Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080282765 | Self-calibrating sensor - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a gas sensor comprising a flow channel, a concentration modulator positioned in the flow channel, a gas generator in contact with the flow channel, one or more gas detectors positioned downstream of the concentration modulator and gas generator and a pump. | 11-20-2008 |
20090011292 | Electrical power generator - An improved system for generating electrical power using a fuel cell. More particularly, a system for generating hydrogen gas by reacting water vapor with a substantially non-fluid substance and transporting the generated hydrogen gas to the fuel cell which generates electrical power. Reacting water vapor with the non-fluid hydrogen generating substance rather than liquid water prevents caking of the non-fluid substance and deposition of byproducts onto the non-fluid substance that interfere with continued generation of hydrogen gas. Also, a non-electrically actuated valve for use in a hydrogen gas generating apparatus which regulates the generation of hydrogen as required by the fuel cell. | 01-08-2009 |
20090266144 | PHOTOACOUSTIC SENSOR - Various embodiments of the application provide a photoacoustic sensor, which includes: a gas cell having an opening; a light source to generate a radiation to radiate sample gas within the gas cell; a detector to detect the sample gas within the gas cell, and to generate electrical signals in response to acoustic signals generated by pressure fluctuations of the radiated sample gas caused by the radiation; and an active valve having a speaker aligned with the opening of the gas cell. The speaker having a voice coil and a diaphragm attached to the voice coil. A control signal is applicable for the speaker to control access of the gas cell. During sampling, the control signal causes the voice coil of the speaker to repeatedly or constantly lift the diaphragm from contact with the opening of the gas cell to allow sample gas enter the gas cell. While during detecting, the spring force of the voice coil causes the diaphragm in tight contact with the opening of gas cell to seal the gas cell. | 10-29-2009 |
20120272716 | Photoacoustic Sensor Diffusion Membrane Attachment Structure - A photoacoustic detector includes a sensing region for receiving atmospheric samples of a gas. A permeable membrane overlays a gas input port of the sensing region. The membrane is mechanically clamped to the sensing region by a compression force. | 11-01-2012 |
20120272717 | Photoacoustic Detector with Background Signal Correction - A photoacoustic detector includes a sensing region for receiving atmospheric samples. Radiant energy from a source is directed toward the sensing region. A thermal isolator and a displaced optical filter are positioned between the incoming radiant energy and the sensing region so that the radiant energy passes, at least in part, through both elements. | 11-01-2012 |
20120272718 | Photoacoustic Sensor with Baseline and Span Correction - A photoacoustic detector wherein a detector response transfer function can be measured at various times under predetermined conditions during the life of the detector. One or more of the time related transfer functions each can, when acquired, be compared to the stored initial transfer function established at initial manufacture and calibration of the detector. Span and baseline correction values can be determined. These values can be used to compensate detected output values during normal operation. Time related transfer functions can be compared to each other as well as to the stored initial transfer function. | 11-01-2012 |
20120272719 | PHOTOACOUSTIC SENSOR WITH ADAPTIVE OPERATING FREQUENCY - Some embodiments relate to a photoacoustic sensor that includes a gas cell having an opening and a detector to collect pressure fluctuations within the gas cell to determine a spectral content of the pressure fluctuations within the ambient environment. The photoacoustic sensor further includes a light source to generate radiation to radiate sample gas within the gas cell and a control that receives signals from the detector that represent the spectral content of the pressure fluctuations within the ambient environment. The control adjusts a frequency of the radiation produced by the light source to a frequency that conflicts less with the spectral content of the pressure fluctuations within the ambient environment. The detector generates output electrical signals in response to acoustic signals generated by pressure fluctuations of the radiated sample gas. | 11-01-2012 |
20120279279 | Photoacoustic Detector with Long Term Drift Compensation - 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. | 11-08-2012 |
20120279280 | Apparatus and Method of Photoacoustic Sensor Signal Acquisition - A photoacoustic detector includes first and second microphones carried by an acoustic sensing chamber. Signals from the microphones are processed using lock-in detection to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. An acoustic pressure generator can be incorporated to calibrate the microphones. | 11-08-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090117413 | Micro fuel cell - A fuel cell, fuel cell array and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The fuel cell can be made by forming a first aperture defined by a first aperture surface through a first electrode layer and forming a second aperture defined by a second aperture surface through a second electrode layer. A proton exchange membrane is laminated between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. At least a portion of the first aperture is at least partially aligned with the second aperture. | 05-07-2009 |
20100239436 | A THERMAL PUMP - A thermal pump for moving a sample fluid to and through an analyzer. The pump may have a lack of moving mechanical parts when pumping except for check valves. The thermal pump may have in lieu of each mechanical check valve a thermal or fluid mechanism that effectively operates as a valve without mechanical parts. The present thermal pump may be fabricated with MEMS technology. The pump may be integrated into a concentrator and/or separator of a fluid analyzer chip. | 09-23-2010 |
20150021796 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR HUMIDIFYING - Methods, systems, and devices for humidifying are described herein. One method includes determining a temperature in a space associated with a humidifying unit, determining a relative humidity in the space, determining an air speed associated with the humidifying unit, and adjusting an amount of water sprayed by the humidifying unit based, at least in part, on the temperature, the relative humidity, and the air speed. | 01-22-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090111191 | GAS ANALYZER CASSETTE SYSTEM - A highly sensitive fluid composition analyzer where a fluid may be placed in contact with a very small area on a material sensitized to change color in the presence of a specific type of compound, to be impinged with light. The light reflected, transmitted and/or scattered by the material may serve as input for the analyzer electronics. The fluid may be pre-concentrated prior to being brought in contact with the material. The area on the material may be a spot having an outside dimension of less than one millimeter. | 04-30-2009 |
20120247183 | Photoacoustic Detector with Acoustic and Vibration Noise Compensation - A photoacoustic detector includes a sensing region for receiving atmospheric samples. One microphone receives acoustic samples from the sensing region. Another microphone receives acoustic samples from a displaced region. Microphone outputs can be subtracted to eliminate common noise and to generate an indicium of gas present in the sensing region. | 10-04-2012 |
20130323126 | FLUID SENSING AND CONTROL IN A FLUIDIC ANALYZER - Instrument-cartridge interfaces for fluidic analyzers that have an instrument and a removable cartridge are disclosed. For example, and in one illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a needle that is adapted to penetrate a septum on a removable cartridge. In another illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a plunger that is adapted to deform a deformable membrane on a removable cartridge. In yet another illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a nozzle that is adapted to mate and seal with a flow channel on a removable cartridge. Techniques for detecting the flow rate in a flow channel on a removable cartridge, as well as the position of fluid in a flow channel of a removable cartridge, are also disclosed. | 12-05-2013 |