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A fault protection circuit for a respiratory conduit heater element in a respirator humidification system is disclosed. The circuit includes a spark detector as well as overcurrent detector. Several variations are included for the spark detector including a two winding transformer, a center tapped t

A fault protection circuit for a respiratory conduit heater element in a respirator humidification system is disclosed. The circuit includes a spark detector as well as overcurrent detector. Several variations are included for the spark detector including a two winding transformer, a center tapped two winding transformer), and a high pass filtered inductor. A semiconductor switching configuration is also disclosed. Once the protection circuit detects a change in current over a certain level, or the average level raises above a threshold, then the current in the heater element is interrupted for a preset period.

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A fault protection circuit for a respiratory conduit heater element in a respirator humidification system is disclosed. The circuit includes a spark detector as well as overcurrent detector. Several variations are included for the spark detector including a two winding transformer, a center tapped t

A fault protection circuit for a respiratory conduit heater element in a respirator humidification system is disclosed. The circuit includes a spark detector as well as overcurrent detector. Several variations are included for the spark detector including a two winding transformer, a center tapped two winding transformer), and a high pass filtered inductor. A semiconductor switching configuration is also disclosed. Once the protection circuit detects a change in current over a certain level, or the average level raises above a threshold, then the current in the heater element is interrupted for a preset period. e of said semiconductor electrodes. 14. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a detector for measuring an electrical characteristic generated by said electrochemical cell. 15. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of said semiconductor materials comprise a metal oxide. 16. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 15, wherein said metal oxides are at least one selected from the group consisting of La2CuO4,SnO2,TiO2,TYPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4and WR3. 17. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of electrochemical cells comprises a first electrode comprising a first semiconductor material having a voltage response when exposed to said component, said voltage response opposite in slope direction to that of said second semiconductor material, whereby a voltage signal measured across said first and second electrodes is substantially equal to the sum of the absolute values of individual voltage responses of said first and second electrodes. 18. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 12, wherein said components include at least one selected from the group consisting of CO and NO. 19. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 12, wherein said electrolyte is an oxygen ion-conducting electrolyte. 20. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 19, wherein said oxygen ion-conducting electrolyte comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of ZrO2,Bi2O3and CeO2. 21. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a reference electrode in contact with said electrolyte. 22. An electrochemical apparatus for measuring the concentration of a component of a gas mixture, comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series, said electrochemical cells each having a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one of said electrodes comprising a material selected so as to undergo a change in resistivity upon contacting said component; and an electrolyte in contact with said first and second electrodes. 23. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one of said electrodes in said plurality of electrochemical cells comprise metal oxide semiconductor materials. 24. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 23, wherein said metal oxides are at least one selected from the group consisting of La2CuO4,SnO2,TiO2,TYPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4and WR3. 25. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of said electrodes in said plurality of electrochemical cells comprise metal oxide semiconductor materials. 26. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 25, wherein said metal oxides are at least one selected from the group consisting of SnO2,TiO2,TYPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4and WR3. 27. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 23, further comprising at least one metal layer disposed on a portion of said metal oxide semiconductor materials. 28. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a detector for measuring an electrical characteristic generated by said electrochemical apparatus. 29. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least one of said electrochemical cells includes a first metal oxide semiconductor material comprising said first electrode that exhibits a voltage response when exposed to said component, said voltage response opposite in slope direction to a voltage response of different metal oxide semiconductor material which comprises said second electrode, whereby a voltage signal measured across said electrodes in said at least one electrochemical cell is substantially equal to the sum of the absolute values of individual voltage responses of said electrodes. 30. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 22, wherein said component includes at least one selected from the group consisting of CO and NO. 31. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 22, wherein said electrolyte is an oxygen ion-conducting electrolyte. 32. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 31, wherein said oxygen ion-conducting electrolyte comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of ZrO2,Bi2O3and CeO2. 33. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a reference electrode in contact with said electrolyte. 34. A solid state electrochemical cell for measuring the concentration of CO in a gas mixture, comprising: a first semiconductor electrode, said first semiconductor electrode comprising a first semiconductor material selected so as to undergo a change in resistivity upon contacting CO, wherein said first semiconductor material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of TiO2,TYPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4and WR3; a second electrode; and an electrolyte in contact with said first and second electrodes. 35. The electrochemical cell of claim 34, wherein said second electrode comprises a second semiconductor material. 36. The electrochemical cell of claim 35, wherein said second semiconductor material comprises a metal oxide, said metal oxide selected from the group consisting of SnO2,TiO2,TYPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4and WR3. 37. The electrochemical cell of claim 36, wherein said first semiconductor material has a voltage response when exposed to CO, said voltage response opposite in slope direction to that of said second semiconductor material, whereby a voltage signal measured across said first and second electrodes is substantially equal to the sum of the absolute values of individual voltage responses of said first and second electrodes. 38. The electrochemical cell of claim 34, further comprising at least one metal layer disposed on at least a potion of said first semiconductor material. 39. The electrochemical cell of claim 34, further comprising a detector for measuring an electrical characteristic generated by said electrochemical cell. 40. The electrochemical cell of claim 34, further comprising a reference electrode in contact with said electrolyte. 41. A method for measuring the concentration of CO in a gas mixture, comprising the steps of: exposing said gas mixture to a solid state electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell formed from: (i) a semiconductor electrode, said semiconductor electrode comprising a semiconductor material, said semiconductor material selected so as to undergo a change in resistivity upon contacting CO, wherein said semiconductor material includes at least one selected from the group of materials consisting of TiO2,TYPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4,WR3, (ii) a second electrode, and (iii) an electrolyte in contact with said first and second electrodes; and measuring an electrical signal generated by said electrochemical cell to determine the concentration of said component. 42. A method for measuring the concentration of a component of a gas mixture comprising the steps of: exposing said gas mixture to a solid state electrochemical cell, said solid state electrochemical cell formed from: (i) a first semiconductor electrode (ii) a second semiconductor electrode, said electrodes comprising first and second semiconductor materials, said materials selected so as to undergo a change in resistivity upon contacting said component, and (iii) an electrolyte in contact with said first and second semiconductor electrodes; and, measuring an electrical signal generated by said electrochemical cell to determine the concentration of said component. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein said first semiconductor material exhibits a voltage response when exposed to said component, said voltage response opposi te in slope direction to that of said second semiconductor material, whereby a voltage signal measured across said electrodes is substantially equal to the sum of the absolute values of individual voltage responses of said electrodes. 44. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one of said semiconductor materials comprises a metal oxide. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein said metal oxides are selected from the group consisting of SnO2,TiO2,TYPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4and WR3. 46. The method of claim 42, wherein said component includes CO. 47. A method for operating a combustion engine, comprising the steps of: providing an electrochemical cell including: (i) a first semiconductor electrode; (ii) a second semiconductor electrode, said electrodes comprising first and second semiconductor materials, respectively, said materials selected so as to undergo a change in resistivity upon contacting said pollutant; and (iii) an electrolyte in contact with said first and second semiconductor electrodes; electrochemically determining the concentration of at least one exhaust pollutant emitted by said combustion engine during operation, and adjusting combustion conditions based on concentrations of said exhaust pollutant determined in said determining step. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein said electrochemical cell further comprises at least one metal layer disposed on a portion of at least one of said semiconductor electrodes. 49. The method of claim 47, wherein a plurality of said electrochemical cells are provided for detection of at least two exhaust pollutants. 50. The method of claim 47, wherein a plurality of said electrochemical cells are connected in series. 51. The method of claim 47, wherein at least one of said first and second semiconductor materials undergo a change in resistivity upon contacting CO and comprise at least one selected from TiO2,TYPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4and Wr3. 52. A combustion engine comprising: at least one cylinder, said cylinder for combusting a fuel mixture therein, said engine emitting a gas mixture comprising a plurality of pollutants; an electrochemical emission sensor disposed to receive said emitted gas mixture for determining the concentration of at least one of said plurality of pollutants, wherein said emission sensor comprises an electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell including a first semiconductor electrode and a second semiconductor electrode, said electrodes comprising first and second semiconductor materials, respectively, said materials selected so as to undergo a change in resisitivity upon contacting said pollutants, and an electrolyte in contact with said first and second semiconductor electrodes, and a feedback and control system for receiving pollutant gas concentration data from said emission sensor and for directing adjustment of engine combustion conditions. 53. The combustion engine of claim 52, wherein said electrochemical cell further comprises at least one metal layer disposed on a portion of at least one of said semiconductor electrodes. 54. The combustion engine of claim 52, wherein said emission sensor includes a plurality of said electrochemical cells. 55. The combustion of engine of claim 54, wherein said plurality of electrochemical cells are connected in series. 56. The combustion engine of claim 52, wherein at least one of said first and second semiconductor materials undergo a change in resistivity upon contacting CO and comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of TiO2,YTPd5,MoO3,ZnMoO4and WR3. 57. The combustion engine of claim 52, wherein said first semiconductor material exhibits a voltage response when exposed to said pollutants, said voltage response opposite in slope direction to that of said second semiconductor material, whereby a voltage signal measured acro