Granted Patent B2

US 6,868,350 · App. 10/411,894 · Granted Mar 15, 2005

Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated

Abstract

Claims (94)

1. A method for operating a sensing device comprising:

providing a sensor having an electrical resistance that is adapted to change in response to a predetermined condition;

measuring the electrical resistance of the sensor at a first time;

measuring the electrical resistance of the sensor at a second time;

determining a rate of change of the electrical resistance between the first time and the second time; and

comparing the rate of change of the electrical resistance against a threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a signal to a control device if the rate of change of the electrical resistance exceeds the threshold value; and

operating an indicating device when the rate of change of the electrical resistance exceeds the threshold value.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising displaying the comparison results on a computer monitor in at least one of a graphical and numerical manner.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising alerting the user of the sensing device in at least one of a visual and audio signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a sensor having an electrical resistance that is adapted to change in response to a predetermined condition comprises providing a sensor film comprising a matrix of a plurality of carbon black filled silicone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a sensor having an electrical resistance that is adapted to change in response to a predetermined condition comprises providing a sensor having an electrical resistance that is adapted to change in response to the presence of a target analyte.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the n th order derivative of the rate of change, where n≧1.

8. A method for operating a sensing device comprising:

providing a sensor probe having an electrical resistance that is adapted to change in response to the presence of a target analyte;

measuring the electrical resistance of the sensor probe at a first time;

measuring the electrical resistance of the sensor probe at a second time;

sending signals representing the electrical resistance measurements to a control device; and

determining a rate of change of the signals with the control device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

comparing the rate of change of the signal against a threshold value with the control device; and

operating an indicating device when the rate of change of the signal exceeds the threshold value.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising alerting the user of the sensing device with at least one of a visual and audio signal.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising controlling an appliance when the rate of change of the signal exceeds the threshold value.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining the n th order derivative of the rate of change, where n≧1.

13. A method for operating a sensing device comprising:

providing a sensor probe comprising a sensor film having an electrical resistance that is adapted to change in response to the presence of a target analyte;

measuring the electrical resistance of the sensor film at a first time;

measuring the electrical resistance of the sensor film at a second time;

determining a rate of change of the electrical resistance between the first time and the second time; and

generating a signal representing the rate of change of the electrical resistance measured between the first and second time.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

sending the signal to a control device; and

comparing the signal to a threshold value with the control device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

informing a user of the sensing device when the signal exceeds the threshold value; and

controlling an appliance when the signal exceeds the threshold value.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining the n th order derivative of the rate of change, where n≧1.

17. A method for operating a sensing device comprising:

providing an electrical component having an electrical resistance adapted to change in response to the presence of a flow of a fluid;

measuring the electrical resistance of the electrical component at a first time;

measuring the electrical resistance of the electrical component at a second time; and

determining a rate of change of the electrical resistance between the first time and the second time.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

determining a flow rate of the fluid based on the rate of change of the electrical resistance; and

comparing the flow rate of the fluid against a threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

generating a signal to a control device when the flow rate of the fluid exceeds the threshold value; and

informing a user of the sensing device when the control device receives the signal.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising controlling an appliance when the control device receives the signal.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein providing an electrical component having an electrical resistance adapted to change in response to the presence of a flow of a fluid comprises providing a thermistor adapted to change in electrical resistance in response to a change in temperature.

22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining the n th order derivative of the rate of change, where n≧1.

23. A sensor comprising:

a sensor film having an electrical resistance that is adapted to change in response to the presence of a predetermined condition;

means for measuring the electrical resistance of the sensor film during a period of time;

means for generating a first signal corresponding to the electrical resistance measurements;

means for differentiating the first signal;

means for generating a second signal corresponding to the differential of the first signal; and

means for comparing the second signal with a threshold value and generating a third signal when the second signal exceeds the threshold value.

24. The sensor of claim 23 , further comprising:

means for displaying the comparison results to a user of the sensor; and

means for controlling an appliance when the third signal is generated.

25. The sensor of claim 24 , wherein the means for displaying the comparison results to a user of the sensor is a computer monitor.

26. The sensor of claim 23 , wherein the sensor is a chemiresistor sensor.

27. The sensor of claim 23 , wherein the sensor film is a matrix comprising a plurality of carbon black filled silicone.

28. The sensor of claim 23 , further comprising means for determining the n th order derivative of the second signal, where n≧1.

29. A sensing device comprising:

a sensor probe;

an electrical component having an electrical resistance electrically connected to the sensor probe, the electrical resistance of the electrical component adapted to change in response to the presence of a predetermined condition; and

a control device electrically connected to the electrical component, the control device for measuring the electrical resistance of the electrical component during a time period, and generating a first signal corresponding to the electrical resistance measurements, and determining a rate of change of the first signal, and generating a second signal corresponding to the rate of change of the first signal, and comparing the second signal with a threshold value.

30. The sensing device of claim 29 , wherein the control device further is operative to control an appliance when the second signal exceeds the threshold value.

31. The sensing device of claim 29 , further comprising an indicating device for informing a user when the second signal exceeds the threshold value.

32. The sensing device of claim 29 , wherein the electrical component is a sensor film.

33. The sensing device of claim 32 , wherein the sensor film is a matrix comprising a plurality of carbon black silicone.

34. The sensing device of claim 29 , wherein the predetermined condition is the presence of a target analyte.

35. The sensing device of claim 29 , wherein the electrical component is a thermistor having a temperature adapted to change based on the presence of the predetermined condition.

36. The sensing device of claim 35 , wherein the predetermined condition is a rate of flow of a fluid.

37. The sensing device of claim 29 , wherein the electrical component is encapsulated by a thermally-conductive polymer.

38. The sensing device of claim 29 , wherein the control device is further used for determining the n th order derivative of the second signal, where n≧1.

39. A sensor probe comprising:

an electrical component having an electrical resistance electrically connected to the sensor probe, the electrical resistance of the electrical component adapted to change in response to the presence of a predetermined condition;

a measurement module that measures the electrical resistance of the electrical component during a time period and generates a first signal corresponding to the electrical resistance measurements;

a differentiator that determines a rate of change of the first signal and generates a second signal corresponding to the differential of the first signal; and

a comparator that compares the second signal with a threshold value.

40. The sensor probe of claim 39 , further comprising a control device that controls an appliance when the second signal exceeds the threshold value.

41. The sensor probe of claim 39 , further comprising an indicating device that informs a user when the second signal exceeds the threshold value.

42. The sensor probe of claim 39 , wherein the electrical component is a sensor film.

43. The sensor probe of claim 42 , wherein the sensor film is a matrix comprising a plurality of carbon black silicone.

44. The sensor probe of claim 39 , wherein the predetermined condition is the presence of a target analyte.

45. The sensor probe of claim 39 , wherein the electrical component is a thermistor having a temperature adapted to change based on the presence of the predetermined condition.

46. The sensor probe of claim 45 , wherein the predetermined condition is a rate of flow of a fluid.

47. The sensor probe of claim 39 , wherein the electrical component is encapsulated by a thermally-conductive polymer.

48. The sensor probe of claim 39 , wherein the differentiator further determines the n th order derivative of the second signal, where n≧1.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (1)