Multi-parametric machine olfaction
A system includes an array of chemical, pressure, and temperature sensors, and a temporal airflow modulator configured to provide sniffed vapors in a temporally-modulated sequence through a plurality of different air paths across multiple sensor locations.
1 . A system for machine olfaction comprising:
a sensing unit comprising an array of chemical, pressure and temperature sensors,
wherein the chemical sensors are temperature controlled and produce trace data over time responsive to plumes of an analyte introduced to the sensing unit,
wherein the pressure sensors produce pressure data over time responsive to the plumes of the analyte introduced to the sensing unit,
wherein the temperature sensors produce temperature data over time responsive to the plumes of the analyte introduced to the sensing unit; and
a computer configured to provide power to the array of chemical, pressure and temperature sensors, and to wirelessly transmit trace data, pressure data, and temperature data from the array of chemical, pressure and temperature sensors to a host computer to produce chemical, pressure and temperature time series data specific to the analyte.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the array of chemical, pressure and temperature sensors comprises an array of temperature-controlled sensor pairs, with each pair of sensors comprises one Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) sensor and one digital barometer.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said computer is a plurality of computers.
4 . A method of machine olfaction comprising the steps of:
passing an analyte vapor through a temporal airflow modulator configured to selectively pass an airflow and the analyte vapor; and
passing the analyte vapor through a multi-parametric sensing unit comprising an array of chemical, pressure and temperature sensors,
wherein the chemical sensors are temperature controlled and produce trace data over time responsive to plumes of an analyte introduced to the sensing unit,
wherein the pressure sensors produce pressure data over time responsive to the plumes of the analyte introduced to the sensing unit,
wherein the temperature sensors produce temperature data over time responsive to the plumes of the analyte introduced to the sensing unit; and
producing chemical, pressure and temperature time series data specific to the analyte.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said multi-parametric sensing unit is configured to react to a chemical parameter, a pressure parameter and a temperature parameter.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said multi-parametric sensing unit comprises:
a computer configured to provide power to said array of the chemical, pressure and temperature sensors, and to wirelessly transmit data from said array of the chemical, pressure and temperature sensors to a host computer to produce the chemical, pressure and temperature time series data specific to the analyte.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the array of chemical, pressure and temperature sensors comprises temperature-controlled sensor pairs, with each pair of sensors comprising one Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) sensor and one digital barometer.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said computer is a plurality of computers.
9 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said array of temperature-controlled sensor pairs comprises at least eight sensor pairs.
10 . The system of claim 2 , wherein each VOC sensor comprises a micro-hotplate metal-oxide (MOX) sensor with integrated resistive heaters configured to respond to a presence of volatile molecules.
11 . The system of claim 2 , wherein each digital barometer comprises a small MEMS sensor with piezoresistive elements on a thin suspended membrane.
12 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a DAC for controlling temperature of said temperature-controlled pairs.
13 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a manifold to receive airflow including the plumes of analyte and to split the airflow including the plumes of analyte between distinct columns containing different obstructions before reaching the sensing unit.
14 . The method of claim 4 further comprising a manifold to receive airflow including the analyte from the temporal airflow modulator and to split the airflow including the analyte between distinct columns containing different obstructions before reaching the multi-parametric sensing unit.