Multiple frequency method for operating electrochemical sensors

• US 20080067080A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Martin, Louis
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/785.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4074 for detection of gases other than oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4175 Calibrating or checking the analyser

Abstract

A multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor to measure a parameter of interest using calibration information including the steps of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response, exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response, using the second sensor response at the second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, using the first sensor response at the first frequency, the calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest.

Claims

12. A method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest using calibration information wherein interfering parameters may be present, comprising the steps of:

using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response,

using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response,

using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters,

using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest.

1. A multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor to measure a parameter of interest using calibration information, wherein interfering parameters may be present, comprising the steps of:

exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response,

exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response,

using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters,

using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest.

2. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1,

wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response comprises exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response recorded on a computer-readable medium,

wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response comprises exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response recorded on a computer-readable medium, and

wherein said step of using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters comprises using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters recorded on a computer-readable medium.

3. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1,

wherein the parameter of interest is NO and wherein the interfering parameters include O₂,

wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response comprises exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response containing contributions from both NO and O₂,

wherein said step of using a second sensor response at a second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters comprises using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of O₂, and the calibration information to calculate the NO concentration.

4. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1,

wherein the parameter of interest is CO and wherein the interfering parameters include O₂,

wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response comprises exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response containing contributions from both CO and O₂,

wherein said step of using a second sensor response at a second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters comprises using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of O₂, and the calibration information to measure the CO concentration.

5. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1,

wherein the parameter of interest is NO and wherein the interfering parameters include temperature,

wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response comprises exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response containing contributions from both NO and temperature,

wherein said step of using a second sensor response at a second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters comprises using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated temperature, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated temperature, and the calibration information to measure NO.

6. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1,

wherein the parameter of interest is H₂ and wherein the interfering parameters include H₂O,

wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response comprises exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response containing contributions from both H₂ and H₂O,

wherein said step of using a second sensor response at a second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters comprises using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of H₂O, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of H₂O, and the calibration information to measure H₂.

7. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1,

wherein the parameter of interest is NO₂ and wherein the interfering parameters include O₂,

wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response comprises exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response containing contributions from both NO₂ and O₂,

wherein said step of using a second sensor response at a second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters comprises using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of O₂, and the calibration information to measure NO₂.

8. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 5 or claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response and said step of exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response are performed simultaneously.

9. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 5 or claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response and said step of exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response are performed consecutively.

10. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 5 or claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response and said step of exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response are performed repeatedly.

11. The multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 5 or claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said step of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response and said step of exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response are performed consecutively and repeatedly.

13. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response recorded on a computer-readable medium,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response recorded on a computer-readable medium, and

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters comprises using said using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters recorded on a computer-readable medium.

14. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12,

wherein the parameter of interest is NO and wherein the interfering parameters include O₂,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response containing contributions from both NO and O₂,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of O₂, and the calibration information to measure NO.

15. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12,

wherein the parameter of interest is CO and wherein the interfering parameters include O₂,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response containing contributions from both CO and O₂,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of O₂, and the calibration information to measure CO.

16. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12,

wherein the parameter of interest is NO and wherein the interfering parameters include temperature,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response containing contributions from both NO and temperature,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response and the calibration information to produce a calculated temperature, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated temperature, and the calibration information to measure NO.

17. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12,

wherein the parameter of interest is H₂ and wherein the interfering parameters include H₂O,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response containing contributions from both H₂ and H₂O,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of H₂O, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of H₂O, and the calibration information to measure H₂.

18. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12,

wherein the parameter of interest is NO₂ and wherein the interfering parameters include O₂,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response containing contributions from both NO₂ and O₂,

wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response comprises using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂, and

wherein said step of using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest comprises using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of O₂, and the calibration information to measure NO₂.

19. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12 or claim 13 or claim 14 or claim 15 or claim 16 or claim 17 or claim 18 wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response and said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response are performed simultaneously.

20. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12 or claim 13 or claim 14 or claim 15 or claim 16 or claim 17 or claim 18 wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response and said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response are performed consecutively.

21. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12 or claim 13 or claim 14 or claim 15 or claim 16 or claim 17 or claim 18 wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response and said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response are performed repeatedly.

21-1. The method of sensing to measure a parameter of interest of claim 12 or claim 13 or claim 14 or claim 15 or claim 16 or claim 17 or claim 18 wherein said step of using a sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response and said step of using a sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response are performed consecutively and repeatedly.

22. A sensing method for measuring NO using calibration information, wherein varying amount of O₂ may be present, comprising the steps of:

exciting the sensor at a first frequency producing a first frequency sensor response that includes both NO and O₂,

measuring said first frequency sensor response that includes both NO and O₂ producing a first frequency sensor measurement that includes both NO and O₂,

exciting the sensor at a second frequency producing a second frequency sensor response that contains only O₂,

measuring said second frequency sensor response producing a second frequency sensor measurement that contains only O₂,

using said second frequency sensor measurement that contains only O₂ and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂ measurement, and

using said first frequency sensor measurement includes both NO and O₂, said calculated concentration of O₂ measurement, and the calibration information for measuring NO.

23. A sensing method for measuring CO using calibration information, wherein varying amount of O₂ may be present, comprising the steps of:

exciting the sensor at a first frequency producing a first frequency sensor response that includes both CO and O₂,

measuring said first frequency sensor response that includes both CO and O₂ producing a first frequency sensor measurement that includes both CO and O₂,

exciting the sensor at a second frequency producing a second frequency sensor response that contains only O₂,

measuring said second frequency sensor response producing a second frequency sensor measurement that contains only O₂,

using said second frequency sensor measurement that contains only O₂ and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂ measurement, and

using said first frequency sensor measurement includes both CO and O₂, said calculated concentration of O₂ measurement, and the calibration information for measuring CO.

24. A sensing method for measuring NO using calibration information, wherein varying temperature may be present, comprising the steps of:

exciting the sensor at a first frequency producing a first frequency sensor response that includes both NO and temperature,

measuring said first frequency sensor response that includes both NO and temperature producing a first frequency sensor measurement that includes both NO and temperature,

exciting the sensor at a second frequency producing a second frequency sensor response that contains only temperature,

measuring said second frequency sensor response producing a second frequency sensor measurement that contains only temperature,

using said second frequency sensor measurement that contains only temperature and the calibration information to produce a calculated temperature measurement, and

using said first frequency sensor measurement includes both NO and temperature, said calculated temperature measurement, and the calibration information for measuring NO.

25. A sensing method for measuring NO₂ using calibration information, wherein varying amount of O₂ may be present, comprising the steps of:

exciting the sensor at a first frequency producing a first frequency sensor response that includes both NO₂ and O₂,

measuring said first frequency sensor response that includes both NO₂ and O₂ producing a first frequency sensor measurement that includes both NO₂ and O₂,

exciting the sensor at a second frequency producing a second frequency sensor response that contains only O₂,

measuring said second frequency sensor response producing a second frequency sensor measurement that contains only O₂,

using said second frequency sensor measurement that contains only O₂ and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂ measurement, and

using said first frequency sensor measurement includes both NO₂ and O₂, said calculated concentration of O₂ measurement, and the calibration information for measuring NO₂.