JPH07311134A - Offensive odor-measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an offensive odor measuring instrument which can easily measure offensive odor at an optional place in an offensively odoriferous environment without causing the leakage of an offensively odoriferous sample. CONSTITUTION:An offensive odor measuring instrument is composed of a measuring section 1 installed outside an offensively odoriferous environment and sensor section 2 installed in the environment and the section 1 is provided with an antenna 11, reception circuit 12, CPU 13, and displaying section 14. The sensor section 2 is provided with a sensor 30 composed of a crystal resonator provided with a sensitive film, oscillation circuit 31, power amplifier circuit 32, transmission circuit 33, power source 34, and antenna 35. When the oscillation frequency of the crystal resonator changes due to the adhesion of offensively odoriferous molecules, the change is transmitted to the measuring section 1 from the sensor section 2 and the concentration, concentration distribution, and kind of the odor are displayed on the displaying section 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an odor measuring device for measuring odorous components, and more particularly to an odor measuring device for measuring bad odors and bad odors and toxic gases in the chemical industry and environmental measurement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a sensor for measuring odorous substances, a quartz oscillator type odor sensor has been known. This crystal oscillator type odor sensor utilizes that the oscillation frequency of the crystal oscillator changes when odor molecules are adsorbed on the surface of the crystal oscillator, and this frequency change is captured as the amount of odor, that is, the odor concentration. It is something to try. Further, in order to increase the sensitivity as an odor sensor, a polymer film or the like is formed on the surface of the crystal resonator to adsorb a large amount of odor molecules.

A polymer film or a polymer film containing a lipid or the like does not show sensitivity to a specific substance, but has sensitivity to a relatively wide variety of substances. Therefore, a polymer film showing different sensitivity is used as a sensor. It is also performed to identify the odor by forming each of them and identifying a plurality of different odor information obtained from a plurality of sensors (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-22).
44335 gazette).

By the way, since the crystal oscillator type odor sensor does not reach the human sense of smell in terms of sensitivity, when the odor sensor is actually used, there may be a case where "a person feels a pain when sniffing." . For example, there is a case where the presence or absence of a bad odor is determined or a concentration is measured, or when a measurement target or a measurement place is dangerous due to a high place or high temperature. For example, assume that there is an experimental device using a crystal oscillator type odor sensor as shown in FIG. In this experimental apparatus, a crystal oscillator type odor sensor probe 91 is inserted into a chamber 90, and a counter 9
2, the signal from the crystal oscillator of the probe 91 is frequency-counted, the counted frequency is converted into the amount of change, and the calculation is further performed into the odor concentration.
Display on screen 3. In the chamber 90, the smell sample 9
5 and a blower fan 96 for stirring the odor. An oscillating circuit 97 and a sensor 98 are provided in a portion of the probe 91 located in the chamber 90, and the sensor 98 is composed of a crystal oscillator provided with a sensitive film (polymer film).

As shown in FIG. 7, such an experimental apparatus generally includes a probe including a sensor 105 including a crystal resonator provided with a sensitive film (polymer film) and an oscillation circuit 106 for oscillating the crystal resonator. 100, a CPU 101 that performs calculations such as counting the vibration frequency of the crystal unit, conversion into frequency variation, conversion of odor concentration, and the like, and a display unit 102 that displays the calculation results.

[0006]

When measuring a bad odor, for example, when the probe 91 is inserted into the chamber 90 or when the odorous sample 95 is injected into the chamber 90 using the above-described experimental apparatus. In addition, there is a problem that a bad odor leaks to the outside. In order to prevent this, the experimental equipment itself is placed in the draft chamber, and the experiment is performed while ventilating the area around the experimental equipment.

However, when the above-mentioned experimental apparatus is applied to the measurement of bad smell in the chemical industry and environmental measurement, the following problems occur (see FIG. 8). However, FIG.
Reference numeral 100 represents a probe, and reference numeral 120 represents a measurement unit having a CPU and a display unit. (1) A case where an odor sample of a certain environment is sampled in the odor collection bag 110 and its malodor degree is measured [(a) and (b) of FIG. 8]
If the probe 100 is directly inserted into the odor collecting bag 110 for measurement, the odor may leak from the collecting bag 110 [see (a)]. The odor sample in the odor collection bag 110 is introduced into the batch type chamber or the flow type chamber 130, and the chamber 13
When the probe 100 is inserted into 0 for measurement, there is a risk of carryover and a large amount of odorous sample is required [see (b), reference numeral 131 indicates a pump]. (2) When measuring the odor (bad odor) in the clean room, the constant temperature / constant room 140, or the chemical plant [see (c) of FIG. 8], the probe 100 is inserted into the clean room 140, but the sensor Considering the oscillation stability, the lead wire between the probe 100 and the measuring unit 120 cannot be made unlimitedly long, and the lead wire is preferably as short as possible. Therefore, even if the measuring unit 120 can be installed near the clean room 140, the sensor of the probe 100 can be installed only at the end inside the clean room 140. That is, it is not possible to measure the odor at an arbitrary location in the clean room 140 (in particular, the center of the inside), and only the odor at the edge of the clean room 140 and its periphery can be measured. For example, in order to measure the odor concentration distribution in the clean room 140 using a plurality of probes each having a sensor having the same specificity, the probe insertion holes corresponding to the number of probes are formed in the clean room 140, and It is necessary to increase the airtightness of each probe insertion hole, which complicates the structure. For example, in order to prepare a plurality of probes each having a sensor having a different specificity and to identify various odors in the clean room 140, it is necessary to replace the probes corresponding to each odor, and the measurement work is troublesome. .

Therefore, the present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional problem, and an odor measuring device capable of easily measuring an odor at an arbitrary place in an odor environment without causing leakage of an odor sample. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an odor measuring device of the present invention is provided with a measuring unit installed outside the odor environment and data on the sensed odor arranged in the odor environment. A sensor unit for transmitting to the measuring unit, the sensor unit including a crystal unit type sensor, an oscillating unit for oscillating the crystal unit, a transmitting unit for transmitting the output of the crystal unit, and a driving unit for the sensor unit. A power source as a source, the measurement unit, receiving means for receiving a signal from the sensor unit,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a computing means for computing the odor from the frequency of the received signal and a display means for displaying the computation result.

[0010]

In the odor measuring device of the present invention, the sensor unit is placed in an odor environment (odor collecting bag, clean room, constant temperature / humidity chamber, etc.), and the measuring unit is installed outside the odor environment. When the odorous molecules adhere to the crystal unit, the weight thereof changes (decreases) the oscillation frequency of the crystal unit, and the output of the crystal unit is transmitted to the measurement unit by the transmission unit. The frequency of the signal received by the receiving means of the measuring section is counted by the calculating means, the frequency is converted into the amount of change, and further, the calculation regarding the odor concentration, the concentration distribution, the odor identification, etc. is performed. Then, the calculation result is displayed on the display means.

According to this structure, since the sensor unit and the measuring unit are separated from each other, only the sensor unit is previously arranged at an arbitrary place in the unodorized odor environment, and the measuring unit is installed outside the odor environment. To do. Then, the odor is introduced into the odor environment and the odor is measured. Therefore, it is not necessary to insert the sensor unit of the device into an odor environment (odor collecting bag) where odor is present, and the odor does not leak to the outside during insertion. Moreover, no batch or flow chambers are required, carryover does not occur, and odorous samples need not be large.

Further, in an odor measuring device provided with a plurality of sensor parts, each sensor part having the same specificity for odors, it is possible to preliminarily select different odor environments (clean room, constant temperature / humidity chamber, etc.) in different odor environments. By arranging the sensor parts at the respective places, the concentration distribution of odor in the odor environment can be easily measured without forming a plurality of probe insertion holes in a clean room or the like. On the other hand, in the odor measuring device in which each sensor unit has different specificity for odor, if all the sensor units are arranged in advance in the odor environment, it is not necessary to replace the corresponding sensor units one by one.
Various odors can be easily identified.

[0013]

EXAMPLES The odor measuring device of the present invention will be described below based on examples. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an apparatus according to one embodiment.
2 shows a block diagram thereof. This odor measuring device comprises a measuring unit 1 installed outside the odor environment and a sensor unit 2 arranged in the odor environment [(a) in FIG.
(B)]. The measurement unit 1 is provided to the case 10 to be extendable and contractible, and receives an antenna 11 that receives a weak radio wave transmitted from the sensor unit 2, a frequency scanning type reception circuit 12 that converts the received radio wave into a frequency signal, a frequency count, CP that performs calculations such as conversion to frequency change amount and conversion to odor concentration
A U (calculation unit) 13 and a display unit (display unit) 14 that displays the calculation result are provided. In this embodiment, the antenna 11 and the receiving circuit 12 constitute a receiving means. Further, although not shown in FIG. 2, the calculation result is transmitted to an external personal computer or the like.

The sensor unit 2 has a case 20 having a plurality of slits 21 for taking in air, and a crystal oscillator type odor sensor 30 is arranged in the case 20 [see (c) of FIG. 1]. It consists of a crystal unit with an odor-sensitive film on the surface. In addition to the sensor 30, the sensor unit 2
Is an oscillating circuit (oscillating means) 31 for oscillating the crystal oscillator of the sensor 30, a power amplifier circuit 32 for amplifying the output of the sensor 30, a transmitting circuit 33 for converting the amplified output into radio waves, and the sensor. The power source 34 of the unit 2 and an antenna 35 for transmitting radio waves are provided. In this embodiment, the transmitting circuit 33 and the antenna 35 constitute a transmitting means.

The sensitive film provided on the surface of the crystal unit is for enhancing the sensitivity to odor. As the sensitive film, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-244335, a known high sensitive film is used. Examples thereof include a molecular film, a polymer film in which receptor molecules are embedded, a polymer film containing an inorganic salt or the like, a liquid film obtained by impregnating a porous polymer film with a liquid, a metal film, an inorganic film and the like. When a plurality of sensor units are provided, a sensitive film having different sensitivities to odors or a sensitive film having the same sensitivity may be used.

The odor measuring device configured as described above has a telemeter configuration for transmitting and receiving odor data wirelessly, and since the sensor unit 2 for detecting odor is independent of the measuring unit 1, for example, when measuring a bad odor. Can arrange only the sensor unit 2 in the odor environment, and the measurement unit 1 can be installed in a place completely separated from the odor environment. Therefore, if the sensor unit 2 is placed in advance at the place where the odor is measured, the odor can be remotely measured, and it is not necessary to insert the probe into the odor environment (odor collection bag) as in the conventional case. At that time, the odor does not leak outside. Moreover, since the odor information is transmitted and received wirelessly, there is no restriction on the installation location of the sensor unit 2, and the odor at any location in the odor environment can be easily measured.

In the above-mentioned odor measuring device, odor molecules enter the case 20 through the slit 21 of the sensor portion 2 and the sensor 3
When attached to the sensitive film of the crystal oscillator of 0, the oscillating frequency of the crystal oscillator decreases due to the weight of the odorous molecule, and the reduced frequency output is amplified by the power amplifier circuit 32, and the transmitter circuit 3
The signal is transmitted from the antenna 35 via the antenna 3 at a weak radio wave level. The transmitted radio wave is received by the antenna 11 of the measuring unit 1, converted into a signal by the receiving circuit 12, the frequency of the converted signal is counted by the CPU 13, the counted frequency is converted into a change amount, and the odor concentration (odor Strength). Then, the result is displayed on the display unit 14 and the data is transmitted to a personal computer or the like.

Although the device of the above embodiment has only one sensor unit 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of (n units, n = 1, 2,
3, ...) may be provided. Each sensor unit 2 is driven simultaneously, and the antenna 35 of each sensor unit 2 is driven.
The radio wave from the antenna is received by the antenna 11 of the measuring unit 1. However, in order to prevent radio wave interference between the sensor units 2, it is preferable that the frequency of the radio wave of each sensor unit 2 be at least 0.2 MHz or more. For example, the sensor unit S1 is 9 MHz, the sensor unit S2 is 8.8 MHz, and the sensor unit S3
Is 8.6 MHz, and so on. However, it is preferable that the interval be 0.5 MHz or more. For example, the sensor unit S1 has a frequency of 9 MHz, the sensor unit S2 has a frequency of 8.5 MHz, the sensor unit S3 has a frequency of 8 MHz, .... When a plurality of sensor units 2 are used, if the sensor units 2 having the same odor specificity are used, the odor concentration distribution can be measured, and if the sensor units 2 having different odor specificities are used. , Can identify the odor.

Next, the above cases will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a plurality of sensor units 2 having the same specificity for odors are used, and a desk 4 arranged in a clean room 40 in which constant temperature and constant humidity are controlled.
A dip coat machine 42 is provided on the No. 1 and the dip coat machine 42 forms three types of thin films. When forming a thin film, a foul odor is generated depending on the material. Normally, the work is performed automatically, and the worker enters the clean room 40 only at the time of setup and removal. Air is circulated during film formation to maintain cleanliness, but ventilation is performed after film formation to remove odors. Then, the odor measuring device is used to monitor whether or not the ventilation has been completed. In advance, a plurality of sensor units S1, S2, S are used.
3, S4, ... in appropriate places in the clean room 40 (see FIG.
In A, B, C, D, ...), the measuring unit 1 connected to the personal computer 45 is installed in the clean room 4.
If it is installed at a place distant from 0, the distribution of the odor concentration at each place can be displayed on the screen of the personal computer 45 and can be known.

Therefore, not only the lead wires and cables found in the conventional apparatus are unnecessary, but also it is not necessary to form probe insertion holes in the clean room 40 as many as the number of sensors or to make the insertion holes airtight. The sensor unit 2 is provided at an arbitrary location inside the clean room 40, and the clean room 4 is based on the odor information obtained from the location.
The odor concentration distribution within 0 can be easily measured. For this reason, particularly when the odor is toxic, it is possible to accurately detect whether or not the toxic odor remains in the clean room 40, so that high safety is ensured for the operator.
The effect to contribute is enormous.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which a plurality of sensor units 2 having different odor specificities are used. Here, a plurality of sensor units S1, S2, S are provided in the chamber 60.
3, ..., Sn are arranged, and the measuring unit 1 is installed outside the chamber 60. Valve 6 in chamber 60
The odorous sample 50 is introduced via 1 and the odorous sample 50 in the chamber 60 is exhausted by the pump 63 via the valve 62. By analyzing the data from each sensor unit 2, the odorous sample 50 introduced into the chamber 60 can be identified. Here again, no lead wire or cable is required, and it is not necessary to replace the sensor unit with a corresponding one for each measurement of different odors, which simplifies the measurement and simplifies the flow system of the chamber 60 and the odorous sample 50.

In the above embodiment, when the sensor unit arranged in the odor environment is replaced or collected, it may be carried out after the odor in the odor environment is completely removed. Since it is a small unit, it is possible to leave the old sensor unit as it is in the odor environment and add only the new sensor unit.

[0023]

As described above, the odor measuring device of the present invention includes a measuring unit installed outside the odor environment, and a sensor arranged in the odor environment and transmitting the detected odor data to the measuring unit. Since it is composed of parts, it has the following effects. (1) The odor sample can be remotely measured, and the odor does not leak to the outside during the measurement, which is extremely effective especially when the odor is toxic. (2) Since the sensor part and the measuring part are made into a telemeter, and the lead wire connecting them is unnecessary, it is not necessary to consider the oscillation stability of the crystal oscillator type sensor, and the sensor part is in an odor environment. It can be placed in any place of and the odor of that place can be easily measured. (3) Since a plurality of sensor units are provided and each sensor unit has the same specificity to odor, not only one measuring unit can simultaneously measure a plurality of sensor units but also a clean room, for example. It is possible to easily measure the odor concentration distribution without forming a plurality of probe insertion holes. (4) Since a plurality of sensor units are provided and each sensor unit has a different specificity to odor, not only is it possible to simultaneously measure a plurality of sensor units with one measuring unit, but also one sensor at a time. Various odors can be easily identified without replacing the parts.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of an apparatus according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus including a plurality of sensor units.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a usage example of an apparatus including a plurality of sensor units having the same specificity for odor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a usage example of an apparatus including a plurality of sensor units having different specificities for odors.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a usage example of a device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram of an apparatus according to the conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a usage example of the device according to the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Measuring part 2 Sensor part 11,35 Antenna 12 Receiving circuit 13 CPU (arithmetic means) 14 Display part (display means) 30 Crystal oscillator type sensor 31 Oscillation circuit (oscillating means) 32 Power amplification circuit 33 Transmission circuit 34 Power supply

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Kuniaki Matsuura 24 Yamanouchi Yamanoshitamachi, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City Omron Life Science Research Institute Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A measuring unit installed outside the odor environment, and a sensor unit arranged in the odor environment and transmitting data of the sensed odor to the measuring unit, wherein the sensor unit is a crystal oscillator type. A sensor and an oscillating means for oscillating the crystal unit,
The measuring unit includes a transmitting unit that transmits the output of the crystal unit and a power supply as a driving source of the sensor unit, and the measuring unit receives the signal from the sensor unit, and calculates the odor from the frequency of the received signal. An odor measuring device comprising: a calculation unit for performing the above and a display unit for displaying the calculation result. 2. The odor measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said sensor units are provided, and each sensor unit has the same specificity for odor. 3. The odor measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said sensor units are provided, and each sensor unit has different peculiarity to odor.