Planar potentiometric sensors based on Au and Ag microelectrodes and conducting polymers for flow-cell analysis

Back-side contact Au and Ag microelectrodes were used as transducers to construct planar all-solid-state electrodes suitable for flow-through analysis. The microsensors were based on plasticized PVC potassium-selective membranes containing ion-electron conducting polymer—polypyrrole doped with di(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate. The proposed technique allowed simple construction of microsensors in one step, by membrane solution casting directly on the surface of the planar metallic transducers. The performance of the microsensors based on Au and Ag transducers were determined and compared with planar sensors based on internal electrolyte immobilized in polyHEMA. The addition of the polypyrrole to the membrane composition did not influence on the selectivity, reproducibility and long-term stability of the microsensors but improved their standard potential stability in time in comparison with coated-wire type sensors. Moreover, all-solid-state microsensors based on Au transducers exhibited better signal stability than Ag based sensors.     

Doped Sol-Gel Films for Silica-on-Silicon Photonic Components

Further expansion of optical communication systems depends strongly on the development of cheap component technologies for functions such as switching, demultiplexing and amplification. Silica-on-silicon is increasingly recognised as the best approach to low cost integrated optics for such applications, but so far the functionality is limited. The purpose of NODES, a basic research collaboration sponsored by the European Union under the programme ESPRIT, has been to examine the application of sol-gel to a highly functional silica-on-silicon technology. In particular, the project has investigated film processing and characterisation, rare-earth doping for amplification, and semiconductor nanocrystallite doping for nonlinear functions. This paper presents the background and context to this work, summarises the technical results obtained, and discusses requirements and challenges for successful application of sol-gel in photonics.     

Metal island coated polymer sensor for direct determination of the volume effect of chaotropic agents

A new optical sensor is presented, based on the analyte reaction resulting in swelling and shrinking of a thin polymer layer. Changing the concentration of ions in a new bisazide photo-cross-linked poly(vinylpyrrolidone) polymer results in a concentration-dependent volume change of the hydrated gel. The volume response of the sensor induced by different ions is fully reversible over more than 250 cycles. The response of the device depends on the type, the charge and the concentration of the ions. The sensor material is part of an optical thin film system which transforms the variations in volume of the polymer into spectral information. The steady state of the sensor response is obtained within 60 s. The response time is mainly limited by the pump rate, the back pressure and the total volume of the system but not by the swelling of the sensor polymer. A comparative study of ion effects has demonstrated a fundamental correlation of the polymer swelling properties with the Hofmeister series of chaotropic agents. Thus it is concluded that the photopolymer, which is solubilized in aqueous solutions by the interaction of its amide structure with the solvent, behaves like the backbone amide structure of proteins.     

融合课程思政的“自动化综合实验”教学探索

为将思政教育融入课程教学中,培养德能兼备的自动化专业优秀人才。在《自动化综合实验》课程中,首先明确提出了教学的专业目标和思政目标,然后将教学环节分为课程介绍、选题汇报、学生实践以及项目展示和答辩环节,挖掘出丰富的思政元素并融入到课程教学的每个环节,并选取典型案例,通过思维导图法剖析了课程思政的融入策略,最后介绍了课程思政考核模式和取得的初步成效。该课程思政教学模式可以为“专业实验课程-思政教育体系”的打造提供参考。     

基于工业传感器示教平台的课堂教学改革

以学生发展为中心的教学理念逐渐深入人心,目前的传感课程存在一个实际问题——学生在课堂上学到的理论知识很难转变成实践能力。为了解决这个问题,自主开发了具有知识产权的工业传感器示教平台,在课堂上创设工业教学环境,现场演示或远程直播工业级传感器的测量实验,让同学们能把理论知识用得好。通过以上创新,解决了课堂教学的真实问题,提升了学生实践能力,建设为省一流本科课程。     

低功耗SAR ADC的高性能比较器综述

目前逐次逼近型模数转换器(SAR ADC)已经成为低功耗数模混合集成电路中模数转换器的首选架构,其中的核心模块—高性能比较器的功耗大小直接决定了SAR ADC的整体功耗。文章从低功耗SAR ADC系统出发,聚焦高性能低功耗电压域和时间域比较器的发展历程与最新研究进展,总结了通过优化SAR逻辑实现低功耗比较器的技术方法。该综述为数模混合电路设计者了解并掌握SAR ADC中高性能低功耗比较器技术提供有力参考。     

基于显著性检测的星载嵌入式跟踪系统

随着航天科技的不断发展,计算机视觉算法在卫星上的应用方兴未艾,为了实现更多的功能需求和应对可能的威胁,视觉目标跟踪作为其中基础但具有挑战性的任务更是至关重要。然而,目前已有的目标跟踪算法大多数算法只限于对图像序列进行跟踪。另一方面,受到硬件条件制约,很多优秀的算法因为复杂度较高很少被应用到星载嵌入式系统中。这些目标跟踪算法运行时,通常需要人为地给出目标的边界框。为了自动得到边界框,需要目标检测算法对输入图像进行运动目标检测。本文提出了一种基于显著性检测和相关滤波的单目标检测与跟踪一体化算法,并与嵌入式系统相结合,在搭载的TMS320C6678芯片上达到了2 048 pixel×2 048 pixel分辨率下24 fps的帧率。具体地,检测算法负责对图像进行预处理并获得边界框,然后目标跟踪算法给出目标在后续帧中的位置。为了验证算法在实际跟踪中的有效性,本研究搭建了一个由相机、DSP和云台组成的光学平台并进行了实验验证。在该系统中,DSP自动完成检测、跟踪、驱动云台和再检测任务,达到了很好的检测跟踪效果。     

Ultraprecise 3D Printed Graphene Aerogel Microlattices on Tape for Micro Sensors and E-Skin

3D printed graphene aerogels hold promise for flexible sensing fields due to their flexibility, low density, conductivity, and piezo-resistivity. However, low printing accuracy/fidelity and stochastic porous networks have hindered both sensing performance and device miniaturization. Here, printable graphene oxide (GO) inks are formulated through modulating oxygen functional groups, which allows printing of self-standing 3D graphene oxide aerogel microlattice (GOAL) with an ultra-high printing resolution of 70 µm. The reduced GOAL (RGOAL) is then stuck onto the adhesive tape as a facile and large-scale strategy to adapt their functionalities into target applications. Benefiting from the printing resolution of 70 µm, RGOAL tape shows better performance and data readability when used as micro sensors and robot e-skin. By adjusting the molecular structure of GO, the research realizes regulation of rheological properties of GO hydrogel and the 3D printing of lightweight and ultra-precision RGOAL, improves the sensing accuracy of graphene aerogel electronic devices and realizes the device miniaturization, expanding the application of graphene aerogel devices to a broader field such as micro robots, which is beyond the reach of previous reports.     

Bio-Inspired Artificial Fast-Adaptive and Slow-Adaptive Mechanoreceptors With Synapse-Like Functions

Development of artificial mechanoreceptors capable of sensing and pre-processing external mechanical stimuli is a crucial step toward constructing neuromorphic perception systems that can learn and store information. Here, bio-inspired artificial fast-adaptive (FA) and slow-adaptive (SA) mechanoreceptors with synapse-like functions are demonstrated for tactile perception. These mechanoreceptors integrate self-powered piezoelectric pressure sensors with synaptic electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors (EGFETs) featuring a reduced graphene oxide channel. The FA pressure sensor is based on a piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) thin film, while the SA pressure sensor is enabled by a piezoelectric ionogel with the piezoelectric-ionic coupling effect based on P(VDF-TrFE) and an ionic liquid. Changes in post-synaptic current are achieved through the synaptic effect of the EGFET by regulating the amplitude, number, duration, and frequency of tactile stimuli (pre-synaptic pulses). These devices have great potential to serve as artificial biological mechanoreceptors for future artificial neuromorphic perception systems.