초록 ▼

A portable instrument for use in the field in detecting, identifying, quantifying, and monitoring gas, liquid or solid materials is disclosed. The instrument may analyze either liquids or gases depending upon the type of sensor array therein. The instrument also includes means for changing a gas, li

A portable instrument for use in the field in detecting, identifying, quantifying, and monitoring gas, liquid or solid materials is disclosed. The instrument may analyze either liquids or gases depending upon the type of sensor array therein. The instrument also includes means for changing a gas, liquid or solid to a fluid material. The instrument further includes an array or small sensors which, upon exposure to the unknown material, form a pattern of electrical responses, a source of previously formed response patterns characteristic of various materials, and microprocessor means for comparing the sensor-formed response pattern with one or more previously-formed response patterns to thereby identify the material on a display. The number of responses may be increased by changing the operating voltage, temperature or other condition associated with one or more sensors to provide a plurality of responses from each of one or more of the sensors. The instrument is capable of identifying a large number of liquid and solid materials.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for identifying and quantifying at least one component of liquids and solids comprising the steps of: changing a non-fluid sample to a fluid material, introducing said fluid material to an array of sensors for exposure of said fluid material to said sensors, said array including plural sens

A method for identifying and quantifying at least one component of liquids and solids comprising the steps of: changing a non-fluid sample to a fluid material, introducing said fluid material to an array of sensors for exposure of said fluid material to said sensors, said array including plural sensors having differing electrical responses to said fluid material which are dependent on the interaction of said fluid material with each of said sensors and upon either an operational condition of at least one of said sensors or at least one property of the fluid material, changing an operational condition of at least one of said sensors or at least one property of the fluid material to provide a plurality of different responses from at least one of said sensors, forming a response pattern from the responses of said sensors, and comparing the formed response pattern with a set of previously established response patterns to identify at least one component of the liquids and solids. An instrument for identifying at least one component of gases, liquids and solids comprising, means for changing solids to liquids or gases, or liquids to gases, said means including at least one heating element means for vaporizing liquids and solids, a block of heat resistant material having a chamber therein, a sample container to fit within said chamber along with said heating element, means such that said container is contacted with said heating element means, and means for sealing said chamber from the atmosphere; sensing means including an array of sensors; means for introducing the liquids or gases to said sensing means, said array including at least two sensors having different electrical responses to the liquids or gases dependent on the interaction of the liquids or gases with each of said sensors and upon an operational condition of at least one of said sensors, means for changing an opertional condition of at least one of said sensors to provide a plurality of different responses from said at least one sensor, means for forming a response pattern from said sensing means upon exposure to a liquid or gaseous sample, means for providing a plurality of previously established response patterns, and means for comparing the formed response pattern with at least one previously established response pattern to identify the component of the gases, liquids and solids.