The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 07, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 08, 2001
Wenfeng Peng, Mississauga, CA;
Industrial Scientific Corporation, Oakdale, PA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for diagnosing defects in electrochemical gas sensors, in which the water vapor pressure of the air surrounding a sensor is suddenly changed by changing to more dry or more humid air, thereby causing a sharp change in the acidity at the working electrode, and hence, a transient current from the sensor. The response of the sensor to the change in water vapor pressure is monitored and is used for sensor diagnostics. Lack of sensitivity of the sensor to the water vapor pressure change is an indication that the sensor does not have appropriate sensitivity to the gas to be detected. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for diagnostic testing of sensors without a gas filter.