Abstract: A steering wheel has a structural skeleton forming a core within an outer covering, the covering and skeleton forming a hub portion having at least one arm interconnecting the hub portion with an outer wheel portion. The skeleton within the outer wheel portion has a U-shaped cross sectional conformation. A wire harness is positioned within the U-shaped conformation of the outer wheel portion and a plurality of ethanol detectors are mounted in spaced apart relationship within the outer wheel portion and adjacent to an outer surface of the steering wheel. The ethanol detectors communicate with the wire harness and an electrical circuit, the circuit engaging the hub portion of the skeleton. The circuit is in communication with the wire harness for receiving electrical signals from the ethanol detectors for sensing ethanol vapors in proximity to at least one of the ethanol detectors.

Abstract: A method of processing an analog sensor signal is disclosed. The method includes feeding the analog sensor signal into a first input of an operational amplifier, amplifying the analog sensor signal using the operational amplifier, measuring the amplified analog sensor signal, and comparing the amplified analog sensor signal with a threshold value. The method also includes generating a direct voltage depending on a difference between the amplified analog sensor signal and the threshold value, forming a difference signal from the analog sensor signal and the direct voltage, and amplifying the difference signal and outputting an output signal.

Abstract: The sampling system of the invention includes a column comprising a first separator associated with a first collector so as to extract particles whose diameter is larger than a first diameter, and a second separator associated with a second collector which eliminates the finest particles and concentrates the other particles in the gas flow sucked up by the suction pipe of an analysis device.

Abstract: A gas analyzer apparatus including a support tube having a distal portion arranged in a flue and a gas sensor supported on the support tube. An air supply tube supplies cooling air into the support tube. A basal portion of the gas sensor is cooled by the cooling air.

Abstract: A sensor with an attenuated drift characteristic, including a layer structure in which a sensing layer has a layer of diffusional barrier material on at least one of its faces. The sensor may for example be constituted as a hydrogen gas sensor including a palladium/yttrium layer structure formed on a micro-hotplate base, with a chromium barrier layer between the yttrium layer and the micro-hotplate, and with a tantalum barrier layer between the yttrium layer and an overlying palladium protective layer. The gas sensor is useful for detection of a target gas in environments susceptible to generation or incursion of such gas, and achieves substantial (e.g., >90%) reduction of signal drift from the gas sensor in extended operation, relative to a corresponding gas sensor lacking the diffusional barrier structure of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and a methods for collecting, transmitting and storing fugitive gas emission data. An embodiment of the invention collects fugitive gas with a sampling probe and into a emission monitoring device. The device then sends and stores fugitive gas data into a storage medium, such as a wireless data-logging adapter. The wireless-data logging adapter stores the data and wirelessly sends it to a personal digital assistant or other form of redundant memory such as a data logger. In one embodiment, the PDA can initiate commands to retrieve data from the storage medium or operate the emission gas monitoring device.

Abstract: The present invention provides for variable-range hydrogen sensors and methods for making same. Such variable-range hydrogen sensors comprise a series of fabricated Pd—Ag (palladium-silver) nanowires—each wire of the series having a different Ag to Pd ratio—with nanobreakjunctions in them and wherein the nanowires have predefined dimensions and orientation. When the nanowires are exposed to H2, their lattice swells when the H2 concentration reaches a threshold value (unique to that particular ratio of Pd to Ag). This causes the nanobreakjunctions to close leading to a 6-8 orders of magnitude decrease in the resistance along the length of the wire and providing a sensing mechanism for a range of hydrogen concentrations.

Abstract: A remote sensing device and method operable for detecting and analyzing gases, vapors and flame plumes using imaging. The gas imaging instrument includes a gas-leak imaging device, for example, an Image Multispectral Sensing (IMSS) device (10), enhanced by advanced image processing techniques and micro-miniature circuitry, and includes a GPS (21), a clock and computer means (24) that are collectively operable for logging positional, temporal and gas-leak data. These enhancements provide a portable instrument with the capability to not only remotely detect and image gases, including gas leaks, but additionally provide a record of the position and time the spectrometric gas-leak data were collected in a single device (camera) (25).

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and system are utilized for testing the performance of a gas monitor against predetermined monitor characteristics to determine if performance of the gas monitor is validated in a manner whereby testing gas is directly delivered to the gas sensor.

Abstract: We recently disclosed a novel observatory which captures the complete picture in domestic gas-energy usage and local weather data in real-time. It uses a new principle of thermodynamic anemometry, wherein a fraction of the flow is extracted and passed through a small measurement chamber. Here, the external flow modulates heat-transport amplified by buoynancy-convection, and the induced Nusselt number is a measure for the Reynolds number of the flow. Based on an effective viscosity amplified by convection-buyoancy, the resulting mass-flow measurements are inherently insensitive to variations in temperature and pressure. In the application to natural gas metering, gas-composition may vary with commensurate impact on mass-flow metering and energy-metering. In mass-flow metering, sensitivity to gas-composition is mediated by the effective viscosity. In energy metering, the interchangeability of various gas-compositions is well-described by the Wobbe-index. For example, these sensitivities are, respectively, 0.

Abstract: In order to provide a step capable of reliably detecting a CO concentration in a reformed gas at low cost and a hydrogen purifier capable of fully exerting a function of a CO purifying catalyst, a gas concentration detector comprising a reaction chamber which has a catalyst layer and a gas temperature detector and capable of detecting the concentration of carbon monoxide in the gas by means of a signal of the temperature detector referring to a reformed gas passing along through the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for obtaining calibration curves for CO and CO2 during laboratory calibration of one or more remote emissions sensing (RES) instruments, and for self-calibration of on-road RES instruments to compensate for changes in background CO and CO2 column densities.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method comprising an apparatus for removing contaminants from a gas in a semiconductor processing device, which can include a filter unit having at least two parallel filter stages located therein. The filter stages are designed to remove a least a portion of the contaminants present in the gas flowing through them. The apparatus can also include a flow controller for distributing the gas flow among the filter stages. In one embodiment, the controller may consist of a diffuser plate. The invention also provides a sampling tube orifice for gas flow control in a system or method of the invention. In another embodiment, an apparatus for removing contaminants from a gas in a clean room comprises a filter unit having at least two parallel filter stages, which are used to remove a portion of the contaminants in the gas as it passes through the apparatus.

Abstract: A pulse-type gas concentration measurement system and a method of pulse-type gas concentration measurement in a specific environment. When the sensor is located at a specific position, a variable pulse-modulated voltage is sent to the sensor, so that the sensor outputs a first signal to the processing device. The processing device compares the first signal to the chemical matter characteristics signals to determine the composition and concentration of respective constituents in the gas, and determines a detection voltage according to the first signal. Then, a square-wave pulse with the detection voltage is sent intermittently to the sensor, so that the sensor outputs a second signal to the processing device. The processing device compares the second signal to the chemical matter characteristics signal to determine the concentration variation of each respective constituent of the gas.

Abstract: The invention provides hydrogen selective metal-insulator-semiconductor sensors which include a layer of hydrogen selective material. The hydrogen selective material can be polyimide layer having a thickness between 200 and 800 nm. Suitable polyimide materials include reaction products of benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride 4,4-oxydianiline m-phenylene diamine and other structurally similar materials.

Abstract: A method for determining the mobility of hydrogen as a function of temperature in superconducting niobium cavities comprising: 1) heating a cavity under test to remove free hydrogen; 2) introducing hydrogen-3 gas into the cavity; 3) cooling the cavity to allow absorption of hydrogen-3; and 4) measuring the amount of hydrogen-3 by: a) cooling the cavity to about 4° K while flowing a known and regulated amount of inert carrier gas such as argon or helium into the cavity; b) allowing the cavity to warm at a stable rate from 4° K to room temperature as it leaves the chamber; and c) directing the exit gas to an ion chamber radiation detector.

Abstract: A device has at least one sensor for determining one or more constituents of a medium flowing in an installation duct. The device has a housing and a main channel, which is connected to said housing and is closed at an end remote from the housing. The main channel has a first channel and a second channel, which is separated from the first channel by a first separating wall. The main channel also has at least one first opening, which is away from the end and creates a first connection between the first channel and the installation duct, and at least one second opening, which is away from the end and creates a second connection between the second channel and the installation duct, so that the medium flows between the openings, through the channels and past the sensor.

Abstract: New sensors and methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple gaseous substances simultaneously with both high selectivity and high sensitivity are provided. The new sensors rely on a characteristic difference in energy between the interaction of a particular substance with a catalyst coated heat transfer device (HTD) and a non-catalyst coated (or one coated with a different catalyst) reference HTD. Molecular detection is achieved by an exothermic or endothermic chemical or physical reaction between the catalytic surface of the sensor and the molecule, tending to induce a temperature change of the sensor. Both high temperature and non-destructive low temperature detection are possible. The magnitude and rate of endothermic or exothermic heat transfer from a specific molecule-catalyst interaction is related to molecular concentration.

Abstract: A system for detecting radiation that is embodied within a trash collection truck. The trash collection truck has a storage bin for holding compressed trash and a collection bin for temporarily holding newly collected trash. A compaction mechanism is used to move newly collected trash out of said collection bin and into said storage bin. At least one sensor is placed proximate the collection bin for detecting radiation. If radiological waste is placed into the collection bin of the trash collection truck, the sensor detects the presence of the radiological material and activates an alarm indicator. The alarm indicator warns the operators of the trash collection truck that radiological waste is present.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting a burial site of human remains are disclosed. An air stream is drawn through an air intake conduit from locations near potential burial sites of human remains. The air stream is monitored by one or more chemical sensors to determine whether the air stream includes one or more indicator compounds selected from halogenated compounds, hydrocarbons, nitrogen-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, acid/ester compounds, oxygen-containing compounds, and naphthalene-containing compounds. When it is determined that an indicator compound is present in the air stream, this indicates that a burial site of human remains is below or nearby. Each sensor may be in electrical communication with an indicator that signals when the sensor has detected the presence of the indicator compound in the air stream.

Abstract: A gas sensor including a gas detecting element extending in a longitudinal direction and in which a plurality of ceramic layers are stacked, and wherein a detecting portion is provided at a leading end side of the gas detecting element, the gas detecting element including: a first ceramic layer; a second ceramic layer; a first through-hole conductor; a first peripheral portion; a second through-hole conductor; a second peripheral portion; and an opening all as defined herein, wherein the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion respectively have mutually overlapping adhered portions and separated portions opposing one another through a gap continuing to the opening, and a relationship L1>S1 is satisfied, where L1 represents a maximum length of the adhered portion, and S1 represents a maximum length of the separated portion.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a physiologic condition includes suspending, via trans-tracheal implantation, a dual pressure sensor for exposure to a bidirectional airflow within the trachea. A respiratory parameter is measured via the dual pressure sensor based on an airflow-induced pressure differential sensed by the dual pressure sensor, and a physiologic condition is determined via the measured respiratory parameter.

Abstract: Integrated nanotube sensors are adapted for detecting various chemical and biological molecules. In one implementation, nanotube sensor arrays are formed as nano-electronic noses capable of such detection, and can be implemented in devices including carbon nanotube-based electronic noses and biochips. Various implementations of the present invention are also directed to nanoscience and nanotechnology applications, such as medical, military and biological applications. In a more particular implementation, nanotubes are produced on full-scale wafers and functionalized. In another more particular implementation, functionalized nanotubes are integrated into addressable devices. With these approaches, various aspects of the present invention have been found to be useful in sensor applications having small size, high density and extreme sensitivity. Such sensor applications are applicable to many aspects of society, and can be implemented for making human lives more safe, secure and healthy.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor for organic molecules such as ethylene includes an electrochemical cell, gas sample inlet means and means for detecting current produced by the oxidation of the organic molecule at the anode of the cell. The sensor is capable of sensing multiple organic molecules in some embodiments. A voltage is applied to the anode of the cell to provide energy to drive the oxidation reaction and produce a corresponding current. The sensor of the invention can be made as a small, hand-held unit that is capable of real-time detection of various organic species.

Abstract: Methods for determining characteristics of a plasma are provided. In one embodiment, a method for determining characteristics of a plasma includes obtaining metrics of current and voltage information for first and second waveforms coupled to a plasma at different frequencies, determining at least one characteristic of the plasma using the metrics obtained from each different frequency waveform. In another embodiment, the method includes providing a plasma impedance model of a plasma as a function of frequency, and determining at least one characteristic of a plasma using model. In yet another embodiment, the method includes providing a plasma impedance model of a plasma as a function of frequency, measuring current and voltage for waveforms coupled to the plasma and having at least two different frequencies, and determining ion mass of a plasma from model and the measured current and voltage of the waveforms.

Abstract: A gas measuring method performs a gas measurement inside a sealed container provided with a pair of plates and an exhaust pipe having a breakable vacuum isolating member on at least one of the plates. The method includes the steps of connecting the sealed container to a gas measuring apparatus through the exhaust pipe, and breaking the breakable vacuum isolating member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining alcohol content in a breath sample, comprising at least one of breath sample exhaust means, resistance lowering means, and correction factor calculation means.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, a reformer supplies reformate to a fuel cell stack. A portion of the reformate flow is diverted for analysis by a hydrocarbon analysis system. Residual hydrocarbons in the reformate may damage the anodes of the fuel cell stack. Although incompletely-reformed reformate may include a variety of hydrocarbon compounds, the invention simply measures methane as an indicator of the overall performance level of the reformer. A currently preferred embodiment includes a catalytic combustion methane sensor. Combustion air and reformate are delivered in a fixed ratio to the sensor via positive displacement pumps. The system can provide alarm means or optionally a shut-off means to protect a fuel cell stack from elevated levels of hydrocarbons in the reformate stream.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus and method for use in measuring diffusible hydrogen concentrations in materials, structures, and other objects. In an embodiment of the invention for use in welding applications, the measuring apparatus (10) includes a sensor assembly (20) that, with an included sealing member (40), defines a sample area (17) on a weld bead (16) from which hydrogen evolves into a sample volume (18) defined by the sealing member (40), a sensor housing (34) and a sensor (22) of the sensor assembly (20). The hydrogen reacts with a sensing layer (28) and a reflector layer (30) positioned on the end of an optical fiber (24), all of which are included in the sensor assembly (20) and are sealably positioned within the sensor (22).

Abstract: The invention provides a contactless sensor device operable for sensing water vapor or a predetermined chemical vapor including a thin film, wherein the thin film includes a nanostructured sensing layer and a soft magnetic layer disposed directly adjacent to the nanostructured sensing layer. The thin film has a first mass, a first density, and a first magnetostrictive resonance frequency prior to the nanostructured sensing layer adsorbing a predetermined amount of a predetermined vapor and a second mass, a second density, and a second magnetostrictive resonance frequency subsequent to the nanostructured sensing layer adsorbing the predetermined amount of the predetermined vapor. The sensor device also includes a driving coil disposed indirectly adjacent to and at a predetermined distance from the thin film, the driving coil operable for generating an alternating-current magnetic field used to query a shift in the magnetostrictive resonance frequency of the thin film.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor includes a tubular casing; an oxygen detecting element installed in a leading end of the tubular casing; lead wires each extending from the oxygen detecting element to the outside of the tubular casing through an open base end of the tubular casing, each lead wire including a core wire of metal; a rubber bush plugged in the open base end of the tubular casing, the rubber bush having the lead wires passed therethrough; and a heat resisting structure for protecting the rubber bush from a high temperature. The heat resisting structure is constructed to satisfy the following inequality: 10%?Al/Ar?50%, wherein: Al: The sectional area in total of the lead wires; and Ar: The sectional area of the rubber bush.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) includes a thermocouple, a first nozzle configured to direct heat from combustion of a first gas, liquid, or combination thereof to the thermocouple, a second nozzle configured to direct heat from combustion of a second gas, liquid, or combination thereof to the thermocouple, and a first igniter.

Abstract: A (MEMS)-based gas sensor assembly for detecting a fluorine-containing species in a gas containing same, e.g., an effluent of a semiconductor processing tool undergoing etch cleaning with HF, NF3, etc. Such gas sensor assembly in a preferred embodiment comprises a free-standing silicon carbide support structure having a layer of a gas sensing material, preferably nickel or nickel alloy, coated thereon. Such gas sensor assembly is preferably fabricated by micro-molding techniques employing sacrificial molds that are subsequently removable for forming structure layers.

Abstract: A soot sensor includes an insulator having a through-hole and a center electrode provided in the through-hole of the insulator so that a leading end of the center electrode protrudes from a leading end of the insulator and faces a discharge gap. A heating member is embedded in the insulator, and the distance between the heating member and the leading end of the center electrode is at least 10 mm.

Abstract: A patient vital sign monitoring device and method thereof is described. According to an embodiment of the present invention there is a portable, lightweight, and small device which verifies intubation and monitors respiratory gas in a patient. The device comprises an electronic monitoring device portion and a disposable airway adapter, the disposable airway adapter having an integral display for indicating presence or levels of respiratory gas. A method for respiratory gas monitoring according to an embodiment is provided comprising connecting a disposable airway adapter to a tube in a patient's body, the adapter having an integrally attached display portion for displaying information; releasably attaching an electronic monitoring device portion to said airway adapter; determining proper tube insertion by measuring the respiratory gas of said patient through the monitoring device, as displayed through said display portion; and releasing said monitoring device portion from said airway adapter.

Abstract: A hand-held device detects the presence of a preselected substance in the breath. A deformable housing forms a test chamber for interacting an indicator reagent with the breath. An ampoule positioned inside the housing is ruptured by manual pressure through the walls of the housing. The contents of the ruptured ampoule are exposed to the breath introduced into the chamber. The presence of a substance in the breath causes the indicator reagent to undergo a visually ascertainable change. The ampoule is secured within the housing by a pair of filter plugs having inboard concavities to receive the rounded ends of the ampoule to center it within the housing, and plural detents prevent slippage of the filters. Additional embodiments lower the user's risk of being cut by glass shards, prevent reagent inhalation, enhance the visual aspects of the device, and physically indicate the presence of breath flowing through the device.

Abstract: A control system includes a basic control command operating unit, a fuel data storage unit, a running results database for storing past running results values of a control subject, a data creating unit configured to calculate a distance between data of the past running results values and the data sets and determining data set in which a distance between data becomes minimum, a modeling unit configured to model a relationship between operation parameters of a combustion apparatus and components in combustion gas of the combustion apparatus by using the data set determined by the data creating unit and a correcting unit for calculating combustion apparatus operation parameters with which components having a better condition than that of the components in a current gas are provided by using a model of the modeling unit and correcting operation command values of the basic control command operating unit by calculated operation parameters.

Abstract: The degradation over time that is commonly seen with analyte-binding proteins when used as sensors for trace amounts of an analyte in a gaseous mixture is reduced by maintaining the sensor in a low-oxygen or oxygen-free environment.

Abstract: A chemical vapor sensor is provided that measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, an ethanol vapor sensor is provided, sized for being inconspicuous and on-board a vehicle, having a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode, for detecting a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. For the passive mode, a vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectible level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. In an aspect, an active breathalyzer is used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An anti-corrosion structure of a gas sensor is provided. The gas sensor includes a hollow cylindrical air cover assembly made up of an inner and an outer cover. The air cover assembly has formed therein air inlets through which air is admitted into the gas sensor. The inner and outer covers are joined together through at least one crimped portion which defines a water drain path extending from the air inlets to outside the air cover assembly, thereby draining the water entering at the air inlets out of the gas sensor. This avoids staying of the water between the inner and outer covers to minimize gap corrosion therebetween.

Abstract: A gas sensor designed to ensure waterproofing and air ventilation is provided which includes a rubber bush fitted in an end of an air cover joined to a housing. The rubber bush has formed in a base portion thereof lead-pass holes and in a top portion thereof an air flow path through which air is introduced into an air chamber in the gas sensor. The air cover is crimped circumferentially to provide an elastic nip only to the base portion of the rubber bush, thereby ensuring tight fits of the leads in the lead-pass holes without deforming the air flow path undesirably. An ventilation filter is fit on a neck of the rubber bush between the base portion and the top portion in communication with the air flow path, thus ensuring the stability of entrance of the air into the air flow path through the ventilation filter.

Abstract: A system for determining polarization of a gas comprises a container that contains the polarized gas. An oscillator circuit comprises an Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) coil that is positioned adjacent to the container. A pulse generator circuit is configured to generate an electrical pulse that may be transmitted to an optical cell through the NMR coil to excite the polarized gas responsive to a control processor. A Q-reduction circuit that is independent of the pulse generator circuit is configured to reduce oscillations in the oscillator circuit from the transmitted electrical pulse responsive to the control processor. A receive circuit is responsive to an electrical signal that is induced in the oscillator circuit due to the electromagnetic excitation of the polarized gas. The control processor is configured to determine the polarization of the gas based on the output signal of the receive circuit.

Abstract: A non-contact, extractive sampling system and method is provided for measuring the exhaust gas composition and fine particle composition of exhaust emissions of various types of vehicles under actual operating conditions. A portion (or sample) of an exhaust plume of a vehicle is pulled or extracted through an extraction sampling tube, via a vacuum pump, to a remote trace gas detection system where the concentration of one or more constituents present in the sample of exhaust plume may be measured. In this regard, the invention enables vehicle emissions measurements to be made at a location remote from roadway, rather than using known, “cross-path” remote emissions sensing systems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for detecting the type of anesthetic gas. The method comprises the steps of: passing a plurality of light beams through a gas chamber injected with said anesthetic gas, wherein, said anesthetic gas has respective absorption characteristic with respect to each light beam; detecting the light intensities of the attenuated light beams absorbed by the anesthetic gas, respectively, to obtain the relative absorption coefficients of one of the attenuated light beams with respect to the others; mapping the obtained relative absorption coefficients into a coordinate system, which corresponds to said relative absorption coefficients; and determining the type of said anesthetic gas based on the mapping position of said relative absorption coefficients in the coordinate system.

Abstract: A ceramic laminate body, a gas sensor element employing such a ceramic laminate body and related manufacturing method are disclosed as including first and second ceramic sheets, made of material compositions different from each other, and an intermediate bonding layer, bonding the first and second ceramic sheets to each other so as to form a closed hollow space between the first and second ceramic sheets. The intermediate bonding layer has a multilayer structure including first and second unit intermediate layers laminated on each other such that innermost end portions of the first and second unit intermediate layers are displaced from each other to adapt a difference in degreasing contraction rates of associated component parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (1) for helium or hydrogen with a vacuum-tight housing (2), wherein a gas consuming cold cathode array (3, 4) is arranged, in addition to a selectively active passage (9) for the gas to be detected. According to the invention, in order to improve the properties of said sensor, the housing (2) is made of glass, components of the gas passage (9) include a membrane (18) made of a silicon material having the desired selective qualities, in addition to a silicon plate (19) which supports the membrane (18) and is provided with a plurality of openings (21) and a heating element (24). The housing (2) and the selectively active gas passage (9) are joined together without polymer and elastomer.

Abstract: A hydrogen detecting system is characterized by a passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor. The sensor includes a piezoelectric substrate having a self assembled monolayer arranged on at least a portion of the substrate to create a hydrophobic surface. A palladium nanocluster thin film is deposited on the monolayer and an interdigital SAW transducer is disposed upon the piezoelectric substrate for conversion of an RF signal into an acoustic wave and vice versa. At least one additional SAW element is also disposed on the substrate and spaced from the SAW transducer. The SAW element receives a signal from the SAW transducer and produces a response signal. The response signal is modified by the palladium nanocluster film due to a change in conductivity of the palladium nanocluster film upon exposure to hydrogen. This change in the response signal is measured by an interrogator, and yields a measure of the hydrogen concentration to which the sensor was exposed.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a gas detecting device capable of relieving the influence of an environment such as a temperature, a humidity or a wind velocity to detect a change in a concentration of a specific gas and an autoventilation system for a vehicle using the gas detecting device. More specifically, a gas detecting device (10) using a gas sensor element (11) changing a sensor resistance Rs depending on a concentration of a gas such as NOx and an autoventilation system (100) for a vehicle according to the invention A/D convert the output of a sensor resistance value converting circuit (14) to acquire a sensor output value S(n), calculates a base value B(n) based on B(n)=B(n?1)+k1{S(n)?B(n?1)}, and furthermore, calculates a difference value of D(n)=S(n)?B(n).

Abstract: A gas sensor comprises a gas sensing element, an insulator, and a housing. The gas sensor element senses information indicative of a concentration of a specific gas to be measured and has a longitudinal direction and a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In the insulator, the gas sensing element is fixedly inserted. The housing has a hollow in which the insulator with the gas sensing element is inserted from an opening of hollow and has a wall portion positioned to form the opening in the longitudinal direction. The wall portion includes a caulked portion bent inward in the radial direction and has a thickness in the radial direction between an inner and an outer wall surfaces. The thickness and at least one of the inner and the outer wall surface change continuously in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A person-carried hydrogen sulfide instrument is adapted for use with a conventional SCADA system or other type of fault monitoring system normally intended for monitoring well-related conditions at a well site. In response to detecting an abnormally high concentration of hydrogen sulfide gas, the instrument triggers the fault monitoring system to record an H2S fault and convey that information to a remote computer. In some embodiments, the instrument includes a signal relay unit that listens to a conventional H2S monitor. The signal relay unit has a learning mode that teaches the unit to recognize an audible alarm from the H2S monitor. In response to bearing the H2S alarm, the signal relay unit emits a trigger signal to the fault monitoring system.