Patents by Inventor MARK FLORI ZANELLA, SR.

MARK FLORI ZANELLA, SR. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11846617
    Abstract: A system for detecting an analyte gas in an environment includes a first gas sensor, a first contaminant sensor separate and spaced from the first gas sensor, and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first gas sensor to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first gas sensor. The electronic circuitry is further in electrical connection with the first contaminant sensor to measure a response of the first contaminant sensor over time. The measured response of the first contaminant sensor varies with an amount of one or more contaminants to which the system has been exposed in the environment over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel D. Santoro, Jr., Michael Alvin Brown, Mark Flori Zanella, Sr., Christopher S. Detka
  • Patent number: 11761935
    Abstract: A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to provide energy to the first element to heat the first element to at least a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas and to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first element to being heated to at least the first temperature. The electronic circuitry is further configured to apply an interrogation pulse to the first element in which energy to the first element is increased or decreased to induce an associated response from the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Flori Zanella, Sr., Michael Alvin Brown, Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel D. Santoro, Jr., Jeff Audia, Ryan Alan Sherry
  • Publication number: 20230152289
    Abstract: A system for detecting an analyte gas in an environment includes a first gas sensor, a first contaminant sensor separate and spaced from the first gas sensor, and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first gas sensor to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first gas sensor. The electronic circuitry is further in electrical connection with the first contaminant sensor to measure a response of the first contaminant sensor over time. The measured response of the first contaminant sensor varies with an amount of one or more contaminants to which the system has been exposed in the environment over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel D. Santoro, JR., Michael Alvin Brown, Mark Flori Zanella, SR., Christopher S. Detka
  • Patent number: 11543396
    Abstract: A system for detecting an analyte gas in an environment includes a first gas sensor, a first contaminant sensor separate and spaced from the first gas sensor, and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first gas sensor to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first gas sensor. The electronic circuitry is further in electrical connection with the first contaminant sensor to measure a response of the first contaminant sensor over time. The measured response of the first contaminant sensor varies with an amount of one or more contaminants to which the system has been exposed in the environment over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel D. Santoro, Jr., Michael Alvin Brown, Mark Flori Zanella, Sr., Christopher S. Detka
  • Patent number: 11482859
    Abstract: A system includes a two-conductor loop in which the loop current or current signal is controlled by a loop current controller to be proportional to a signal output from a sensor. The system further includes energy harvesting circuity in electrical connection with the two-conductor loop which includes a second current controller in parallel electrical connection with the loop current controller and a power converter in electrical connection with the second current controller. The second current controls a portion of current drawn from the two-conductor loop and delivered to the power converter from an output port thereof. The portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop is returned to the loop current controller from the energy harvesting circuit. Noise in the portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop by the second current controller is controlled by the second current controller to be below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Kevin Sexton, Mark Flori Zanella, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20210181171
    Abstract: A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to provide energy to the first element to heat the first element to at least a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas and to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first element to being heated to at least the first temperature. The electronic circuitry is further configured to apply an interrogation pulse to the first element in which energy to the first element is increased or decreased to induce an associated response from the first element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Mark Flori Zanella, SR., Michael Alvin Brown, Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel D. Santoro, JR., Jeff Audia, Ryan Alan Sherry
  • Publication number: 20210109052
    Abstract: A system includes a primary combustible gas sensor and a trigger combustible gas sensor including a first trigger element of low-thermal-mass which includes a first trigger heating element in operative connection with electronic circuitry. The trigger combustible gas sensor also includes a second trigger element of low thermal mass including a second trigger heating element. The second trigger element is also in operative connection with the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry further has a first trigger mode of operating in which the first trigger element is heated to a temperature at or above a temperature at which the first trigger element causes combustion of the at least one combustible gas analyte and wherein the second trigger element is operated as a trigger compensating element. The electronic circuitry is configured to operate the trigger combustible gas sensor to detect a value of a response at or above a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Alvin Brown, Meghan E. Swanson, Mark Flori Zanella, SR.
  • Publication number: 20210111557
    Abstract: A system includes a two-conductor loop in which the loop current or current signal is controlled by a loop current controller to be proportional to a signal output from a sensor. The system further includes energy harvesting circuity in electrical connection with the two-conductor loop which includes a second current controller in parallel electrical connection with the loop current controller and a power converter in electrical connection with the second current controller. The second current controls a portion of current drawn from the two-conductor loop and delivered to the power converter from an output port thereof. The portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop is returned to the loop current controller from the energy harvesting circuit. Noise in the portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop by the second current controller is controlled by the second current controller to be below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Kevin Sexton, Mark Flori Zanella, SR.
  • Patent number: 10948469
    Abstract: A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to provide energy to the first element to heat the first element to at least a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas and to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first element to being heated to at least the first temperature. The electronic circuitry is further configured to apply an interrogation pulse to the first element in which energy to the first element is increased or decreased to induce an associated response from the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Flori Zanella, Sr., Michael Alvin Brown, Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel D. Santoro, Jr., Jeff Audia, Ryan Alan Sherry
  • Patent number: 10948449
    Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor includes a sensor housing having a plurality of inlet passages, wherein each of the plurality of inlet passages has a cross-sectional area of no greater than 11,309 ?m2. The electrochemical gas sensor further includes a working electrode within the housing which is responsive to an analyte gas and an electrolyte within the sensor housing in ionic contact with the working electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Keith Davis, Michael Alvin Brown, Mark Flori Zanella, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10900922
    Abstract: A system includes a primary combustible gas sensor and a trigger combustible gas sensor including a first trigger element of low-thermal-mass which includes a first trigger heating element in operative connection with electronic circuitry. The trigger combustible gas sensor also includes a second trigger element of low thermal mass including a second trigger heating element. The second trigger element is also in operative connection with the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry further has a first trigger mode of operating in which the first trigger element is heated to a temperature at or above a temperature at which the first trigger element causes combustion of the at least one combustible gas analyte and wherein the second trigger element is operated as a trigger compensating element. The electronic circuitry is configured to operate the trigger combustible gas sensor to detect a value of a response at or above a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Alvin Brown, Meghan E. Swanson, Mark Flori Zanella, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10897133
    Abstract: A system includes a two-conductor loop in which the loop current or current signal is controlled by a loop current controller to be proportional to a signal output from a sensor. The system further includes energy harvesting circuitry in electrical connection with the two-conductor loop which includes a second current controller in parallel electrical connection with the loop current controller and a power converter in electrical connection with the second current controller. The second current controls a portion of current drawn from the two-conductor loop and delivered to the power converter from an output port thereof. The portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop is returned to the loop current controller from the energy harvesting circuit. Noise in the portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop by the second current controller is controlled by the second current controller to be below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Kevin Sexton, Mark Flori Zanella, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20200393432
    Abstract: A system for detecting an analyte gas in an environment includes a first gas sensor, a first contaminant sensor separate and spaced from the first gas sensor, and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first gas sensor to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first gas sensor. The electronic circuitry is further in electrical connection with the first contaminant sensor to measure a response of the first contaminant sensor over time. The measured response of the first contaminant sensor varies with an amount of one or more contaminants to which the system has been exposed in the environment over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel D. Santoro, JR., Michael Alvin Brown, Mark Flori Zanella, SR., Christopher S. Detka
  • Publication number: 20200393394
    Abstract: A sensor system for detecting mass deposition from a gaseous environment includes a first sensor element including a first electrically conductive heating component and a first interface structure on the first electrically conductive heating component. The sensor system further includes electronic circuitry in connection with the first electrically conductive heating component. The electronic circuitry is configured to provide energy to the first electrically conductive heating component to heat the first sensor element and to measure a thermodynamic response of the first sensor element, which varies with mass deposition of one or more compositions on the first interface structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel D. Santoro, JR., Michael Alvin Brown, Mark Flori Zanella, SR.
  • Patent number: 10627379
    Abstract: A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to operate in a first mode in which the first element is operated at a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas, and in a second mode wherein the first element is operated at a second temperature which is below the temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzed combustion of the analyte gas but at which Joule heating of the first element occurs. The electronic circuitry is further configured to measure a variable in the second mode related to a mass of the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Flori Zanella, Sr., Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel Santoro
  • Publication number: 20200028386
    Abstract: A system includes a two-conductor loop in which the loop current or current signal is controlled by a loop current controller to be proportional to a signal output from a sensor. The system further includes energy harvesting circuitry in electrical connection with the two-conductor loop which includes a second current controller in parallel electrical connection with the loop current controller and a power converter in electrical connection with the second current controller. The second current controls a portion of current drawn from the two-conductor loop and delivered to the power converter from an output port thereof. The portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop is returned to the loop current controller from the energy harvesting circuit. Noise in the portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop by the second current controller is controlled by the second current controller to be below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Kevin Sexton, Mark Flori Zanella, SR.
  • Publication number: 20200025701
    Abstract: A system includes a primary combustible gas sensor and a trigger combustible gas sensor including a first trigger element of low-thermal-mass which includes a first trigger heating element in operative connection with electronic circuitry. The trigger combustible gas sensor also includes a second trigger element of low thermal mass including a second trigger heating element. The second trigger element is also in operative connection with the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry further has a first trigger mode of operating in which the first trigger element is heated to a temperature at or above a temperature at which the first trigger element causes combustion of the at least one combustible gas analyte and wherein the second trigger element is operated as a trigger compensating element. The electronic circuitry is configured to operate the trigger combustible gas sensor to detect a value of a response at or above a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Alvin Brown, Meghan E. Swanson, Mark Flori Zanella, SR.
  • Publication number: 20180335412
    Abstract: A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to operate in a first mode in which the first element is operated at a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas, and in a second mode wherein the first element is operated at a second temperature which is below the temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzed combustion of the analyte gas but at which Joule heating of the first element occurs. The electronic circuitry is further configured to measure a variable in the second mode related to a mass of the first element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Flori Zanella, SR., Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel Santoro
  • Publication number: 20180335411
    Abstract: A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to provide energy to the first element to heat the first element to at least a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas and to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first element to being heated to at least the first temperature. The electronic circuitry is further configured to apply an interrogation pulse to the first element in which energy to the first element is increased or decreased to induce an associated response from the first element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Flori Zanella, SR., Michael Alvin Brown, Meghan E. Swanson, Daniel Santoro, Jeff Audia, Ryan Alan Sherry
  • Publication number: 20180080894
    Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor includes a sensor housing having a plurality of inlet passages, wherein each of the plurality of inlet passages has a cross-sectional area of no greater than 11,309 ?m2. The electrochemical gas sensor further includes a working electrode within the housing which is responsive to an analyte gas and an electrolyte within the sensor housing in ionic contact with the working electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Keith Davis, Michael Alvin Brown, Mark Flori Zanella, SR.