Device for detecting mold

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020209136-A1
Application number	US-201916711936-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 12, 2019
Priority date	Dec 31, 2018
Publication date	Jul 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A mold sensor include a housing that defines an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a substrate advancement mechanism that is configured to selectively move the substrate to expose a surface of the substrate within the chamber. The mold sensor includes a sensor configured to detect mold growth on the substrate within the chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mold sensor comprising:
a housing defining a chamber and a portal to permit air entry into the chamber; a substrate treated to promote mold growth; a substrate advancement mechanism configured to selectively move the substrate to expose a surface of the substrate within the chamber; and a sensor configured to detect mold growth on the substrate within the chamber.

2 . The mold sensor of claim 1 further comprising a source configured to selectively kill mold within the chamber.

3 . The mold sensor of claim 2 , wherein the source is an ultraviolet (UV) light source.

4 . The mold sensor of claim 1 further comprising a controllable door disposed across the portal to selectively permit or inhibit air entry based on a position of the controllable door.

5 . The mold sensor of claim 1 , wherein the substrate advancement mechanism includes a spool of film treated with nutrients and an electric motor coupled to a reel configured to pull the film into the chamber.

6 . The mold sensor of claim 1 , wherein the substrate advancement mechanism includes a drum coupled to an electric motor and having an outer surface treated with nutrients configured such that as the drum is rotated, a portion of the outer surface is positioned in the chamber.

7 . The mold sensor of claim 1 , wherein the substrate advancement mechanism includes a disk having a surface treated with nutrients and coupled to an electric motor and configured such that as the disk is rotated, a portion of the surface is positioned in the chamber.

8 . The mold sensor of claim 1 further comprising a heating element that is configured to heat the chamber.

9 . The mold sensor of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor disposed within the chamber.

10 . The mold sensor of claim 1 further comprising a humidity sensor disposed within the chamber.

11 . The mold sensor of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor disposed within the chamber.

12 . The mold sensor of claim 1 , wherein the portal is defined by a top surface of the housing, the top surface being generally parallel to the substrate.

13 . The mold sensor of claim 1 , wherein the portal is defined on a side surface of the housing, the side surface being generally perpendicular to the substrate.

14 . A mold sensor comprising:
a housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber, and further defining an opening to permit air entry into the first chamber; a substrate treated to promote mold growth; a substrate advancement mechanism configured to selectively move the substrate such that a first surface of the substrate within the first chamber is moved into the second chamber and a second surface of the substrate is moved into the first chamber; a sensor positioned in the first chamber that is configured to sense mold growth on the substrate that is exposed in the first chamber; and a source in the second chamber configured to kill mold on the substrate that is exposed within the second chamber.

15 . The mold sensor of claim 14 further comprising a second sensor positioned in the second chamber and configured to sense mold growth on the substrate that is exposed in the second chamber.

16 . The mold sensor of claim 14 further comprising a heating element within the first chamber.

17 . A mold sensor comprising:
a housing defining a chamber; a substrate treated to promote mold growth; a substrate advancement mechanism configured to selectively move the substrate to expose a first surface of the substrate outside of the chamber and a second surface of the substrate within the chamber; a sensor positioned in the chamber and configured to detect mold growth on the second surface; and a light source positioned in the chamber and configured to kill mold on the second surface when activated.

18 . The mold sensor of claim 17 wherein the substrate advancement mechanism further includes a second housing defining a second chamber to enclose the substrate prior to exposure outside of the chamber and defining a third chamber to enclose the substrate after mold growth.

19 . The mold sensor of claim 17 , wherein the substrate advancement mechanism is configured such that the first surface is generally perpendicular to the second surface.

20 . The mold sensor of claim 17 , wherein the substrate advancement mechanism is configured such that the first surface is in a same plane as the second surface.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Yee Seow Yuen
• Laermer Franz
• Peters Christian
• Wang Ning
• Rocznik Thomas

Classifications

• G01N15/0612

  Optical scan of the deposits (G01N15/0625 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2001/4083

  sedimentation · CPC title

• G01N2001/227

  separating gas from solid, e.g. filter · CPC title

• G01N1/2273

  Atmospheric sampling · CPC title

• G08B21/20

  responsive to moisture · CPC title