Jongchel Kim

Noninvasive in vitro measurement of pig-blood D-glucose by using a microwave cavity sensor

We have developed an electromagnetic microwave cavity sensor based on the resonant frequency shift for real time measurement of the glycemia in pig blood. We could determine the concentration of d-glucose in pig blood in the range of 150-550mg/dl at the resonance frequency near 4.75GHz with a bandwidth of 300MHz. The change in the d-glucose concentration in blood brings microwave reflection coefficient S(11) changes of about 6.26dB and resonance frequency shifts of about 11.25MHz due to the electromagnetic interaction between the cavity resonator and the blood filled plastic tube inserted into the cavity. This proposed system provides a unique approach for real time noninvasive and contactless glucose monitoring.

Real-Time Noninvasive Measurement of Glucose Concentration Using a Microwave Biosensor

We measured the glucose concentration by using the real-time electromagnetic interaction between probe-tip and glucose solution using a microwave biosensor. The microwave biosensor, consisting of a dielectric resonator coupled to the probe-tip, allows observation of the small variation of the glucose concentration changes in the ranges of 0–300 mg/ml by measuring the microwave reflection coefficient . We could observe the concentration of glucose with a detectable resolution up to 1 mg/ml at an operating frequency of about GHz. The change of the glucose concentration is directly related to the change of the reflection coefficient due to the electromagnetic interaction between the microwave resonator and the glucose solution. The operational principal is explained by the plane-wave solution model. The measured signal-to-noise ratio was about 37 dB, and the minimum detectible signal was about 0.003 dB/(mg/ml). A glucose biosensor using a microwave resonator with probe provides a unique approach for glucose real-time monitoring.

Direct imaging of photoconductivity of solar cells by using a near-field scanning microwave microprobe

A near-field scanning microwave microprobe (NSMM) technique has been used to investigate the photovoltaic effect in solar cells. As the photoconductivity of the n-type silicon layer in the solar cells was varied due to the incident light intensities and the wavelength, we could directly observe the photoconductivity changes inside the solar cells by measuring the change of reflection coefficient S11 of the NSMM at an operating frequency near 4.1 GHz. We also directly imaged the photoconductivity changes by NSMM. Photoconductivity in solar cells is determined from the visualized microwave reflection coefficient changes at the interfaces with high sensitivity.

Non-invasive in vitro sensing of d-glucose in pig blood

We have developed an electromagnetic resonant spiral sensor and have measured the glycemia in pig blood and the concentration of D-glucose in aqueous solution by using a real-time electromagnetic interaction phenomenon between the microwave sensor and the liquid. We could determine the concentration of glucose with a minimal resolution of 5 mg/dl in the 100-600 mg/dl concentration range at operating frequencies of about 7.65 GHz (for the glucose aqueous solution) and 7.77 GHz (for the pig blood sample). The change in the glucose concentration brings the changes of the microwave reflection coefficient due to the electromagnetic interaction between the resonator and the glucose solution. The in vitro results show the measured signal-to-noise ratio of about 34 dB, and the minimum detectible signal level of about 0.022 dB/(mg/dl). Our proposed system provides a unique approach for non-invasive and non-contact glucose monitoring, and it may serve as a bloodless glucometer.

Investigation of photoconductivity of silicon solar cells by a near-field scanning microwave microscope.

The photovoltaic effect in silicon solar cells were investigated by using a near-field scanning microwave microscope (NSMM) technique by measuring the microwave reflection coefficient at an operating frequency near 4GHz. As the photoconductivity in the solar cells was varied due to the incident light intensities and the wavelength, we could observe the photoconductivity changes at heterojunction interfaces inside the solar cells by measuring the change of reflection coefficient S(11) of the NSMM. By measuring the change of reflection coefficient, we also directly imaged the photoconductivity changes at heterojunction interfaces inside the solar cells.

Characterization of anisotropic electrical conductivity of carbon fiber composite materials by a microwave probe pumping technique

Characterization of anisotropic conductivity of thin carbon fiber/poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) composite was investigated by noncontact and nondestructive microwave probe pumping (MPP) technique. The microwave was pumped by a coaxial probe, and the pumped field intensity distribution was measured by a near-field scanning microwave microprobe (NSMM) and a thermography camera. From the measurement and simulation results, it was observed that intensity of the electromagnetic field was higher along the high conductive directions due to the larger eddy current along these directions. Additionally, electrical defect detection by pumping probe technique was investigated. It was observed that the field intensity drastically decreased around the electrical defect. We showed that through an anisotropic field distribution around the pumping probe, an electrical defect of a carbon fiber/PEEK composite can be detected by combination of MPP and NSMM techniques.

Visualization of magnetic domains by near-field scanning microwave microscope

A near-field scanning microwave microscope (NSMM) system was used for the investigation of magnetic properties of a hard disk (HD) under an external magnetic field. To demonstrate local microwave characterization of magnetic domains by NSMM, we scanned the HD surface by measuring the microwave reflection coefficient S(11) of the NSMM at an operating frequency near 4.4GHz. The NSMM offers a reliable means for quantitative measurement of magnetic domains with high spatial resolution and sensitivity.

Finite Element Analysis of Diaphragm-type Air Springs with Fiber-reinforced Rubber Composites

This paper is concerned with deformation analysis of diaphragm-type air springs, especially an air bag which consists of nylon fiber-reinforced rubber, composite rubber linings and steel wire bead parts. The analysis has been carried out with a finite element code developed to consider the orthotropic properties of fiber-reinforced rubber lamina, geometric nonlinearity by large deformation, and contact between an air bag and a bead ring. Five different models have been considered in the design optimization procedure in order to investigate the effect of design variables with the variation of the cord angle of an air bag. The analysis provides the hoop and the longitudinal strain distributions in an air bag as well as the variation of the outer diameter, the fold height and the vertical force with respect to the internal pressure.

Design and Fabrication of a Compact 3-Dimensional Stacked Type Dielectric Ceramic Waveguide Bandpass Filter

A compact 3-D stacked type waveguide structure is proposed for supporting the modern communication systems in the L-band frequency (700-900 MHz). The proposed structure can achieve very small size in comparison with a standard metal cavity filter designed at 900 MHz center frequency with a 3% fractional bandwidth. The design for this filter was developed with the High Frequency Structural Simulator (HFSS) and a Direct coupled Waveguide Filter Design (DWFD) program based on the direct coupled filter of λ/2 line impedance prototypes. This waveguide filter was designed by 8 poles with bandwidth 27.8 MHz at the center frequency 881 MHz with a ceramic material (εr=35.4). The measured result was in good agreement with the simulated responses and confirmed the accuracy of the design method.

Layered-Type Dielectric Waveguide Filter Using Ceramic

Layered-type dielectric waveguide filters were designed. As the order of layers increased the fabrication process for dielectric waveguide filters which the resonator parts were connected by the lateral direction has many difficulties. The proposed structure in this report was designed based on the layered-type for the some parts of resonators. The size of layered-type dielectric waveguide filters installed on the PCB surface were reduced at 25% as compared with the usual waveguide filters by using a relative dielectric constant 22.