Multi-sensor system for fluid monitoring with selective exposure of sensors

• US 20060277977A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Analytical Instruments, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Sensicore, Inc. (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Martin, Glenn, Man, Piu Francis, Kahn, Malcolm R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,367,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/53.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water

Abstract

A multi-sensor apparatus for monitoring a fluid is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is configured to be exposed to a fluid, and includes at least one membrane that covers the plurality of sensors. A mechanical member or a heating element can be used to selectively expose a particular sensor to the fluid leaving another of the sensors unexposed to the fluid.

Claims

1. A multi-sensor apparatus for monitoring a fluid, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, each sensor being configured to be exposed to a fluid;

at least one cover membrane that covers the plurality of sensors; and

a plurality of heating elements attached to the at least one cover membrane, a given heating element being positioned proximate to a given sensor,

wherein each heating element is selectively operable to generate an opening in the at least one membrane, thereby allowing a particular sensor positioned proximate to the opening to be exposed to the fluid.

2. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid is water.

3. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising multiple substrates, the plurality of sensors being attached to the multiple substrates.

4. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the plurality of sensors are supported by the substrate, and wherein the at least one membrane is attached to a surface of the substrate.

5. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises a plurality of seansing elements.

6. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises at least one of an ion-selective sensing element, an amperomertric sensing element, a potentiometric sensing element, a conductivity sensing element, a temperature sensing element, an oxidation-reduction potential sensing element, a chlorine sensing element, an oxygen sensing element, an immunosensor, a DNA probe and an optical sensor.

7. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensors are recessed from a surface of the substrate.

8. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 4, wherein the membrane comprises a polymer material.

9. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 8, wherein the polymer material comprises polyester or polyimide.

10. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 4, wherein the membrane is attached to the substrate via an adhesive.

11. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 4, wherein the membrane is attached to the substrate by a heated lamination process.

12. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of sensors are lithographically produced on a recessed surface the substrate.

13. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 4, wherein said substrate comprises a first substrate comprising a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and wherein each sensor is disposed on a surface of one of multiple separate substrates, each separate substrate being bonded to the first substrate such that each sensor faces a respective aperture of the first substrate.

14. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 13, wherein the separate substrates are bonded to the first substrate using a flip-chip process.

15. A multi-sensor apparatus for monitoring a fluid, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, each sensor being configured to be exposed to a fluid;

at least one membrane attached to a surface of a substrate, the at least one membrane covering the plurality of sensors; and

a mechanical member for selectively displacing the at least one membrane in a region proximate to a particular sensor to allow the particular sensor to be exposed to the fluid; and

an actuator for providing relative motion between the substrate and the mechanical member to allow the mechanical member to selectively displace the at least one membrane.

16. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein said fluid is water.

17. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises a plurality of sensing elements.

18. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises at least one of an ion-selective sensing element, an amperometric sensing element, a potentiometric sensing element, a conductivity sensing element, a temperature sensing element, an oxidation-reduction potential sensing element, a chlorine sensing element, an oxygen sensing element, an immunosensor, a DNA probe and an optical sensor.

19. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensors are recessed from a surface of the substrate.

20. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one membrane comprises a polymer material.

21. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 20, wherein the polymer material comprises polyester or polyimide.

22. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one membrane is attached to the substrate via an adhesive.

23. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one membrane is attached to the substrate by a heated lamination process.

24. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of sensors are lithographically produced on a recessed surface the substrate.

25. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein said substrate comprises a first substrate comprising a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and wherein each sensor is disposed on a surface of one of multiple separate substrates, each separate substrate being bonded to the first substrate such that each sensor faces a respective aperture of the first substrate.

26. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 25, wherein the separate substrates are bonded to the first substrate using a flip-chip process.

27. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mechanical member perforates the at least one membrane.

28. The multi-sensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mechanical member mechanically removes the at least one membrane.