Abstract: The present invention can be generally described as a vapor detection instrument testing system and testing process. This testing system integrates a computing system loaded with testing software, and a test-substance generating device. The present device is portable and provides a user with the ability to perform vapor detection instrument testing at the field side of the vapor detection instrument. The portability of the vapor detection instrument testing system results in more frequent instrument testing and less detection instrument down time.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and a method for analyzing and identifying an unknown sample using ion mobility spectrometry. The method pulses an ion gate using a temporally spaced pattern of ion admitting periods and ion repelling periods to achieve an admission duty cycle of about 50% of the total scan time. Ions passing through the drift tube strike an ion detector, generating a time dependent mobility spectrum. A combination of wavelet decomposition and statistical evaluators are used on the mobility spectrum to produce a distinct signature associated with the sample. Signatures are also generated for a number of known agents, and the known agent signatures are used to program a neural network. The sample signature is then compared to the signatures for the known agents using a fuzzy decision maker.