WO1999053328A1 - Capteur polyvalent - Google Patents

Capteur polyvalent Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999053328A1
WO1999053328A1 PCT/US1999/008003 US9908003W WO9953328A1 WO 1999053328 A1 WO1999053328 A1 WO 1999053328A1 US 9908003 W US9908003 W US 9908003W WO 9953328 A1 WO9953328 A1 WO 9953328A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sensing elements
multifunctional sensor
sensing
stimulant
electrical
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/008003
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David R. Crotzer
Original Assignee
Irdam Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Irdam Company filed Critical Irdam Company
Priority to EP99919818A priority Critical patent/EP1076830A4/fr
Publication of WO1999053328A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999053328A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
    • G01N27/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance
    • G01N27/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance
    • G01N27/12—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance of a solid body in dependence upon absorption of a fluid; of a solid body in dependence upon reaction with a fluid, for detecting components in the fluid

Definitions

  • Electronic sensors which are used in a variety of applications to detect the presence of a particular stimulant. Such sensors exhibit electrical characteristics, such as resistance, capacitance, and inductance, which vary with the level of stimulant present.
  • an electrical drive signal is applied to the sensor and a control circuit used to measure the particular electrical characteristic which is affected by the stimulant to which this sensor is directed.
  • This electrical drive signal produces a response signal which is indicative of the stimulant present, and the control circuit can then compute a stimulant level based upon the magnitude of the response signal.
  • Typical sensors however, have a single sensing element which is directed towards a single target -2-
  • a dedicated control circuit which has predetermined logic for computing the stimulant level based on the response signal magnitude.
  • a dedicated control circuit which has predetermined logic for computing the stimulant level based on the response signal magnitude.
  • the need for multiple sensors can hinder simultaneous sensing of more than one stimulant at a single precise location.
  • the use of dedicated control circuits, each having predetermined logic directed to a particular stimulant and response signal adds to the complexity and cost of a system.
  • a multifunctional sensor which includes a plurality of sensing elements, each directed to a particular target stimulant, in which each sensing element delivers a consistent response signal indicative of the stimulant such that the stimulant level can be computed by a common control circuit.
  • a multifunctional sensor which includes a plurality of sensing elements, each of which is constructed to provide a similar response signal, indicative of a particular stimulant, such that the level of the target stimulant can be computed by a common control circuit.
  • Multiple sensing elements such as conductive sensing -3-
  • the films are disposed on a substrate. Such films are formed such that the electrical resistance or other electrical parameter varies proportionally with the level of a particular target stimulant to which the sensing element is directed.
  • An electrical drive signal is provided to electrical terminals connected to the conductive sensing films.
  • a response signal is provided by each sensing film which is proportional to the stimulant magnitude, and these response signals are received by a signal control circuit.
  • the response signals from the sensing films have similar characteristic curves and can be readily processed by the single control circuit.
  • the multiple sensors are supported on a common substrate and are connected via shared electrical terminals.
  • the sensing elements may be supported on respective substrates.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the multifunctional sensor as defined by the present invention
  • Fig. la is a block diagram showing a control circuit coupled to the sensor of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sensor of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the sensor of Fig.
  • Fig. 4a shows a graph of a response signal from a humidity sensing element
  • Fig. 4b shows a graph of a response signal from a pressure sensing element
  • Fig. 4c shows a graph of a response signal from a temperature sensing element
  • Fig. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the multifunctional sensor as defined by the present invention
  • Fig. 6 is a side view of the sensor of Fig. 5;
  • Figs. 7a-c show different mounting structure arrangements of the multifunctional sensor as defined by the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 A first embodiment of a multifunctional sensor as defined herein is shown in Fig. 1.
  • Sensor 10 includes a substrate 12 with electrically conductive traces 14a, 14b, and 14c applied thereto. Individual sensing elements are provided by sensing films 16a and 16b which are applied to the substrate 12 such that each film 16a and 16b overlaps two traces 14, as shown by dotted lines 18. Center trace 14b is common to both films 16a and 16b, which are separated by gap 20 to minimize noise and cross-sensitivity between the two films l ⁇ a and 16b.
  • An electrical drive signal is applied to electrodes 22a, 22b, and 22c by which films are energized to generate a response signal, across the same terminals 22a, 22b, and 22c.
  • a control circuit 15 (Fig.
  • terminals 22a and 22b are connected to traces 14a and 14b for receiving a response signal from sensing film 16a, and terminals 22b and 22c are connected to traces 14b -5-
  • Sensing films, 16 are selected for electrical properties which vary in the presence of a particular target stimulant which is to be detected.
  • films are selected having a resistance that increases in proportion to the target stimulant level, however other electrical properties, such as capacitance or inductance, can be used.
  • Different films are selected depending on the desired target stimulant, however, the response signal, having a magnitude indicative of the target stimulant level, is substantially similar throughout the desired sensing range regardless of the target stimulant.
  • traces 14 and films 16 disposed on both sides of the substrate 12 allows four sensing elements to be placed on a single substrate. The number of sensing elements can be further increased by adding additional traces and films.
  • a total of four sensors 16a-16d are shown, placed on both sides of a single substrate and driven by six electrodes 22a-22f, adapted to be connected to a six-pin socket on a circuit board.
  • the side, or elevation, view in Fig. 3 shows sensor films 16a-16d on opposed sides of the substrate 12.
  • Sensor pairs 16a, 16b, and 16c, 16d are diagonally offset, as indicated in Fig. 2, although this diagonal offset is not seen in the elevation view.
  • Figs. 4a-4c response signals for typical sensor films are shown.
  • Such films are typically conductive polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for sensing humidity, polypropylene for sensing temperature, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for sensing pressure.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • PVDF polyvinylidene fluoride
  • Humidity, temperature, and pressure sensing films are shown as examples, however other films can be used which are made responsive to other stimulants by specific doping techniques.
  • films for detection of stimuli such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, formaldehyde, and hydrocarbon can be employed which exhibit similar response characteristics to the particular stimuli.
  • Fig. 4a shows the response signal of two sensing films, H-I and H-II, directed to sensing relative humidity, over a stimulant level from a relative humidity of about 0% to 100%.
  • Fig. 4b shows the response signal of sensing films P-I and P-II, directed to sensing pressure, across a stimulant level from about 10 A 6 - 10 A 7 Pa.
  • Fig. 4c shows the response signal of two sensing films T-I and T-II, directed to sensing temperature, across a stimulant range from about 0 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius. In each case the response signal ranges from about lOKohms to lOOOKohms across the target stimulant range. -7-
  • FIG. 5 A second embodiment is shown in Fig. 5, in which four sensors 36a-36d are oriented on the same side of substrate 12.
  • electrodes 42a-42f extend through vias 30 in the substrate 12, and that traces 34a-34f extend only about halfway across the substrate, to allow electrical separation such that each film 36a-36d is disposed across two traces.
  • Such an embodiment provides for flush surface mounting to a printed circuit board or other surface.
  • films 16a-16d can be directly deposited onto a surface such as a circuit board without an intermediate substrate, if such a surface is receptive to film application.
  • a side view of the sensor in Fig. 5 is shown in Fig.
  • Electrodes 42d-42f, traces 34d-34f, and films 36b and 36d are obscured in Fig. 6.
  • the sensor films can be applied to the substrate surface by various methods such as dip coat, brush coat, spray coat, screen print, or pad print, or by other methods known to those skilled in the art. Films are selected for exhibiting electrical properties which exhibit a similar response signal curve over the desired sensing range, to allow for common control circuit logic to compute the stimulant level of the multiple sensing elements on a particular sensor.
  • such sensor films are typically mounted on a substrate, or alternatively applied directly to a surface capable of accepting such a film, such as a printed circuit board.
  • the substrate mounted sensors can be enclosed in a housing to suit a particular application.
  • a vertical mount case 60 as shown in Fig. 7a, includes apertures 62 on both sides to permit exposure of the stimulant to the enclosed sensing films.
  • Perpendicular mounting tabs 64 facilitate attachment to a support surface. Electrodes or terminals 66 extend downward for attachment to a circuit board or other connection to a control circuit.
  • An alternate housing 68 is shown in Fig. 7b for flush, rather than perpendicular, mounting to a surface.
  • Apertures 62 are provided on the top surface to permit exposure of the sensing films to the environment being detected. Electrodes 66 extend downward from the housing.
  • a probe housing is shown in Fig. 7c, and includes a rigid, elongated tube 70 with a cutaway portion or window 72 to allow stimulants to reach the sensor substrate 12 and sensor films 74. Wires 78 extend through the interior of the tube and outwardly of the tube for connection of the electrodes 76 to a control circuit.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Electric Means (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne plusieurs capteurs (16, 36), formés sur un substrat commun (12), chaque capteur étant conçu pour répondre à des stimulants différents, en constituant des films qui sont sensibles au stimulant recherché. On peut utiliser l'ensemble capteurs résultant pour obtenir une réponse polyvalente, de façon qu'une diversité de stimulants puisse être détectée à l'aide d'un seul ensemble capteurs.
PCT/US1999/008003 1998-04-13 1999-04-13 Capteur polyvalent WO1999053328A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99919818A EP1076830A4 (fr) 1998-04-13 1999-04-13 Capteur polyvalent

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8155698P 1998-04-13 1998-04-13
US60/081,556 1998-04-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999053328A1 true WO1999053328A1 (fr) 1999-10-21

Family

ID=22164916

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/008003 WO1999053328A1 (fr) 1998-04-13 1999-04-13 Capteur polyvalent

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1076830A4 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999053328A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101776631A (zh) * 2009-01-13 2010-07-14 日东电工株式会社 物质检测传感器
US9651407B2 (en) 2011-09-12 2017-05-16 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Configurable sensor arrays

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4710550A (en) * 1985-05-01 1987-12-01 Kranbuehl David E Method of using a dielectric probe to monitor the characteristics of a medium
US5119022A (en) * 1991-06-03 1992-06-02 Center For Innovative Technology Tank circuit sensor for monitoring resin graphite composite fiber densities
US5317252A (en) * 1992-09-15 1994-05-31 Kranbuehl David E Dosimeter for monitoring the condition of polymeric materials and chemical fluids

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58103654A (ja) * 1981-12-16 1983-06-20 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 多機能ガスセンサ
US4900817A (en) * 1988-05-31 1990-02-13 Edison Polymer Innovation Corporation Multiring phthalocyanine compounds
US4953387A (en) * 1989-07-31 1990-09-04 The Regents Of The University Of Michigan Ultrathin-film gas detector
US5306912A (en) * 1989-10-21 1994-04-26 Thorn Emi Plc Optically addressed thermal imaging device
GB9412632D0 (en) * 1994-06-23 1994-08-10 Aromascan Plc Semiconducting organic polymers
GB9514754D0 (en) * 1995-07-19 1995-09-20 Univ Warwick Conducting polymer films
EP0827216B1 (fr) * 1996-08-30 2007-01-24 Texas Instruments Incorporated Améliorations de systèmes d'imagerie thermique
JP2002508514A (ja) * 1997-12-12 2002-03-19 オスメテック パブリック リミテッド カンパニー 導電性有機ポリマー

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4710550A (en) * 1985-05-01 1987-12-01 Kranbuehl David E Method of using a dielectric probe to monitor the characteristics of a medium
US5119022A (en) * 1991-06-03 1992-06-02 Center For Innovative Technology Tank circuit sensor for monitoring resin graphite composite fiber densities
US5317252A (en) * 1992-09-15 1994-05-31 Kranbuehl David E Dosimeter for monitoring the condition of polymeric materials and chemical fluids

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP1076830A4 *

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101776631A (zh) * 2009-01-13 2010-07-14 日东电工株式会社 物质检测传感器
EP2207029A1 (fr) * 2009-01-13 2010-07-14 Nitto Denko Corporation Capteur de gaz
US8511142B2 (en) 2009-01-13 2013-08-20 Nitto Denko Corporation Substance detection sensor
US8776579B2 (en) 2009-01-13 2014-07-15 Nitto Denko Corporation Substance detection sensor
US9651407B2 (en) 2011-09-12 2017-05-16 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Configurable sensor arrays

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1076830A1 (fr) 2001-02-21
EP1076830A4 (fr) 2001-10-24

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