MULTI-DETECTOR GAS IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20130046485A1
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Detection Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Detection Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Norman, Mark L., Sauer, Terence W., Andersson, Greger, Diken, Eric G., Pierre, David R. St.
• Granted Patent: US 8,904,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/622 Ion mobility spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor

Abstract

A novel gas analysis system and method of identifying analytes in a gas sample are provided. The system uses multiple gas analysis technologies and uses the combined qualitative and quantitative data obtained from the multiple gas analysis technologies to analyze a gas sample.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method for determining the presence of one or more analytes in a sample of gas, the method comprising:

receiving a first response signal characteristic of the presence or absence of at least a first analyte in a sample of gas, the first signal generated by a gas analysis unit of a first type;

receiving a second response signal characteristic of the presence or absence of at least a second analyte in the sample of gas, the second signal generated by a gas analysis unit of a second type;

analyzing the first response signal to generate a first list of candidate analytes for the sample of gas;

analyzing the second response signal to generate a second list of candidate analytes for the sample of gas; and

causing a processor to fuse the first list of candidate analytes and the second list of candidate analytes to generate information indicative of the presence of one or more analytes in the sample of gas.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising individually controlling operation of the gas analysis unit of the first type and the gas analysis unit of the second type to cause the gas analysis unit of the first type to autonomously monitor the sample of gas to generate the first response signal and to cause the gas analysis unit of the second type to autonomously monitor the sample of gas to generate the second response signal.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising using the generated information indicative of the presence of the one or more analytes in the sample of gas to furnish a correction to at least one of the gas analysis unit of the first type or the gas analysis unit of the second type.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of analyzing the first response signal or analyzing the second response signal comprises comparing a response furnished by the first response signal or the second response signal with a library of known responses to identify candidate analytes.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising determining a closeness of fit of the response to at least one known response of the library of known responses to determine a probability that a candidate analyte having the known response is present in the sample of gas.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of analyzing the first response signal or analyzing the second response signal comprises using a response furnished by the first response signal or the second response signal to generating an ion spectrum having peak intensities and comparing the peak intensities against known peak windows of candidate analytes to identify a candidate analyte.

28. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of the first response signal or the second response signal comprises a time-dependent voltage, and wherein at least one of analyzing the first response signal or analyzing the second response signal comprises using pattern recognition to detect a pattern in the time-dependent voltage that is characteristic of a candidate analyte.

29. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for determining the presence of one or more analytes in a sample of gas, the computer executable instructions comprising:

individually controlling operation of a gas analysis unit of the first type and a gas analysis unit of the second type to cause the gas analysis unit of the first type to monitor a sample of gas to generate a first response signal characteristic of the presence or absence of at least a first analyte in the sample of gas and to cause the gas analysis unit of the second type to monitor the sample of gas to generate a second response signal characteristic of the presence or absence of at least a second analyte in the sample of gas;

analyzing the first response signal to generate a first list of candidate analytes for the sample of gas;

analyzing the second response signal to generate a second list of candidate analytes for the sample of gas; and

fusing the first list of candidate analytes and the second list of candidate analytes to generate information indicative of the presence of one or more analytes in the sample of gas.

30. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein individually controlling operation of a gas analysis unit of the first type and a gas analysis unit of the second type comprises causing the gas analysis unit of the first type to be operated using a first set of operation parameters and causing the gas analysis unit of the second type to be operated using a second set of operation parameters to monitor the sample of gas.

31. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, further comprising using the generated information indicative of the presence of the one or more analytes in the sample of gas to furnish a correction to at least one of the gas analysis unit of the first type or the gas analysis unit of the second type.

32. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein at least one of analyzing the first response signal or analyzing the second response signal comprises comparing a response furnished by the first response signal or the second response signal with a library of known responses to identify candidate analytes.

33. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 32, further comprising determining a closeness of fit of the response to at least one known response of the library of known responses to determine a probability that a candidate analyte having the known response is present in the sample of gas.

34. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein at least one of analyzing the first response signal or analyzing the second response signal comprises using a response furnished by the first response signal or the second response signal to generate an ion spectrum having peak intensities and comparing the peak intensities against known peak windows of candidate analytes to identify a candidate analyte.

35. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein at least one of the first response signal or the second response signal comprises a time-dependent voltage, and wherein at least one of analyzing the first response signal or analyzing the second response signal comprises using pattern recognition to detect a pattern in the time-dependent voltage that is characteristic of a candidate analyte.

36. A system comprising:

a plurality of gas analysis units configured to be in fluid communication with a common sample of gas, the plurality of gas analysis units comprising a gas analysis unit of a first type configured to generate a first response signal characteristic of the presence or absence of one or more analytes in the gas sample and a gas analysis unit of a second type configured to generate a second response signal characteristic of the presence or absence of one or more other analytes in the gas sample; and

a processor configured to;

analyze the first response signal to generate a first list of candidate analytes for the sample of gas;

analyze the second response signal to generate a second list of candidate analytes for the sample of gas; and

fuse the first list of candidate analytes and the second list of candidate analytes to generate information indicative of the presence of one or more analytes in the sample of gas.

37. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the processor is configured to independently control operation of respective ones of the gas analysis units using operational parameters appropriate for causing operation of the gas analysis units to monitor the sample of gas.

38. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the processor is configured to cause respective ones of the plurality of gas analysis units to discontinue monitoring of the sample of gas when a determination is made that the gas analysis units have produced a response signal that is sufficient for analysis to identify a list of candidate analytes for the sample of gas.

39. The system as recited in claim 38, wherein the processor is configured to cause a valve to operate to isolate at least one of the gas analysis units from becoming saturated by at least a portion of the sample gas.

40. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the processor is configured to furnish a correction to at least one of the gas analysis unit of the first type or the gas analysis unit of the second type, the correction derived from the generated information indicative of the presence of the one or more analytes in the sample of gas.

41. The system as recited in claim 36, further comprising a sensor configured to monitor a physical condition of the sample of gas.

42. The system as recited in claim 41, wherein the sensor comprises a relative humidity sensor.