Abstract: A photoacoustic gas sensor device for determining a value indicative of a presence or a concentration of a component in a gas comprises a measurement cell enclosing a measurement volume and a gas permeable area in the measurement cell for a gas to enter the measurement volume. An electromagnetic radiation source is arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation into the measurement volume, and a pressure transducer is arranged to measure a sound wave generated by the component in response to an absorption of electromagnetic radiation by the component in the measurement volume. In one aspect, the gas permeable area is represented by a porous gas permeable membrane with an average pore size of the porous gas permeable membrane between 10 nm and 1 ?m. In another aspect the gas permeable area is represented by an area of the measurement cell containing holes reaching through an otherwise gas tight material of the measurement cell, with a diameter of the holes between 100 nm and 10 ?m.

Abstract: A sensor module comprises a master sensor unit for sensing a first environmental parameter, a slave sensor unit for sensing a second environmental parameter, a common substrate on which the master sensor unit and the slave sensor unit are mounted, and a digital bus interface for a communication between the master sensor unit and the slave sensor unit. The master sensor unit comprises a non-volatile memory for storing calibration data and configuration data of the master sensor unit and the slave sensor unit. The master sensor unit is embodied as a first chip, and the slave sensor unit is embodied as a second chip. Such sensor module is compact, robust and versatile.

Abstract: A sensor device robust against vibrations is proposed. A sensor module is encapsulated with a housing and the space in between is filled with a vibration damping material such that the sensor module is only supported by the vibration damping material. A cavity in the housing formed partly by the sensor module and sealed against liquid water but permeable to a target component of ambient air allows for a fast sensor response time.

Abstract: A regulation device for regulating a mixing ratio (x) of a gas mixture comprises a first conduit (1) for carrying a flow of a first gas (e.g., air) and a second conduit (2) for carrying a flow of a second gas (e.g., a fuel gas). The first and second conduits (1, 2) open out into a common conduit (3) in a mixing region (M) to form the gas mixture. A first sensor (S1) is configured to determine at least one thermal parameter of the gas mixture downstream from the mixing region. A control device (10) is configured to receive, from the first sensor, sensor signals indicative of the at least one thermal parameter of the gas mixture and to derive control signals for adjusting device (V1) acting to adjust the mixing ratio, based on the at least one thermal parameter.

Abstract: A photoacoustic gas sensor device for determining a value indicative of a presence or a concentration of a chemical component in a gas comprises a substrate and a measurement cell body arranged on a first side of the substrate. The substrate and the measurement cell body define a measurement cell. A cap is arranged on the first side of the substrate within the measurement cell. The cap and the substrate define a cap volume. The cap and the substrate acoustically seal the cap volume. A measurement volume is confined by the measurement cell body, the substrate and the cap. An aperture is provided in the measurement cell for the gas to enter the measurement volume. Electrical components are arranged on the first side of the substrate and in the measurement cell.

Abstract: A photodetector comprises a substrate, and supported by the substrate, a configuration to act as optical resonator and to absorb incident radiation of a band, including infrared. The configuration comprises: a resonant frontside structure facing the incident radiation; a backside structure and arranged between the frontside structure and the substrate; and a layer of an active material made from a semiconducting material, and configured to convert at least part of the incident radiation of the band into charge carriers. The frontside structure or the backside structure is made from electrically conducting material and is in contact with the active material. The configuration is configured to selectively absorb the incident radiation of the band. The frontside structure or the backside structure that is in contact with the active material is contacted by electrical contacts for sensing the charge carriers in the active material. The active material comprises amorphous or polycrystalline material.

Abstract: A sensor device (10) comprises an environmental sensor (22) for determining an environmental parameter associated with a sensor gas flow (F2) through the sensor device. The environmental sensor may be a particulate matter sensor for detecting particulate matter in the sensor gas flow. The sensor gas flow is preheated upstream of the environmental sensor (22). To this end, waste heat generated by the environmental sensor (22) itself and/or by a different sensor (12) that is comprised in the sensor device is used. In this manner, the effects of evaporable droplets in the sensor gas flow (F2), as typically present in fog, may be reduced. In some embodiments, a fog signal is derived.

Abstract: A photoacoustic gas sensor device for determining a value indicative of a presence or a concentration of a chemical component in a gas comprises a substrate and a measurement cell body arranged on a first side of the substrate. The substrate and the measurement cell body define a measurement cell. A cap is arranged on the first side of the substrate within the measurement cell. The cap and the substrate define a cap volume. The cap and the substrate acoustically seal the cap volume. A measurement volume is confined by the measurement cell body, the substrate and the cap. An aperture is provided in the measurement cell for the gas to enter the measurement volume. Electrical components are arranged on the first side of the substrate and in the measurement cell.

Abstract: A duct probe (20) for sampling a fluid from a main fluid flow (Fm) in a duct (10) defines an elongated supply channel (21) n elongated discharge channel (22). The supply channel has at least one inflow opening (23) for diverting a partial flow (Fp) from the main fluid flow into the supply channel, and the discharge channel has at least one outflow opening for returning the partial flow from the discharge channel into the main fluid flow after it has passed an environmental sensor (30). The duct probe further comprises at least one compensation opening (26) that connects the supply channel and the discharge channel in a region that is located between their closed and open ends. By the presence of the compensation opening (26), a jet flow (Fj) is created, which acts to reduce a pressure difference between the supply channel and the discharge channel when the duct probe is exposed to the main fluid flow (Fm).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor (1) for sensing organic carbon in a liquid (L), comprising: a container (2) having an interior space (20) for receiving the liquid (L), a photodetector (3), and a light source (4) configured to emit ultraviolet light (5) so that the ultraviolet light (5) travels along an optical path (P) through liquid (L) residing in the interior space (20) and is absorbable by carbon bonds of organic molecules in the liquid (L).

Abstract: A thermal sensor device is configured to determine a fluid parameter of a fluid based on the heat transfer behavior of the fluid. The sensor device comprises one or more heaters and means for determining a response of the sensor device to heater power being supplied to the heaters. For detecting sensor faults, the sensor device is operated in two different modes of operation. First and second values (cstatic, cdynamic) of the same fluid parameter are determined in the two modes. A fault indicator value (F) is derived by comparing the first and second values. The first mode of operation may be a steady-state mode, the first value (cstatic) being based on a steady-state response of the sensor device to heater power being supplied to the heaters, and the second mode of operation may be a dynamic mode, the second value (cstatic) being based on a transient response.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor device comprising an enclosure (21) that comprises a flow inlet (11), a flow outlet (12) and a flow channel (2) extending therebetween, a radiation source for emitting radiation into the flow channel (2) for interaction of the radiation with the particulate matter in the flow (20) of an aerosol sample when guided through the flow channel (2), a radiation detector (4) for detecting at least part of said radiation after interaction with the particulate matter. The sensor device comprises a flow modifying device (511) arranged upstream of the radiation detector (4) and/or of the radiation source (3) for modifying the flow (20) for reducing particulate matter precipitation onto the radiation detector (4) and/or onto the radiation source (3) and/or the channel wall sections in close proximity to the detector (4) and/or source (3). The invention also relates to a method of determining parameters of particulate matter in an aerosol sample by using such a particulate matter sensor device.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor device comprises an enclosure (21) defining a flow channel (2), a radiation source (3) for emitting radiation into the flow channel for interaction of the radiation with particulate matter in an aerosol sample in the flow channel, and a radiation detector (4) for detecting at least part of said radiation after interaction with the particulate matter. The sensor device comprises a flow modifying device (511) arranged upstream of the radiation detector and/or radiation source so as to reduce particulate matter precipitation onto the radiation detector, the radiation source and/or the channel wall sections in their proximity. The invention also relates to a method of determining parameters of particulate matter in an aerosol sample by using such a particulate matter sensor device.

Abstract: A sensor module as well as a method for manufacturing a sensor module for determining a property of a fluid, in particular for measuring air quality, comprises a printed circuit board, at least one sensor on the printed circuit board for measuring a parameter of the surrounding air and a housing for the printed circuit board. A part of the printed circuit board protrudes from an opening in the housing (10), wherein the at least one sensor (21, 22) is located on a front side of the protruding part of the printed circuit board. In addition, at least the front side of the protruding part of the printed circuit board, with the exception of a recess for the at least one sensor, is encapsulated with a filling compound. The sensor module can be used in an interior or an air duct of motor vehicles or buildings. In one embodiment, the sensor module measures temperature, relative humidity and gas concentration in a fluid, especially in the surrounding air.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a support structure with a cavity, a sensing element sensitive to a gas and arranged in the cavity, and a filter spanning the cavity. The filter is a size selective filter.

Abstract: A particulate matter (PM) sensor comprises a substrate forming a cavity (5), the substrate comprising a semiconductor chip (4), and a light source (1) arranged in the cavity (5). The light source (1) is adapted to emit a light beam (7). The light beam (7) forms a detection volume (8) for particulate matter (9) outside the cavity (5). Optionally, the particulate matter sensor comprises an optical element (2) delimiting the cavity (5) at one end. The optical element (2) is configured to shape the light beam (7). Further, the particulate matter sensor comprises at least one photodetector (3) that is integrated into a surface of the semiconductor chip (4). The surface into which the at least one photodetector (3) is integrated faces the detection volume (8). The at least one photodetector (3) is adapted to detect light (10) scattered by particulate matter (9) in the detection volume (8).

Abstract: A photoacoustic gas sensor device is proposed for determining a value indicative of a presence or a concentration of a component in a gas. The photoacoustic gas sensor device comprises a substrate, and a measurement cell body arranged on a first side of the substrate. The substrate and the measurement cell body define a measurement cell enclosing a measurement volume. The measurement cell comprises an aperture for a gas to enter the measurement volume. The device further comprises an electromagnetic radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation, and a microphone for measuring a sound wave generated by the component in response to an absorption of electromagnetic radiation by the component. The electromagnetic radiation source and the microphone are arranged on the first side of the substrate and in the measurement volume. The microphone has a bottom port facing the substrate, and the measurement volume is communicatively coupled to the bottom port.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a substrate and an electrode structure including at least a first electrode, a second electrode and a sensing layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. The sensor further includes a measurement circuit configured to measure the capacitance of the electrode structure by applying, at a first measurement phase, a first pair of electrical potentials including a first electrical potential of the first electrode and a first electrical potential of the second electrode to the first electrode and the second electrode by applying, at a second measurement phase, a second pair of electrical potentials including a second electrical potential of the first electrode and a second electrical potential of the second electrode to the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrical potential of the second electrode and the second electrical potential of the second electrode are different from each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for culturing and detecting microorganisms, comprising the steps of providing a liquid sample (S) in a barrel (10) of a device (1) for culturing and detecting microorganisms, passing the liquid sample (S) through a first filtering membrane (40) such that microorganisms contained in the liquid sample (S) are retained at a first side (41) of the first filtering membrane (40), contacting said first side (41) with a first growth medium (210) capable of supporting growth of microorganisms, incubating the first filtering membrane (40) and the first growth medium (210) at an incubation temperature, arranging a sensing surface (51) of a gas sensor (50) in fluid connection with a second side (42) of the first filtering membrane (40), detecting a metabolic gas released by the microorganisms by means of the gas sensor (50).

Abstract: A sensor device for determining at least one heat transfer parameter of a gas comprises a sensor unit (10) comprising at least one heater element and at least one temperature sensor. A first (inner) housing (20) receives the sensor unit. The first housing comprises a first membrane (22) allowing a diffusive gas exchange between the exterior and the interior of the first housing. The first housing is received in a second (outer) housing (30). The second housing comprises a second membrane (32) allowing a diffusive gas exchange between the exterior of the second housing and the exterior of the first housing. Thereby temperature gradients inside the first housing are reduced. The second housing can be made of metal and can be disposed on a support plate (40), taking the form of a cap. An auxiliary sensor (50) can be arranged in the space between the first and second housings.