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: 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: 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.