| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R87550/01 |
| Title: |
BASIC TECHNOLOGY: The development of electric potential sensors as generic tools for basic technology |
| Principal Investigator: |
Prance, Professor R |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Engineering and Design |
| Organisation: |
University of Sussex |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 2002 |
Ends: |
30 September 2006 |
Value (£): |
1,033,868
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Electronic Devices & Subsys. |
Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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SummaryDescribe the proposed research in about 200 words.This programme is concerned with taking a new class of non-invasive (non-contact) sensor- the electric potential sensor- created by us at Sussex, and turning it into the basis for a major instrumentation and imaging technology, with many important applications in industry and research. Indeed, we expect these sensors to be applied in any areas where the non-contact detection of electric fields (potentials) is required. In order to demonstrate the power of these sensors as generic tools in a wide range of technologies, we shall begin by improving radically the overall performance of individual sensors - i.e. in terms of noise level, input impedance and bandwidth - since, ultimately, performance determines application. We shall introduce thin film fabrication processes to allow us to make planar micro electric potential sensors down to input electrode dimensions approaching 50nm. We shall develop the techniques (electronic, fabrication, signal acquisition/processing and computer interfacing) required to construct large number arrays of electric potential sensors. These will be used in imaging applications - either at the micro level (from 50nm to - 1 wm) or on a much larger spatial scale, typically for application to non-destructive testing of materials or geophysical surveying. Specific applications to be explored during this programme will be in medical diagnosis and imaging, VLSI circuit imaging, biological cell imaging, voltage/charge monitoring in quantum circuit physics, the human-machine interface and earthquake monitoring.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.sussex.ac.uk |