WO1998022815A1 - System with a plurality of chemical sensors - Google Patents
System with a plurality of chemical sensors Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998022815A1 WO1998022815A1 PCT/GB1997/003101 GB9703101W WO9822815A1 WO 1998022815 A1 WO1998022815 A1 WO 1998022815A1 GB 9703101 W GB9703101 W GB 9703101W WO 9822815 A1 WO9822815 A1 WO 9822815A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- sensors
- chemical
- bundles
- chemical sensors
- information
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/0004—Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air
- G01N33/0009—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment
- G01N33/0027—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment concerning the detector
- G01N33/0031—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment concerning the detector comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
Definitions
- This invention relates to a system for the measurement of chemicals to determine the presence of particular chemical species and also to determine the concentration of those species.
- the system comprises use of either an individual chemical sensor or array based chemical sensors.
- Measuring chemical species using conventional chemical sensors does not provide the level of sensitivity and robustness required to provide the required sensitivity in real time operation.
- test chemicals are presented to the device according to the present invention which device comprises a plurality of bundles of like sensors different bundles being made-up of sensors having particular characteris ics .
- the data from each of the bundles is processed.
- the process data is passed through primary processor unit which processes the data from all of the right bundles.
- the information from each of the bundle types is passed to a secondary processing unit.
- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system according to the present invention.
- the second set of sensors 10 have different capability to those of type 2. These sensors are similarly connected in bundles to nodes 7, 8 and in turn these nodes are similarly connected to a second primary processing unit 11. If more than one primary processing unit 10, 11 is used, each of the units 10, 11 is required to be connected to a secondary processing unit 12.
- the data processing algorithm is configurable. This architecture may be repeated add infinitum depending on the complexity of the analytical application.
- the physical size of the system 1 is clearly not critical, but due to the density of the packing, it is a distinct advantage to employ technologies which are miniaturised and compact. This approach is well suited to technologies such as tin oxides, ceramic sensors or chemical field effect transistors.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
Abstract
A system for measurement of chemicals using specialised architecture in which a plurality of chemical sensors are used. Like sensors are grouped together to form a bundle and are connected via a node. Data from a plurality of nodes is analysed using data processing units.
Description
SYSTEM WITH A PLURALITY OF CHEMICAL SENSORS
This invention relates to a system for the measurement of chemicals to determine the presence of particular chemical species and also to determine the concentration of those species. The system comprises use of either an individual chemical sensor or array based chemical sensors.
Measuring chemical species using conventional chemical sensors does not provide the level of sensitivity and robustness required to provide the required sensitivity in real time operation.
No known transducer system forming part of any known chemical sensor is currently able to offer the equivalent sensitivity displayed, for example, by the human nose.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of enhancing sensitivity of chemical sensors the method comprising: connecting together a plurality of chemical sensors; obtaining appropriate information from the chemical sensors once those sensors have been connected together, the method comprising: forming the sensors into bundles of like sensors, and processing data from each of the bundles.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a chemical sensing system comprising: a plurality of chemical sensors which chemical sensors are connected together into bundles whereby a bundle of sensors is made-up of similar sensors, different bundles comprising sensors having different characteristics, the system further comprising means for analysing data obtained from the bundles.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for obtaining information from a network of chemical sensors which sensors are organised so as to provide enhanced information.
By means of the present invention test chemicals are presented to the device according to the present invention which device comprises a plurality of bundles of like sensors different bundles being made-up of sensors having particular characteris ics .
The data from each of the bundles is processed.
The process data is passed through primary processor unit which processes the data from all of the right bundles.
Where more than one type of sensor bundle is employed the information from each of the bundle types is passed to a secondary processing unit.
The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system according to the present invention.
A system according to the present invention is designated generally by reference numeral 1. A number of sensors 2 or the similar type are connected to a node 3. The plurality of sensors 2 connected to the node 3 thus constitutes a bundle.
The node 3 has a configurable data processing algorithm providing an output signal as a consequence of the actions of the sensors contributing to the node 3.
A number of nodes 4, 5, 6 are connected to a primary processing unit 7. The primary processing unit 7 has a configurable data processing algorithm which allows it to handle the information provided by all of the nodes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
The second set of sensors 10 have different capability to those of type 2. These sensors are similarly connected in bundles to nodes 7, 8 and in turn these nodes are similarly connected to a second primary processing unit 11. If more than one primary processing unit 10, 11 is used, each of the units 10, 11 is required to be connected to a secondary processing unit 12.
As with the different nodes 4, 5, 6, 3, 7, 8, and the primary processing units 7 and 11, the data processing algorithm is configurable. This architecture may be repeated add infinitum depending on the complexity of the analytical application.
The physical size of the system 1 is clearly not critical, but due to the density of the packing, it is a distinct advantage to employ technologies which are
miniaturised and compact. This approach is well suited to technologies such as tin oxides, ceramic sensors or chemical field effect transistors.
Those devices which are suited to integrated into silicon devices are particularly well suited as a functional density can be increased significantly.
The data processing algorithms adapted will depend upon the sensor technology adopted and the application which is being addressed. Different approaches may be adopted at different stages of the information process. The algorithm adopted by nodes 456, 378, the primary processing units 7, 11 and the secondary processing unit 12 need not necessarily be identical. For example, where sensitivity is the key issue, a voting system may be adopted to maximise the signal to noise ratio. The degree of sensitivity obtained will be directionally proportional to the number of nodes provided by the architecture.
Where other issues are important, mixed modes of data processing may be adopted or simply a different method of processing applied throughout. With bi-directional communications the data processing algorithms may be adaptably selected depending upon the operation or conditions encountered. In this way, the dynamic range of the system can be radically enhanced.
Claims
1. A method of enhancing sensitivity of chemical sensors, the method comprising: connecting together a plurality of chemical sensors; obtaining appropriate information from the chemical sensors once the sensors have been connected together, the method comprising: forming the sensors into bundles of like sensors, and processing data from each of the bundles.
2. A chemical sensing system comprising: a plurality of chemical sensors which chemical sensors are connected together into bundles whereby a bundle of sensors is made-up of similar sensors, different bundles comprising sensors having different characteristics, the system further comprising means for analysing data obtained from the bundles.
3. A device for obtaining information from a network of chemical sensors which sensors are organised so as to provide enhanced information.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9624011.4 | 1996-11-19 | ||
GBGB9624011.4A GB9624011D0 (en) | 1996-11-19 | 1996-11-19 | Chemical data analysis system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1998022815A1 true WO1998022815A1 (en) | 1998-05-28 |
Family
ID=10803153
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1997/003101 WO1998022815A1 (en) | 1996-11-19 | 1997-11-19 | System with a plurality of chemical sensors |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB9624011D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998022815A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7339676B2 (en) | 1996-01-23 | 2008-03-04 | Brown University | Optical method and system for the characterization of laterally-patterned samples in integrated circuits |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2142206A (en) * | 1983-06-24 | 1985-01-09 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Monitoring system |
US4569223A (en) * | 1983-07-28 | 1986-02-11 | Huebner Hans J | Method of and apparatus for multiple detector measurement of an environmental parameter |
GB2203249A (en) * | 1987-02-03 | 1988-10-12 | Univ Warwick | Identifying or measuring components of a mixture |
EP0706048A2 (en) * | 1994-10-04 | 1996-04-10 | Santa Barbara Research Center | Optically-based chemical detection system |
-
1996
- 1996-11-19 GB GBGB9624011.4A patent/GB9624011D0/en active Pending
-
1997
- 1997-11-19 WO PCT/GB1997/003101 patent/WO1998022815A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2142206A (en) * | 1983-06-24 | 1985-01-09 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Monitoring system |
US4569223A (en) * | 1983-07-28 | 1986-02-11 | Huebner Hans J | Method of and apparatus for multiple detector measurement of an environmental parameter |
GB2203249A (en) * | 1987-02-03 | 1988-10-12 | Univ Warwick | Identifying or measuring components of a mixture |
EP0706048A2 (en) * | 1994-10-04 | 1996-04-10 | Santa Barbara Research Center | Optically-based chemical detection system |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7339676B2 (en) | 1996-01-23 | 2008-03-04 | Brown University | Optical method and system for the characterization of laterally-patterned samples in integrated circuits |
US7505154B2 (en) | 1996-08-06 | 2009-03-17 | Brown University | Optical method for the characterization of laterally patterned samples in integrated circuits |
US7782471B2 (en) | 1996-08-06 | 2010-08-24 | Brown University | Optical method for the characterization of laterally-patterned samples in integrated circuits |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9624011D0 (en) | 1997-01-08 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
Gottwald et al. | The 0-1 test for chaos: A review | |
JPH06265499A (en) | Detector of chemical substance | |
Diks et al. | Reversibility as a criterion for discriminating time series | |
Bagdonavicius et al. | Accelerated life models: modeling and statistical analysis | |
Sigeti et al. | High-frequency power spectra for systems subject to noise | |
Poolla et al. | On the time complexity of worst-case system identification | |
FI114412B (en) | Adaptive Kalman filtering method for dynamic multi-parameter systems - includes whitening and partial orthogonalisation of measurements and system errors | |
WO2003034367A1 (en) | Information processor, sensor network system, information processing program, computer-readable recorded medium on which information processing program is recorded, and information processing method for sensor network system | |
CA2192212A1 (en) | Method and Apparatus for Calibrating Moisture Sensors | |
CA2434555A1 (en) | Computer-implemented neural network color matching formulation applications | |
AU2001228641A1 (en) | Document monitoring method | |
KR930020299A (en) | Signal processing device for evaluating inspection data | |
US7181367B2 (en) | Off-line diagnosis system | |
Wang et al. | Temperature and pressure in nonextensive thermostatistics | |
WO1998022815A1 (en) | System with a plurality of chemical sensors | |
Powner et al. | From basic sensors to intelligent sensors: Definitions andexamples | |
Straetemans et al. | Automatic outbreak detection algorithm versus electronic reporting system | |
JP3174186B2 (en) | Gas identification device | |
Saleh et al. | A new class of similarity measures for fuzzy sets | |
Hager et al. | The category of Archimedean ℓ-groups with strong unit, and some of its epireflective subcategories | |
JP3174187B2 (en) | Gas identification device | |
JP3401858B2 (en) | Diagnostic processing device | |
Lian | Integrated silicon flip-flop sensors | |
Hu et al. | A study on the parallel numerical system effectiveness analysis algorithm. | |
Juanarena | A multiport sensor and measurement system for aerospace pressure measurements |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): GB JP US |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |