Vapor sensor including sensor element with integral heating

• US 9,506,888 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Palazzotto, Michael C., Tungjunyatham, Justin, Gryska, Stefan H., Wendland, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, DANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US14/110,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 324658-690
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/123 for controlling the temperature temperature control per se G05D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/227 Sensors changing capacitance upon adsorption or absorption of fluid components, e.g. electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor sensors, MOS capacitors G01N27/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/228 Circuits therefor measuring capacitance per se G01R27/26

Abstract

A vapor sensor includes a capacitance-related property sensor element (110), a heater circuit element (170), a capacitance-related property measurement circuit element (180), and at least one switch member (190). The capacitance-related property sensor element includes a dielectric substrate (120), a first conductive electrode (130), a second conductive electrode (140), and a layer of dielectric microporous material (150) disposed between and contacting the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode. The at least one switch member is capable of interrupting electrical communication between the first conductive electrode and the heater circuit element, and between the capacitance-related property measurement circuit element and the first conductive electrode.

Claims

1. A vapor sensor comprising:

a capacitance-related property sensor element, the capacitance-related property sensor element comprising;

a dielectric substrate;

a first conductive electrode disposed on the dielectric substrate, the first conductive electrode having first and second ends, and the first conductive electrode extending along a path thereof between the first and second ends; and

a second conductive electrode;

a dielectric layer comprising a microporous material disposed between and contacting the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode, wherein the microporous material comprises a polymer of intrinsic microporosity;

a heater circuit element having first and second conductive members, wherein the first and second conductive members are in reversibly interruptible electrical communication with the first and second ends of the first conductive electrode, respectively, such that current flows through the first conductive electrode from the first end to the second end;

a capacitance-related property measurement circuit element, the capacitance-related property measurement circuit element having first and second conductive members, wherein the first conductive member of the capacitance-related property measurement circuit element is in reversibly interruptible electrical communication with the first conductive electrode, and wherein the second conductive member of the capacitance-related property measurement circuit element is in electrical communication with the second conductive electrode; and

at least one switch member, wherein said at least one switch member is capable of reversibly interrupting the electrical communication between the first and second conductive members of the heater circuit element to the respective first and second ends of the first conductive electrode, wherein said at least one switch member is capable of reversibly interrupting the electrical communication between the first conductive member of the capacitance-related property measurement circuit element to the first conductive electrode.

2. The vapor sensor of claim 1, wherein said at least one switch member is capable of simultaneously reversibly interrupting:

the reversibly interruptible electrical communication between the first and second conductive members of the heater circuit element to the respective first and second ends of the first conductive electrode; and

the reversibly interruptible electrical communication between the first conductive member of the capacitance-related property measurement circuit element to the second conductive electrode, respectively.

3. The vapor sensor of claim 1, wherein the second conductive electrode is permeable by at least one organic vapor.

4. The vapor sensor of claim 1, wherein the second conductive electrode comprises dried silver ink.

5. The vapor sensor of claim 1, wherein the second conductive electrode comprises a vapor-deposited metal.

6. The vapor sensor of claim 1, further comprising a switch controller, wherein the switch controller is in electrical communication with the switch member and controls operation of the switch.

7. The vapor sensor of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor disposed on the dielectric substrate proximate the first conductive electrode.

8. The vapor sensor of claim 7, wherein a switch controller is in electrical communication with the temperature sensor.

9. The vapor sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive electrodes and the detection layer each contact the substrate.

10. The vapor sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive electrodes are parallel.

11. The vapor sensor of claim 1, wherein the capacitance-related property comprises capacitance.