US Patent 7598723 - Resonance detection nanoantenna

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7598723.html

This patent from Clemson University teaches a method of using micro- or nano-cantilevered structures to produce induced electric fields for resonance detection. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of detecting resonance in an element comprising:

locating a counter electrode a predetermined distance from an element such that the element and the counter electrode are in a non-contact mode, wherein the element comprises a semi-conductive material or a carbon nanotube and has a length of less than about 500 μm and a width of less than about 50 μm;

inducing an electrostatic force on the element by applying a first electric signal to the counter electrode;

generating a second electric signal at the semi-conductive material or the carbon nanotube in direct response to the induced electrostatic force;

directly examining the second electric signal and;

ascertaining the presence of at least one subharmonic or superharmonic of the resonant frequency of the element in the second electric signal.