1.55 μm wavelength regime UCF researchers have invented a novel way to produce heterogeneous photonic integrated circuits using fabrication methods that are compatible with photonics foundry production. The new process enables manufacturers to... Read More

Depiction of an oxide support having a plurality of raised oxide nanostripes induced by annealing the oxide support when micelle-based Pt nanopart:icles were present on its surface

Form Thermally Stable Nanoparticles on Supports

31902 – This invention provides methods and apparatus’ for the synthesis and coating of size-selected thermally stable nanoparticles. Catalysts are compounds which speed up chemical syntheses and other types of reactions. Nanoparticles are especially good catalysts due to their small size and the concomitant increased surface area. Furthermore, size-dependent changes in the electronic properties... Read More

Release mechanism including an actuator, design (a) and implementation (b)

Debris-Less and Spark-Free Shape Memory Alloy Based Release Mechanism

31171 – This invention embodies a shape memory alloy based mechanism for releasing a load without any electrical sparks and with no debris released utilizing a specific temperature as its trigger Shape memory alloys are materials that are able to return to their original shape when heated. This shape recovery can occur against large forces, leading researchers to develop the next generation of... Read More

A schematic drawing of a system for temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) measurement used in the technology

Heightened Performance for Infrared Imaging Detectors

31098 – Nanocomposite Seminconducting Material with Reduced Resistivity UCF researchers have developed a process for fabricating a nanocomposite semiconducting material with improved electrical properties. In microbolometers, this material and fabricating method increases response to temperature while reducing the material’s resistivity. Formed by simultaneously depositing an amorphous oxide and a... Read More

A solid state V-type laser resonator in which a rod is placed in one of the pump cavities shown and the pump source is an array of diode bars.

Laser Arrays that are Faster, Flexible, and Efficient

32018 – New pump cavity design adds stability and efficiency UCF researchers have developed a method of rapidly changing a pump source in a laser system that provides flexibility and saves valuable time. When modifying the laser array, this new design allows for rapidly adapting the laser to changes in temperature in any environment. The design increases stability and reliability during mechanism... Read More

Exploded view of a vertically integrated three-pole filter / antenna with two cavity resonators and one patch antenna.

Larger Bandwidth, Higher Performance Patch Antennas

32119 – Compact Integrated Filter and Microstrip Antenna Patch antennas are ideal for communication and radar systems, because of their ease of fabrication and low profile. However, when high efficiency bandpass filters are added to reject out-of-band noise and interference, they typically require coaxial connections adding bulk or detuning the filter response of the low profile antenna, thus... Read More

Flow diagram of an embodiment of operation of a mobile node after receiving a route request message

Virtual Router for a Robust Wireless Multihop Highly Mobile Communication Network

31107 – The invention represents a method for forming and maintaining wireless communication routes between a source node and a destination node by means of relay nodes and mobile nodes. Performance of networks are unaffected by the mobility of such nodes. Mobile wireless networks exist in two variations: those with infrastructure and those without (also known as mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs)).... Read More

Low-Cost Brightness Enhancement of Laser Sources Using Photonic Lanterns

33903 – New system enables manufacturers to reduce the cost and space needed to combine and boost the output brightness of semiconductor laser sources UCF researchers have invented a system that requires less physical space and is less expensive than other laser brightness enhancement systems. By uniquely integrating few-mode fiber and photonic lantern technologies, the new system enables the... Read More

Selectively Apply Near-Unity Absorptive Gold-Black to the Pixels of Thermal Infrared (IR) Imaging Array Detectors for use in Night Vision

33033 – In thermal IR sensors (bolometers), absorptive coatings convert IR power into heat. Absorptive coating gold-black has been used for many decades for IR bolometers, particularly for array detectors used in night vision for defense and security. Gold-black is a nanocrystalline deposit formed when an inert gas causes gold atoms to collide and bind with each other to form a web-like structure.... Read More

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