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Chemical detection using calorimetric spectroscopy

  • US 5,923,421 A
  • Filed: 07/24/1997
  • Issued: 07/13/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A chemical detector, comprising:

  • an array of sensing elements, each of said sensing elements having a measurable characteristic physical parameter and each of said sensing elements having a coating exhibiting a preferential adsorption of at least one chemical to be sensed;

    means for exposing said coatings to an unknown sample of at least one chemical to be analyzed, said coatings adsorbing said at least one chemical to be sensed if present in said sample;

    a source of a monochromatic spectrum for respectively radiating and thereby heating said array of sensing elements with different wavelengths of said monochromatic spectrum, said physical parameter of said sensing elements being changed by said adsorbing; and

    ,means for recording signals representative of said physical parameter of each of said sensing elements in said array responsive to said radiation of said different wavelengths, measurable changes of said characteristic physical parameter of said sensing elements due to adsorbing said chemical defining a unique photothermal signature of a detected chemical.

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