GAS SENSOR USING NANOTUBES
First Claim
1. A sensor configured to detect at least first and second gasses in a volume that includes a mixture of two or more gases, the sensor comprising:
- a dielectric substrate;
a first conductive plate on a first surface of the dielectric substrate;
a first nanotube layer arranged on the first conductive plate, the first conductive plate in combination with the nanotube layer forming a first resonator, wherein the first resonator is configured to generate a first resonant response signal in response to a first interrogation signal, the first resonant response signal being indicative of a resonance characteristic of the first resonator that changes when the sensor is in contact with the first gas in the volume such that the first resonance characteristic of the first resonator identifies the first gas;
a second conductive plate on the first surface of the dielectric substrate; and
a second nanotube layer arranged on the second conductive plate, the second conductive plate in combination with the second nanotube layer forming a second resonator, wherein the second resonator is configured to generate a second resonant response signal being indicative of a resonance characteristic of the second resonator that changes when the sensor is in contact with the second gas in the volume such that the second resonance characteristic of the second resonator identifies the second gas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are generally described for detecting a concentration level of at least one gas. Some example devices may include a sensor including conductive plate on a surface of dielectric including a nanotube layer formed thereon. The conductive plate and the nanotube layer form a resonator that resonates at a frequency in response to an interrogation signal. The nanotube layer may be configured to associate with one or more gas molecules. The frequency at which the resonator resonates may shift according to which gas molecules are associated with the nanotube layer to identify a particular gas. An amount of resonance may be exhibited as a resonant response signal. An amplitude of the resonant response signal may be indicative of the concentration level of the detected gas.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A sensor configured to detect at least first and second gasses in a volume that includes a mixture of two or more gases, the sensor comprising:
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a dielectric substrate; a first conductive plate on a first surface of the dielectric substrate; a first nanotube layer arranged on the first conductive plate, the first conductive plate in combination with the nanotube layer forming a first resonator, wherein the first resonator is configured to generate a first resonant response signal in response to a first interrogation signal, the first resonant response signal being indicative of a resonance characteristic of the first resonator that changes when the sensor is in contact with the first gas in the volume such that the first resonance characteristic of the first resonator identifies the first gas; a second conductive plate on the first surface of the dielectric substrate; and a second nanotube layer arranged on the second conductive plate, the second conductive plate in combination with the second nanotube layer forming a second resonator, wherein the second resonator is configured to generate a second resonant response signal being indicative of a resonance characteristic of the second resonator that changes when the sensor is in contact with the second gas in the volume such that the second resonance characteristic of the second resonator identifies the second gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 25)
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8. (canceled)
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11. A system for detecting first and second gasses in a volume including a mixture of two or more gases, the system comprising:
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a signal generator configured to provide at least one interrogation signal; at least one first sensor configured to receive the at least one interrogation signal, wherein the at least one first sensor includes a dielectric substrate; and a first resonator formed from a first nanotube layer arranged on a first conductive plate, and configured to generate a first resonant response signal in response to the at least one interrogation signal, the first resonant response signal being indicative of a resonance characteristic of the first resonator that changes when the at least one first sensor is in contact with the first gas in the volume such that the resonance characteristic of the first resonator identifies the first gas; at least one second sensor configured to receive a second interrogation signal of the plurality of interrogation signals, wherein the at least one second sensor includes; a second resonator formed from a second nanotube layer arranged on a second conductive plate on the dielectric substrate, and configured to generate a second resonant response signal in response to the second interrogation signal, the second resonant response signal being indicative of a resonance characteristic of the second resonator that changes when the at least one second sensor is in contact with the second gas in the volume such that the resonance characteristic of the second resonator identifies the second gas; and a detector configured to receive the first and second resonant response signals and generate a detection signal that indicates the resonance characteristic of the first resonator that identifies the first gas and/or the resonance characteristic of the second resonator that identifies the second gas. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26)
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19. A method for identifying two or more gases in a volume including a mixture of two or more gases, the method comprising:
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applying one or more first interrogation signals to a first resonator, the resonator including first carbon nanotubes arranged on a first conductive plate, the first conductive plate on a first surface of a dielectric substrate; measuring two or more first resonant responses of the first resonator when excited by first interrogation signals; and applying one or more second interrogation signals to a second resonator, the second resonator including second carbon nanotubes arranged on a second conductive plate, the second conductive plate on a second surface of the dielectric substrate; measuring two or more second resonant responses of the second resonator when excited by the second interrogation signals; and determining the identity of two or more gases as a function of the first and second resonant responses, wherein the first interrogation signals are different from the second interrogation signals. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for identifying a first and second gas in a mixture including two or more gases, comprising:
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receiving a radio based interrogation signal including a plurality of interrogation frequencies with an antenna that is operatively coupled to a first and second carbon nanotube resonators; and generating at least one first resonant response in response to the radio based interrogation signal with the first carbon nanotube resonator, wherein the first resonant response of the first carbon nanotube resonator varies based on contents of the gas mixture that are in contact with the first carbon nanotube resonator; generating at least one second resonant response in response to the radio based interrogation signal with the second carbon nanotube resonator, wherein the second resonant response of the second carbon nanotube resonator varies based on contents of the gas mixture that are in contact with the second carbon nanotube resonator; identifying the first gas in contact with the first carbon nanotube resonator based on the at least one first resonant response and identifying the second gas in contact with the second carbon nanotube resonator based on the at least one second resonant response. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification