Abstract: An object of the present invention is to detect ammonia with high sensitivity and high selectivity using a nanomechanical sensor with a structure that is as simple as possible. A method for detecting ammonia according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises supplying a sample gas possibly containing ammonia to a nanomechanical sensor that detects a stress or a displacement using poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) as a material of a receptor layer, and detecting presence or absence of ammonia or a content of ammonia in the sample gas based on an output signal from the nanomechanical sensor, in which the sample gas is a humidified sample gas with controlled relative humidity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for estimating a value to be estimated associated with a specimen, by performing machine learning of a relationship between a value of an estimation object and an output corresponding thereto, based on an output from a chemical sensor with regard to a plurality of specimens for which specific values to be estimated are known, and using the result of the mechanical learning to estimate a specific value to be estimated on the basis of an output from the chemical sensor with regard to a given unknown specimen.

Abstract: Provided is a novel material analysis technique using a chemical sensor. By reversing the conventional approach, a material to be measured is provided as a receptor of the chemical sensor, and a response signal of the chemical sensor obtained by supplying a known gas or the like to the chemical sensor is obtained. From the response signal, it is possible to identify and distinguish the receptor material, and to obtain its composition and the like. By analyzing the response signal by means of a statistical or machine learning technique such as principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, or a support vector machine, the above-mentioned identification and the like can be performed with high accuracy.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a receptor layer of a surface stress sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, in a surface stress sensor that detects a change in surface stress of a thin film, the change being caused by a receptor layer disposed on a surface of the thin film, causing at least a part of a surface region of the thin film to generate heat or supplying heat to the receptor layer from the outside of the surface stress sensor. This makes it possible to easily perform efficient cleaning of a surface stress sensor such as a sensor that performs detection using a piezoresistor while avoiding structural complications as much as possible.

Abstract: In an analysis of a fluid component using a nanomechanical sensor covered with a receptor, the same receptor is caused to express different response characteristics. In a measuring system of analyzing a response when a sample gas and a purge gas are supplied to a nanomechanical sensor while switching the sample gas and the purge gas, a gas (external gas) different from both gases is mixed into a gas channel and supplied to the sensor for measurement. Since a response characteristic of a receptor is modulated by mixing of the external gas, the object described above is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to represent or synthesize any odor by separating the odor into a combination of a relatively small number of odors, similarly to separating a color into three primary colors. Since the “primary odors” corresponding to the primary colors have not yet been ascertained, the present invention provides a feasible method and apparatus in which, instead of presetting such fixed primary odors, the separation, synthesis, and the like can be performed by selecting a subset of odors from among a set consisting of a plurality of odors which subset or odors enables approximation of other odors as much as possible by mixture.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to detect ammonia with high sensitivity and high selectivity using a nanomechanical sensor with a structure that is as simple as possible. A method for detecting ammonia according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises supplying a sample gas possibly containing ammonia to a nanomechanical sensor that detects a stress or a displacement using poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) as a material of a receptor layer, and detecting presence or absence of ammonia or a content of ammonia in the sample gas based on an output signal from the nanomechanical sensor, in which the sample gas is a humidified sample gas with controlled relative humidity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanomechanical sensor unsusceptible to water vapor, due to very low sensitivity to water vapor, that may interfere with measurement. In an embodiment of the present invention, as a sensitive film material of a nanomechanical sensor such as a surface stress sensor, poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide) is utilized that is used for adsorption/concentration of a substance present in a trace amount in water or air, and represented by Formula (1) wherein n represents an integer of 1 or more. As can be seen from graphs showing changes over time of response signals in a case where a gas to be measured containing acetone, ethanol, and the like and nitrogen are alternately supplied to the surface stress sensor cyclically, it was confirmed that in the sensitive film of the present invention, adsorption/desorption of the components in the gas to be measured significantly occurs in response to the cyclic change, but the sensitivity to water is very low.

Abstract: The invention provides: a gas sensor device that is capable of removing a component adsorbed on a gas sensor by relatively simple means and easily restoring a signal baseline of the gas sensor to a constant state; and a method for removing a gas component. The gas sensor device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a gas sensor and cleaning means that contains a liquid for cleaning the gas sensor. The gas sensor includes a sensor main body that is capable of detecting a characteristic parameter of a component present in a gas phase or a liquid phase, and a sensitive membrane that is coated on a surface of the sensor main body and is durable against the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanomechanical sensor in which a negative influence of water in a sample on measurement is suppressed. In an embodiment of the present invention, as a receptor material of the nanomechanical sensor, a low-hygroscopic material such as polysulfone, polycaprolactone, poly(vinylidene fluoride), or poly(4-methylstyrene) is used. According to this embodiment, a negative influence, such as saturation of a receptor layer by water in the sample, or masking of an output signal based on trace components by an output signal based on water contained in the sample in a large amount, can be suppressed.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a receptor layer of a surface stress sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, in a surface stress sensor that detects a change in surface stress of a thin film, the change being caused by a receptor layer disposed on a surface of the thin film, causing at least a part of a surface region of the thin film to generate heat or supplying heat to the receptor layer from the outside of the surface stress sensor. This makes it possible to easily perform efficient cleaning of a surface stress sensor such as a sensor that performs detection using a piezoresistor while avoiding structural complications as much as possible.

Abstract: In an analysis of a fluid component using a nanomechanical sensor covered with a receptor, the same receptor is caused to express different response characteristics. In a measuring system of analyzing a response when a sample gas and a purge gas are supplied to a nanomechanical sensor while switching the sample gas and the purge gas, a gas (external gas) different from both gases is mixed into a gas channel and supplied to the sensor for measurement. Since a response characteristic of a receptor is modulated by mixing of the external gas, the object described above is achieved.

Abstract: Provided is a novel material analysis technique using a chemical sensor. By reversing the conventional approach, a material to be measured is provided as a receptor of the chemical sensor, and a response signal of the chemical sensor obtained by supplying a known gas or the like to the chemical sensor is obtained. From the response signal, it is possible to identify and distinguish the receptor material, and to obtain its composition and the like. By analyzing the response signal by means of a statistical or machine learning technique such as principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, or a support vector machine, the above-mentioned identification and the like can be performed with high accuracy.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor which enables detection/identification of various types of fuels for automobiles by using simple devices. According to the present invention, high-octane gas, regular gas, diesel oil, heating oil, gasoline laced with heating oil, and the like can be clearly identified without using a large-scale analysis such as gas chromatography or mass spectroscopy by using a sensor having a structure in which a surface of a sensor body which detects a surface stress or the like is coated with particles modified with a hydrocarbon group such as an alkyl group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanomechanical sensor in which a negative influence of water in a sample on measurement is suppressed. In an embodiment of the present invention, as a receptor material of the nanomechanical sensor, a low-hygroscopic material such as polysulfone, polycaprolactone, poly(vinylidene fluoride), or poly(4-methylstyrene) is used. According to this embodiment, a negative influence, such as saturation of a receptor layer by water in the sample, or masking of an output signal based on trace components by an output signal based on water contained in the sample in a large amount, can be suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for estimating a value to be estimated associated with a specimen, by performing machine learning of a relationship between a value of an estimation object and an output corresponding thereto, based on an output from a chemical sensor with regard to a plurality of specimens for which specific values to be estimated are known, and using the result of the mechanical learning to estimate a specific value to be estimated on the basis of an output from the chemical sensor with regard to a given unknown specimen.

Abstract: According to improvement of the receptor layer of various sensors of the type for detecting physical parameters (for example, a surface stress sensor, QCM, and SPR), all of high sensitivity, selectivity, and durability are achieved simultaneously. A porous material or a particulate material, e.g., nanoparticles, is used in place of a uniform membrane which has been conventionally used as a receptor layer. Accordingly, the sensitivity can be controlled by changing the membrane thickness of the receptor layer, the selectivity can be controlled by changing a surface modifying group to be fixed on the porous material or particulate material, and the durability can be controlled by changing the composition and surface properties of the porous material or particulate material.

Abstract: As a receptor layer, a film of a composite material of a base material such as a polymer and particles that adsorb an analyte is used. When the present invention is applied to a surface stress sensor or the like, the Young's modulus of the receptor layer, which significantly affects detection sensitivity, can be preset with a high degree of freedom, by independently selecting particles that adsorb a desired analyte and a base material that disperses said particles therein.

Abstract: The invention provides: a gas sensor device that is capable of removing a component adsorbed on a gas sensor by relatively simple means and easily restoring a signal baseline of the gas sensor to a constant state; and a method for removing a gas component. The gas sensor device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a gas sensor and cleaning means that contains a liquid for cleaning the gas sensor. The gas sensor includes a sensor main body that is capable of detecting a characteristic parameter of a component present in a gas phase or a liquid phase, and a sensitive membrane that is coated on a surface of the sensor main body and is durable against the liquid.

Abstract: A sample in a gas state to be measured is forced to impinge on a structure in which a change in a characteristic including a mechanical deformation, an optical change, an electric change and a magnetic change is exerted due to the impingement of a gaseous sample, a gasified liquid sample or solid sample to cause at least one of changes in characteristics including a mechanical deformation, an optical change, an electric change and a magnetic change; and the molecular weight of the sample in a gas state is obtained.