Abstract: Environmental sensing devices, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an environmental sensing device includes an environmental sensor and an internal signal generator. The environmental sensing device may be configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more interior surfaces of an enclosure. The environmental sensor may be operable to detect one or more substances within the enclosure and provide a status signal to the internal signal generator corresponding to the presence of the one or more substances. The internal signal generator may be operable to generate a mechanical report sequence corresponding to the status signal. The mechanical report sequence may be a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure.

Abstract: Environmental sensing devices, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an environmental sensing device includes an environmental sensor and an internal signal generator. The environmental sensing device may be configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more interior surfaces of an enclosure. The environmental sensor may be operable to detect one or more substances within the enclosure and provide a status signal to the internal signal generator corresponding to the presence of the one or more substances. The internal signal generator may be operable to generate a mechanical report sequence corresponding to the status signal. The mechanical report sequence may be a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure.

Abstract: Methods of separating ionized particles comprise the step of providing a particle separator comprising a housing, and an electric field disposed inside the housing. The electric field defines a magnitude E (volt/cm) which increases the farther ionized particles travel within the housing. The method further includes delivering a gas flow, wherein the gas flow defines a velocity, Vgas, and delivering ionized particles into the housing, wherein the ionized particles define a mobility value, K (cm2/volt*sec). The product of the mobility value K and the electric field magnitude E define a mobility velocity for the ionized particles, Vmob (cm/sec)=K*E. The method also includes stopping the ionized particles at a location where Vmob is equal and opposite Vgas.

Abstract: Methods of separating ionized particles comprise the step of providing a particle separator comprising a housing, and an electric field disposed inside the housing. The electric field defines a magnitude E (volt/cm) which increases the farther ionized particles travel within the housing. The method further includes delivering a gas flow, wherein the gas flow defines a velocity, Vgas, and delivering ionized particles into the housing, wherein the ionized particles define a mobility value, K (cm2/volt*sec). The product of the mobility value K and the electric field magnitude E define a mobility velocity for the ionized particles, Vmob (cm/sec)=K*E. The method also includes stopping the ionized particles at a location where Vmob is equal and opposite Vgas.

Abstract: Ion injection in a drift tube apparatus for mobility spectrometry was accomplished without conventional ion shutters such as the Bradbury-Nielson or similar designs common to such drift tubes. Instead ions were passed between the ion source and drift region by using time-dependent electric field gradients that act as ion barriers between ordinary drift rings. Benefits of this design are simplicity and mechanical robustness. This ion injection technique dynamically accumulates the ions created between shutter grid pulses, as does the Bradbury-Nielson method. The invention provides not only structural improvements to the well known apparatus, but also provides inventive methods for operating a drift tube apparatus in achieve maximum analyte injection efficiency and improving ion detection sensitivity. Improving ion detection sensitivity of drift tubes has practical experimental application. Incorporation of the inventive apparatus into a smoke detector is a further practical application of the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating ions in a gaseous medium, the apparatus including two electrodes separated by a dielectric material and a means for generating radio frequency pulses. The electrodes are of dissimilar size and are attached to opposite sides of the dielectric material. The smaller electrode shape and circumference is configured to control the quantity of plasma that is produced. Method of generating ions in a gaseous medium having the step of applying a radio frequency voltage between two electrodes separated by a dielectric material so as to generate a plasma ion source. Locating the plasma ion source in a confined area to yield NO3-ions. Locating the plasma ion source in an open configuration to yield predominantly CO3-ions with minor amounts of O2- and O3-ions.

Abstract: Ion injection in a drift tube apparatus for mobility spectrometry was accomplished without conventional ion shutters such as the Bradbury-Nielson or similar designs common to such drift tubes. Instead ions were passed between the ion source and drift region by using time-dependent electric field gradients that act as ion barriers between ordinary drift rings. Benefits of this design are simplicity and mechanical robustness. This ion injection technique dynamically accumulates the ions created between shutter grid pulses, as does the Bradbury-Nielson method. The invention provides not only structural improvements to the well known apparatus, but also provides inventive methods for operating a drift tube apparatus in achieve maximum analyte injection efficiency and improving ion detection sensitivity. Improving ion detection sensitivity of drift tubes has practical experimental application. Incorporation of the inventive apparatus into a smoke detector is a further practical application of the invention.

Abstract: Ion injection in a drift tube apparatus for mobility spectrometry was accomplished without conventional ion shutters such as the Bradbury-Nielson or similar designs common to such drift tubes. Instead ions were passed between the ion source and drift region by using time-dependent electric field gradients that act as ion barriers between ordinary drift rings. Benefits of this design are simplicity and mechanical robustness. This ion injection technique dynamically accumulates the ions prior to their release into the drift region of the apparatus instead of destroying the ions created between shutter grid pulses, as does the Bradbury-Nielson method. The invention provides not only structural improvements to the well known drift tube apparatus, but also provides inventive methods for operating a drift tube apparatus to achieve maximum analyte injection efficiency and improving ion detection sensitivity. Improving ion detection sensitivity of drift tubes has practical experimental application.

Abstract: Ion injection in a drift tube apparatus for mobility spectrometry was accomplished without conventional ion shutters such as the Bradbury-Nielson or similar designs common to such drift tubes. Instead ions were passed between the ion source and drift region by using time-dependent electric field gradients that act as ion barriers between ordinary drift rings. Benefits of this design are simplicity and mechanical robustness. This ion injection technique dynamically accumulates the ions prior to their release into the drift region of the apparatus instead of destroying the ions created between shutter grid pulses, as does the Bradbury-Nielson method. The invention provides not only structural improvements to the well known drift tube apparatus, but also provides inventive methods for operating a drift tube apparatus to achieve maximum analyte injection efficiency and improving ion detection sensitivity. Improving ion detection sensitivity of drift tubes has practical experimental application.

Abstract: Capillary zone electrophoresis is enhanced by the application of an electric field across the interior of the capillary tube. This external electric field is applied through a conductive member at the exterior of the capillary tube. The external field vectorially couples with the internal field, controlling the polarity and the magnitude of the surface (zeta) potential on the interior surface of the capillary. The control of the surface (zeta) potential reduces adsorption of macromolecular onto the interior surface of the capillary tube, by inducing electrostatic repulsions between the macromolecules, and the capillary surface. Additionally, the control of the surface (zeta) potential can retard, and even reverse, electroosmotic flow, depending upon the magnitude of those fields.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer for detecting ions and for facilitating controlled chemical reactions is described incorporating an inlet for carrier and sample gas, a reaction region having an ionization source and at least two electrodes for generating an electric field and a drift region having at least two electrodes for generating an electric field therein wherein each electrode is coupled to a power supply for placing a predetermined potential on the electrode and wherein each power supply is controlled by an electric field controller for providing a sequence of potentials on each electrode in the reaction region and drift region to control the motion and position of ions in the drift region. The invention overcomes the problem of detection sensitivity, detection selectivity and resolution between ions of similar mobility. The invention further overcomes the problem of facilitating certain chemical reactions by brings ions of opposite polarity together.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is described incorporating an air mixer having a clean air inlet and a sample air inlet, an ion mobility spectrometer cell for generating reaction ions and sample ions which are subsequently measured in a drift region, a first circuit for measuring the reactant ion peak and the sample ion peak, a second circuit for generating a feedback control signal to the air mixer in response to the reactant ion peak and a third circuit for generating a signal indicative of concentration of the sample molecules in sample air at the inlet utilizing the sample ion peak and the feedback control signal to the air mixer. The invention overcomes the problem of limited dynamic range due to saturation of the ion mobility spectrometer cell.

Abstract: A personal liquid chemical agent detector incorporating a sensor which changes resistance in response to contact with liquid, first and second switches which function as pins for attaching the detector to the wearer and as electrical switches, a battery, a resistor, and a detector and alarm circuit. A conductor incorporating a resin, conductive flakes and dye crystals selected which are solvent in selected chemical agents. A conductive paint incorporating a resin, conductive flakes a dye solution including one or more volatile solvents and a plasticizer. The invention overcomes the problem of requiring additional switches for manual testing of the detector and battery prior to use and for disconnecting the battery after use at times the detector is removed by the wearer. The invention further overcomes the problem of independent verification of detection by providing a conductor with concurrent electrical and visual appearance responses to selected chemical agents absorbed by the conductor.

Abstract: A mono-lobed scanner used in a direction finding radar receiver has an antenna in the form of a parabolic dish having four parallel dipole antenna elements which are located physically about the parabola focal point. The outputs of the dipole elements are combined to produce a sum signal, a delta elevation signal and a delta azimuth signal. Pointing or positional inaccuracy of the antenna caused by cross polarization products is corrected by manipulation of metalic rods located about the dipoles and in relatively close proximity thereto.