Chemical agent detection
View Patent ↗A chemical agent detector with a a lesser demand sensor, a greater demand sensor, an inlet; and a manifold; and methods associated therewith. The manifold is positioned between the inlet and the sensors, and includes a first intake associated with the lesser demand sensor, a second intake associated with a greater demand sensor, and at least one restrictor. The first intake is placed closer to the inlet than the second intake, and the second intake is isolated from the inlet by at least one restrictor within the manifold. The intakes and restrictor are sized and positioned such that the ratio between: the conductance of the path from the inlet to the greater demand sensor to the conductance of the path between the sensors effectively isolates the lesser demand sensor from the effects of the greater demand sensor.
1. A method for mitigating desensitization of a first sensor in a chemical agent detection system comprising a plurality of sensors, including at least one first sensor operative to adjust its baseline to compensate for changes in ambient levels of a chemical agent and at least one second sensor not operative to so compensate, said method comprising:
determining a first sensor prior baseline and a second sensor prior baseline;
exposing the chemical agent detection system, including the first and second sensors, to an environment that may contain the chemical agent for sensing by the at least one first and second sensors;
adjusting the first sensor to a second baseline compensating for changes in ambient levels of the chemical agent;
indicating by the second sensor the presence of the chemical agent, wherein the first sensor does not indicate the presence of the chemical agent at the second baseline;
upon indication by the second sensor of the presence of the chemical agent, feeding this indication through a feedback mechanism to the at least one first sensor; and
adjusting the first sensor back to the first sensor prior baseline to mitigate false desensitization of the at least one first sensor.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of supplying the plurality of sensors with air from one inlet source.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of balancing the flow and volumetric demands of the plurality of sensors.