CA1333449C

CA1333449C - Gas analyzers

Info

Publication number: CA1333449C
Application number: CA 616688
Authority: CA
Inventors: Daniel W. Knodle; Leslie E. Mace; Lawrence L. Labuda; William E. Crone
Original assignee: NTC Technology Inc
Current assignee: NTC Technology Inc
Priority date: 1988-09-14
Filing date: 1993-08-03
Publication date: 1994-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-14

Abstract

Gas analyzers of the non-dispersive infrared radiation type which are designed to measure the concentration of one gas in a mixture of gases containing that gas. A novel, electrically modulated, stable, thick film infrared radiation emitter is employed to emit a beam of collimated, focused energy;
and two electrically biased detectors are preferably used so that a ratioed, error eliminating output signal can be supplied to the failsafe, signal processing circuitry of the analyzer. The latter, and a conventional analog-to-digital convertor, supply information to a microcomputer which: (1) turns the infrared radiation emitter on and off; (2) controls a heater which keeps the infrared radiation detectors at a constant, precise temperature; and (3) controls displays of a variety of information concerning the gas being measured and the status of the gas analyzer. The microcomputer also accepts ambient temperature, barometric pressure, and other compensation factors.
Typically, a disposable airway adapter will be included in the gas analyzer to confine the mixture of gases being analyzed to a path having a transverse dimension of precise and specific length and to provide an optical path across that stream of gases between the infrared radiation emitter and the infrared radiation detectors.
The emitter and detectors are incorporated in a transducer head which can be detachably fixed to the airway adapter.

Description

1333~ 19 GAS ANA~YZERS

This application is a division of Canadian patent application Serial No. 577,403 filed September 14, 1988.
TE(~INICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

m e present invention relates to novel, improved devices for measuring the amount of one gas in a mixture of gases. miS gas is referred to hereinafter as the ~selected gas, n the "measured gas, n or the ~designated gas. n One important application of the invention at the present time is in the provision of capnometers for monitoring the amount of carbon dioxide in the breath of a medical patient. Why it is advantageous to do this has been extensively discussed in the patent and open literature and need not be repeated herein.
For the sake of convenien oe and clarity, the principles of the present invention will be developed primarily by reference to that application of those principles discussed in the preceding paragraph. Thi-s, hcwever, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

BACRGROUND OF THE rNVENTION

The novel gas analyzers disclosed herein operate on the premise that the con oe ntration of a designated gas in a mixture of gases can be measured by passing a particularized beam of infrared radiation through the mixture of gases and ascertaining the attenuation of the energy in a narrow band absorbable by the designated gas with a detector capable of generating an attenuation proportional electrical output signal.
Gas analyzers which similarly employ an infrared source and a detector for generating an electrical signal representing the attenuation of the emitted radiation by a designated gas in the mixture being analyzed have heretofore been proposed. Such devices are commonly referred to as utilizing non-dispersive infrared radiation.
Generation of a detector output signal of a high enough signal-to-noise ratio to be useful requires that the beam of attenuated infrared radiation falling on the detector of such an instrument be modulated.
~eretofore~ this has perhaps most commonly been accomplifihed by interposing a spinning wheel between the infrared radiation source and the detector. m ese wheels, commonly known as choppers, have a series of apertures spaced equally around their peripheries.
Consequently, as the wheel rotates, the transmission of the attenuated beam of infrared radiation to the detector of the gas analyzer is alternately enabled and interrupted, typically at a frequency of less than one hundred cycles per second.
Gas analyzers of the character just described are disclosed in U.S. patents Nos: 3~793~525 issued February 19, 197 4 ~ to Bursch et al. for W AL-CELL
NON-DISPERSrVE GAS ANALYZER; 4~811~776 issued May 21r 1974~ to Blau, Jr. for GAS ANALYZER; 3~987~303 issued October 19, 1976 ~ to Steft et al. for MEM CALrANALYTICAL
GAS DETEC~OR; 4 ~011~859 issued March 15 ~ 1977 ~ to Frankenberger for METHOD FOR CONTINU0USLY MEASURING THE
C2 CONTENT IN BREA~ING GAS; 4~204~768 issued May 27 1980~ to N'Guyen for GAS ANALYSERS OF THE SELECTrVE
RADIATION ADSORPTION TYPE wrTH A CALIBRA~ION OELL;
4 ~268 ~751 issued May 19, 1981~ to Fritzlen et al. for INFRARED BREAIH ANALYZER; and 4,371~785 issued February 1, 1983~ to Pedersen for MET~OD AND APPARATUS

13331~9 FOR DETECTION OF FLUIDS and in A Reliable, Accurate 002Analyzer for Medical Use, Solomon, HEWLETq'PACRARD
JOURNAL, September 1981, pages 3-21.
Gas analyzers with mechanical choppers such as those described in the just-cited patents have a number of drawbacks. m ey are bulky, heavy, and expensive;
have moving parts, which is undesirable; and also have complex optical designs. m ey also tend to be less accurate than is desirable and to lack long-term st-ability.
Also, gas analyzers employing mechanical choppers are relatively fragile. For example, they will typically not work properly, if at all, after they are dropped.
Another heretofore proposed type of gas analyzer employing absorption of infrared radiation as a measure of gas concentration is disclosed in U.S. patent No; 3,745,345 issued July 10, 1973, to Liston for SINGLE
PATH, DUAL SOURCE RADIANT ENERGY ANALYZER. m e infrared radiation souroe of the Liston device includes wires which are heated by applying pulses of electrical current thereto, thus providing a modulated souroe of radiation.
While this scheme at least theoretically eliminates the need for a mechanical chopper, it unfortunately has several serious drawbacks. The wires Liston employs are spaced apart. Consequently, the infrared radiation is not uni~ormly emitted over the area embraced by those wires. As the wires heat up and cool down, their diameters change, affecting the stability of the radi~tion. me devices cannot be pulsed at frequencies greater than about 20-25Hz whereas the desirable modulation frequency of the infrared 1333 1~9 radiation, at least for carbon dioxide, ranges from 40-100Hz.
Still other patents dealing with pulsed infrared radiation sources are Nos. 3,922,551 issued 5 Nov~nber 25, 1985, to Williams for DETECTION OF C02 IN A
;wARIC GASEO~S ENVIRONMENT; 4,084,096 issued April 11, 1976, to Edwards for ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED
INFRARED SaJROE; 4,163,899 issued August 7, 1979, to Burrough for MET~OD AND APPARA~S FOR GAS ANALYSIS; and 10 4,480,190 igsued October 30, 1984, to Burrough et al.
for NON-DISPERSIVE INFRARED GAS ANAL~rZER and in a paper entitled Introduction to the State of the Art Gas Sensors by Liston Edwards, Inc., Costa ~sa, California.
Williams discloses an infrared radiation 15 emitter ~np~Loying cyclic variations in gas pressure to modulate the ~nitted radiation. This scheme is complex and bulky, requires moving parts, and demands a large amount of pawer.
Burroughs and Burroughs et al. are also 20 concerned with a modulation sch~ne which employs mechanical parts and requires a large pawer input. In addition, the scheme disclosed in those patents, which employs an incandesoent bulb as a radiation source, is not capable of modulating the emitted radiation to an 25 extent approaching that needed for accurate gas analysis.
Like Liston, Edwards and Liston Edwards employ heated wires as a souroe of infrared radiation. meir sources therefore have all of the above-discussed 30 drawbacks of Liston's.
An infrared radiation emitter som~hat similar in appearanoe to those disclosed herein is the subject of U.S. patent No. 3,875,413 issued April 1, 1985, to 1~334~9 Bridgham for INFRARED RADIATION SOURCE. However, the Bridgham infrared radiation source differs from those disclosed herein in that he employs a thin film rather than thick film source of infrared radiation. As a result, the Bridgham infrared radiation emitter is not capable of being modulated and it would be difficult to produce in quantity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There have now been invented and disclosed herein, certain new and novel gas analyzers employing non-dispersive infrared radiation to measure the concentration of a selected gas in a mixture of gases. These novel gas analyzers are free of the drawbacks of heretofore available instruments of the same general character.
The invention provides in one aspect a device for emitting modulated infrared energy in a stable, repeatable manner, the device comprising a non-metallic substrate fabricated of a material possessing a thermal conductivity which is approximately one order of magnitude less than the thermal conductivity of alumina and a layer of an emissive, electrically resistive material on the substrate. The thermal properties of the substrate and the thermal properties of the emissive, electrically resistive material are so related as to enable the device to efficiently emit pulses of infrared energy at a high energy level, at a frequency in the range of 40 to 100 Hz, with a high signal-to-noise ratio and with a sharktooth waveform when electrical energy is applied to the emissive, electrically resistive material.
The invention also provides a transducer head for generating a signal indicative of the concentration of a selected gas in a mixture of gases containing the selected gas and confined to a path traversing the transducer head, the transducer head comprising an infrared energy-emitting device as defined above which is locatable on one side of the path and detector means which is locatable on the opposite side of the path and comprises an infrared radiation detector.

13~3~ 1 9 The invention further comprehends the combination of a transducer head for generating a signal indicative of the concentration of a selected gas in a mixture of gases containing the selected gas and an airway adapter for confining the mixture of gases to a path traversing the transducer head. The transducer head comprises an infrared energy-emitting device as defined above on one side of the path and detector means comprising an infrared radiation detector on the opposite side of the path. The airway adapter comprises an elongated casing with first and second end sections and there is means for confining the mixture of gases to the path is a passage extending from end-to-end through the elongated casing. The adapter further comprises integral mounting means for supporting the transducer head from the airway adapter casing which are formed on the casing between and in an in-line relationship with the casing end sections and apertures in the casing on diametrically opposed sides of the passage therethrough which are aligned along the path between the infrared energy-emitting device and the detector and so allow infrared energy to pass from the device through the airway adapter and the mixture of gases flowing therethrough to the detector that infrared energy of the wavelength absorbed by the selected gas is attenuated before it reaches the detector so that the signal emitted by the detector reflects the concentration of the selected gas in the mixture of gases.
The invention also pertains to apparatus for analyzing the concentration of a selected gas in a stream of gases containing the selected gas, the apparatus comprising source means for emitting discrete pulses of radiant energy of a specified intensity and of such a wavelength that the energy is 1333 1 ~9 absorbed by the selected gas but not by the other gases present in the stream being analyzed. Detector means detects the intensity of the radiant energy after the energy has passed through the gases being analyzed and provides a signal indicative of the intensity of the radiant energy detected by the detector means. Means converts the signal to one indicative of the concentration of the selected gas in the stream of gases being analyzed.
In one aspect of the apparatus, the detector means includes a detector and the apparatus further comprises means for applying an electrical bias to the detector to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the detector. The bias applying means comprises a flyback transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding connected to the detector means and means is connected to the secondary winding for providing an error signal.
There is means for integrating the error signal with respect to a reference signal to thereby generate an integrated signal and means employs the integrated signal to control the voltage across the primary winding of the transformer.
In another aspect of the invention the apparatus includes zero adjust means for so periodically adjusting the lower end of the signal provided by the detector means and representative of the intensity of the radiant energy impinging on the detector means that the level of the signal is at a selected zero threshold in the absence of such impinging radiant energy. The zero adjust means comprises resistor means for applying a biasing voltage across the detector means, a microcomputer for calculating from the current flowing through the detector means the change required to adjust the lower end of the detector means provided signal as aforesaid and means controlled by the microcomputer for effecting the adjustment of the lower end of the signal provided by the detector means by altering the magnitude of the current.
In a still further aspect of the apparatus there is means for so turning the source means on and off as to cause the source means to emit the discrete pulses of radiant energy at a 1~33~ ~

frequency in the range of 40 - 100 Hz and for precisely controlling the frequency with which the source means is turned on and off. The means includes a source driver for turning the source means on by connecting it across an electrical power source and then turning the source means off in each of successive duty cycles. There is timing means for first activating and then deactivating the source driver in each of the duty cycles and there is means which keeps the source driver from connecting the source means across the power source if the timing means malfunctions.
Still further, an aspect of the apparatus provides a detector zero adjust means which comprises means for detecting a biasing current flowing to the detector means and means including a feedback circuit for generating a zero adjust current equal in magnitude to the detected current.
A still further aspect of the appartus provides timing means for first turning the source means on by connecting it across an electrical power source and then turning it off in each of successive duty cycles and means is provided for keeping the source means from failing by preventing the connection of the source means across the power source if the timing means malfunctions.
More particularly, in the novel, herein disclosed, instruments, the infrared radiation is emitted from an also novel, thick film source and focused by a mirror on the mixture of the gases being analyzed. After passing through that body of gases, the beam of infrared radiation is passed through a filter.
That filter absorbs all of the radiation except for that in a narrow band centered on a frequency which is absorbed by the gas of concern in the mixture being analyzed. This narrow band of radiation, which typically extends ca. 190 angstroms to each side of the frequency on which the radiation is centered, is allowed to reach a detector which is capable of producing an electrical output signal proportional in magnitude to the magnitude of the infrared radiation impinging upon it.

13~3 1 i~

Thu8, the radiation in that band i8 attenuated to an extent which is proportional to the con oe ntration of the designated gas in the mixture of gases being analyzed. me ~trength of the signal generated by the 5 detector i8 consequently inversely proportional to the conoentration of the designated gas and can be inverted to provide a ~ignal indicative of that conoe ntration.
In a typical instrument involving the principles of the present invention, the analog detector 10 output signal is converted to a digital form because digital control over the operation of the gas analyzer can be affected much more rapidly than would be the case if analog control were employed. The digital signal is processed in a microcomputer and displayed to show the j~fi~ntaneous digital concentration of the gas of concern in the mixture being analyzed. Also, other information can be extracted from the signal and displayed. In medical applications of the invention, ~uch information includes minimum inspiration carbon dioxide and respiratory rate. This capability is a significant advantage of the invention. For example, with respect to medical applications of the invention, other parameters listed above are as important as instantaneous concentration of carbon dioxide in determining a patient's medical condition.
m e herein disclosed gas analyzers also feat~re a novel source for the infrared radiation. m is source includes a thick film infrared radiation emitter.
The emitter is composed of a film of an emissive, electrically resistive material on a substrate of a material possegsing l~w thermal conductivity such as steatite or, less preferably, alumina.

13~3~

g Associated with this infrared radiation emitter is a novel power supply which applies pulses of electrical energy to the emissive film of the infrared radiation emitter at a frequency of 40-100 Hz. This modulation of the infrared radiation emitter is employed because the detectors disclosed herein operate properly only if the infrared radiation falling on them is modulated; and modulation of the emitter makes it possible to provide a suitably modulated beam of radiation without employing moving parts.
The beam of infrared radiation from the thick film emitter is passed through the mixture of gases being analyzed. An attenuated beam emerges from this mixture and impinges on two juxtaposed infrared radiation detectors preferably made of a state-of-the-art material such as lead selenide. An optical filter which will transmit only a first narrow band of infrared radiation oe ntered on a frequency absorbed by the gas of interest is placed in front of one of these detectors as discussed above. m erefore, the radiation impinging on that detector will be attenuated to an extent which is dependent upon the concentration of the designated gas in the mixture being analyzed. A second optical filter capable of transmitting infrared radiation in a second, similarly narrow band centered on a frequency which is not absorbed by the gas of interest is placed in front of the second infrared radiation detector.
Because of their juxtaposition, the infrared radiation reaching both detectors will, for all practical purposes, be attenuated equally by contamination along the optical path between the infrared radiation emitter and the detectors. Also, it 1333~

will be egually affected by thermal drift and by any other minor infitAhilities in the infrared radiation emitter.
Consequently, by ratioing the signals generated by the two detectors, as is done in the novel, herein disclosed instruments, the effect of foreign substan oes in the optical path between the infrared radiation emitter and detectors and the effect of any instabilities in the infrared radiation emitter can be eliminated.
Compensation is also made for variations in ambient temperature and pressure and for oxygen and nitrogen assumed to be present in the gas mixture in medical and other applications of the invention.
Lead selenide detectors are preferably employed in the novel gas analyzers disclosed herein because of that material's relatively high sensitivity and its comparatively lcw cost. However, lead selenide detectors are very temperature sensitive with temperature variations affecting both the bulk resistivity and the responsiveness or sensitivity of the detector material. A novel heater arrangement is therefore preferably provided to maintain the detectors at a constant and precise temperature because the errors that would be produced by variations in detector temperature cannot be eliminated simply by employing the ratioing technique discussed above. In fact, the signal from the infrared radiation detector can be lost, despite ratioing, if the detector temperature varies as little as 0.1C.
mis heati~g of the detectors also has the added advantage that it keeps un~anted condensation from 1~33-149 form~ng on the optical components of the assembly in which the detectors are incorporated.
The novel temperature control circuitry disclosed herein is capable of controlling the detector temperature to within 0.01 to 0.001C. In general, that circuitry receives an analog signal from a temperature sensor disposed in heat transfer relationship to the infrared radiation detectors, converts that signal to a digital form, and utilizes the digital temperature signal in a feedback loop to control the duty cycle of a strip heater. That heater is incorporated in the detector assembly and is located adjacent and in heat transfer relationship to the infrared radiation detectors.
Also, an electrical bias, typically on the order of -100 volts, is applied to the detectors of the novel gas analyzers disclosed herein. It has been found that this appreciably increases the signal-to-noise ratio of the lead selenide detector outputs.
Another important task of the electronic circuitry preferably employed in the the novel gas analyzers disclosed herein is to perform an auto zero function. In the circuitry employed in these gas analyzers, both the bottom and the peak of each detector generated signal pulse are measured because a more accurate reading of the designated gas concentration can be obtained by ascert~ining the actual magnitude of the pulse rather than merely its peak value. m e auto zero circuitry shifts the waveform so that the bottom of the wave is always returned to a constant zero threshold before a subsequent, concentration indicative signal is generated. This insures that the waveform does not 1333~9 drift to an extent which might introduce errors into the concentration indicative signals.
One advantage of the novel gafi analyzers just described is that they are ~maller and lighter than S those which have heretofore been available. As a consequence, the analyzer can be incorporated into larger patient monitoring ~ystems in medi~
applications of the invention.
Also, the unit containing the infrared radiation emitter and detectors can be associated via a novel airway adapter directly into the system through which a patient's breath is exhausted rather than being disposed at a more remote location to which samples are transmitted for analysis as is commonly done in other gas analyzers. This is an advantage because distortion attributable to the trAnr~l~sion of the sample to the remote location is eliminated. Also eliminated are problems commonly encountered with the lines through which the fiample is routed -- water in the line, clogging of the line with foreign material, etc.
Another significant advantage of the novel gas analyzers disclosed herein is that they are much simpler than those above-discussed instruments which employ a spinning wheel or other mechanical arrangement to modulate the emitted infrared radiation. As a result, these novel instruments have a potentially lower initial cost; and they are potentially easier and less expensive to service and maintain.
Also, the power required to operate the gas analyzers disclosed herein is on the order of one magnitude lower than is needed to run a prior art instrument such as one employing a spinning wheel type of transduoe r, for example. As a result, these novel 1~33 ~ll9 instruments can be battery pcwered. mis is a distinct advantage as there are a number of applications e.g., involving emergency care or otherwise requiring transportability- where a battery powered instrument is 5 advantageous, if not required.
Yet another advantage of the novel gas analyzers disclosed herein over those employing spinning wheels and other moving components is that they are substantially more rugged and shock resistant.
Furthermore, these novel gas analyzers have a much faster response time than heretofore available gas analyzers operating on the non-dispersive infrared radiation absorption principle. This is important because the ghape of the exhaled carbon dioxide waveform is significant in the diagnosis and treatment of many medical conditions.
Another important feature of the present invention is a novel ainway adapter which i8 employed to: (1) couple the gas analyzer into the system 20 handling the mixture of gases being analyzed, (2) provide a path of precisely ~iren~ioned span for the mixture of gases, and (3) provide an optical path traversing the thus confined body of gases between the infrared radiation emitter and the infrared radiation detector. miS adapter can be inexpensively made of an appropriate plastic. Accordingly, it can simply be thrown away after being used. This is simpler and less expensive than cleaning and sterilizing the prior art counterpart of a heretofore available instrument as has theretofore been necessary in applications involving a human patient, for example.
In a typical application of the invention, a transducer head containing infrared radiation emitting 133~

and detecting components is assembled to the disposable adapter and the airway adapter of the resulting assembly is installed in the pathway followed by the gases being analyzed.

Other important aspects and features and additional advantages of the invention will be apparent to the reader from the foregoing and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

E~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:
FIG. 1 iS a pictorial view of a portable, hand-held gas analyzer embodying and constructed in accord with, the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded, partially pictorial vièw of a transducer head incorporated in the gas analyzer of FIG. 1 to generate a collimated beam of 13334~

infrared radiation and to generate a signal indicative of the strength of a selected band of the infrared radiation after the beam has passed through a mixture of gases cont~in;ng a gas which is of a concentration that 5 is to be ascertained and which is capable of selectively absorbing infrared radiation in that narrcw band;
FIG. 3 iS a vertical section through the transducer head of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modulated infrared 10 radiation emitter incorporated in the transducer head of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a section through an assembly which includes the radiation emitter and a support in which a mirror for collimating and focusing tne emitted 15 radiation is formed;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a filter and detector assembly incorporated in the transducer head of -FIG. 3 to screen out infrared radiation which is not in a band of interest and to then produce one electrical 20 signal indicative of the magnitude of the infrared radiation in that band and a second output signal with which the first signal can be so compared as to: (a) eliminate errors attributable to foreign material in the optical p~th bebween the infrared radiation emitter and 25 the detectors of the detector assembly, and (b) compensate for drift in the detectors of the de~ector assembly;
FIG. 7 iS a pictorial view of an ai~way adapter employed in the gas analyzer of FIG. 1 to 30 confine the gas being analyzed to a path having a precise, known, trans~erse dimension and to provide an optical path from the infrared ~adiation emitter of the transducer head shown in FIG. 2 through the mixture of gases to the detectors of the transducer head;
FIG. 8 iS a longitudinal section through the ainway adapter;
FIG. 9 iS a bloc~ diagram of the gas analyzer of FIG. l;
FIG. 10 iS a schematic diagram of one of two e~sentially identical systems utilized in the gas analyzer of FIG. 1 to process the signals generated by 10 the infrared radiation detectors in the transducer head of FIG. 2;
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a clock timing generator employed to control the operation of the system shown in FIG. 10 and the mo~ulation of the 15 infrared radiation emitter of FIG. 5;
FIG. 12 iS a schematic diagram of a supply source driver employed to apply electrical pulses to the infrared radiation emitter of FIG. 5 at a frequency of 40-100~z;
FIG. 13 iS a schematic of a circuit employed in the gas analyzer of FIG. 1 to control the temperature of the infrared radiation detectors;
FIG. 14 iS a schematic of a circuit employed in the gas analyzer of FIG. 1 to apply an electrical 25 bias to the infrared radiation detectors and thereby improve the signal-to-noise ratio of those detectors;
and FIG. 15 is a graph shawing, for two different carbon dioxide concentrations: (1) a pulse which has a 30 typical sawtooth voltage waveform and which is indicative of measured gas concentration obtained by conversion of changing detector resistance to voltage, and (2) the segments of a detector heater duty cycle in 13331~9 which the heater is respectively turned on and off and a 6egment of that cycle in which a zero adjustment is made to canpensate for shift of the pulse away fr a constant zero voltage threshold.

1333~ ~9 DETAlLED DESCRIPTION OF T~E INVENTION

The operation of the novel gas analyzer disclosed hereinbelaw is controlled by a microcomputer 18 based on an Intel 8088 chip (see FIG. 9). A logic diagram for the routines run by the microcomputer is attached as Appendix A. (Pages 55a - 55m) ffl e microcomputer itself is not part of the present invention. For this reason and because one skilled in the relevant arts could routinely program a general purpose computer to follow the routines shown in Appendix A, the microcomputer will not be described in detail herein.
Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 depicts a 15 portable, hand-held gas analyzer 20 embodying and constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention. Analyzer 20 is specifically designed to monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide in th-e exhAl~tions of a medical patient ~ e.g., a patient being ventilated during a surgical procedure.
m e major components of gas analyzer 20 are a portable, hand-held, sel~-powered unit 22 and an assembly 24 of a transducer head 26 and an airway adapter 28. Transduoe r head 26 is connected to the 25 hand-held unit 22 of gas analyzer 20 by a conventional electrical cable 30.
In the the application of our invention depicted in FIG. 1, gas analyzer 20 is employed to measure the expired carbon dioxide level of a medical patient. This expired carbon dioxide level can be employed by medical personnel to control the operation of a mechanical ventilator hooked up to the patient to assist him in breathing. In oe rtain major surgical * Trademark 133341~3 --1~
procedures, the ventilator completely takes over the breathing function for the patient.
In this application of the invention, airway a&pter 28 is employed to connect an endotracheal tube 32 inserted into the patient's trachea to the plumbing 34 of the mechanical ventila~or (not shown).
The airway adapter also confines the expired gases to a flaw path 35 with a precise, transverse dimension D.
The airway a & pter algo furnishes an optical path between an infrared radiation emitter 36 and an infrared radiation detector unit 38, both components of transducer head 26 (see FIG. 2).
m e infrared radiation emitted from emitter 36 traverses the mixture of gases in airway adapter 28 where it is attenuated because part of the radiation is absorbed by the designated gas in the mixture of gases being analzyed. The attenuated beam of infrared radiation is then filtered to eiiminate energy of fre~uencies lying outside a narrcw band which is absorbed by the gas being measured. The remaining infrared radiation in that band impinges upon a detector 42 in detector unit 38. Detector 42 thereupon generates an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of the infrared radiation impinging upon it. This signal is transmitted over cable 30 to the hand-held unit 22 of gas analyzer 20. That unit contains the microcomputer 18 and electronic circuits (see FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10-14) for controlling the operation of transducer head 26 and for converting the signal emitted by detector 42 to one indicative of the concentration of carbon dioxide in the patient's exhalations. Additional information may also be extracted from the detector-generated signal. m is 13~344~

includes minimum inspired carbon dioxide, respiration rate, and end tidal carbon dioxide.
Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the airway a&pter 28 of the illustrated gas analyzer 20 is a one-piece unit typically molded from Valox polyester or a comparable polymer. Polymers such as Valox are preferred because they provide the ruggedness required by a ~uitable airway adapter. Also, airway adapters can be molded to extremely close tolerances from such polymers. mis is necessary because the intensity of the infrared radiation impinging upon detector 42 is depe~Aent upon the length of the optical path between emitter 36 and the detector, and the length of that path is controlled by the width of the airway adapter.
Consequently, unless close tolerances are maintained, calibration of each individual airway adapter 28 would be required; and this might be impractical at worst and economically prohibitive at best. Furthermore, airway adapters of the illustrated configuration and fabricated from polymers such as Valox*are relatively inexpensive.
Consequently, they can be disposed of after being used rather than being sterilized and recycled, the conventional treatment for devices of this type.
Airway adapter 28 has a generally parallelepipedal center section 44 with a bore 46 extending from end-to-end therethrough and two hollow, cylindrical end sections 48 and 50 having through passages 52 and 54. End sections 48 and 50 are axially aligned with oe nter section 44 along a common longitudinal centerline 56. m e passages 52 and 54 in those end sections consequently cooperate with the bore 46 through center section 44 to form a single, * Trademark 13~3~9 continuous, elongated passage 55 extending from end-to-end of the ainway adapter.
Referring now to FIG. 1 as well as FIGS. 6 and 7, transducer head mounting recesses 58 and 60 are 5 formed on opposite sides of airway adapter center section 44. These recesses furnish transduoe r head embraceable support surfaces at the inner ends 62 and 64 of the recesses and flanges 66 and 68 at opposite ends of the recesses. Those flanges position the assembled 10 transduoer head 26 longitudinally along the airway adapter.
As is apparent from FIG. 6, airway adapter 28 is symmetrical with respPct to: (1) a longitu~;n~lly extending centerplane 70, and (2) a vertically extending 15 centerplane 72. This is important from a practical viewpoint because transduoe r head 26 can consequentially be assembled to airway adapter 28 in the orientation - shown in FIG. l; or it can be turned end-for-end or upside down and still be ass~mhl~hle to the ailway 20 adapter. Consequently, in addition to its other advantages discussed above, airway adapter 28 is user friendly.
As is best shown in FIG. 7, apertures 74 and 76 are formed in the center section 44 of ainway 25 adapter 28 at the inner ends or transduoe r embraceable surfaces 62 and 64 of recesses 58 and 60. mese apertures are aligned along the optical ~ath mentioned above and identified generally by reference character 78. m at opkical path extends from infrared 30 radiation emitter 36 transversely across the ainway adapter and the mixture of gases flowing therethrough to the infrared radiation detector 42 in the detector unit 38 of transducer head 26. Apertures 74 and 76 are 13~3 149 large cc~pared to the apertures in the most comparable cos~ponents of heretofore proposed gas analyzers. As a result, the novel airway adapters of the present invention are much less apt to cause errors in the 5 concentration of the measured gas which can be attributed to dimensional variations.
To keep the gases flawing through the airway adapter 28 from escaping through apertures 74 and 76 without attenuating the infrared radiation traversing 10 optical path 78, the apertures are sealed by sapphire windGws 80 and 82. Sapphire windc~s are employed because other materials such as glass or plastic would absorb the infrared radiation to an extent that would significantly degrade the quallty of the signal 15 generated by detector 42. Sapphire windows are available from a variety of co~Dmercial sources.
Typically, these windows will be on the order of 0.020 inch thick.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, we pointed out 20 above that transducer head 26 includes an infrared radiation detector unit 38 which has a detector 42.
Also included in the detector unit are a strip heater 84 of conventional construction and a thermistor 86 which is employed to sense the temperature of the detector 25 unit. me thermistor and strip heater are incorporated in a system designed to keep detector unit 38 at a constant, precise temperature. As is best shcwn in FIG. 3, both the strip heater 84 and thermistor 86 are juxtaposed adjacent, and in intimate heat transfer 30 relationship to, the detector 42 and the housing or casing 88 of detector unit 38.
As shc~n in FIG. 2, housing 88 is composed of three separate components 90, 92, and 94 which define 13331~

two separate cells 96 and 98. Cell 98 houses infrared radiation detector unit 38, and cell 96 houses infrared radiation emitter 36. Located between cells 96 and 98 is a rectangularly sectioned, open top recess 100 in 5 which the main body section 44 of airway adapter 28 is fitted (see FIG. 1).
Transdu oe r housing component 90 has a generally Lrshaped configuration provided by a horizontal base 102 and a vertically extending side 10 wall 104. The side wall has a slot 106 therein and an aperture 107 which acc~m~dates cable 30. Apertures 108 and 110 adjacent the upper edge of side wall 104 allow assembly 24 to be suspended from an appropriate support (not shown).
The second component 92 of transducer head housing 88 has: (1) a horizontal base 112 resting on the base 102 of housing component 90, (2) a vertical wall 114 adjacent the vertical wall 1-04 of component 90, and (3) a U-shaped center section 116 with top wall 20 forming flaps 118 and 120 extending laterally therefrom.
Apertures 122 (only one of which is shown) are formed in the vertically extending side walls 126 and 128 of housing component center section 116. These apertures are aligned along the optical path 78 between infrared radiation emitter 36 and the detector 42 in infrared radiation detector unit 38.
The third component 94 of housing 88 has a vertically extending front wall 130 and vertical side walls 132 and 134. A slot or recess 136 is formed in the front wall 130 of housing component 94. This recess has the same dimensions as: (1) the recess 106 in vertically extending wall 104 of housing component 90, 1333~

and (2) the gap 137 between the side walls 126 and 128 of the center section 116 of housing component 92.
Housed in cell 96 of casing 88 along with infrared radiation emitter 36 i8 a fitting 138 with a transversely extending passage 140 formed therethrough.
Disposed in passage 140 are: (1) a spherical detent 142; (2) a spring 144, which biases detent 142 toward the inner end 146 of fitting 138; and (3) a plug 148. That plug is threaded into the through bore 140 of fitting 138 and retains the detent and detent spring in that bore. A flange (not shcwn) at the end of paggage 140 nearest the inner end 146 of detent fitting 138 keeps detent 142 from falling out that end of the passage.
With transducer head 26 assembled to airway adapter 28 as shown in FIG. 1, for example, detent 142 is trapped in one of four complementary recesses 150 in airway center section 44 (see FIG. 7) to secure the transdu oe r head to the ainway adapter. These recesses open onto the ends of the transducer head receiving recesses 58 and 60 in the airway adapter center section 44 and thereby facilitate the separation of the transducer head 26 from the airway adapter.
Four detent trapping recesses are provided so that transducer head 26 may be coupled to airway adapter 28 in any one of the several orientations discussed above. Two of those recesses are located at the bottom 62 of transducer head receiving recess 60 and at the opposite ends of that recess. The other two detent trapping recesses are located at the bottom 64 of the second transdu oe r head receiving recess 58 of airway adapter 28 and at the opposite ends of that recess.

133~49 m e infrared radiation emitter 36 housed in the just-described transducer head casing 88 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. Turning now to those figures, emitter 36 is of a unique thick film 5 construction. It includes a substrate 152 which, in one actual embodiment of our invention, is 0.240 inch long, 0.040 inch wide, and 0.003 inch thic~. m is substrate is formed from a material having low thermal conductivity. Steatite (a polycrystaline material 10 con~Ai~ing magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide) is preferred because it has a thermal conductivity which is on the order of one magnitude less than conventional low thermal conductivity materials such as alumina. This is important because it significantly reduces the power 15 required to heat the emitter to its operating temperature.
~ cwever, alumina can be employed instead of steatite. If it is, the substrate is preferably coated with a film of a dielectric material having low thermal 20 conductivity such as a dielectric glass.
The thickness of substrate 152 is an important parameter in the successful operation of emitter 36. To provide satisfactory performances, the emitter substrate must be in the range of 0.0025 to 0.0035 inch thick.
As is apparent from FIG. 1~, for an infrared emitter configuration to be of any value, a careful match between the thermal properties of the emitter's substrate and the thermal properties of the emissive material on that substrate must be made. This 30 correlation exists in the novel, representative emitters illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and discussed above and is required because the substrate and the emitter are fabricated from different materials and have quite 1333~9 different thermal properties as can be seen from conventional h~n~hook data on the substrate and emltter materials we employ.
Specifically, and as is apparent from FIG. 15, 5 the electrical detector output in a system equipped with an infrared emitter embodying tne principles of our present invention has a fihark's tooth waveform. This particular waveform is advantageous; and it or a comparable waveform is required because, as is also 10 shcwn in FIG. 15, the result is a large change in the detector's peak output voltage for a relatively small change in the level of the carbon dioxide detected by the system. Thus, our novel systems have a high, and obviously desirable, sensitivity to variations in the 15 concentration of the carbon dioxide being monitored. In contrast, if a less than optimum match of su~strate and emitter is made -- as in those previously disclosed infrared radiation emitters employing an alumina substrate and a thick film emissive element, for example 20 -- there is only a very small change in the peak direction output voltage for a comparable change in the concentration of the gas being monitored.
It is concededly possible that one might be able to obtain a useful indication of change in carbon 25 dioxide concentration from a signal which varied to a lesser extent for a given change in carbon dioxide concentration. However, those skilled in the arts to which our invention relates will recognize that this would require much more complex and correspondingly 30 expensive signal processing circuitry i~ it were possible at all. Thus, a system with an emitter as shcwn in FIGS. 4 and 5 and capable of generating an output with the characteristics shcwn in FIG. 15 has an 1333 1 ~

obviou~, and significant, economic advantage at the very least.
One might assume that increased modulation --perhaps ccmparable to that we obtain -- could be 5 obtained by increasing the input of power to the emitter. Such an assumption would, hcwever, be incorrect because of the probability that the substrate or the emissive component, or both, would fail under the increased load.
In conjunction with the foregoing, it will be appreciated by those to whom this specification is addressed that the materials we employ as emissive elements, in the thicknesses we use, will heat up and cool very rapidly, producing sharp spikes of energy that 15 can be reproduced in the form of electrical signals by the detectors of our novel systems. By matching the thermal characteristics of this emissive element to the thermal characteristics of the substrate to which it is mated, this spikelike waveform and the appurtenant 20 sensitivity of our novel systems to small changes in the concentration of the gas being measured can to a large and useful extent be retained upon mating the emissive element to the matched substrate as is evident from FIG. 15.
Still another important advantage of matching the thermal characteristics of the emissive element to those of the substrate is that -- as is also apparent from FIG. 15 -- this novel approach to infrared radiation emitter construction can be utilized to 30 control the ratio of the energy emitted from the emissive elements of our novel infrared radiation emitters to the energy conducted away from the emissive element through the substrate. m is is important 13~34~9 because a high peak level of emitted energy is needed for ~ensitivity and discrimination between only slightly different concentrations in the gas being measured; and the alternative method of reaching this goal, increasing the input of power to the emitter, can cause the emitter to fail.
Bonded to the upper sur~ace 154 of substrate 152 are two T'shaped electrical conductors 156 and 158. In the exemplary infrared radiation emitter 36 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the head of each conductor is 0.020 inch long; and the gap 160 between the conductors is 0.030 inch. The conductors will be in the range of 18 to 22 microns thick.
Conductors 156 and 158 are preferably formed f a platinum and gold containing cermet obtained by printing an ink such as DuPont's 4956 on the surface 154 of substrate 152 and then firing tne substrate.
Superimposed on conductors 156 and 158 and bonded to the upper surface 154 of the substrate with its ends overlapping conductors 156 and 158 is a film or layer 162 of an emissive, electrically resistive material. me preferred material is obtained by firing Electro-Science Labs ESL381Z Ink. mis ink has an operating temperature in the range of 250-300 degrees centigrade after it is fired.
The illustrated, exemplary, emissive layer 162 is 0.070 inch long, and the two ends 164 and 166 of the emitter overlap 0.020 inch onto the conductor 156 and the conductor 158 of emitter 36. Thus, the total overlap constitutes 57 percent of the total area of emissive layer 162. This is within the preferred and operable range of 50 to 60 percent.

13~3~9 -2g-Overlaps in the range just described are preferred because they tend to keep the current density at the interfaces between emissive layer 162 and conductorg 156 and 158 from becoming too high and 5 causing emitter 36 to fail by burnthrough or fatigue cracking of the emissive layer.
That we can thus prevent failures of emitter 36 i8 surprising. Heretofore, it has been believed that successful performance of a thick film 10 device with an active layer-to-conductor overlap could not be obtained with an overlap exceeding about 15 percent.
Also contributing to the resistance to failure fram exposure to excessive current densities is the 15 T-shaped configuration of conductors 156 and 158. This is at least potentially superior to the more conventional rectangular or straight sided conductors as far as resistance to emissive layer burnthrough is concerned.
A film 167 of essentially pure platinum metal may be superimposed on the layer 162 of electrically resistive material to increase the emissivity of infrared radiation emitter 36. This layer of platinum is on the order of 10 to 200 angstroms thick.
As is shcwn in FIG. 5, the novel infrared radiation emitter 36 just described is supported from an emitter mount 168 with the emissive element 162 facing the mount as by two emitter supporting posts 170 and 172. m ese posts, which extend through 30 apertures 174 and 176 in emitter support 168, are electrically connected to conductors (not shown) in cable 30 and to the conductors 156 and 158 of infrared radiation emitter 36.

1 3 ~ 9 --3~
A parabolic mirror 178 is formed in the upper surface 180 of emitter support 168 facing the emissive layer 162 of infrared radiation emitter 36. This mirror collimateg the infrared radiation emitted from 5 emitter 36. It also focuses that radiation into a beam directed along the optical path 78 between the emitter and the radiation detector unit 38 of transduoer head 26.
The ;~ mhly of infrared radiation emitter 36, 10 support 168, and posts 170 and 172 is mounted in a protective can or housing 181 shawn in FIG. 2 and diagralmnatically in FIG. 5.
While infrared radiation emitters of the character just described can be ~mployed to particular 15 advantage in gas analyzers of the character disclosed in the specification, this is by no means their only use.
Instead, they can be employed in virtually any application in which a modulated beam of infrared radiation of constant and knGwn characteristics can be 20 used to advantage.
It was pointed out above that the detector 42 on which the beam of infrared radiation impinges after traversing the mixture of gases flGwing through the passage in ai~way adapter 28 is incorporated in detector 25 unit 38 along with the thermistor 86 and heater 84 of the system ~ployed to maintain detector 42 at a preciæ, constant temperature. Also incorporated in that unit, and ahead of the detector, in an optical filter 182. That detector unit component filters out 30 infrared radiation of wavelengths other than one absorbed by the gas being measured.
Also preferably included in detector unit 38 are a second detector 183 and a second optical 1333~9 filter 184. Thi8 filter is designed to pass only infrared radiation of a wavelength that i8 not absorbed by the gas being measured but is adjacent the band of absorbable radiation.
As discussed above, this results in two signals being generated. The one generated by detector 42 is indicative of the concentration of the measured gas in the mixture flGwing through ai~way adapter 28. me second detector output signal 10 (generated by detector 183) is not attenuated by the gas being measured. As discussed above, these two signals can consequently be ratioed to eliminate significant errors in the measured concentration of the designated gas. These errors are attributable to such 15 factors as foreign substances in optical path 78 (for example, condensation on airway adapter windGws 80 or 82) and drift or other minor, uncompensated for, instabilities in detectors 42 and 183.
me j ust-described assembly of detectors 42 and 183 and optical filters 182 and 184 is illustrated in FIG. 6 and identified by reference character 186.
In this assembly, detectors 42 and 183 are mounted in spaced apart relationship on the surface 188 of a substrate 190.
Detectors 42 and 183 are preferably made from lead selenide because of the sensitivity to infrared radiation which that material has.
Leads 192 illustrated schematically in FIG. 6 connect detectors 42 and 183 to the signal processing 30 system of gas analyzer 20 (see FIG. 9).
Also mounted on the base or substrate 190 of assembly 186 is a fiiter support 193. Formed in that support are apertures 194 and 196 corresponding in 1333~9 location and configuration to detectors 42 and 183.
Apertures 194 and 196 provide an interference free path through filter support 193 for the infrared radiation beamed along optical path 78 from emitter 36.
Mounted on filter support 193 and spanning apertures 194 and 196 are the above-discussed optical filters 182 and 184. Those filters are conventional and commercially available and will accordingly not be described in detail herein.
In the illustrated, exemplary embodiment of our invention (designed to measure the concentration of carbon dioxide in a mixture of gases), filter 182 is preferably designed to pass to detector 42 only infrared radiation in a narrow band (typically 150 angstroms 15 wide) centered on a frequency of 4.25 microns.
Filter 184, on the other hand, is designed to transmlt to detector 183 only infrared radiation in a similarly narraw band centered on an adjacent frequency of 3.69 microns. m at energy is not absorbed by carbon dioxide.
Filter support 193 also supports a protective filter frame 198. This frame has two apertures 200 and 202. Filters 18Z and 184 are fitted in these apertures and surrounded by the end and edge portions of the protective frame.
Finally, the assembly 186 shawn in FIG. 6 includes a top cover 204. An aperture 206 in the top cover allows the infrared radiation beamed from infrared radiation emitter 36 along path 78 to reach filters 182 and 184 in assembly 186 without interference from, or 30 attenuation by, that cover.
The base or substrate 190 of assembly 186, filter support 193, and filter frame 198 are preferably fabricated of a material having moderate thermal 1333~

conductivity such as alumina because it is necessary for the assembly to attain and maintain a constant temperature within a reasonable time at a 1~ power input level. Top cover 204 is fabricated of a polymer 5 such as Kovar*because that material has the same eX~n~ion coefficient as alumina.
Turning next to FIG. 9, the electrical signals generated by the lead selenide infrared radiation detectors 42 and 183 in the just-described detector 10 unit 38 are transmitted to synchronous preamplifiers 210 and 212. It is the function of these preamplifiers to amplify the electrical signals generated by the lead selenide infrared radiation detectors.
The output signals fr~n preamplifiers 210 15 and 212 are routed to essentially identical signal conditioning systems 214 and 216. In these systems, the amplified, detector-generated signals are conditioned and then subiected to a sample-and-hold process. In this respect, and as was discussed above and is shc~n in 20 FIG. 15, the signals generated ~y detectors 42 and 183 typically have a sawtooth waveform. me sample-and-hold technique is employed to detect the voltage at the peak of each wave. This is done in order to measure the partial pressure of the designated gas as a function of 25 peak signal amplitude. me sample-and-hold circuit output is routed through a conventional multiplexer (not shcwn) in an analog-to-digital convertor 218 to sequentially convert the signals one at a time. The multiplexed signal is digitized to generate an 30 appropriate digital input for microcomputer 18.
me major functions of the microcomputer 18 of gas analyzer 20 are: (1) to control the temperature of the infrared radiation detectors 42 and 183, (2) to * Trademark 1333~.~3 control the modulation of infrared radiation emitter 36, and (3) to convert the information on the concentration of the de~ignated gas transmitted to it from analog-to-digital convertor 218 into a form in which 5 that information can be readily utilized by the user of gas analyzer 20.
As pointed out above, the routines follGwed by microcomputer 18 in carrying out these tasks appear in ~ppPnnix A.
Also routed to analog-to-digital convertor 218 is a signal generated by an off-the-shelf, commercially available, ambient temperature transducer 222. This transducer signal is used to ccmpensate for the effect which the temperature of the gases flowing through 15 airway adapter 28 has on the absorption of the infrared radiation impinging upon detector 42. Changes in the output signal from that detector which are attributable - to temperature changes rather than changes in the concentration of the designated gas are thereby 20 eliminated.
The novel gas analyzer 20 disclosed herein also includes a provision for factoring local barometric pressure into the algorithms solved in microcomputer 18 to convert the output signal from detector 42 to a 25 display indicative of the concentration of the designated gas in that mixture of gases flowing through airway adapter 28. miS iS important because the detector output signal is dependent upon barometric pressure as well as the concentration of the designated 30 gas.
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the barometric pressure factor is supplied by way of a unit 224 consisting primarily of two binary ~ 3~3449 coded decimal switches (not shcwn). The details of these ~witches and their input connections to microcomputer 18 are conYentional and not part of the present invention. m ey will, accordingly, not be 5 described herein.
Another major component of the system illustrated in FIG. 9 is a clock timing generator 226.
The clock timing generator so turns on and of~ the synchronous amplifiers 210 and 212 that the output signals from the latter are in a pulsed as opposed to continuous form. mese pulses, which represent partial pressure, are inputted to microcomputer 18 rather than continuous detector originated signals because microcomputer 18 operates as a sample data system.
Clock timinq generator 226 is also connected to a supply source driver 228. That component alternately turns radiation emitter 36 on and off to modulate the emission of infrared radiation from emitter 36 at the preferred frequency of 40-100 Hz.
Yet another major component of gas analyzer 20 shown in FIG. 9 is a bias supply 230. This unit is employed to apply the above-discussed electrical bias to lead selenide detectors 42 and 183 and thereby improve the signal-to-noise ratios of those detectors.
m e last of the major system components sho~n in FIG. 9 is a heater controller 232. m e input to the heater controller is the temperature indicative signal generated by the thermistor 86 juxtaposed to the substrate 190 of infrared radiation detector 30 assembly 186. miS temperature indicative signal is processed in the hea~er controller and transmitted to analog-to-digital convertor 218. Here, this signal is also multiplexed and converted to a digital format which 1333~9 can be inputted to microcomputer 18. As discussed above, the microcomputer thereupon computes that portion of the duty cycle for which the strip heater 84 of detector unit 38 needs to be turned on to keep 5 detectors 42 and 183 at the wanted temperature. mis duty cycle information is transmitted back to, and control~; the operation of, the heater controller 232.
Referring still to FIG. 9, microcomputer 220 also has four inputs 234, 236, 238, and 240 identified 10 as ZERO, SPAN, N20, and 2 These four inputs are all user-selected and initiated.
The N2O and 2 inputs 238 and 240 are utilized to compenE;ate for nitrogen oxides and/or oxygen in the mixture of gases being analyzed in applications of our 15 invention such as the medical application under discussion. mese compensations are employed in instances in which appreciable amounts of oxygen and/or nitrogen oxides are present in the mixture because both nitrogen oxides and oxygen affect the infrared radiation 20 absorption of carbon dioxide even though they do not absorb infrared radiation of the 4.25 micron wavelength reaching detector 42. Absent correction for oxygen and/or nitrogen oxides, therefore, the detector might report a concentration of carbon dioxide which is 25 erroneous to a significant extent.
The ZERO input 234 is likewise employed to introduce a compensation factor into the concentration of the measured gas calculated by microcomputer 18 in applications such as those discussed above in which the 30 concentration of carbon dioxide in a medical patient's exhalations is being measured. me air present in an enclosed space, for example a hospital ro~n, typically contains approximately 0.03 percent carbon dioxide. me 13334~9 ZERO input instructs microcomputer 18 to ~ubtract this amount from the calculated concentration of carbon dioxide so that the numerical concentration displayed to the user will more accurately reflect the patient's 5 medical condition.
Finally, SPAN input 236 is employed in applications of gas analyzer 20 in which that instrument is utilized to measure the concentration of a designated gas in a mixture of gases which is contained in a closed 10 cell rather than the concentration of a designated gas in a dynamic system such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1. In the static situation, the SPAN input is emplc~yed to input to microcomputer 18 the kncwn volume of the sealed cell containing the mixture of gases being 15 analyzed.
Microcomputer 18 also has four status indicating displays 242, 244, 246, and 248. SPAN and ZERO displays 242 and 244 are lit when SPAN and ZERO
compensations are employed.
An INOPERATIVE display 246 is illuminated when a mechanical malfunction, for example of heater controller 232, occurs.
Finally, ARTIFACT display 248 is illuminated when microcnputer 18 is unable to interpret the 25 information inputted to the microcomputer from analog-to-digital convertor 218 in a meaningful manner.
This typically happens when there is a significant aberration in the configuration of the waveform reflecting the concentration of the gas being measured.
30 In this event, the illumination of ARTIFACT display 248 indicates to the user of gas analyzer 20 that there are errors in the data being received by the microcomputer.

133~

In the medical applications of our invention for which gas analyzer 20 is particularly designed, microc~.,~u~er 18 also has a number of outputs. One of these i8 ~dentified by reference character 250 and the 5 label BREAI~ DETECT. mis output is enabled each time gas analyzer 20 detects a breath, whether or not me~h~nically assisted, by the medical patient being monitored.
A second output is designated by reference 10 character 252 and labelled SERIAL. This output is employed to supply a variety of information including the instantaneous con oe ntration of the designated gas being measured. That information is continuously updated during the part of each operating cycle of 15 emitter 36 in which the emitter is turned on.
A second type of information that can be supplied at serial output 252 is end tidal carbon dioxide. This is the peak value of the carbon dioxide -concentration in each exhalation of the patient being 20 monitored.
In addition, microcomputer 18 can supply the patient's respiration rate and the minimum concentration of inspired carbon dioxide, both by analysis of the sawtooth waveform shGwn in FIG. 15.
As shown in FIG. 9, microcomputer 18 also has the ability to convert the INSTANTANEOUS digital output to an analog form by way of a parallel output connected to a digital-to-analog convertor 252A. An analog output is useful because it can be recorded by a chart recorder 30 for example. This recorder provides the user with a hard copy record for the patient's medical chart.
The signal conditioners 214 and 216 employed to process the amplified pulses generated in 1333~49 preamplifiers 210 and 212 from the detector 42 and 183 output signals are significant components of the system illustrated in FIG. 9. me two amplifier units are essentially identical. The one of these identified by 5 reference character 214 is depicted in more detail in FIG. 10 along with the associated preamplifier 210 and the bias ~;upply 230 employed to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of detector 42. Only this signal conditioner will be described herein. It is to be 10 understood by the reader that this description is e~ually applicable to signal conditioner 216 and its associated preamplifier and the bias supply for detector 183.
The bias supply is typically a minus 100 15 volts. The bias is applied to detector 42 through a resistor R253 which is employed to convert the bias voltage to a corresponding bias current.
As is apparent from FIG. lU, resistor Eoe53 is physically incorporated in transducer unit 38 in series 20 with detector 42 rather than in hand-held unit 22 with the r~nainder of the electronic circuitry. By selecting a resistor R253 of the appropriate resistance, variations in the lead selenide detectors can be compensated for so that the performance characteristics 25 of each detector unit 38 will be the same. The incorporation of resistor R253 in the detector unit therefore all~s a transducer head 26 to be replaced in the field without recalibration of the gas analyzer electronics.
An electrical signal is generated by detector 42 when the'gas being measured is present in the mixture of gases being analyzed. This signal is s~nmed with a bias voltage VBIAS at a sur~ming 13331~9 junction 254, and the resultant signal is applied to the inverting input of an operational amplifier 255 which is connected to operate as a high gain amplifier in order to boost the signal by a factor of approximately 100. A
5 feedback circuit consisting of a resistor R256 and a compenfiating capacitor C257 i8 connected be~een the output of operational amplifier 255 and its inverting input to control the amplifier gain.
Operational amplifier 255 i8 p~ered from both 10 plus 12 volt and minus 12 volt power supplies. Bypass capacitor~; C258, C259, C260, and C261 and resistors R262 and R263 are connected between the power supplies and the operational amplifier 255 to provide noise filtering. This is necessary because the input signal 15 to operational amplifier 255 very small and because the amplifier has a very high gain. Consequently, unless noise is eliminated or minimized, the input signal can easily be lost.-The output signal fr~n operational 20 amplifier 255 is applied to a voltage divider networkconsisting of resistors R264 and R266 and having an approximately 10:1 ratio and then through a dropping resistor R268 to a series source, drain-connected, field effect transistor 270. When turned on, transistor 270 25 applies a voltage to the inverting input of an operational amplifier 272. ~hat amplifer is ~nployed to drive the high voltage, transistor-based amplifier stage or current convertor 273 described belc~w.
Field effect transistor 270 is turned on by 30 applying a control voltage to its gate. This control voltage, designated VAz in FIG. 10, is varied as necessary by microcomputer 18 in a manner discussed belc~ he adj ustment compensates for the 1333~g above-dlscussed drift of detector 42 from the threshold level as shown in FIG. 15.
The control or auto zero voltage VAz is applied through a capacitor C274 to the anode of a 5 diode 276 and the cathode of a diode 278. Diode 276 is connected to the gate of field effect transistor 270, diode 278 is connected to ground, and a biasing resistor ~280 is connected to ground in parallel with diode 278.
m e purpose of the circuit containing diodes 276 and 278 and resistor R280 is to reference VA2 signal to ground. This accomplished by the repetitive VA2 signal charging capacitor C274 through diode 278.
m e internal operation of operational 15 amplifier 272 is controlled by a feedback network. That network consists of a serially connected capacitor C282 and resistor R284 and a second capacitor C286 connected across the serially connected capacitor and resistor.
Capacitor C282 is the prLmary feedback control 20 component. The serially connected resistor R284 and the parallel connected capacitor C286 constitute a network which provides control loop compensation.
This voltage output signal from ope~ational amplifier 272 is converted to the above-mentioned 25 current signal in above-mentioned current convertor 273.
That circuit consists of transistors 288, 290, and 292 and resistors R294, R296, R298, and R300. m is current convertor is a conventional one. Its function is to provide a zero adjusting current equalling the bias 30 current flowing to detector 42 through resistor R253.
With the biasing current and zero adjusting current equal, the signal applied to the inverting teDminal of operational amplifier 255 is accurately indicative of 1333~9 the concentration of the measured gas as detected by detector 42.
A resistor R302 is connected between detector 42 and a junction 303 between transistors 288 5 and 292 in the zero adjust circuit just described to provide a fixed A.C. impedance. A pair of capacitors C304 and C306 are provided to provide a lcw A.C. impedance.
It was pointed out above with respect to the 10 circuitry shown in FIG. 9 that both the operation of the preamplifier 210 just described and the supply source driver 228 which turns infrared radiation emitter 36 on and off are controlled by clock timing generator 226.
In particular, the preamplifier and supply source driver 15 are so regulated by the clock timing generator that the zero adjust current just described is applied to lead selenide detector 42 at the end of the off segment of the on-off cycle of infrared radiation emitter 36. This mode of operation is selected because the times when the 20 zero sample-and-peak samples are taken are adjacent to each other.
Referring still to FIG. 10, the concentration indicative output signal from operational amplifier 255 is also transmitted from the divider network consisting 25 of resistors R264 and R266 to the non-inverting terminal of an operational amplifier 310. Operational amplifier 310 has a 20:1 gain controlled by a feedback resistor R312.
m e inverting ter~inAl of operational 30 amplifier 310 is connected through a resistor R314 to groun~. miS resistor provides a ground reference.
Also connected to the non-inverting terminal of operational amplifier 310 is a factory-selected gain 1 3 3 3 ~ L~, t~J/

adjust resistor R316. The responsitivity of lead selenide varies fr~ detector to detector. Each resistor R316 i8 matched to the detector with which it is to be associated so that the response of each 5 detector will be the same. Again, that eliminates the calibration of gas analyzer 20 that would otherwise be r~uired each time a transducer head 26 is replaced.
The just-described gain adjust resistor R316 and a resistor R318 located between operational 10 amplifiers 255 and 310 together constitute an attenuator which has a maximum attenuation of not more than 2:1.
As a result, maximum attenuation occurs when there is no current flow at the junction 320 between resistors R316 and R318. mis just-described attenuator is provided to lS provide gain adjustment as required by each different detector 42.
The output signal from operational amplifier 310 is applied to the input of a sample-and-hold circuit 322 which is provided to sample 20 the peak or the zero signal. This circuit is conventional and will accordingly not be described herein. It is, hcwever, a significant feature of our invention as it keeps the voltage across analog-to-digital convertor 218 constant while 25 analog-to-digital conversions are being made at a level representing the analog input as of a precisely known time.
Circuit 322 is designed to sample the signal transmitted to it frn operational amplifier 310 30 periodically, typically at intervals on the order of 2 milliseconds, while infrared radiation emitter 36 is turned on. Also, the output f rc~ operational amplifier 310 can be sampled after the infrared 13~34~9 ~itter 36 has been off for a specified time. This produoes a signal which is indicative of the zero value of the signal generated by lead selenide detector 42.
Consequently, the just-mentioned signal is one which can 5 be ~pl~yed by microc~mputer 18 to perform the zero adjustment diF:c~ ed above.
me analog output signal fr~n sample-and-hold circuit 322 is routed to the multiplexer in analog-to-digital convertor 218 where the data and 10 reference signals and zeros are sequentially ~witched to the circuitry which performs the analog-to-digital conversion. The multiplexer output is converted to a digital input for microcc~mputer 18, enabling the latter to furnish the displays and perform the control 15 functions discussed above.
We pointed out above that clock timing generator 226 is incorporated in the electrical circuitry of gas analyzer 20 to turn infrared radiation emitter 36 on and off and to provide detector generated pulses which can be sampled, either: (1) during that part of the duty cycle in which the infrared radiation emitter 36 is turned on, or (2) during that part of the cycle and also during the off part of the duty cycle to provide zero pulses for adjustment purposes.
This clock timing generator, illustrated in more detail in FIG. 11, emits timing signal s at a rate selected by microcc~nputer 18. me microcrputer output, D, is applied to, and controls the operation of, two AND gates 350 and 352. ~he D signal is applied to the latter gate, 352, through an inverter 354 to cause the sample-and-hold circuit 322 to select either gas concentration data or zero inf ormation on co~nand.

1 3 3 .~

Timing clock generator 226 also includes: (1) a conventional 14-stage ripple counter 356 which is supplied with a 4 mE~z drive signal and a divide-by-six prograTmoable divider chip 358 with a triple input to a 5 conventional decoder 360 connected through an inverter 362 to ground. This inverter is provided to provide a logic one to decoder 360.
The 4 mHz signal is reduced by ripple counter 356 to either a 480 HZ or a 240 HZ output 10 signal. mis output signal is routed to a clock (not shawn) in chip 358 which conse~uentially generates an output having the six segments identified as Ql through Q6 in FIG. 15 during each on-off or duty cycle of infrared radiation ~nitter 36.
15Ql is the segment representing the inf rared radiation ~nitter "ona time. During this portion of the duty cycle, the output f rom decoder 360 enables AND
gate 350. This results in a signal which is routed to an OR gate 363. mis causes gate 363 to output the 20 signal labelled SAM~E in FIG. 11. The SAMPI,E signal enables supply source driver 228 which accordingly turns - on infrared radiation ~nitter 36 for that part of the duty cycle computed by microcomputer 18.
me SAMPI.E signal also enables synchronous 25 preamplifiers 210 and 212, allcwing the signals generated by lead selenide detectors 42 and 183 to be processed and transmitted to microcc1rnputer 18 in the m~nner discussed above to furnish the displays and provide the controls for which the microcomputer is 30 designed.
Q2 through Q5 represent that part of the duty cycle in which the infrared radiation emitter 36 is turned off. mis iS accomplished by removing the 1333~

enabling gignal fral~ AND gate 350 at the end of the on segment Ql in each duty cycle of radiation emitter 36.
When this occurs, OR gate 363 shuts off. Iherefore, it ceases to supply the SAM~E signal needed to operate 5 supply Rource driver 228 and to permit preamplifiers 210 and 212 to route zero pulses generated in those preamplifiers fran the infrared radiation detector output signal to the signal processing circuitry depicted in FIG. 10.
Finally, Q6 is that segment of the duty cycle of infrared radiation emitter 36 in which the zero adjust function discussed above is performed. In that segment of the duty cycle, AND gate 352 is enabled by decoder 360. ~his enables OR gate 363, thereby routing 15 the zero adjust input signal VAz discussed above to signal conditioner 214 to cc~npensate for drift of lead selenide detector 42.
Referring still to the drawing, FIG. 12 illustrates, in detail, the supply source driver 228 20 which is activated during that segment of the infrared radiation emitter duty cycle designated Ql in FIG. 15 to turn on infrared radiation emitter 36. This signal is applied through a capacitor C364 and resistor R366 to the gate of a field effect transistor 368. This 25 transistor is also connected across a reference voltage source through a resistor R370 which isolates the reference voltage (VREF) frcm ground when field effect transistor 368 is turned on. merefore, during the Ql~
~nitter on segment of the infrared radiation emitter 30 duty cycle, field effect transistor 368 is turned off.
Field effect transistor 368 insures that the circuit connecting infrared radiation emitter 36 to its sources of operating voltage is, or r~nains, interrupted 1333~9 if clock timing generator 226 fails. Absent the protection circuit, the infrared radiation emitter would remain continuously on and would fail almost immediately, requiring that transdu oe r head 26 be 5 replaced.
The turning on of field effect transistor 368 removes the reference voltage signal from the non-inverting terminal of an operational amplifier 372.
Removal of this control voltage turns on amplifier 372 10 which has its output connected to its inverting input so that it functions as a unity follcwer. A unity follower is needed at this point in the supply souroe driver to buffer the reference voltage.
The output from operational amplifier 372 is 15 connected through a resistor R374, which sets the amplifier gain, to the non-inverting tenrin~l of a ~econd operational amplifier 376 in supply source driver 228. m at operational amplifier is one component of a differentially connected amplifier-and-follower 20 combination which also includes field effect transistor 378. mis amplifier-and-follower combination is employed to provide gain and a 150 milliampere output current drive capability.
The sour oe of field effect transistor 378 is 25 connected to one end of infrared radiation emitter 36, and the opposite end of the emitter is connected to a minus 12 volt pGwer source having a capacitor C380 connected in parallel therewith to provide local pG~er supply filtering. Consequently, when field effect 30 transistor 378 is partially or fully turned on, infrared radiation emitter 36 is connected across the plus 12 and minus 12 volt power supplies; and current flGws through 1~3~fl4~

it, cAI~s~ng infrared radiation of the wanted, controlled character to be emitted.
m e magnitude of the power applied to infrared radiation emitter 36 i8 crucial because variations will 5 affect the magnitude of: (1) the radiation emitted in the 4.25 micron-centered band impinging upon detector 42, and (2) the energy emitted in the 3.79 micron-centered band impinging upon detector 183.
Therefore, variations in the power supplied to 10 emitter 36 would cause those detectors to report changes in the concentration of the designated gas which are attributable to variations in that power rather than to changes in the concentration of the measured gas as both detectors are involved in the generation of the ratioed, 15 error compensated, gas concentration signal.
Unwanted irregularities of the character just described are eliminated by employing a differential resistor network to provide a precise, constant pcwer source for emitter 36. This network includes: (1) a 20 resistor R382 connected between the inverting tenminal of operational amplifier 376 and infrared radiation emitter 36, (2) a resistor R384 connected between the non-inverting input of operational amplifier 376 and ground through the above-discussed capacitor C380, l3) a 25 resistor R386 connected between operational amplifier 376 and the sour oe of field effect transistor 378, and (4) a resistor R388 connected between the inverting input of operational amplifier 376 and ground. Resistors R388 and R370 are matched as are 30 resistors R382 and R384. Therefore, the voltage applied across infrared radiption emitter 36 is precisely related to the reference voltage; and the infrared radiation detector is turned on and off in an 133~9 essentially instantaneous fashion; i.e., the voltage applied across emitter 36 follcws an essentially ~uare waveform.
In the system depicted in FIG. 13, a constant 5 voltage source is employed to operate emitter 36 rather than a constant power source. A constant voltage source i8 inherently more stable, and stability is a prerequisite to accuracy in gas analyzers operating on the principles disclosed herein.
Furthermore, a bipolar power supply, typically plus and minus 12 volts, is preferably employed rather than the more common single-sided pawer supply. This makes it possible to pGwer gas analyzer 20 with a battery, thereby making that instrument self-contained.
We also pointed out above that lead selenide is extr~ely temperature sensitive and that, as a consequence, sucoessful operation of gas analyzer 20 requires that infrared radiation detectors 42 and 183 be precisely maintained at a constant temperature. The 20 system by which this control function is accc~mplished includes the above-discussed strip heater 84 and thermistor 86, and it is identified in FIG. 13 by referenoe character 390.
mermistor 86 is located in one leg of a 25 bridge which also includes resistors R392, R394, and R396. Reference voltage VREF is applied to one referenoe terminal 398 of the bridge, and the second referenoe terminal 400 is connected to ground. The two output teIminals 402 and 404 of the bridge are 30 respectively connected to the non-inverting and inverting inputs of an operational amplifier 406 with terminal 402 also being connected through biasing resistor R394 to ground. merefore, operational 1333~4~

amplifier 406 i8 turned on when the detector unit temperature sensed bsr thermistor 86 departs fran the reference temperature because: the resistance of thermistor 86 changes, the j ust-discussed bridge becomes 5 unbalanced, and current thereby flows in the bridge circuit.
Connected across the output and the inverting input of operational amplifier 406 is a law pass filter consisting of a resi5tor R408 and a capacitor C410.
10 This filter eliminates those frequencies of the signals applied to operational amplifier 406 which, because of the characteristics of a thermistor, are not representative of changes in the thermistor-sensed temperature.
Also connected to operational amplifier 406 are capacitors C412 and C414. mese capacitors provide local p~er supply filtering.
Because feedback resistor R408 and bridge resistors R392, R394, and R396 cooperate with 20 thermistor 86 to perform a temperature-to-voltage conversion, the output frc~n operational amplifier 406 is a detector temperature-proportional voltage. This voltage varies from zero volts at a detector t~mperature of 35C to plus 5 volts at a detector temperature of 25 45C.
This operational amplifier output signal is routed to the multiplexer in analog-to-digital convertor 218 to allc~ for sequential signal conversion.
ffle multiplexer output signal is converted to a 30 digitized signal and routed to microcomputer 18.
Ihe digitized information is ccmpared in microcomputer 18 to the operating temperature selected for detector unit 38 through an algorit~n encoded in the 133~9 microcomputer. ffl e result i8 a computed duty cycle with the time segment Ql (see ~IG. 15) representing that part of the duty cycle in which strip heater 84 is re~uired to be turned on to keep the temperature of detector 5 unit 38 at tbe selected level.
This calculated information is employed to generate a high state output which is applied to the gate of a power field effect transistor 416 through an inverter 418 which buffers the digital signal. This 10 turns transistor 416 on, connecting heater 84 across a plus 5 volt operating source to ground.
At the end of the time segment Ql in each duty cycle, the microc~mputer output applied to inverter 418 reverts to a 1GW state. This turns transistor 416 off 15 and interrupts the operation of heater 84.
It is important, in conjunction with the foregoing, that heater 84 keep the entire detector unit, rather than just detectors 42 and 183 per se, at the selected temperature (which is preferably on the order 20 of 40C). miS keeps condensation from forming on the exposed surfaces of filters 182 and 184 and interferring with the transmission of the attenuated beam of infrared radiation to the detectors. Also, the keeping of the entire detector unit at a constant temperature 25 eliminates inaccuracies that would potentially be present if the optical filters 182 and 184 instead expanded and contracted as they would tend to do if they were not kept at a constant temperature.
We pointed out above that another major 30 component of the system illustrated in FIG. 9 is the circuit 230 employed to apply a negative bias to lead selenide infrared radiation detectors 42 and 183 and thereby improve the signal-to-noise ratios of those 1 3 3 3 !1 4 9 detectors. This circuit, shcwn in detail in FIG. 14, includes a flyback transformer T420, a power field effect tran~istor 422, a secondary diode 424, a storage capacitor C426, and a voltage control circuit 427 which 5 includes operational amplifiers 428 and 430 and a series pass connected field effect transistor 432.
As shcwn in FIG. 14, one terminal of transformer primary winding 433 is connected to ground through diode 424, and the other end of that winding is 10 connected to the drain of field effect transistor 422.
m e control voltage generated by circuit 427 is applied to the center tap of winding 433.
m e gate of field effect transistor 422 is supplied with a 125 kHz signal from clock timing 15 generator 226.
When the clock signal goes high, field effect transistor 422 is turned on; and current builds up in transformer primary winding 433. m en, when the clock signal goes low, turning off field effect transistor 20 switch 422, the energy in the magnetic field of transformer T420 causes the voltage in primary winding 433 to fly back to approximately 100 volts.
Tbis creates a current in winding 433 which is stored in capacitor C426.
The negative voltage generated when field effect transistor 422 turns off is sensed by a resistor R434 which is connected to the inverting terminal of operational amplifier 428. This resistor is also connected through a capacitor C436 to the output 30 terminal of operational amplifier 428 to form an integrating circuit. mis circuit integrates the error between the current flowing through resistor R434 and a reference current developed from reference voltage VREF-133~1~9 The reference voltage i8 supplied by resistor R438, andit is also applied to the inverting tenrinAl of operational amplifier 428.
A second and equal reference current is 5 developed frc~ reference voltage VREF by resistor R440 and applied to the non-inverting termin~l of amplifier 428.
m e operational amplifier circuit also includes resistors R442 and R444, which provide local 10 isolation, and capacitors C446 and C448 which provide local filtering.
As suggested above, it is the function of the operational amplifier circuit just described to integrate the error between the reference current and 15 the current derived from the reference voltage.
The integrated error current is inverted by unity gain operational amplifier 430. The error signal is applied to the inverting ter~in~l of that amplifier through a resistor R450, which provides amplifier input 20 resistance; and the non-inverting tenm;n~l of that amplifier is connected to ground. A resistor R452 connected between the inverting input and the output of amplifier 430 controls the amplifier gain.
The output of operational amplifier 430 is 25 applied to the gate of field effect transistor 432.
Consequently, as the error signal increases in magnitude, field effect transistor 432 iS turned on to an extent determined by the magnitude of the error current. This controls the voltage across the primary 30 winding 433 of transformer T420 and, consequentially, the voltage across the secondary winding 454 of that transformer, maintaining the latter at the wanted, typically -100 volt level.

133~9 A diode 456 and a resistor R458 are connected in series in the biasing voltage supplying secondary winding 454 to provide isolation and recti~ication, respectively.
In the foregoing circuit, the biasing is typically modulated at a frequency of 125 kHz in order to reduoe size of tbe magnetic and filtering components.
Gas analyzers embodying the principles of the present invention do not have to be of the particular 10 character discussed above. For example, additional detectors may be incorporated to measure the con oe ntration of other gases present in the mixture being analyzed, and hand-held unit 22 and the routines appearing in Appendix A may be modified to provide 15 appropriate displays of the additional information provided by those detectors. (Appendix A - Pages 55a - 55m) Another modification that can be made within the principles discussed above is to modulate infrared radiation emitting source 36 with A.C. as opposed to the 20 disclosed D.C. electrical voltage. This has the potential advantage of reducing the current density at the interfaces between the radiation emitting layer 162 and the conductors 156 and 158 of an infrared radiation emitter such as that identified by reference 25 character 36 in FIG. 4. That would further reduce the potential for burnthrough attributable to current densities which are too high and would also allow higher current densities to be employed in applications where that is deemed desirable.
Options for eliminating the effect of foreign substances in the optical path between the infrared radiation emitter and infrared radiation detector and the effect of minor instabilities in the latter also 1333~

exist. For example, two emitters, each filtered to pass only infrared radiation in a specific band, could be employed; and the second, reference emitter could be a diode with a sp~cific spPctral output rather than an 5 emitter of the type disclosed here.
A second option would be to substitute for one or both of the disclosed lead selenide detectors a PIN
diode or a thermopile detector.
Furthermore, it will be obvious to those 10 skilled in the arts to which this invention relates that gas analyzers as disclosed herein can be incorporated in equipment designed to monitor a variety of functions rather than being constructed as a stand-alone unit.
In addition, instruments employing the 15 principles of the present invention can be employed to measure gases other than carbon dioxide simply by using a different filter to change the wavelength of the detected infrared radiation. And, the mixture being analyzed may be of an industrial origin, as an example, 20 rather than the gases breathed out by a medical patient.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent to the reader that our invention may be embodied in many specific forms in addition to those disclosed above without departing from the spirit or essential 25 characteristics of the invention. m e embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. m e scope of the invention is instead indicated by the appended claims, and all changes which 30 come within the meaning and range of the equivalency of the claims are therefQre intended to be embraced therein.

13~3~9 55a APPEN Dl X A
GAS ANALYZERS

(Infrared C02 Analyzer Software Flow Chart) 1333~
55b ( MAIN ) ( INT ) 80X/SEC
t CALL INIT 1 2 ¦ SET INTR FLAG
t CALL WARM 1 3 ¦ INCR CYC CNT MOD 20 ¦ 250 MS

- ON CYC CNT ROLLOYER
CALL KEY ¦ 4 ENA INTERRUPT
,YES RETURN

NO / IS \ NO
<~?F~>
YESl' CALL SPAN 15 ¦ CALL ZERO ¦ 6 NO<~YES 80X/SEC

CALL DATA ¦ 7 CALL TEMP ¦ 8 ¦ RESET INTR FLAG ¦

/ \ NOTE: THERE ARE
4X /SEC YES / IS ~ 10 D~TA/ REF AND
< CYC CNT > 10 Z-RO MEASURE--1 ! \ 71 9 / ~lEN-S PER 1/~ SEC
¦ CALL Cl ~MPU~E ¦ g NO )ISP A~ UpDAT-COUN- R PROVI DES
¦ CALL CONVERT ¦ 10 1 IN ~0 (12 5MS) REQ

CALL DISPLAY ¦ 11 1333~
55c C INIT ) ¦ RESET DATA FLAG ¦

¦ RESET KEY FLAG ¦

¦ CYCLE CNT = 19 ¦ ¦ TURN ItEATER OFF ¦

ZERO DISPLAY ¦ ¦ ERROR = 0 TURN ON D.P. ¦ ¦ RESET CAL FLAG

TURN LFDS OFF ¦ ¦ RESET CALONE FLAG ¦

RESET 02 FLAG ¦ ¦ RESET CALKEY FLAG ¦

¦ RESET N20 FLAG ¦ ¦ RETURN

SET DZ FLAG

OUTPUT DZ

¦ START WARM TIMER ¦

¦ START LED TIMER ¦

R ESET ZER O FLAG

PERI OD = 3 ENA INTERRPUT

RESET LED FLAG ¦

1333~49 55d WAR M

~\YES

NO ¦ RESTART LED TIMER ¦
¦ TOGGLE LED FLAG
¦ TOGGLE STATUS LED ¦
~ I
/ INTR \YES
\FLgG ~
N~/ ¦RESET INTR FLAG
/~ ¦ CALL TEMP ¦ 8 ~WARM~NO

YES /\
/ IS \ NO
YES
SET KEY FLAG
¦ TURN ON STATUS LED ¦
¦START BOUNCE TIMER ¦
RETURN ¦ ~

1333~9 55e ( KEY ) ~Y ~

YES
~ ~KEY FLAG~
<~NO \~

YES ¦CALL PROCESS ¦ 12 SET KEY FLAG

~ ¦ START BOUNCE TIMER

¦ RESEr KEY FLAG ¦

RETURN

1333 1~9 55f ( SPAN ) SET CALON E FLAG I N O

RESET CALKEY FLAG ¦ \~' TURN SPAN LED ON

SEr LED FLAG I ¦ RESTART LED TIMER ¦

START LED TIMER I ¦ TOGGLE SPAN LED ¦

¦ START 2 MINUTE TIMER ¦ ¦ TOGGLE SPAN FLA~ ¦

SAVE OLD SP AN VAL

SPAN VAL = 1 ¦ ¦ RESTORE OLD SPAN VAL ¦

~YES L READ BARO PRES
\ OUT /
N~/ ¦ CORR 38T FOR BARO

~ CONV 38T TO 38 COUNT ¦
/ MINUTE \ YES
bu T ~ . COU N T
N~
¦ TURN OFF CAL LEDS ¦

<~>YES ¦ RESET CALONE FLAG ¦
NO
RESET CAL FLAG
RETURN ¦ ¦ RESET ZERO FLAG

1333~49 ZER O

¦ SET CALONE FLAG I ~
N O/CA ON E\
¦ RESET CALKEY FLAG ¦

¦ TURN ZERO LED ON ¦ I YES

¦ SEr LED FLAG

¦ START LED TIMER
~ ¦RESTART LED TIMER ¦
¦ SrART MINUTE TIMER ¦ ~
~ ¦ TOGGLE ZERO LED ¦
¦ SAVE OLD ZERO VAL.

~ ¦ TOGGLE LED FLAG
¦ ZERO VAL = 0 ~' ~
RESET CAL FLAG
TIMER ~YES
\Y~ ¦ RESET CALONE ELAG
NO
¦ TURN OFF ZERO LED

TIMER ~ ¦ RESTORE OLD ZERO VAL¦
~ I
NO
¦ ZER O VAL = D ATA ¦
YES ¦ RESET CALONE FLAG ¦

NO ¦ SET ZERO FLAG

¦ RETURN I¦ TURN ON ZERO LED ¦

13334~9 55h ( DATA ) ~CNT YES ¦ DArAWORD = ~ ¦
-0? ~
¦ REFWORD = ~ ¦
NO

¦REA~ DATA COUNT¦

¦ READ REF COUNT ¦

NO ~ YES
READ ~ DZ FLAG ~ DATA
TIME ~ TIME

¦ SET DZ FLAG ¦ ¦ RESET DZ FLAG

¦ OUTPUT FLAG l l OUTPUT FLAG

DATAWORD = DATA DATAWORD = DATA
WORD-DATA COUNT WORD+DATA COUNT

REFWORD = REF REFWORD = REF
WORD-REF COUNT WORD+REFCOUNT

¦ RETURN

133~ ~9 55i ( TEMP ) t ~ CYC CNT INCREMENTS - 12.5MS

/ IS \YES ¦ MEAS. SENSOR TEMP ¦
~TIME = ¢)~
¦ OLD ERR = ERROR ¦
NO
ERROR=MEAS TEMP
--SET VALUE

ERR=ERROR
OLD ERR

DUTY TIME =
F(ERROR, A ERR) I

D~U TY ~YES

NO
REFWORD = REF
OLD ERR
¦ RETURN ¦ l 1333~9 55j ( COMPIJTE ) [~ATA = 10230 CONVERT DATA TO
- DATAWORD POSITIVE INCREASING VALUE

RATIO = 10230 DErERMlNE REFERENCE
--. RE~WORD CHANNEL RATIO FACTOR
I

DATA = DATA CORRECT DATA ~3Y REFERENCE
X RATIO CHANNEL RATIO

DATA = ~ATA COMPLETE AVERAGE OF
--. 10 10 DATA POINTS

RETURN

1333~3 55k ~ CONVERT ) COUNT -- DATA ADJUST DATA COUNT
--ZERO FOR ZERO OFFSET

COUNT = COUNT ADJUST DATA COUNT
X SPAN BY SPAN CAL FACTOR

TORRVAL = F(COUNT) CONVERT COUNTS TO
FROM LOOKUP TABLÉ TORR FROM TABLE

¦ READ BARO. PRESS. ¦

CORRECT TORRVAL PRESSURE COMPENSATION

NO <~YES GAS
COMPEN SATI ON

~>YES

<~,YES I IAPPLY 02-N20 CORR I
I APPLY 02-N20 CORR I ¦ APPLY 02--N20 CORR ¦

¦ RETURN ¦

13~3~4~

( DISPLAY ) CONVERT TORRVAL TO
B CD TEN S, U N I TS, TEN TH

OUTPUT TENS AND

OUTPUT TENTHS

¦ RE~URN ¦

1333~

55m ( PROCESS ) </~ YES
~ 1 NO YE~IS~>NO

¦ SET CAL FLAG ¦
¦ SET CALKEY FLAG ¦

<~,YES

NO ¦ TOGGLE N20 FLAG ¦
¦ TOGGLE N20 LED

YES

N ¦ TOGGLE 02 FLAG

¦ RETURN ¦

Claims

1. The combination of a transducer head for generating a signal indicative of the concentration of a designated gas in a mixture of gases containing the designated gas and an airway adapter for confining said mixture of gases to a particular path traversing said transducer head, said transducer head comprising an infrared radiation emitter on one side of said path, detector means comprising an infrared radiation detector on the opposite side of said path, and a filter means which is free of moving parts interposed between said emitter and said detector for transmitting to said detector only that infrared radiation in a band centered on a wavelength which is absorbed by said designated gas, said airway adapter comprising an elongated casing with first and second end sections, the means for confining said mixture of gases to said particular path being a passage extending from end-to-end through said elongated casing, and said adapter further comprising: integral mounting means for supporting said transducer head from said casing which are formed on said casing between and in an in-line relationship with said casing end sections and apertures in said elongated casing on diametrically opposed sides of the passage therethrough which are aligned along the path between said emitter and said detector and thereby so allow infrared radiation to pass from said emitter through said airway adapter and the mixture of gases flowing therethrough to said detector that said infrared radiation of the wavelength absorbed by said designated gas is attenuated before it reaches said detector so that the signal emitted by said detector reflects the concentration of the designated gas in said mixture of gases.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 which comprises detent means for coupling said transducer head to said airway adapter, said transducer head including a housing with a U-shaped recess into which said airway adapter is adapted to fit and said detent means comprising: a fitting in said transducer head housing, said fitting having a bore extending therethrough; a ball in and displaceable along said bore; spring means for biasing said ball toward the end of the bore opening onto the U-shaped recess; and a complementary recess in the elongated body of the airway adapter for receiving said ball when said airway adapter is disposed in the U-shaped recess-of the transducer head housing.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein there are spaced apart flanges on said airway adapter which embrace opposite ends of said transducer head housing and thereby locate said transducer head lengthwise of said adapter.

4. The combination of:
(a) a transducer head for generating a signal indicative of the concentration of a designated gas in a mixture of gases containing the designated gas and an airway adapter for confining said mixture of gases to a particular path traversing said transducer head, (b) said transducer head comprising: an infrared radiation emitter on one side of said path, detector means comprising an infrared radiation detector on the opposite side of said path, and a stationary filter means interposed between said emitter and said detector for transmitting to said detector only that infrared radiation in a band centered on a wavelength which is absorbed by said designated gas;
(c) said detector means including: a substrate having a face on which said detector is mounted; a filter support also mounted on said face of said substrate, said filter support having an aperture therethrough which is congruent with said detector, and said filter means being mounted on said filter support and spanning the aperture therethrough; a filter frame mounted on said filter support, said frame having therein an aperture in which said filter means is snugly fitted to thereby position said filter means relative to the aperture in said filter support;
and a cover mounted on said filter frame, said cover having therein an aperture aligned with the apertures in said filter frame and filter support and with said filter means and said detector; and (d) said airway adapter comprising an elongated casing, the means for confining said mixture of gases to said particular path being a passage extending from end-to-end through said elongated casing and said adapter further comprising integral mounting means for supporting said transducer head from said casing and apertures in said elongated casing on the opposite sides of the passage therethrough which are aligned along the path between said emitter and said detector and thereby allow infrared radiation to so pass from said emitter through said airway adapter and the mixture of gases flowing through said airway adapter to said detector that said infrared radiation of the wavelength absorbed by said designated gas is attenuated before it reaches said detector and the signal emitted by said detector therefore reflects the concentration of the designed gas in said mixture of gases.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said filter frame, said filter support, and said substrate are all flat pieces of a material possessing low thermal conductivity and high electrical resistivity.