Msa Technology, LLC

Mark Flori Zanella, Sr

Michael Alvin Brown

Meghan E Swanson

Daniel D Santoro, Jr

Robert Kevin Sexton

Ryan Alan Sherry

Jeff Audia

Christopher S Detka

Brian Keith Davis

Daniel Santoro

A system for detecting an analyte gas in an environment includes a first gas sensor, a first contaminant sensor separate and spaced from the first gas sensor, and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first gas sensor to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first gas sensor. The electronic circuitry is further in electrical connection with the first contaminant sensor to measure a response of the first contaminant sensor over time. The measured response of the first contaminant sensor varies with an amount of one or more contaminants to which the system has been exposed in the environment over time.

Gas sensor with separate contaminant detection element

A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to provide energy to the first element to heat the first element to at least a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas and to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first element to being heated to at least the first temperature. The electronic circuitry is further configured to apply an interrogation pulse to the first element in which energy to the first element is increased or decreased to induce an associated response from the first element.

Dynamic comparative diagnostics for catalytic structures and combustible gas sensors including catalytic structures

A system includes a two-conductor loop in which the loop current or current signal is controlled by a loop current controller to be proportional to a signal output from a sensor. The system further includes energy harvesting circuity in electrical connection with the two-conductor loop which includes a second current controller in parallel electrical connection with the loop current controller and a power converter in electrical connection with the second current controller. The second current controls a portion of current drawn from the two-conductor loop and delivered to the power converter from an output port thereof. The portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop is returned to the loop current controller from the energy harvesting circuit. Noise in the portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop by the second current controller is controlled by the second current controller to be below a predetermined threshold.

Energy harvesting from current loops

An electrochemical gas sensor includes a sensor housing having a plurality of inlet passages, wherein each of the plurality of inlet passages has a cross-sectional area of no greater than 11,309 &#x3bc;m. The electrochemical gas sensor further includes a working electrode within the housing which is responsive to an analyte gas and an electrolyte within the sensor housing in ionic contact with the working electrode.

Sensor with multiple inlets

A system includes a primary combustible gas sensor and a trigger combustible gas sensor including a first trigger element of low-thermal-mass which includes a first trigger heating element in operative connection with electronic circuitry. The trigger combustible gas sensor also includes a second trigger element of low thermal mass including a second trigger heating element. The second trigger element is also in operative connection with the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry further has a first trigger mode of operating in which the first trigger element is heated to a temperature at or above a temperature at which the first trigger element causes combustion of the at least one combustible gas analyte and wherein the second trigger element is operated as a trigger compensating element. The electronic circuitry is configured to operate the trigger combustible gas sensor to detect a value of a response at or above a threshold value. The primary combustible gas sensor is activated from a low-power state upon the threshold value being detected by the trigger combustible gas sensor.

Power reduction in combustible gas sensors

A system includes a two-conductor loop in which the loop current or current signal is controlled by a loop current controller to be proportional to a signal output from a sensor. The system further includes energy harvesting circuitry in electrical connection with the two-conductor loop which includes a second current controller in parallel electrical connection with the loop current controller and a power converter in electrical connection with the second current controller. The second current controls a portion of current drawn from the two-conductor loop and delivered to the power converter from an output port thereof. The portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop is returned to the loop current controller from the energy harvesting circuit. Noise in the portion of the current drawn from the two-conductor loop by the second current controller is controlled by the second current controller to be below a predetermined threshold.

A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to operate in a first mode in which the first element is operated at a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas, and in a second mode wherein the first element is operated at a second temperature which is below the temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzed combustion of the analyte gas but at which Joule heating of the first element occurs. The electronic circuitry is further configured to measure a variable in the second mode related to a mass of the first element.

Comparative diagnostics for catalytic structures and combustible gas sensors including catalytic structures

A combustible gas sensor includes at least a first sensing element comprising a first conductive element having, for example, an average diameter less than 20 &#x3bc;m in electrical connection with electronic circuitry. The combustible gas sensor further includes a first support element having a first anchored end, a second anchored end and an extending intermediate section between the first anchored end and the second anchored end, the extending intermediate section providing support for the first conductive element. Another combustible gas sensor includes a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element includes a first catalyst support member having a volume less than a sphere having a diameter of 500 &#x3bc;m. The second sensing element includes a second catalyst support member having a volume less than a sphere having a diameter of 500 &#x3bc;m. The combustible gas sensor further includes electronic circuitry that is adapted to cycle between a first mode in which the first sensing element is operated in a higher power mode and the second sensing element is operated in a lower power mode and a second mode in which the second sensing element is operated in a higher power mode and the first sensing element is operated in a lower power mode.

Growing community of inventors

Chicora, PA, United States of America

Mark Flori Zanella, Sr