Integrated chemical sensor for detecting odorous matters
First Claim
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1. A chemical sensor, comprising:
- a housing that includes a base, a cover fixed to the base, an input opening, an output hole, and a channel for a gas to be analyzed, the channel extending between the input opening and the output hole;
a circuit board extending interiorly of the housing;
a integrated device fixed to the board and including a sensitive region open toward the channel and being of a material configured to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed; and
a driving motor for advancing the gas to be analyzed, the driving motor being housed in the housing, wherein;
the cover has internally a non-planar surface including projections extending toward the board and laterally delimiting the channel,the board has protrusions facing the projections of the cover, andthe projections and protrusions are configured to generate mechanical interference between the cover and the base.
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Abstract
A cartridge-like chemical sensor is formed by a housing having a base and a cover fixed to the base and provided with an input opening, an output hole and a channel for a gas to be analyzed. The channel extends in the cover between the input opening and the output hole and faces a printed circuit board carrying an integrated circuit having a sensitive region open toward the channel and of a material capable to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed. A fan is arranged in the housing, downstream of the integrated device, for sucking the gas after being analyzed, and is part of a thermal control system for the integrated circuit.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A chemical sensor, comprising:
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a housing that includes a base, a cover fixed to the base, an input opening, an output hole, and a channel for a gas to be analyzed, the channel extending between the input opening and the output hole; a circuit board extending interiorly of the housing; a integrated device fixed to the board and including a sensitive region open toward the channel and being of a material configured to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed; and a driving motor for advancing the gas to be analyzed, the driving motor being housed in the housing, wherein; the cover has internally a non-planar surface including projections extending toward the board and laterally delimiting the channel, the board has protrusions facing the projections of the cover, and the projections and protrusions are configured to generate mechanical interference between the cover and the base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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detecting odorous substances through a chemical sensor, the detecting including; feeding a gas to be analyzed to an input opening of a housing of the chemical sensor; generating a stream of the gas to be analyzed along a channel and on an integrated device having a sensitive region of a material configured to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed; driving the gas to be analyzed toward an output hole; heating the sensitive region with a heater adjacent to the sensitive region in the integrated device; measuring the temperature of the sensitive region with a temperature sensor adjacent to the sensitive region in the integrated device; and modifying a flow speed of the gas within the channel based on the temperature measured. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A chemical sensor, comprising:
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a housing that includes an input opening, an output hole, and a channel for a gas to be analyzed, the channel extending between the input opening and the output hole, the channel having a test portion laterally defined on opposite lateral sides by internal protruding structures extending interiorly from an inner surface of the housing that defines a first one of upper and lower sides of the channel; a circuit board positioned interiorly of the housing and in contact with the protruding structures, the circuit board having a surface defining a second one of the upper and lower sides of the test portion of the channel; a integrated device fixed to the board and including a sensitive region open in the test portion of the channel and of a material configured to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed; and a driving motor for advancing the gas to be analyzed, the driving motor being housed in the housing and positioned between the integrated device and the output opening. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A chemical sensor, comprising:
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a housing that includes a base, a cover fixed to the base, an input opening, an output hole, and a channel for a gas to be analyzed, the channel extending between the input opening and the output hole; a circuit board extending interiorly of the housing; a integrated device fixed to the board and including a sensitive region open toward the channel and being of a material configured to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed; and a driving motor for advancing the gas to be analyzed, the driving motor being housed in the housing, wherein the base includes a lower surface and is configured to house the board at a distance from the lower surface so as to define a cooling chamber between the board and the lower surface, the base having cooling openings in communication with the cooling chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A chemical sensor, comprising:
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a housing that includes a base, a cover fixed to the base, an input opening, an output hole, and a channel for a gas to be analyzed, the channel extending between the input opening and the output hole; a circuit board extending interiorly of the housing; a integrated device fixed to the board and including a heater, a sensitive region open toward the channel and being of a material configured to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed, and a temperature sensor arranged near the sensitive region; a driving motor for advancing the gas to be analyzed, the driving motor being housed in the housing and including a fan the integrated device comprises a heater and a temperature sensor arranged near the sensitive region; a speed controller coupled to the fan and configured to regulate the gas flow in the housing; and a temperature control stage coupled to the heater, temperature sensor, and speed controller. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method, comprising:
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detecting odorous substances through a chemical sensor, the detecting including; feeding a gas to be analyzed to an input opening of a housing of the chemical sensor; generating a stream of the gas to be analyzed along a channel and on an integrated device having a sensitive region of a material configured to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed; driving the gas to be analyzed toward an output hole; and cleaning the sensitive region by increasing the temperature of the sensitive region and varying the flow speed of the gas within the channel.
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Specification