Patents Examined by T. Tung
  • Patent number: 6514397
    Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte includes a first portion disposed at least in partial physical contact and in ionic communication with a second portion. The first portion has a first portion grain size which is different than a second portion grain size. Further, a method for manufacturing a gas sensor includes forming a multiple portion electrolyte. The electrolyte is formed with a first portion having one grain size, and a second portion at least in partial physical contact and in ionic contact with the first portion, the second portion having a second portion grain size different from the first portion grain size. The electrolyte may be fired before or after application of an electrode in ionic contact with the first portion and a second electrode in ionic contact with said second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. LaBarge, Darrell H. Eldridge, Paul Casey Kikuchi, Richard Eugene Fouts, Richard Frederick Beckmeyer
  • Patent number: 6511592
    Abstract: A sensor for pentachlorophenol comprises a sensor electrode carrying a pentachlorophenol hydroxylase, and a counter electrode. An assay method comprises maintaining a potential difference between the electrodes and observing a current associated with enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of the pentachlorophenol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: ISIS Innovation Limited
    Inventors: Hugh Allen Oliver Hill, Luet-Lok Wong, Weihong Xie, Jonathan Peter Jones
  • Patent number: 6506296
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring hydrogen content and partial hydrogen pressure in gas streams and a method of modeling the sensor based on the characteristics of the sensor. The apparatus includes a housing with micro-fuel cell sensor disposed therein. The sensor includes a sensing element having first and second gas diffusing electrodes spaced from one another with an acidic electrolyte disposed between the electrodes. A first gas permeable membrane separates the first electrode from an external gas stream. A second gas permeable membrane separates the second electrode from atmospheric air. Electrochemical charging of the first electrode occurs when hydrogen from a gas stream diffuses through the first membrane to react with the first electrode, while the potential of the second electrode remains unchanged. The potential difference between the first and second electrodes measured as current is identified to represent the sensor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Elena Babes-Dornea, Claude Beauchemin, Renyan Qin
  • Patent number: 6503381
    Abstract: A biosensor comprises a space part for sucking and housing a sample formed of two upper and lower plates, the two plates being stuck together by an adhesive layer, the space part for sucking and housing the sample being constituted so as to be partially opened in the peripheral part and partially closed by the adhesive layer, and has a working electrode having at least glucose oxidase immobilized thereon and a counter electrode on the same plane of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: TheraSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Gotoh, Hiroki Mure, Hiroshi Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 6500322
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a detecting element having electrodes on first and second surfaces of an oxygen ion conductive solid-state electrolyte; a main fitting having a fitting portion to be fitted into a mounting hole formed on a wall of the pipe defining a flow path for a gas-to-be-measured for holding the detecting element in such manner that the first surface is disposed via the mounting hole at an inner position of the pipe with respect to the fitting portion; a cylindrical cover of which one end is connected to an outer position of the pipe with respect to the fitting portion of the main fitting and the other end is provided with a cylindrical sealing member having an air hole for introducing air to the second surface on one end and a through hole through which a lead connected to both electrodes of the detecting element passes on the other end; and a water repellant filter having gas permeability for closing the air hole, characterized in that the water repellant filter is formed in a sheet shape and mou
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Akatsuka, Kouji Matsuo, Masahiro Asai, Satoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6497808
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element. The sensor element has a solid electrolytic member, a measurement electrode, and a reference electrode. The measurement electrode is provided on the solid electrolytic member, and is exposed to a measurement gas. The reference electrode is provided on the solid electrolytic member, and is exposed to a reference gas. A heater operates for heating the sensor element. A portion of the heater contacts a portion of the sensor element. The temperature of the sensor element is increased to 300° C. by the heater in ten seconds after the start of activation of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masanobu Yamauchi, Kenji Fukaya
  • Patent number: 6495011
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the indirect determination of concentrations of additives in metal plating electrolyte solutions, particularly organic additives in Cu-metalization baths for semiconductor manufacturing. The apparatus features a reference electrode housed in an electrically isolated chamber and continuously immersed in the base metal plating solution (without the additive to be measured). An additive concentration determination method comprises electroplating a test electrode at a constant or known current in a mixing chamber wherein the base metal plating solution is mixed with small volumes of the sample and various calibration solutions containing the additive to be measured. Plating potentials between the electrodes are measured and plotted for each of the solution mixtures, and data are extrapolated to determine the concentration of the additive in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter M. Robertson
  • Patent number: 6495012
    Abstract: The invention provides a sensor with a reference electrode and a flowing electrolyte which is particularly useful for measuring the ion concentration of a process solution. The invention includes a sensor having a pressurized reservoir which provides flow of an electrolyte, a non-metallic solution ground and a resistance temperature device bonded to a non-metallic solution ground. The invention provides sensors with greater accuracy and stability by minimizing or eliminating ingress of contaminants from a process solution through the external junction of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: The Foxboro Company
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Fletcher, David N. Skinner, Ellen Candela, Michael M. Bower
  • Patent number: 6491803
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a test strip and a biosensor having an increased conductivity and a slurry comprising a fiber, meal particles having a size in nanometer and a bioactive substance. The invention is characterized by incorporating metal particles having size in nanometer into the reaction layer of test strip and biosensor to increase the conductivity between the reaction layer and the electrodes so that the redox reaction can be readily completed and the measurement time can thus be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Apex Biotechnology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Y. S. Shen, Wen-Chang Chen, Hong-Ming Lin, Jen-Hung Chuang
  • Patent number: 6491805
    Abstract: In a differential condition, an electrophoresis system antisynchronously drives a longitudinally-separated pair of contactless drive electrodes, both of which are coupled to a detection electrode through a separation channel. In this condition, the system provides a series of peaks readout in ITP-separation mode. In a direct condition, the system antisynchronously drives a pair of drive electrodes, only one of which is coupled to the detection electrode through the channel; the other is coupled to the detection electrode but not though the channel. In this condition, the system provides a series of peaks readout in CZE mode. In either case, the antisynchronous drive enhances the detection signal by canceling at the detection electrode signal components associated with the AC drive source. Similar advantages are achieved for a capillary differential electrophoresis system and for a planar direct electrophoresis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary B. Gordon, Tom A. van de Goor
  • Patent number: 6488837
    Abstract: A sensor outputs a signal related to a concentration of methanol in an aqueous solution adjacent the sensor. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is included with an anode side and a cathode side. An anode current collector supports the anode side of the MEA and has a flow channel therethrough for flowing a stream of the aqueous solution and forms a physical barrier to control access of the methanol to the anode side of the MEA. A cathode current collector supports the cathode side of the MEA and is configured for air access to the cathode side of the MEA. A current sensor is connected to measure the current in a short circuit across the sensor electrodes to provide an output signal functionally related to the concentration of methanol in the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Xiaoming Ren, Shimshon Gottesfeld
  • Patent number: 6488826
    Abstract: An electrode electrolyte system is provided that is capable of operating in slope sensors in a wide range of temperatures. The eletrolytic system is characterized by a stable conductivity at high temperature and by low toxicity. The slope sensor can be installed in a system containing an Nal solution in propylene carbonate, combined with platinum electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventors: Patrick Altmeier, Andreas Konrad
  • Patent number: 6488836
    Abstract: A CO gas sensor is equipped with a detecting unit in which a solid electrolyte membrane is held between a detection electrode and a counter electrode, and a voltage applying unit which applies voltage between the detection electrode and the counter electrode and changes the voltage. The detection electrode includes an electrochemically active first catalyst in an electrically conductive porous body, a reaction layer having a density of 1 ng/cm2-100 &mgr;g/cm2 and having a thickness of 0.3 nm-15 &mgr;m, and the counter electrode includes an electrochemically active second catalyst carried on an electrically conductive porous body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
    Inventors: Toshihide Nakata, Hidemi Akita, Katsuhiko Saguchi, Keiji Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 6485626
    Abstract: The invention concerns a multiple capillary electrophoresis device comprising a plurality of juxtaposed capillaries, means for generating inside the capillaries an electric field ensuring electrophoretic migration, at least one source for emitting a beam dsigned to exite the molecules at the capillary output, means for detecting the fluorescence of the molecules excited by said beam. The invention also comprises means for generating another electric field, called confinement electric field, which is regularly distributed around said capillaries and which is substantially parallel thereto, said electric field confining the electrophoretic migration field and forcing the molecules to move substantially without divergence in the axis of said capillaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Samuele Bottani, Rainer Siebert, Hans Rebscher, Maurice Cohen-Solal, Luc Valentin
  • Patent number: 6485622
    Abstract: Lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics comprise in mol %: P2O5 30-45% SiO2 0-15% GeO2 + TiO2 25-50% in which GeO2 0-50% TiO2 0-50% ZrO2 0-8% M2O3 0<-10% where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu Al2O3 0-12% Ga2O3 0-12% Li2O 10-25% and contain Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1−YTiY)2−X(PO4)3 (where 0<X≦0.8 and 0≦Y≦1.0) as a predominant crystal phase. A solid electrolyte, an electric cell and a gas sensor utilizing these glass-ceramics are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ohara
    Inventor: Jie Fu
  • Patent number: 6478950
    Abstract: A sensor module for monitoring chemical properties of oil well fluids comprises at least one electrochemical sensor for a chemcal species, for example to detect pH and chloride ion concentration. A micro-porous barrier separates the electrochemical sensors from the environment of the module, the micro-porous barrier being of a material which is readily wetted by water. Periodic application of a current pulse between the barrier and a counter electrode enables fouling material to be removed from the micron barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Accentus PLC
    Inventors: Robert Peat, Paul Antony Harry Fennell
  • Patent number: 6475373
    Abstract: Emission of NOx during acid-piclding treatment of metals in an aqueous solution containing at least nitric acid is controlled by the addition of hydrogen peroxide. The addition amount of hydrogen peroxide is minimized to avoid excessive addition by monitoring the potentiostatic electrolytic current of the solution or by combinedly monitoring the potentiostatic electrolytic current and the redox potential of the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadashi Shimomura, Masaru Ohto, Hiroya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6475372
    Abstract: Methods and devices for determining the concentration of an analyte in a physiological sample are provided. In the subject methods, the physiological sample is introduced into an electrochemical cell having a working and reference electrode. A first electric potential is applied to the cell and the resultant cell current over a period of time is measured to determine a first time-current transient. A second electric potential of opposite polarity is then applied and a second a time-current transient is determined. The preliminary concentration of the analyte is then calculated from the first and/or second time-current transient. This preliminary analyte concentration less a background value is then multiplied by a hematocrit correction factor to obtain the analyte concentration in the sample, where the hematocrit correction factor is a function of the preliminary analyte concentration and the variable &ggr; of the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: LifeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Ohara, Mahyar Z. Kermani
  • Patent number: 6475360
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of heating the sample and measuring the concentration of the analyte or the concentration of a species representative thereof in the sample at a predetermined point on a reaction profile by means that are substantially independent of temperature. Also provided is an electrochemical cell comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, and means for heating a sample contained within the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Lifescan, Inc.
    Inventors: Alastair Hodges, Thomas W. Beck
  • Patent number: 6475361
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophoresis apparatus having a filling/refilling system and methods of using the same. The electrophoresis apparatus comprises a first buffer chamber comprising a solid portion, at least one inlet channel in said solid portion, and at least one outlet channel in said solid portion, wherein said at least one inlet channel is in fluid communication with at least one inlet port, said at least one outlet channel is in fluid communication with at least one outlet port and said at least one inlet channel is in fluid communication with said at least one outlet channel. The electrophoresis apparatus also comprises a plurality of capillaries having first ends, second ends, and intermediate portions disposed between said first ends and said second ends, wherein said first ends extend into said first buffer chamber and are in fluid communication with said at least one inlet channel and said at least one outlet channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Tetragen SA
    Inventors: Irena N. Merenkova, Maxim Brevnov