INNOVATIVE GAS MONITORING WITH SPACIAL AND TEMPORAL ANALYSIS

• US 20090139299A1
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airdar Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airdar Inc.
• Inventors: Prince, Dennis Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.60
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0057 Warfare agents or explosives

Abstract

The present invention relates to the monitoring of gas concentrations possible in very low ranges (i.e., low ppb and even ppt ranges) and especially use thereof in environmental monitoring, exposure assessment, bomb detection, and health studies. The invention can use a spatial and temporal assessment of gas concentrations that enables the sources of the gas in question to be located and identified which is useful in environmental and health field but can also be applied to other fields an example of which is detecting and locating explosives. This technology can uses small, light weight, and low power components that allow for the monitor to be portable and even worn on a person as a personal monitor. This technology can be used in a stationary monitors as well.

Claims

1. A method for determining a source of an emission, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring concentrations of the emission using a sensor that is moving through a defined area;

tracking positions of the movement of said sensor;

mapping a plurality of said tracked positions of said sensor to the defined area with said associated concentration measurements; and

determining the emission source based on said mapping.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said defined area comprises an area out of doors, and said step of tracking comprises monitoring the movement of said sensor with a GPS device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said defined area comprises a space in a building, and said step of tracking comprises receiving a signal from a transmitter associated with said sensor.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said emission comprises a compound indicative of an explosive.

5. A method for determining a concentration for a gas, said method utilizing a sensor and comprising the steps of:

monitoring an output from the sensor during a first exposure condition;

determining a rate of change for the sensor output for said first exposure condition;

monitoring the output from the sensor during a second exposure condition and determining a rate of change for the sensor output for said second exposure condition;

determining differences in said rates of change for the sensor output during said first and said second exposure conditions; and

correlating the differences in said rates of change to determine the concentration of the gas.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said step of correlating comprises a logarithmic curve fitting to quantify the differences in said rates of change.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first exposure condition comprises subjecting the sensor to a sample comprising a sample of the gas and another compound.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second exposure condition comprises eliminating the other compound from said sample.

9. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second exposure condition comprises subjecting the sensor to a sample comprising a sample of the gas and a plurality of other compounds.

10. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first exposure condition comprises a sample of the gas and said second exposure condition comprises a sample of a known concentration.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second exposure condition comprises superimposing a compound to amplify the response of the sensor.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second exposure condition comprises superimposing a compound for increasing the sensitivity of the sensor.

13. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of sensors and each of said plurality of sensors is configured to measure a different gas.

14. A method for determining one or more characteristics associated with a source of an emission, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring concentrations of the emission using a sensor, wherein said sensor moves through a defined area;

tracking positions corresponding to movement of said sensor;

mapping a plurality of said tracked positions of said sensor to said defined area with said associated concentration measurements; and

using said mappings to determine the one or more characteristics associated with the emission source.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said source characteristics include one or more of a location, elevation, emission rate, and emission rate variability.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said defined area comprises an area out of doors, and said step of tracking positions comprises monitoring the movement of said sensor with a GPS device.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said defined area comprises a space in a building, and said step of tracking positions comprises receiving a signal from a transmitter associated with said sensor.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said emission comprises a compound indicative of an explosive material.

19. A method for determining a location for a source of an emission, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring concentrations of the emission using a sensor that is moving through a defined area;

tracking positions corresponding to movement of said sensor;

mapping a plurality of said tracked positions of said sensor to said defined area with said associated concentration measurements; and

determining the location for the emission source based on said mapping.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said defined area comprises an area out of doors, and said step of tracking positions comprises monitoring the movement of said sensor with a GPS device.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said defined area comprises a space in a building, and said step of tracking positions comprises receiving a signal from a transmitter associated with said sensor.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said emission comprises a compound indicative of an explosive material.