Abstract: The invention discloses a device for identifying fluids or measuring their concentration. The device is configured to capture fluid sensing signals and sent to processing capabilities to be annotated, pre-processed and fed to databases of datasets and models which have learning capabilities. The device has a stick or stylus form factor which is makes it fit to be used by health care professionals or by the general public. Advantageously, the stick can be used to capture data from gas and liquid, being possibly phases of the same analyte. The device can be a package containing all processing capabilities being configured to be autonomous. It can operate in conjunction with an intermediary device of a smart phone, a PC or a POCT type. The system comprising autonomous fluid sensory devices, intermediary devices and database servers can operate in a learning mode or in a use mode.

Abstract: The invention discloses a device for identifying fluids or measuring their concentration. The device is configured to capture fluid sensing signals and sent to processing capabilities to be annotated, pre-processed and fed to databases of datasets and models which have learning capabilities. The device has a stick or stylus form factor which is makes it fit to be used by health care professionals or by the general public. Advantageously, the stick can be used to capture data from gas and liquid, being possibly phases of the same analyte. The device can be a package containing all processing capabilities being configured to be autonomous. It can operate in conjunction with an intermediary device of a smart phone, a PC or a POCT type. The system comprising autonomous fluid sensory devices, intermediary devices and database servers can operate in a learning mode or in a use mode.

Abstract: In a gas sensor having a gas-sensitive layer and a heating element to heat the gas-sensitive layer, the heating element comprises a heater track having first and second outer electric terminals and at least one inner electric terminal located between the outer electric terminals. The gas sensor includes a control unit configured to control the electric potentials that are applied to the electric terminals during use, and the control unit is configured to be capable of varying the set of electric potentials applied to the electric terminals. In certain applications the control unit may select the terminals to which power is applied, in order to assure the gas-sensitive layer is heated to a specified temperature. In certain applications the gas sensor has multiple measurement electrodes and the control unit selects the set of electric potentials so that different temperatures are attained at locations where different measurement electrodes are located.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the identification of an analyte in a sample fluid. The method comprises the performance of a set of measurements on at least two sensors of different types. Sensors of different types may comprise Gas Chromatography sensors, CMOS gas sensors, a combination thereof, or more generally sensors in which it is possible to control a first physical parameter and measure, for different values of the first parameter, a second physical parameter representative of at least a concentration of the analyte. The method comprises the detection of maxima of the second parameter, the access to databases in order to find reference values of the first parameters in which maxima are found, and the comparison of values at which maxima are found and reference values, on the two sensors.

Abstract: An olfactometer or “electronic nose” is able to vary a plurality of operating parameters during a test cycle in parallel, in accordance with a measurement protocol. This measurement protocol, and correspondingly the operating parameters to be varied, the values to be set for those parameters, and the timing of the variation in these values is tailored to most effectively distinguish between likely candidates in a particular testing scenario. A characterisation library is then used to match the results of the measurement protocol to the best target in the characterisation library. Test protocols and/or characterisation libraries may be downloaded from a remote server on demand, and certain activities may be carried out either locally or remotely.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for characterizing a product sample for example in comparison to a reference sample using a sensor such as a gas chromatograph or a MOS sensor. This characterization may comprise an indication of whether or not the product sample conforms to a quality criterion. The comparison of the sensor output measurements for the product sample is compared to maximum and minimum value curves, which may be derived from measurements of the reference sample, whereby adjacent samples outside the envelope defined by these maximum and minimum values are grouped together. A dissimilarity index may be determined for the anomalous values as a whole, or on a per group basis. The groups may be classified depending on the shape they describe, in particular the presence, or not, of peaks, and correspondingly the shape of the corresponding part of the envelope.

Abstract: A hybrid device comprising Metal Oxide Sensors in a Gas Chromatography column is described, whereby the readings from the MOS devices will vary along the column in reaction to the sample reflecting the differential delays imposed on the components of the sample depending on the elutive effect of the adsorbent lining the column for the respective component. By this means, a family of readings is obtained, any one of which may be easier to interpret for a particular sample, and which may be compared amongst themselves providing an additional measurement dimension. The behavior of later sections of column or sensors may be modified dynamically during a measurement cycle depending on the readings obtained at the earlier stages.

Abstract: The invention discloses a device for identifying fluids or measuring their concentration. The device is configured to capture fluid sensing signals and sent to processing capabilities to be annotated, pre-processed and fed to databases of datasets and models which have learning capabilities. The device has a stick or stylus form factor which is makes it fit to be used by health care professionals or by the general public. Advantageously, the stick can be used to capture data from gas and liquid, being possibly phases of the same analyte. The device can be a package containing all processing capabilities being configured to be autonomous. It can operate in conjunction with an intermediary device of a smart phone, a PC or a POCT type. The system comprising autonomous fluid sensory devices, intermediary devices and database servers can operate in a learning mode or in a use mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the identification of an analyte in a sample fluid. The method comprises the performance of a set of measurements on at least two sensors of different types. Sensors of different types may comprise Gas Chromatography sensors, CMOS gas sensors, a combination thereof, or more generally sensors in which it is possible to control a first physical parameter and measure, for different values of the first parameter, a second physical parameter representative of at least a concentration of the analyte. The method comprises the detection of maxima of the second parameter, the access to databases in order to find reference values of the first parameters in which maxima are found, and the comparison of values at which maxima are found and reference values, on the two sensors.

Abstract: An olfactometer or “electronic nose” is able to vary a plurality of operating parameters during a test cycle in parallel, in accordance with a measurement protocol. This measurement protocol, and correspondingly the operating parameters to be varied, the values to be set for those parameters, and the timing of the variation in these values is tailored to most effectively distinguish between likely candidates in a particular testing scenario. A characterisation library is then used to match the results of the measurement protocol to the best target in the characterisation library. Test protocols and/or characterisation libraries may be downloaded from a remote server on demand, and certain activities may be carried out either locally or remotely.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for characterizing a product sample for example in comparison to a reference sample using a sensor such as a gas chromatograph or a MOS sensor. This characterization may comprise an indication of whether or not the product sample conforms to a quality criterion. The comparison of the sensor output measurements for the product sample is compared to maximum and minimum value curves, which may be derived from measurements of the reference sample, whereby adjacent samples outside the envelope defined by these maximum and minimum values are grouped together. A dissimilarity index may be determined for the anomalous values as a whole, or on a per group basis. The groups may be classified depending on the shape they describe, in particular the presence, or not, of peaks, and correspondingly the shape of the corresponding part of the envelope.

Abstract: A hybrid device comprising Metal Oxide Sensors in a Gas Chromatography column is described, whereby the readings from the MOS devices will vary along the column in reaction to the sample reflecting the differential delays imposed on the components of the sample depending on the elutive effect of the adsorbent lining the column for the respective component. By this means, a family of readings is obtained, any one of which may be easier to interpret for a particular sample, and which may be compared amongst themselves providing an additional measurement dimension. The behaviour of later sections of column or sensors may be modified dynamically during a measurement cycle depending on the readings obtained at the earlier stages.

Abstract: The comparative analysis of a sample, derived from a product, with respect to a database comprises the step of determining the class membership of the different characteristics (variables) describing the samples: whether they are characteristics common to the sample under test and the database, they are characteristics particular to the sample under test, or they are characteristics particular to the database. The assignment of the variables to these classes enables parameters to be defined for global comparison of the sample under test and the database, based on: ratios summarizing the values taken by the variables of the different classes, or the distribution of the variables of the different classes. A machine implementation of the analysis is described.

Abstract: The intensity of an odour can be quantified by determining what is the response of an odour sensing device to that odour, then transforming the response data to an odour intensity value based on transformation data relating to a set of selected reference odours. The transformation data includes organoleptic data indicating how odour intensity values assigned to the set of reference odours by a sensory panel depend upon the concentration of the reference compounds and includes data indicating how the response data of the odour sensing device when exposed to the set of reference odours depends upon the concentration of the reference compounds. The reference odours may be basic odours defining the dimensions of a multi-dimensional space in which odours can be defined.

Abstract: A classification apparatus, notably for uses in recognition or characterisation of odors, comprises a plurality of sensors for generating raw data representing a plurality of instances of a plurality of different classes; and a processing unit for processing said raw data so as to determine an identification model. The identification model comprises definitions of the classes and a particular allocation rule selected dependent upon the application. The class definitions are established by analysing data obtained during a learning phase, the analysis being performed according to a particular information extraction method. During a later identification phase, the identification model enables an instance of unknown class to be allocated to an appropriate class amongst those defined during the learning phase. The information extraction method can be selected dependent upon the application.

Abstract: The invention concerns a classifying apparatus, used in particular for recognising or characterising odours, applying a combination of statistical methods and neuronal networks to classify into the appropriate class instances of a plurality of different classes presented to the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a processing unit for determining for each class (j) a subspace (SEj) wherein the instances of said class are best separated from instances of other classes, said subspace being defined by synthetic variables (VDj), and for determining a discriminating subspace (SED) defined by the whole set of synthetic variables identified for the whole set of classes. Each neuron in the neuronal input layer corresponds to one of the variables defining the discriminating space (SED) and each neuron of the output layer corresponds to one of the classes.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of characterising liquids employ liquid sensors of different types of technology, in order to generate characterisation data from the whole of the output signals originating from these sensors when they are soaked in a sample of the liquid. The set of sensors may comprise: lipid sensors, quartz microbalances, ion-selective electrodes, biosensors, chemical microelectrodes or even, in certain particular applications, fiber optic based-sensors. The output signals originating from the different sensors are normalized with respect to values which are determined in a prior standardization operation during which the sensors were soaked in at least one sample reference liquid.

Abstract: Device for carrying out a method of odor detection comprising, in particular, a plurality of chambers, each including a plurality of semiconductor gas sensors, conductive polymer gas sensors, and surface acoustic wave gas sensors, as detection devices, a variable flow gas pump for forming a gas flow in said chambers, measurement electronic device for operating the detection devices, a data processing unit for recording in a file the olfactory prints obtained using the detection means, and for comparing the detected impressions with those in the file so that odors may be identified and recognized. Applications exist, especially to drugs, explosives, body odors and food seals.

Abstract: Device for carrying out a method of odor detection comprising, in particular, a plurality of chambers (1, 2, 2a, 3), each including a plurality of semi-conductor gas sensors (6), conductive polymer gas sensors (7), surface acoustic wave gas sensors (8), as detection means, a variable flow gas pump (10) for forming a gas flow in said chambers (1, 2, 2a, 3), measurement electronic device (16) for operating the detection means (6, 7, 8), a data processing unit (15) for recording in a file the olfactory prints obtained using the detection means, and for comparing the detected impressions with those in the file so that odors may be identified and recognized. Applications, especially to drugs, explosives, body odours and food seals.