With Compensation Detail (for Error Or Drift Correction, Etc.) Patents (Class 73/23.21)
  • Patent number: 11887462
    Abstract: A sensor system for identifying vaping, other smoking activities, and bullying at a site includes an air quality sensor configured to detect air quality, a sound detector configured to detect sounds, and a network interface configured to transmit a signal indicating abnormality matching signature of vaping, other smoking activity, or sound of bullying. Vaping or another smoking activity is identified based on the detected air quality, and bullying is identified based on the detected sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SOTER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Peterson, William Schweigert, Asheik Hussain, Mohammed Elbadry
  • Patent number: 11860175
    Abstract: A method of operating a sensor system including at least one sensor for detecting an analyte gas and a control system includes electronically interrogating the sensor to determine the operational status thereof and upon determining that the operational status is non-conforming based upon one or more predetermined thresholds, the control system initiating an automated calibration of the sensor with the analyte gas or a simulant gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Towner Bennett Scheffler, Michael Alvin Brown, Andrew E. Nalepa, Brian Keith Davis
  • Patent number: 11371926
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a system for particulate matter collection and analysis. The embodiments include system components and an associated control system. One or more of the components are dynamically adjustable. Fluid flow is captured by a capture medium positioned relative to a fluid channel, and particulate matter present within the fluid flow is acquired. A modifiable component is provided relative to the capture medium. The control system is provided in communication with the system components and functions to provide and support dynamic adjustment of the modifiable component in response to acquired particulate matter and analysis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn Stedman, Dan Fein, Eric J. Barkie, Tim Roche, Ben Fletcher
  • Patent number: 11221318
    Abstract: Provided is a system for detection and discrimination of gases, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in a sample comprising two chambers, a first chamber equipped with a crystalline microporous material (CMM) and a second chamber equipped with a gas detector. A gas sample is introduced first into the second chamber for detection by the gas detector and is then re-routed to the first chamber for adsorption/desorption on the CMM. The gas detector in the second chamber produces electronic signals that correspond to the adsorption/desorption profile for the gas, which allows for discrimination of the gas in the sample from other possible gas samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Siddhartha Das, Andrea Fasoli, Luisa Dominica Bozano
  • Patent number: 11153989
    Abstract: A burning stop apparatus includes: a detector that detects a gas component generated by burning occurring in an electronic device immersed in a coolant stored in a liquid immersion tank; a first pipe that introduces the gas component in the liquid immersion tank to the detector; a second pipe that returns the gas component introduced to the detector into the liquid immersion tank; and a breaker that cuts off supply of power to the electronic device when a detection value of the detector is higher than a preset first threshold value for concentration of the gas component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Koichi Onodera
  • Patent number: 11060963
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a system for particulate matter collection and analysis. The embodiments include system components and an associated control system. One or more of the components are dynamically adjustable. Fluid flow is captured by a capture medium positioned relative to a fluid channel, and particulate matter present within the fluid flow is acquired. An image capture device is employed to analyze captured particulate matter. In addition, a modifiable component is provided relative to the capture medium, the fluid channel and the image capture device. The control system is provided in communication with the system components and functions to provide and support dynamic adjustment of one or more of the modifiable component, image capture device, or capture medium in response to the acquired particulate matter and analysis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shawn Stedman, Dan Fein, Eric J. Barkie, Tim Roche, Ben Fletcher
  • Patent number: 11054290
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring velocity of a fluid stream via deflection of a wire filament. Also disclosed is a process for measuring velocity of a fluid stream, requiring deflecting two or more wire filaments in a fluid stream, measuring two or more resistances, and equating the velocity of the fluid stream to the result of a function of the two or more resistances. In both the apparatus and method, one wire filament must have a length dimension longer than at least one of a dimension of the wire filament in the primary sensing or transverse direction, as well as a dimension of the wire filament in the primary sensing and/or transverse direction less than 50 ? ? ? U ? ? ? throughout a predetermined operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Marcus Hultmark, Clay Byers, Matthew Fu, Yuyang Fan
  • Patent number: 11047777
    Abstract: A system for concentrating particles in an air stream includes an air channel having a first open end and a second open end. The air channel may be enclosed by a channel wall extending from at least the first open to the second open end. Two or more heater elements may be positioned between the first open end and the second open end. The heater elements may be positioned near a periphery of the air channel and cooperatively configured to force particles in the air stream away from the periphery and towards an interior region of the air channel. Particles in the air stream may be thermophoretically forced towards the interior region of the air channel when the heater elements are heated and thermal gradients emanating from the heater elements are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: David Woolsey, David William Burns
  • Patent number: 10928357
    Abstract: A sensor control apparatus includes a current control section, a first condition judgment section, a second condition judgment section, a deterioration detection energization section, and a deterioration voltage detection section. The current control section controls pump current such that electromotive force cell voltage becomes equal to a control target voltage. The first condition judgment section judges whether or not a first deterioration detection condition is satisfied. The second condition judgment section judges whether or not a second deterioration detection condition is satisfied when the first deterioration detection condition is satisfied. The deterioration detection energization section supplies deterioration detection current to the oxygen concentration detection cell when the second deterioration detection condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuzo Higuchi
  • Patent number: 10890548
    Abstract: A resistive gas sensor is provided. The resistive gas sensor includes a sensing circuit and a determination circuit. The sensing circuit senses a gas to generate a detection signal. The determination circuit performs a frequency-division operation on the detection signal by a frequency-division parameter to generate a frequency-division signal, counts a half of a period of the frequency-division signal to generate a half-period count value, and determines concentration of the gas according to the half-period count value. The determination circuit determines the frequency-division parameter according to the half-period count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ying-Che Lo, Yu-Sheng Lin, Ting-Hao Hsiao
  • Patent number: 10539443
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring velocity of a fluid stream via deflection of a wire filament. Also disclosed is a process for measuring velocity of a fluid stream, requiring deflecting two or more wire filaments in a fluid stream, measuring two or more resistances, and equating the velocity of the fluid stream to the result of a function of the two or more resistances. In both the apparatus and method, one wire filament must have a length dimension longer than at least one of a dimension of the wire filament in the primary sensing or transverse direction, as well as a dimension of the wire filament in the primary sensing and/or transverse direction less than 50 ? ? U ? ? ? throughout a predetermined operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Marcus Hultmark, Clay Byers, Matthew Fu, Yuyang Fan
  • Patent number: 10479213
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting swelling of a battery, the system including: a plurality of detecting units which is provided at one or more battery modules of a battery pack, respectively, and detects gas branched from a battery cell of the battery module; a control unit which selects the largest detection value among the detection values of the respective detecting units, determines a level of the selected detection value according to a size of the selected detection value, and controls an operation of a peripheral apparatus based on the corresponding level; and a switch unit which is provided in a connection path of the battery pack and an external power source and is turned on and off according to a signal of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Chan Lee, Gyuyeol Lee, Sooryoung Kim
  • Patent number: 10309889
    Abstract: An exhaust gas analysis system is adapted to include an exhaust gas circulation line through which exhaust gas flows, an exhaust gas collection line adapted to collect the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas circulation line and introduce the collected exhaust gas into an exhaust gas analysis device, a continuous analysis line adapted to, separately from the diluted exhaust gas collection line, collect the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas circulation line for continuous analysis, a continuous analyzer provided in the continuous analysis line, and an information processing unit adapted to, on the basis of an analysis result by the continuous analyzer at the time of the collection into the exhaust gas analysis device, determine whether a measurement result of the exhaust gas introduced into the exhaust gas analysis device falls within a preset range, or determine a measurement range used to measure the exhaust gas introduced into the exhaust gas analysis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Masatsune Tokuhira, Jungo Okada, Masahiro Higuchi
  • Patent number: 10108148
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting time measurements to digital value representing phase. Such systems and methods use a ring oscillator to create a coarse measurement of the time difference between first and second rising edges of a modulated signal. A two-dimensional Vernier structure is used to create a fine resolution measurement of the error in the coarse measurement. The coarse and fine measurements are combined to calculate a digital time measurement. A digital time output is calculated as the difference in successive digital time measurements. An offset digital time output is calculated as a difference in a digital time output in relation to a carrier period offset. The offset digital time output is scaled and accumulated to calculate the integrated time signal. The integrated time signals are synchronized to the carrier frequency to output a series of final phase measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: INNOPHASE INC.
    Inventor: Nicolo Testi
  • Patent number: 9759644
    Abstract: A capillary bridge viscometer, comprises an input port (flow in) an output port (flow out) a first capillary tubing arm (R1) in a first hydraulic path between the input port and a first differential detection point (DP+), a second capillary tubing arm (R3) in a second hydraulic path between the first differential detection point (DP+) and the output port (flow out), a third capillary tubing arm (R2) in a third hydraulic path between the input port (flow in) and a second differential detection point (DP?), a fourth capillary tubing arm (R4) in a fourth hydraulic path between the second differential detection point (DP?) and the output port (flow out), an adjustable mechanical flow restrictor (20) in one of the first, second, third, and fourth hydraulic paths, wherein the adjustable mechanical flow restrictor (20) is operative to mechanically adjust a resistance to flow of a fluid while the fluid flows through the adjustable mechanical flow restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Malvern Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark Nicholls, Michael P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 9500615
    Abstract: A water content sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a wire filament configured with a Péclet number of 1 or less. The wire filament has an electrically conductive material with an electrical resistance that varies as a function of temperature. The sensor includes a pair of electrically conductive prongs coupled to opposite ends of the wire filament. Electrically conductive stubs may be coupled to the prongs. A structural support may be coupled to the prongs. The structural support structure may be comprised of silicon. The wire filament may be coupled to driving circuitry configured to supply an electric current to the wire filament to maintain the wire filament at one of an approximately constant current, an approximately constant voltage and an approximately constant temperature. The wire filament may be platinum or titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Marcus Hultmark, Gilad Arwatz, Yuyang Fan, Margit Vallikivi
  • Patent number: 9453807
    Abstract: In one example, a thermal conductivity gas sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a sensing element and an amplification material coupled to the sensing element. The amplification material has a target gas dependent thermal diffusivity. The sensing element measures the thermal diffusivity of the amplification material to determine a target gas concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Aurelie Humbert, Dimitri Soccol, Roel Daamen, Annelies Falepin
  • Patent number: 9080928
    Abstract: An apparatus including first and second sensor elements, the first sensor element includes a first sensor material. The second sensor element includes a second sensor material. The first sensor material is configured such that an electrical property of the first sensor material is dependent upon the temperature of the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located. The second sensor material is configured such that the same electrical property of the second sensor material is dependent upon the relative vapor pressure of a fluid in the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located, the respective temperature and fluid relative vapor pressure dependencies of the first and second sensor materials allowing the temperature and fluid relative vapor pressure of the environment to be determined based on combined measurements of the electrical property of the first and second sensor materials in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Stefano Marco Borini, Richard White, Elisabetta Spigone, Michael Robert Astley, Di Wei, Jani Kivioja, Teuvo Tapani Ryhanen
  • Publication number: 20150135802
    Abstract: A method is described for compensating for a voltage offset in a voltage-lambda characteristic curve of a two-point lambda sensor in relation to a reference voltage-lambda characteristic curve of the two-point lambda sensor, the two-point lambda sensor being situated in an exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine. It is provided that the slope of the voltage-lambda characteristic curve is determined for an output voltage of the two-point lambda sensor and is compared to the slope of a reference voltage-lambda characteristic curve at equal output voltage, and the voltage offset is determined from a deviation of the determined slope of the voltage-lambda characteristic curve from the slope of the reference voltage-lambda characteristic curve. Also described is a control unit for carrying out the method. The method and the control unit enable the determination of and compensation for a voltage offset of a two-point lambda sensor caused by aging or manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Fey
  • Patent number: 8956571
    Abstract: A miniature lower cost optical sensing apparatus and method are provided for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of IR or visible photon monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and at least a portion of the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photo current from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculate the CO concentration and/or dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Quantum Group Inc.
    Inventors: Mark K. Goldstein, Michelle S. Oum
  • Publication number: 20150040641
    Abstract: A gas detector assembly which is at least in part passively cooled comprising; a thermal chimney comprising a first heat collecting area in fluid communication with a ventilation area; a gas sensing device placed at least in part in the thermal chimney, such that in use the first heat collecting area is heated and a temperature gradient between the heat collecting area and ventilation area is established providing a passive cooling flow of gas over at least part of the gas sensing device placed in the thermal chimney.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Roger Hutton
  • Patent number: 8942944
    Abstract: An oxygen sensing system including an oxygen sensor, a microprocessor and one or more additional sensors for sensing parameters associated with the environment or with the oxygen sensor, accounts for one or more sensed conditions when calculating oxygen levels. The one or more sensors may sense conditions associated with environmental effects or effects of use that may cause the oxygen sensor to degrade over usage or over time. A baseline amplification and measurement circuit coupled to the oxygen sensor may enable the sensor to operate less frequently or for shorter periods of time, thereby increasing the life span, calibration hold time of the sensor, and reducing power requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Laguna Research, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Forsyth
  • Patent number: 8939006
    Abstract: A photoacoustic detector wherein control circuits compensate for long term variations of components therein including a light source and sensing microphones. The control circuits intermittently energize the source to evaluate changes in at least source resistance. The control circuits intermittently energize an acoustic generator to evaluate changes in one or more generator responsive microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Rezachek, Gary P. Shubinsky, Michael Freeman
  • Patent number: 8918289
    Abstract: There is provided a combustible gas detection apparatus with a gas sensor and a control device. The gas sensor includes first and second heating resistors each having a resistance that changes depending on a combustible gas concentration of gas under measurement. The control device includes an energization control section that alternately energizes the first and second heating resistors, a first calculation section that calculates a first calculation value responsive to the combustible gas concentration based on a voltage across the first heating resistor during energization of the first heating resistor, a second calculation section that calculates a second calculation value responsive to the combustible gas concentration based on a voltage across the second heating resistor during energization of the second heating resistor, and an anomaly judgment section that judges the occurrence of an anomaly in the first heating resistor by comparison of the first and second calculation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Watanabe, Ryuji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20140345361
    Abstract: Please replace the abstract on file with the abstract as shown on the attached replacement sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Willibald Reitmeier
  • Patent number: 8821797
    Abstract: A hydrogen detection system can include an exposed detection element made of a catalytic metal which burns hydrogen so as to generate combustion heat. A hydrogen sensor can detect a hydrogen concentration based on a detected value of the detection element. A heating unit can heat the detection element. A hydrogen storage unit is included, and a hydrogen guiding pipe can guide the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage unit to the detection element. A flow rate adjusting device is attached to the hydrogen guiding pipe, and adjusts a flow rate of the hydrogen. A first dilution unit can dilute the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage unit with a dilution gas, and a controller can control the heating unit and the flow rate adjusting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunji Tsukabayashi, Hidetoshi Oishi, Kazuhiro Okajima
  • Publication number: 20140157866
    Abstract: A measurement arrangement includes four electrically heated resistors which are arranged in gas paths and are connected to form a Wheatstone bridge, where each of two resistors which are diagonally opposite each other in the Wheatstone bridge are contained in a respective component arranged on a common heated carrier, each respective component is assigned to one heating resistor arranged near the component on the carrier, and where an unbalanced state of the Wheatstone bridge is compensated for by variably energizing the heating resistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Frank Probst, Josef Richter
  • Patent number: 8720251
    Abstract: A gas detection system comprising a gas sensor having a detection surface for detecting an analyte gas, the accuracy of detection being degraded by the presence of an unwanted gas at the sensor, and a thermal scrubber layer directly adjacent said detection surface of the gas sensor defining a diffusion path for the analyte and unwanted gases to traverse through to the detection surface, the diffusion path having a sufficient length and the thermal scrubber being heated by the heater to a sufficient temperature capable of at least partially thermally decomposing the unwanted gas prior to contacting the detection surface to thereby improve the accuracy of the sensor. The system further comprises a heater that is preferably arranged to heat both the detection surface and the thermal scrubber. The invention is particularly useful for improving the performance of an NO2 gas sensor in the presence of ozone (O3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Aeroqual Limited
    Inventors: Geoffrey Stephen Henshaw, John Wagner, Simon Naisbitt, Bryon Wright
  • Patent number: 8721970
    Abstract: A portable, relatively low power gas detector incorporates a single pellistor-type sensor for sensing an explosive gas of interest. Outputs from the sensor are corrected in accordance with ambient temperature and humidity and pre-stored correction factors based on characteristics exhibited by a plurality of similar sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Life Safety Distribution AG
    Inventors: Martin Willett, Martin Jones
  • Patent number: 8683845
    Abstract: A gas sensor detects carbon dioxide, for example for use in air-conditioning systems. The gas sensor is based on a field effect transistor construction. It has a polymer-based material sensitive to carbon dioxide as gas-sensitive layer. The material has a cross-sensitivity with respect to air humidity. The influence of humidity is compensated for by using the signal of a humidity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Fleischer, Roland Pohle, Stefan Stegmeier
  • Publication number: 20140053626
    Abstract: A method for analyzing gas dissolved within a fluid filled asset includes extracting the fluid from the fluid filled asset, circulating the fluid though a first fluid loop, and passing the extracted fluid along a first side of a gas permeable membrane. Gas is extracted from a second side of the gas permeable membrane and the extracted gas is circulated through a second fluid loop. The first fluid loop and the second fluid loop are separated by the gas permeable membrane. The method further includes controlling a pressure differential across the gas permeable membrane to a predetermined pressure differential and providing the extracted gas to a gas analysis unit located within the second fluid loop. The chemical makeup of the extracted gas is periodically determined using the gas analysis unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: LUMASENSE TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: John Paul Jeffrey, Anastasia Rude, Brett Sargent, Eric Wertz, Jeffrey Headrick, Terry M. Stapleton, Prabhu Soundarrajan
  • Patent number: 8584506
    Abstract: A method of using physics-based signal processing algorithms for micromachined cantilever arrays. The methods utilize deflection of a micromachined cantilever that represents the chemical, biological, or physical element being detected. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of modeling the deflection of the micromachined cantilever producing a deflection model, sensing the deflection of the micromachined cantilever and producing a signal representing the deflection, and comparing the signal representing the deflection with the deflection model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
    Inventors: James V. Candy, David S. Clague, Christopher L. Lee, Robert E. Rudd, Alan K. Burnham, Joseph W. Tringe
  • Patent number: 8543340
    Abstract: A gas detector with a compensated electrochemical sensor exhibits altered sensitivity in response to decreasing stochastic noise in an output thereof. A gain parameter can be adjusted to alter sensitivity. A life-time estimate can be made based on sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Lee D. Tice
  • Patent number: 8518237
    Abstract: The service life of amperometric electrochemical oxygen sensors is increased by operating the electrodes of such sensors at a polarization voltage suitable for measuring the oxygen content of samples only during calibration or when measuring such samples and thereafter modulating the polarization voltage to a lower voltage such that substantially no electrical current is produced by the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Chan, Lawrence Milesky
  • Publication number: 20130199265
    Abstract: A motor vehicle having a gas concentration sensor and a method for measuring gas concentration using the gas concentration sensor the gas concentration sensor having a sound transmitter, a sound receiver and a control device by which a phase shift between the sound signal transmitted by the sound transmitter and a sound signal received by the sound receiver can be controlled to a predefinable phase shift. A change in a composition of a gas mixture can be detected by an analysis unit on the basis of a change in frequency of the sound signal relative to a frequency of a reference sound signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Bernat, Armin Hollstein
  • Patent number: 8500849
    Abstract: A differential absorption spectrum for a reactive gas in a gas mixture can be generated for sample absorption data by subtracting background absorption data set from the sample absorption data. The background absorption data can be characteristic of absorption characteristics of the background composition in a laser light scan range that includes a target wavelength. The differential absorption spectrum can be converted to a measured concentration of the reactive gas using calibration data. A determination can be made whether the background composition has substantially changed relative to the background absorption data, and new background absorption data can be used if the background composition has substantially changed. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Xiang Liu, Alfred Feitisch, Gregory M. Sanger
  • Patent number: 8474242
    Abstract: A method and system for improving sensor accuracy of diesel emissions is disclosed. The method and system change the sensor reading as a function of sensor age to provide a more accurate measure of the diesel emissions. By estimating the degree of sensor error and then providing a gain correction factor as a function of sensor age, a more accurate measure of the diesel emissions is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Eric B. Andrews, Matthew L. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130067988
    Abstract: A gas measuring apparatus including: a measurement unit which obtains a measurement value with respect to a predetermined parameter of a gas to be measured; an altitude acquisition unit which acquires altitude information indicating an altitude of an installation location; an air pressure calculation unit which calculates an air pressure in the installation location, based on the altitude information; and a correction unit which corrects the measurement value based on a calculation value of the air pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki Aoki, Masayuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130036792
    Abstract: A gas sensor apparatus (1) includes a gas sensor (10) which outputs an output value corresponding to the concentration of a specific gas component contained in a gas; a pressure sensor (20) which measures the pressure of the gas; and a computation section (30) which computes a value representing the concentration of the specific gas component based on the output value from the gas sensor (10) and the pressure of the gas. The computation section (30) computes a concentration value using an expression derived from Fick's law and is a function of the output value and the pressure value, computes a correction value on the basis of a correction term which is a function of the provisional specific-component concentration and the pressure value, and corrects the provisional specific-component concentration using the correction value in order to compute the concentration value of the specific gas component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao TSUDUKI, Tomohiro Tajima, Ginjirou Ito
  • Publication number: 20120291522
    Abstract: A simple gas sensor for detecting a concentration of a detected gas with high accuracy, in which a thermal interference can hardly occur between a normal detection element pair and a reference detection element pair, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunji TSUKABAYASHI, Hidetoshi OISHI, Kazuhiro OKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 8241919
    Abstract: A method includes acquiring a chemical sample and modulating the chemical sample at a frequency greater than a drift frequency of a sensor. The method also includes determining at least one of a presence and a concentration of the analyte within the modulated chemical sample using the sensor. Modulating the chemical sample could include alternately absorbing at least some of the analyte into a sorbent material and releasing at least some of the analyte from the sorbent material. Modulating the chemical sample could also include heating the sorbent material, absorbing part of the analyte into the sorbent material, and passing a remaining portion of the analyte into the sensor. Modulating the chemical sample could further include stopping the heating of the sorbent material, releasing the part of the analyte from the sorbent material, and passing the sample with the released part of the analyte into the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Dewey McBrady, J. David Zook, Alex Gu, Michael L. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8215150
    Abstract: A docking station for use with gas sensors includes limited test and diagnostic circuitry directed to specific characteristics of selected detectors. Where a family of detectors is to be evaluated, a universal interface for that family can be included. A single port can be used for multiple different detectors irrespective of specific detector characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Life Safety Distribution AG
    Inventors: Martin Willett, Keith Francis Edwin Pratt
  • Patent number: 8211293
    Abstract: A method of correcting NOx sensor includes the steps of preparing a corrective map in advance, finding an existing proportion of NO or NO2 in a mixture of NOx in exhaust gases before coming into an NOx sensor, and correcting an NOx concentration that the NOx sensor detects actually. The corrective map records relationships between temperature physical quantities that are relevant to a temperature of the exhaust gases, oxygen-concentration physical quantities that are relevant to an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gases, and the existing proportion. The existing proportion is found with reference to the corrective map using the temperature physical quantities and oxygen-concentration physical quantities that are detected actually. The NOx concentration is corrected on the basis of not only the existing proportion but also a difference between an NO2 diffusion velocity and an NO diffusion velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Nishijima, Takeshi Hirabayashi, Fumitaka Kato
  • Patent number: 8181544
    Abstract: Preparation methods for introducing liquid samples to gas analysis instruments include 1) complete evaporation of a liquid sample in a sample chamber, and 2) allowing the sample vapor in the sample chamber to equilibrate for a predetermined time. An inert carrier gas (e.g., dry nitrogen or zero air) is also admitted to the sample chamber. After equilibration, the sample vapor is admitted as a conditioned sample to an analysis instrument. Preferably, the predetermined equilibration time is sufficiently long that the sample vapor in the sample chamber becomes substantially homogeneous with respect to both concentration and isotopic ratio. Vapor derived from a liquid calibration standard in this manner can be employed as an accurate gas-phase calibration reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignees: Picarro, Inc., The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Eric Crosson, Bruce A. Richman, Bruce H. Vaughn, James W. C. White
  • Patent number: 8176618
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte body is placed on and fixed to an upper plate of a press jig such that a major surface (an upper surface) of the solid electrolyte body faces one major surface of a guide plate having an open space. The upper plate is rotated by a transfer mechanism to incline the solid electrolyte body in one direction, and the inclined solid electrolyte body is moved toward the other major surface of the guide plate such that a first edge of the solid electrolyte body protrudes from the open space. Then, a cutter is slid along the other major surface, so that the first edge is chamfered to form a first chamfered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Suzuki, Kouji Tagawa, Kunihiko Nakagaki
  • Patent number: 8152900
    Abstract: A differential absorption spectrum for a reactive gas in a gas mixture can be generated for sample absorption data by subtracting background absorption data set from the sample absorption data. The background absorption data can be characteristic of absorption characteristics of the background composition in a laser light scan range that includes a target wavelength. The differential absorption spectrum can be converted to a measured concentration of the reactive gas using calibration data. A determination can be made whether the background composition has substantially changed relative to the background absorption data, and new background absorption data can be used if the background composition has substantially changed. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Xiang Liu, Alfred Feitisch, Gregory M. Sanger
  • Publication number: 20120036916
    Abstract: A gas detection system comprising a gas sensor having a detection surface for detecting an analyte gas, the accuracy of detection being degraded by the presence of an unwanted gas at the sensor, and a thermal scrubber layer directly adjacent said detection surface of the gas sensor defining a diffusion path for the analyte and unwanted gases to traverse through to the detection surface, the diffusion path having a sufficient length and the thermal scrubber being heated by the heater to a sufficient temperature capable of at least partially thermally decomposing the unwanted gas prior to contacting the detection surface to thereby improve the accuracy of the sensor. The system further comprises a heater that is preferably arranged to heat both the detection surface and the thermal scrubber. The invention is particularly useful for improving the performance of an NO2 gas sensor in the presence of ozone (O3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Geoffrey Stephen Henshaw, John Wagner, Simon Naisbitt, Bryon Wright
  • Publication number: 20120006092
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include adjusting a pressure level of a sample gas in a testing chamber, for example, using a pressurized inert reference gas, and determining a composition of the adjusted sample gas. By adjusting the pressure level of the sample gas, the composition of the sample gas may be determined more accurately than otherwise possible. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Carlson, Satheesh Kuppurao
  • Patent number: 8029735
    Abstract: A test system comprises a sensor container and a testing device. The sensor container has a base and a lid. The container encloses test sensors therein. The container includes a calibration label attached thereto. The label includes electrical contacts located thereon. The electrical contacts encode calibration information onto the calibration label. The testing device has an auto-calibration feature externally located thereon. The testing device is adapted to determine the analyte concentration in a fluid sample. The auto-calibration feature includes calibration elements that communicate with the electrical contacts on the calibration label. The testing device is adapted to determine the calibration information encoded on the calibration label in response to the calibration elements engaging the electrical contacts. The encoded calibration information is determined without inserting the sensor container or the calibration label into the testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Bayer Healthcare, LLC
    Inventor: Robert D. Schell
  • Patent number: 8020427
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include adjusting a pressure level of a sample gas in a testing chamber, for example, using a pressurized inert reference gas, and determining a composition of the adjusted sample gas. By adjusting the pressure level of the sample gas, the composition of the sample gas may be determined more accurately than otherwise possible. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Carlson, Satheesh Kuppurao