Gas Patents (Class 73/1.06)
  • Patent number: 7290434
    Abstract: An exemplary method is disclosed which serves to determine a condition of at least one measuring probe which is integrated in a process vessel of a process system with one or more system stages and which is cleaned from time to time using, for example, CIP- and SIP processes, without uninstalling the measuring probe for the cleaning. The temperature of the measuring probe or of the medium surrounding the measuring probe can be measured by a measuring sensor arranged inside or outside the measuring probe, and the condition of the measuring probe can be determined based on a record of the temperature (TS/M) measured over the time when the measuring probe is in operation. In some cases, the method can include monitoring correct execution of the CIP- and SIP processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Ammann, Alfred Peer, René Oberlin, Klaus-Dieter Anders, Christian Zwicky
  • Publication number: 20070240485
    Abstract: A gas sensor is disclosed having a gas sensing element, an insulating element holder and a housing. The insulating element holder has a stepped engaging shoulder and the housing has an outer periphery, formed with a tool-fitting portion adapted to engage a mounting tool, and an inner peripheral wall having a holder rest shoulder facing the stepped engaging shoulder. A packing element is interposed between the stepped engaging shoulder and the holder rest shoulder so as to provide a hermetically sealing effect between an atmospheric side ambience of the gas sensor and a measuring gas side ambience thereof. The holder rest shoulder is formed at an opening angle, representing an angle defined with a pair of profile lines on a plane including a center axis of the gas sensor in cross section thereof, which is set to be less than 100°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiji Kanao
  • Patent number: 7281405
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for calibrating sensors, which sensors are arranged on semiconductor chips and are e.g. to be used for detecting a substance in a fluid. The sensors are calibrated while they are still assembled on a semiconductor wafer by exposing the wafer to a calibration fluid containing a known amount of the substance to be measured. Hence, rather than first cutting the wafer, the sensors are calibrated at an early stage. For this purpose, they are placed on a chuck below a lid. The calibration fluid with known parameters is introduced between the wafer and the lid. This allows to test and calibrate a large number of sensors quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Felix Mayer, Mathias Deschler, Urs Rothacher, René Hummel
  • Patent number: 7281404
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a test gas to a gas monitoring instrument having a window for admitting gas to a gas sensor therein, is formed from a mechanical adaptor open at a portion thereof and having walls constructed and arranged such that the mechanical adaptor removably fits over the window to form a substantially gas tight chamber of predefined volume defined by the walls of the mechanical adaptor and the instrument, means disposed in the mechanical adaptor for receiving a vial of test gas and breaking a seal in the vial to admit the test gas to the chamber. The invention is also directed to a kit including the vial of test gas, and a method for testing a gas detection instrument utilizing the apparatus and a vial of test gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation
    Inventors: Wenfeng Peng, Thomas M. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7275411
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a test gas to a gas monitoring instrument having a window for admitting gas to a gas sensor therein, is formed from a mechanical adaptor open at a portion thereof and having walls adapted to the gas monitoring instrument such that the mechanical adaptor removably fits over the window to form a substantially gas tight chamber of predefined volume defined by the walls of the mechanical adaptor and the instrument, means disposed in the mechanical adaptor for receiving a vial of test gas and breaking a seal in the vial to admit the test gas to the chamber. The invention is also directed to a kit including the vial of test gas, and a method for testing a gas detection instrument utilizing the apparatus and a vial of test gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation
    Inventor: Wenfeng Peng
  • Patent number: 7260976
    Abstract: A calibration checking device, and methods of mandating its use at regular time intervals, to ensure maintenance of the accuracy of gas analyzers, especially for use with breath tests. Each calibration checking device is designed to be used for a predetermined number of tests. After first connection of a new calibration checking device, a volume of known calibration checking gas is released into the instrument, and a calibration checking measurement is initiated. A signal is sent to a counting mechanism which both enables the use of the instrument, and commences a count of the number of tests performed by the breath tester. When the number of tests is exceeded, the instrument is disenabled. The device can include a moisture filter having an interface with the instrument, which prevents its operation if the filter is used beyond the recommended number of times, or if excess moisture renders it saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: BreathID Ltd
    Inventors: Lewis Colman, Gershon Levitsky, Ilan Ben-Oren
  • Publication number: 20070169534
    Abstract: A method of confirming reception of a drop of water has the steps of applying a powder on a surface of a gas sensing element, placing the element in a gas passage so as to expose the surface of the element to the gas passage, causing a measured gas to flow through the gas passage, receiving drops of water included in the measured gas on limited areas of the surface of the element such that the drops of water take out the powder applied on the limited areas from the element, and confirming the reception of the drops of water on the surface of the element. The powder has a melting point or a sublimation temperature equal to or higher than 1000° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoaki Satoh, Kouhei Yamada
  • Patent number: 7242309
    Abstract: A gas detection system capable of suppressing the power consumption of the system using gas sensors required for heating for measurement at high accuracy, comprising a server and a plurality of gas sensors connected by way of wireless communication with the server, in which each of the gas sensors is provided with a heater, a controller for controlling the ON-OFF for the power supply to the heater and a comparator for comparing the detected gas concentration with a predetermined threshold value. In the gas detection system, electric power is not usually supplied to the heater in each of the gas sensors and the gas sensor measures the gas concentration at a low accuracy and always compares it with the threshold value. In a case where the gas concentration exceeds the threshold value in one of the gas sensors, it turns the heater of its own to ON thereby switching the measurement to that at high accuracy and turns the heater to OFF upon completing the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Yokosawa, Sadaki Nakano, Yasushi Goto
  • Patent number: 7216527
    Abstract: A gas detector capable of accurately measuring particular components (odors or the like) contained in an ambient gas to be measured, being compact, and capable of being easily formed to be portable, or producing low noise and capable of being small-sized. Having zero gas cylinder (9) as a supplying unit of a zero gas and component parts disposed within its enclosure (2) and using syringe (3) as a gas intake/exhaust unit, it alternately introduces a test gas, i.e., an ambient gas taken in from outside enclosure (2) through piping (12a), and the zero gas supplied from zero gas cylinder (9) into sensor unit (7) and measures the test gas, while having operation of each unit controlled by data processor (11). Thus, accurate measurement of the test gas is achieved by relatively comparing results of measurement on the gases at each measurement. In addition, gas detector (1) can be moved to a spot where measurement is to be made to have the test gas there measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Imoto
  • Patent number: 7174766
    Abstract: A self-calibrating carbon dioxide sensor that includes a carbon dioxide detector and a carbon dioxide gas generator. In some embodiments, the carbon dioxide gas generator includes a heating element and a carbon dioxide gas releasing solid material in thermal communication with the heating element. The carbon dioxide gas releasing solid material releases carbon dioxide when heated by the heating element. Methods of calibrating a self-calibrating carbon dioxide sensor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Eickhoff, Roland A. Wood
  • Patent number: 7168288
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of internally-generated hydrogen sulfide as a calibration gas for hydrogen sulfide sensors. The present invention also relates to an apparatus and methods for self-calibration of hydrogen sulfide sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Eickhoff, Yuandong Gu
  • Patent number: 7167098
    Abstract: The present invention relates to testing equipment 20 for a fire alarm 1. It includes a testing pole (21), a range spacer (23) connected to the testing pole (21), and a reflective means and/or scattering means situated in the inside of the essentially pot-shaped designed range spacer (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Siber, Ulrich Oppelt
  • Patent number: 7152454
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a plurality of gas analyzers includes providing gas analyzers that measure the concentrations of gases. A span gas includes a mixture of the gases. A calibration mixture is supplied to the gas analyzers that includes the span gas and a non-reactive zero gas. At least one of a concentration of the non-reactive zero gas and a concentration of the span gas is varied in the calibration mixture as a function of time. The gas analyzers generate sets of readings of the concentrations of the gases. A controller generates response functions of the gas analyzers based on the sets of readings. The controller determines exact concentrations of the gases in the calibration mixture based on a set of readings from a gas analyzer with a predetermined response to a gas. The controller calibrates the gas analyzers based on the response functions and the exact concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald B. Nagy, Steven S. De Carteret
  • Patent number: 7146841
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for calibrating at least one sensor within a gas detector (22), which detector has a gas inlet in fluid communication with the or each sensor, the apparatus comprising a housing (10) that contains: a) a surface (24) for abutting against the detector (22); b) a holder (14) for holding the gas detector (22) with respect to the housing (10) in such a manner that a region of the detector containing the gas inlet abuts against the surface (24) of the housing to form a sealed gas interface between the surface (24) and the detector (22); c) a connector for connecting a source of pressurised calibration gas (12) to the apparatus, d) a conduit (32) for delivering a calibration gas from the connector (34) to the interface between the detector and the apparatus housing, e) electrical connections (40) within the holder for forming electrical connections between the apparatus and a detector held within the holder, and e) a flow controller (34, 36) within the conduit for providing calibration gas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell Analytics Limited
    Inventor: Steven Gerard Forrest
  • Patent number: 7104110
    Abstract: A control device determines whether or not the detected value of a unit conducting current output from a current sensor at least plural times is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit current at time of the start of the actuation of a gas sensor, and furthermore, determines that each of the units of the gas sensor is set in an abnormal state if a duration for a state in which it is determined that the detected value of the unit conducting current is equal to or greater than the predetermined upper limit current is equal to or longer than a predetermined upper limit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Oishi, Hirotoshi Inoue, Takashi Saito, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7090755
    Abstract: A test signal is applied in parallel with an electrochemical gas sensor for about ten seconds, while an amplifying circuit is turned off. After turning off the test signal, the amplifying circuit is turned on. If the gas sensor outputs an waveform of a predetermined shape in a predetermined period after the turning-on, the gas sensor will be judged to be normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Figaro Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Inoue, Yuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 7073368
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a gas detector, a reference gas generator, and a circuit. The reference gas generator includes a heater and a gas releasing material. The gas releasing material is in proximity to the heater such that, when the heater is energized during calibration, the gas releasing material releases an overpressure of a reference gas to the gas detector and such that, when the heater is not energized, the gas releasing material releases no substantial overpressure of the reference gas to the gas detector. The circuit energizes the heater during calibration and is responsive to an output of the gas detector during the period when the gas detector is provided the reference gas so as to calibrate the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Roland A. Wood, James Liu
  • Patent number: 7055364
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust measurement system is provided includes that a conduit having a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet. A make-up air tube is connected to and is in fluid communication with the conduit inlet. The make-up air tube provides make-up air for mixing an exhaust gas. A mixed gas tube is connected to and is in fluid communication with the conduit outlet. The mixed gas tube conveys a mixture of make-up air and exhaust gas to analysis equipment. In the preferred embodiment, the exhaust gas tube extends through an outer wall of the conduit. A mixing plate is arranged in either the conduit or the mixed gas tube with the exhaust gas tube extending to a position adjacent to the mixing plate. The exhaust gas tube conveys the exhaust gas to the mixing plate to mix the exhaust gas and the make-up air at the mixing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: AVL North America, Inc.
    Inventors: William Martin Silvis, Norbert Kreft, Gerald Marek, James Williamson
  • Patent number: 7043957
    Abstract: An element impedance detection apparatus for an oxygen sensor is provided with a first switching device, a second resistor, first resistor, and a first condenser for application of a sweep voltage to the oxygen sensor. The first switching device is switched to ON and the sweep voltage applied; a sensor current I that flows in the oxygen sensor along with application of the sweep voltage is then detected. Element impedance is calculated based on the sweep voltage and the sensor current. The second resistor, the first resistor and the first condenser are connected to the oxygen sensor such that a time constant of the sweep voltage increases as the element impedance becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutaka Hattori
  • Patent number: 7043963
    Abstract: A sealed housing evaporative determination (SHED) apparatus and method for practically zero emission vehicles (PZEV) provides periodic sampling of ambient air within a substantially air-tight testing structure enclosing a vehicle under test. Pressure drops within the testing structure are compensated by injecting air substantially free of hydrocarbons into the testing structure. Pressure increases within the testing structure are reduced by withdrawing ambient air from the testing structure. Hydrocarbon content of any withdrawn ambient air is determined from the latest sample, and cumulative evaporative emissions are adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis M Blumke, Ron Berndt, Amin Haj-Ali
  • Patent number: 7033482
    Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor is self-diagnosed on the basis of an output waveform that is generated when a power source of said gas sensor is turned on after said power source has been turned off for a short time and an output waveform that is generated when said power source is turned on after said power source has been turned off for a long time. In a normal gas sensor, when the power source is turned on after the power source has been turned off for the short time, a bottom will be generated in the potential of the sensing electrode side, and when the power source is turned on after the power source has been turned off for the long time, a peak will be generated in the potential of the sensing electrode side. A self-diagnosis of the electrochemical gas sensor can be done without pulse power source for self-diagnosis, and the dead time from self-diagnosis until start of detection can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Figaro Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 7029852
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to the detection of harmful agents, known or previously unknown, using a biosensor. The biosensor makes use of non-living biological or biochemical sensor molecules for detecting and classifying chemicals, poisons, particles, vira, and bacteria in fluids. In a preferred embodiment, the bioreceptor comprises sensor molecules packaged in a collection device and treated to evoke an optical response to the presence of harmful agents, allowing for photocell detection and signal processing. The sensor molecules are selected from the group of biological molecules consisting of aptamers, single-chain nucleic acids, double-chain nucleic acids, hybridized chemicals incorporating these molecules and combinations thereof that bind with harmful agents. The harmful agents can also be collected in this manner for further analysis, and antibodies produced by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventors: Stephen W. Liebholz, John Maniello
  • Patent number: 7017386
    Abstract: A self-testing and self-calibrating detector utilizing an internally produced reference gas. A detector that is sensitive to a target analyte as well as a reference gas can be utilized. A gas releasing material, such as a heated metal hydride, releases the reference gas. The partial pressure of the reference gas is known as a temperature dependent physical property of the gas releasing material. During calibration, the material can be heated to release reference gas and a calibration measurement of the gas' partial pressure can be made and compared to an expected value. The comparison can then be utilized to calibrate the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James Z. Liu, Andrew Wood
  • Patent number: 7013700
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring the moisture in gases comprises the following features: a moisture sensor and an evaluation unit connected thereto to provide a measured quantity representing a relative moisture in a gas, and a heating device which is thermally coupled to the moisture sensor. Said heating device is adapted to keep the moisture sensor at an operating temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature of the moisture sensor by an at least approximately constant difference in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Testo AG
    Inventor: Martin Rombach
  • Patent number: 7013701
    Abstract: Provided is an inspection method for a multilayer gas sensing device, capable of certainly and easily detecting a defective product originating from faults such as gaps or cracks. For the inspection of the gas sensing device including a sensor cell in which a measured gas side electrode is coated with a porous diffusion resistance layer in a stacked condition and the diffusion resistance layer is further coated with a dense protective layer in a stacked condition, in a state where the gas sensing device is immersed in a conductive inspection solution and a reference electrode of the sensor cell is placed into a non-contact with the solution, a voltage is applied between the solution and the reference electrode to measure a current flowing therebetween. On the basis of the measured current value, a decision is made as to whether or not the insulation is kept between the solution and the reference electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7000449
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust measurement system is provided includes that a conduit having a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet. A make-up air tube is connected to and is in fluid communication with the conduit inlet. The make-up air tube provides make-up air for mixing an exhaust gas. A mixed gas tube is connected to and is in fluid communication with the conduit outlet. The mixed gas tube conveys a mixture of make-up air and exhaust gas to analysis equipment. In the preferred embodiment, the exhaust gas tube extends through an outer wall of the conduit. A mixing plate is arranged in either the conduit or the mixed gas tube with the exhaust gas tube extending to a position adjacent to the mixing plate. The exhaust gas tube conveys the exhaust gas to the mixing plate to mix the exhaust gas and the make-up air at the mixing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: AVL North America Inc.
    Inventors: William Martin Silvis, Norbert Kreft, Gerald Marek, James Williamson
  • Patent number: 6978653
    Abstract: In an abnormality detection system that detects abnormality in an oxygen sensor including a detection element for outputting a current value corresponding to an oxygen concentration upon receipt of a voltage application, a negative value is applied to the oxygen sensor so as to obtain an impedance of the detection element. Then a difference between the obtained impedance of the oxygen sensor upon application of the negative voltage and the impedance of the oxygen sensor upon application of a positive voltage prior to the negative voltage application is calculated. It is determined whether there is abnormality in the oxygen sensor based on the calculated difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutaka Hattori
  • Patent number: 6976382
    Abstract: At a time point at which an ignition switch is made OFF and an engine is stopped, an output of a downstream gas sensor is read, thereafter, at a time point at which a predetermined time period has elapsed from stopping the engine, the output of the downstream gas sensor changed by flowing the atmosphere back into an exhaust pipe is read. Thereafter, a change in the output of the downstream gas sensor until the predetermined time period has elapsed from stopping the engine is calculated, the change in the output is compared with an abnormality determinant and when the change in the output is smaller than the abnormality determinant, response of the downstream gas sensor is determined to be abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Kadowaki, Syujiro Morinaga, Yukihiro Yamashita, Hideyuki Maeji
  • Patent number: 6975967
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a predictive warning system of the failure of O2 and CO2 sensors, which are particularly suited for an incubator environment are, disclosed. An application of the predictive failure of O2 and CO2 sensor method and apparatus to incubators is also disclosed. The method and apparatus includes a gas sensor, an embedded controller for analyzing the gas sensor and an interface for indicating a gas sensor failure to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Revco Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Elwood, David J. Cartwright, Earl Robertson, Richard H. Bair, III
  • Patent number: 6973818
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust measurement system is provided includes that a conduit having a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet. A make-up air tube is connected to and is in fluid communication with the conduit inlet. The make-up air tube provides make-up air for mixing an exhaust gas. A mixed gas tube is connected to and is in fluid communication with the conduit outlet. The mixed gas tube conveys a mixture of make-up air and exhaust gas to analysis equipment. In the preferred embodiment, the exhaust gas tube extends through an outer wall of the conduit. A mixing plate is arranged in either the conduit or the mixed gas tube with the exhaust gas tube extending to a position adjacent to the mixing plate. The exhaust gas tube conveys the exhaust gas to the mixing plate to mix the exhaust gas and the make-up air at the mixing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: AVL North America, Inc.
    Inventors: William Martin Silvis, James Williamson
  • Patent number: 6969419
    Abstract: A method for removing bubbles adhering to the interior wall of a fluid-filled chamber through which a fluid flows, and a related method and apparatus for removing bubbles from a chamber having medical sensory equipment such as a blood gas and chemistry analyzer. The method includes drawing a quantity of gas into the chamber to empty the chamber of fluid, maintaining the chamber in an empty state for a predetermined period of time, and then refilling the chamber with fluid at a rate low enough to remove remaining bubbles and to prevent the formation and trapping of new bubbles within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Segars California Partners LP
    Inventor: James H. Macemon
  • Patent number: 6960290
    Abstract: A testing and calibrating device for an evaluation circuit of a linear oxygen probe (S) of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. Said device comprises a probe equivalent circuit (SES) having the same terminals (Vs+, Vs?/Vp?, Vp+ and Rc) as the oxygen probe (S). The probe equivalent circuit can largely emulate the electrical and chemical behaviors of the oxygen probe (S) and simulate probe faults and, at least during a testing and calibrating process, is connected to the evaluation circuit in place of the oxygen probe (S) or is connected parallel to said oxygen probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dariusch Akhavan, Stephan Bolz
  • Patent number: 6957563
    Abstract: A novel abnormality detection device for an air-fuel ratio sensor able to more accurately detect an abnormality, provided with an air-fuel ratio sensor arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine for detecting an air-fuel ratio based on a current generated in accordance with a concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas along with application of voltage and an air-fuel ratio sensor activating means for activating the air-fuel ratio sensor, wherein the activity of the air-fuel ratio sensor is maintained even after the internal combustion engine is stopped and an abnormality of the air-fuel ratio sensor is detected based on an output of the air-fuel ratio sensor upon and/or after the elapse of a first predetermined time after the internal combustion engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutaka Hattori
  • Patent number: 6957562
    Abstract: An engine exhaust sensor diagnostic system includes an oxygen sensor and a controller. The controller monitors a signal generated by the oxygen sensor, determines a rate of change of the signal, and computes diagnostic parameters. The controller indicates malfunction of the oxygen sensor if the diagnostic parameters are smaller in magnitude than corresponding thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, Thomas L. Ting
  • Patent number: 6948352
    Abstract: The self-calibrating carbon monoxide detector and method of the present invention utilize the gas for which the detector was designed to detect as the calibration gas. Specifically, a carbon monoxide gas generator is included in the detector assembly, and is controller to produce a known amount of CO. The sensor response to the quantity of CO generated is monitored, and the calibration thereof adjusted as necessary. The operation of the gas generator is also monitored, and any failures are flagged for user attention. The gas generator specifically suppresses the generation of hydrogen through the materials used in its construction. Temperature effects may also be compensated either through control of gas generation control parameters or compensation of the sensor output in view of the generator temperature effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael David Rabbett, Ann Marie Harvey
  • Patent number: 6935155
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a failure of an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust manifold is provided. The apparatus comprises a control unit. The control unit compares detection values of the exhaust gas sensor detected under different element temperatures of the exhaust gas sensor. The control unit detects a failure of the exhaust gas sensor based on the comparison result. In one embodiment, the different states include a state in which the element temperature is maintained at higher level and a state in which the element temperature is maintained at lower level. The element temperature can be controlled by a response assignment control scheme. In one embodiment, the detection values are subjected to a filtering process and/or a statistical process using a successive least squares method. The control unit compares the statistically processed detection values to detect a failure of the exhaust gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushkiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Hiroshi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6918281
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of calibrating sensors within a gas detector (36) having a housing containing a gas inlet whereby gas can diffuse from the inlet to the sensors. The gas inlet in the housing is held against part (34) of the calibration apparatus to form a sealed gas interface between the apparatus and the detector; a source (10) of pressurized calibration gas is connected to the apparatus, and a predetermined dose of calibration gas is delivered to the interface between the detector (36) and the calibration apparatus (34) at a predetermined pressure. The source (10) of pressurized calibration gas may contain single or multiple calibration doses and, if the former, the calibration apparatus includes a dosing system such as cylinder (14) for metering individual doses of calibration gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Zellweger Analytics Limited
    Inventors: Michael Sussman, Charles Edward Downs, Tom Ford, David Smith
  • Patent number: 6912887
    Abstract: An oxygen sensor abnormality detecting device has first and second offset circuits for applying first and second offset voltages to a ground line and an output line of an oxygen sensor. The device compares the voltage of the output line with a high voltage-side shorting determination value, a low voltage-side shorting determination value and a break determination value to detect a high voltage-side shorting, a low voltage-side shorting and a line break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6894297
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-component gas analyzing method using FTIR, which can correct for an influence of a coexistent gas due to an intensity change in the spectrum itself that occurs depending on the base gas composition so that it is possible to carry out, a measurement with high precision. A plurality of components in a sample are quantitatively analyzed based upon an absorption spectrum obtained by FTIR. After having calculated multi-component concentrations from a mixed gas spectrum by using a quantitative algorithm, calculations are further carried out so as to correct for a change in spectrum due to a coexistent gas component with respect to part of target components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaori Inoue, Masayuki Adachi
  • Patent number: 6877354
    Abstract: To balance ozone sensors for the onboard diagnosis of a catalytic element which is arranged in a vehicle and is exposed to an ambient airstream, for breaking down ozone, predetermined enable conditions allowing the sensor balancing to be carried out are checked, and if the enable conditions are fulfilled the values of the output signals from the ozone sensors are recorded and compared with one another. This comparison gives a deviation value which is characteristic of the deviation between the two values, and the deviation value is used to decide whether sensor balancing is required and indeed possible. If sensor balancing is required and possible, the values of the output signals from the ozone sensors are compared with a threshold value and depending on the result of this comparison either an additive or a multiplicative correction of the values of the output signals is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Bayerle, Frank Hacker, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 6856147
    Abstract: An improved system for determining the value of a resistive load is provided. The system includes: a reference voltage source; a reference resistor of known value having a first and second terminal, the first terminal connected to the reference voltage source and the second terminal connected to the resistive load; and a software program stored in a control unit connected to the first and second terminal, the control unit operative to read a value of the reference voltage source and a voltage at the second terminal of the predetermined reference resistor and to calculate the value of the resistive load as a function of the readings of the reference voltage source and the second terminal voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Mikhail Zarkhin, Timothy P Philippart, Roger A. Moon
  • Publication number: 20040237625
    Abstract: For calibrating a moisture sensor (1), the latter is used to measure the relative moisture (U1, U2) at each of two known gas pressure values (P1, P2), likewise to be measured if necessary. At the same time, other ambient conditions are kept constant. A correction value for correction of the measured values of the moisture sensor to be subtracted from the latter is then obtained from the formula: k=((P1/P2)*U2−U1)/(P1/P2−1). The moisture sensor (1) is thus capable of calibration without measurement of the actual moisture value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Martin Rombach, Markus Langenbacher
  • Patent number: 6812834
    Abstract: A reference sample for testing fire detectors and a method of testing utilizing the reference samples. The reference sample comprises a fused mixture of pellets of the plastics usually found in aircraft cargo holds, with a heating element embedded in the sample. The pellets are in a plurality of layers with the composition of each layer being homogeneous but the thicknesses and porosities of the layers differing from each other. When the heating element is energized the layers of pellets, which have previously been fused into porous masses, begin to smolder, thereby generating a smoky atmosphere that as nearly as possible simulates the atmosphere in an aircraft cargo hold when there is a fire in the hold. In addition, a flammable liquid can be poured onto the sample and ignited, simultaneously with the energization of the heating element, by a separate ignition source to provide a flaming fire atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Transportation
    Inventors: Richard E. Lyon, David R. Blake
  • Patent number: 6802200
    Abstract: An impact force is applied to a sensing element to enlarge the size of a hidden crack to a visible level to reveal the presence of a hidden crack. To apply the impact force to a sensing element, a gas sensor is supported by a holder which is fixed to a distal end of a shaft. The shaft swings about a proximal end thereof serving as a pivot. The holder, with the gas sensor held at its end, is released from a predetermined higher position so as to swing downward about the pivot of the shaft due to gravity. The holder hits a striking plate disposed on a swing path of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20040187554
    Abstract: In an abnormality detection system that detects abnormality in an oxygen sensor including a detection element for outputting a current value corresponding to an oxygen concentration upon receipt of a voltage application, a negative value is applied to the oxygen sensor so as to obtain an impedance of the detection element. Then a difference between the obtained impedance of the oxygen sensor upon application of the negative voltage and the impedance of the oxygen sensor upon application of a positive voltage prior to the negative voltage application is calculated. It is determined whether there is abnormality in the oxygen sensor based on the calculated difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutaka Hattori
  • Publication number: 20040182133
    Abstract: A combustion gas analyzer for measuring the concentration of a gas constituent in an exhaust gas stream is provided. The gas analyzer includes a sensor cell assembly coupled to a transmitter having electrical circuitry configured to provide an output of the concentration of the gas constituent as sensed by the sensor cell assembly. The combustion gas analyzer also includes a filter substantially enclosing the sensor cell assembly and a conduit coupled to the filter at a first end of the conduit and coupled to a valve assembly at a second end of the conduit. The conduit is used for supplying a calibration gas to the sensor cell assembly or for supplying a blow-back gas used to purge the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen J. Staphanos, Marion A. Keyes
  • Patent number: 6781695
    Abstract: An improved light source for use in an opacity monitor (transmissometer) that reduces the variation in light intensity across a projected light beam to enable a more accurate and stable method for measuring the opacity of gases in a stack/duct, especially at low values (e.g., <10%) of opacity while operating within specific performance requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Land Instruments International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hovan, Stuart F. Metcalfe, Derek D. Stuart
  • Patent number: 6769285
    Abstract: A device for testing a fire alarm including a smoke alarm and at least one gas sensor, has a testing pot fittable over a fire alarm, a first gas container with aerosol for operational testing of the smoke alarm, the first gas container having a first valve and a first gas outlet opening, the first gas outlet opening extending into the testing part, and means for making available a testing gas for at least one gas sensor available in the testing pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Schneider, Anton Pfefferseder, Bernd Siber, Andreas Hensel, Ulrich Oppelt
  • Patent number: 6766702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for investigating the behavior of particles or droplets in a gas-vapor mixture inside a flow device, which is useful for studying cloud dynamical and microphysical processes. The invention allows adjustment and/or control of the thermodynamic system parameters based on the observed behavior of an internal standard with known properties, thus achieving a well-defined vapor concentration and saturation field inside the flow device. By injecting particles or droplets to be investigated into this well defined flow device, and measuring the size of the particles or droplets, the activation and growth or shrinking behavior of the particles or droplets may be determined using a mathematical model of the fluid, thermodynamic, and chemical conditions of the flow device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Institute for Tropospheric Research, a German non-profit organization
    Inventors: Jost Heintzenberg, Robert J. Charlson, Frank Stratmann, Manfred Wendisch, Sabine Wurzler
  • Patent number: 6764462
    Abstract: A wound treatment apparatus is disclosed to provide vacuum therapy to a wound associated with a patient. The wound treatment apparatus comprises a control unit comprising an alarm and a display displaying an alarm log providing information associated with each activation of the alarm. The display also displays information to instruct a user how to operate the wound treatment apparatus. A method of calibrating the control unit is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Risk, Jr., Robert Petrosenko