MONITORABLE HYDROGEN SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20070209937A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Element One LLC
• Original Assignee: Element One LLC
• Inventors: Benson, David, Hoagland, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/424
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/122 Circuits particularly adapted therefor, e.g. linearising circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/005 for H2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor

Abstract

A remotely readable hydrogen detector is in the form of a tag or card that can be worn on clothing or mounted on a variety of surfaces and can be monitored from a distance for the presence of hydrogen gas. It includes a hydrogen sensor device, which changes in electrical resistivity in response to being exposed to hydrogen gas, that is incorporated into an electric detector circuit, which detects changes in resistivity of the sensor device, and, when such change in resistivity indicates the presence of some predetermined concentration of hydrogen gas, the electric circuit outputs a signal or state that indicates the presence of hydrogen to a transceiver circuit, which can transmit that information to a remote receiver or interrogator/reader via an antenna in the sensor device.

Claims

1. Hydrogen detector apparatus, comprising:

a portable tag having mounted therein;

(i) A hydrogen gas sensor device comprising a chemo-electric material that varies in electrical resistivity in response to exposure to hydrogen, and at least two electrically conductive contacts in physical contact with the chemo-electric material that is otherwise, isolated electrically insulating material, said at least two contacts being spaced apart from each other by intervening chemo-electric material so that electricity flowing between the at least two contacts has to flow through the chemo-electric material;

(ii) A detector circuit connected to the at least two contacts and capable of applying a voltage to the at least two contacts and detecting resistivity of the chemochromic material between the contacts that is indicative of the chemo-electric material being exposed to hydrogen and of generating a signal in response to such detection; and

(iii) A transceiver circuit that includes a transmitter which can receive the signal generated by the detector circuit and transmit information indicating presence of hydrogen at the hydrogen sensor device to a remote receiver.