Gas detection apparatus and method for controlling gas sensor
First Claim
1. A gas detection apparatus comprising:
- a first sensing element provided in a first position to measure a concentration of a gas continuously;
a second sensing element provided in a second position to measure the concentration of the gas intermittently, the second position being in close proximity to the first position;
a deterioration determination unit connected with the first and second sensing elements to make a determination as to whether the first sensing element becomes deteriorated, by comparing output values from the first and second sensing elements; and
a power controller configured to supply the second sensing element with electric power throughout waiting periods during which the second sensing element stops measuring the concentration of the gas, an amount of the electric power supplied throughout waiting periods being smaller than that supplied throughout operating periods during which the second sensing element continuously measures the concentration of the gas.
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Abstract
A first gas sensing element is provided in a first position to measure a concentration of a gas continuously, and a second sensing element is provided in a second position to measure the concentration of the gas intermittently. The second position is in close proximity to the first position. A deterioration determination unit is connected with the first and second sensing elements to make a determination as to whether the first sensing element becomes deteriorated, by comparing output values from the first and second sensing elements. A power controller is configured to supply the second sensing element with electric power throughout waiting periods during which the second sensing element stops measuring the concentration of the gas, and an amount of the electric power supplied throughout waiting periods is smaller than that supplied throughout operating periods during which the second sensing element continuously measures the concentration of the gas.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gas detection apparatus comprising:
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a first sensing element provided in a first position to measure a concentration of a gas continuously;
a second sensing element provided in a second position to measure the concentration of the gas intermittently, the second position being in close proximity to the first position;
a deterioration determination unit connected with the first and second sensing elements to make a determination as to whether the first sensing element becomes deteriorated, by comparing output values from the first and second sensing elements; and
a power controller configured to supply the second sensing element with electric power throughout waiting periods during which the second sensing element stops measuring the concentration of the gas, an amount of the electric power supplied throughout waiting periods being smaller than that supplied throughout operating periods during which the second sensing element continuously measures the concentration of the gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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5. A gas detection method comprising:
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providing a first sensing element in a first position, and a second sensing element in a second position, the second position being in close proximity to the first position;
supplying the first sensing element with electric power to allow the first sensing element to measure a concentration of a gas continuously, and supplying the second sensing element with electric power to allow the second sensing element to measure the concentration of the gas intermittently, wherein an amount of electric power supplied to the second sensing element throughout waiting periods during which the second sensing element stops measuring the concentration of the gas is smaller than that supplied to the second sensing element throughout operating periods during which the second sensing element continuously measures the concentration of the gas; and
making a determination as to whether the first sensing element becomes deteriorated, by comparing output values from the first and second sensing elements. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling a gas sensor, which is comprised of a first sensing element provided in a first position and a second sensing element provided in a second position to measure a concentration of a gas, the first position and the second position being in close proximity to each other, the method comprising:
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allowing the first sensing element to measure the concentration of the gas continuously; and
allowing the second sensing element to measure the concentration of the gas during operating periods and to stop measuring the concentration of the gas during waiting periods which alternate with the operating periods, by supplying the second sensing element with electric power an amount of which supplied throughout the waiting periods is smaller than that supplied throughout the operating periods. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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20. A gas detection apparatus comprising:
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a first sensing element provided in a first position to measure a concentration of a gas continuously;
a second sensing element provided in a second position to measure the concentration of the gas intermittently, the second position being in close proximity to the first position;
a deterioration determination unit connected with the first sensing element to make a determination as to whether the first sensing element becomes deteriorated, by comparing an output value from the first sensing element with a reference value;
an output switch unit connected with the deterioration determination unit to switch the concentration of the gas to be output, from the concentration measured by the first sensing element to the concentration measured by the second sensing element if the deterioration determination unit makes a deterioration determination that the first sensing element becomes deteriorated, an alarm unit connected with the deterioration determination unit to issue a warning if the deterioration determination unit makes the deterioration determination; and
a power controller configured to supply the second sensing element with electric power throughout waiting periods during which the second sensing element stops measuring the concentration of the gas, an amount of the electric power supplied throughout waiting periods being smaller than that supplied throughout operating periods during which the second sensing element continuously measures the concentration of the gas.
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Specification