Sensing system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021063366-A1
Application number	US-201916412497-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 15, 2019
Priority date	May 15, 2019
Publication date	Mar 4, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor system includes an electrical circuit having plural leads coupled with one or more sensing regions. The sensing regions include gaps having sensing materials that detect an analyte of interest. The gaps close responsive to the sensing material corresponding to the gaps detecting the analyte of interest. One or more processors communicatively coupled with the electrical circuit receive electrical signals from the electrical circuit indicative of the gaps closing responsive to the sensing material of the corresponding gaps detecting the analyte of interest. The electrical circuit is in a closed position in the presence of the analyte of interest. The sensor system is configured to consume an increased amount of power when the electrical circuit is in the closed position relative to the electrical circuit in an open position responsive to the one or more of the gaps closing. A responsive action is determined based on the electrical signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sensor system comprising:
an electrical circuit comprising plural leads operably coupled with one or more sensing regions, one or more of the sensing regions including a gap comprising a sensing material, wherein the sensing material of each of the sensing regions is configured to detect an analyte of interest, wherein one or more of the gaps are configured to close responsive to the sensing material corresponding to the one or more gaps detecting the analyte of interest; and one or more processors communicatively coupled with the electrical circuit, the one or more processors configured to receive one or more electrical signals from the electrical circuit indicative of one or more of the gaps closing responsive to the sensing material of the corresponding gaps detecting the analyte of interest, wherein the electrical circuit is in a closed position in the presence of the analyte of interest, wherein the sensor system is configured to consume an increased amount of power when the electrical circuit is in the closed position relative to the electrical circuit in an open position responsive to the one or more of the gaps closing, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a responsive action based on the one or more electrical signals.

2 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit is configured to change between the open position and the closed position, the open position indicative of an absence of the analyte of interest, and the closed position indicative of the presence of the analyte of interest.

3 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit is in the closed position responsive to a number of the gaps of the sensing regions closing exceeding a predetermined threshold.

4 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrical signals includes an identity of the analyte of interest.

5 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more gaps are configured to close responsive to a relationship between a real part of a complex permittivity of the sensing material and an imaginary part of the complex permittivity of the sensing material exceeding at least one predetermined threshold.

6 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the gap of a first sensing region is configured to close responsive to the sensing material of the first sensing region detecting a first analyte of interest, and wherein the gap of the first sensing region is configured to open responsive to the sensing material of the first sensing region detecting a different, second analyte of interest.

7 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein one or more properties of the sensing material is configured to change responsive to the sensing material detecting the analyte of interest.

8 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the gaps is a non-conductive gap substantially filled with the sensing material.

9 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the responsive action includes one or more responsive actions of a user of the sensor system or an asset of the user of the sensor system.

10 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing material of one or more of the sensing regions is a multi-response sensing material configured to respond to different analytes of interest.

11 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit is configured to one or more of activate one or more other sensor systems, communicate with a central station, communicate with one or more other sensors, communicate with the one or more other sensor systems, change one or more operating parameters of the sensor system, start data logging with the electrical circuit, or start data trending with the electrical circuit.

12 . A method comprising:
detecting an analyte of interest with sensing material of one or more sensing regions of an electrical circuit of a sensor system, one or more of the sensing regions including a gap comprising the sensing material, wherein one or more of the gaps are configured to close responsive to the sensing material corresponding to the one or more gaps detecting the analyte of interest, wherein the sensor system is configured to consume an increased amount of power when the electrical circuit is in a closed position relative to the electrical circuit in an open position responsive to the one or more of the gaps closing; receiving one or more electrical signals from the electrical circuit indicative of one or more of the gaps closing responsive to the sensing material of the corresponding gaps detecting the analyte of interest; and determining a responsive action based on the one or more electrical signals.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising changing the electrical circuit between the open position and the closed position, the open position indicative of an absence of the analyte of interest, and the closed position indicative of the presence of the analyte of interest.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical circuit is in the closed position responsive to a number of the gaps of the sensing regions closing exceeding a predetermined threshold.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined threshold is configured to be adaptable based on one or more external inputs to the sensor system.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrical signals includes an identity of the analyte of interest.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising closing the one or more gaps responsive to a relationship between a real part of a complex permittivity of the sensing material and an imaginary part of the complex permittivity of the sensing material exceeding a predetermined threshold.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising closing the gap of a first sensing region responsive to the sensing material of the first sensing region detecting a first analyte of interest, and opening the gap of the first sensing region responsive to the sensing material of the first sensing region detecting a different, second analyte of interest.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein one or more properties of the sensing material is configured to change responsive to the sensing material detecting the analyte of interest.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the gaps is a non-conductive gap substantially filled with the sensing material.

21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the responsive action includes one or more responsive actions of a user of the sensor system or an asset of the user of the sensing system.

22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensing material of one or more of the sensing regions is a multi-response sensing material configured to respond to different analytes of interest.

23 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising one or more of activating one or more other sensor systems, communicating with a central station, communicating with one or more other sensors, communicating with the one or more other sensor systems, changing one or more operating parameters of the sensor system, starting data logging with the electrical circuit, or starting data trending with the electrical circuit.

24 . A sensor system comprising:
an electrical circuit comprising plural leads operably coupled with one or more sensing regions, one or more of the sensing regions including a gap comprising a sensing material, wherein the sensing material of each of the se

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Potyrailo Radislav Alexandrovich
• St Pierre Richard
• Andarawis Emad Andarawis

Classifications

• G01N33/0031

  comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array · CPC title

• G01N33/0062 Primary

  concerning the measuring method or the display, e.g. intermittent measurement or digital display · CPC title

• G01N33/0011 Primary

  Sample conditioning (preparing specimens for investigation G01N1/28) · CPC title

• G01N33/0036

  specially adapted to detect a particular component (physical analysis of gaseous biological material G01N33/497) · CPC title

• G01N33/521

  Single-layer analytical elements · CPC title