Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Means for analyzing gas sample
Patent
1997-07-14
1999-07-27
Alexander, Lyle A.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Means for analyzing gas sample
422 83, 73 2334, 73 2336, G01N 27407, G01N 3348
Patent
active
059286091
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an odour sensor particularly but not exclusively for discrimination between the odour of human or other mammalian individuals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the odour profiles of a human individual with or without deodorant;
FIG. 2 shows odour profiles of a human with or without perfume;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a sensor element in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternative sensor in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show responses of sensors comprising substituted perimidines; and
FIG. 9 shows a comparison between responses of sensors from four individuals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Sensors are important for a variety of applications including food freshness, head space analysis of beverages and detection and quantification of bacteria. Sensors have been prepared on interdigitated gold electrodes by polymerising a number of monomers using chemical or electrochemical techniques. The polymers produced are electrically conducting and have varying sensitivities to volatile odour compounds. Interaction of an odour compound with a conducting polymer is detected by a change in the electronic characteristics particularly the resistance, impedance, reactance or capacitance of the polymer film, which may be indirectly measured using changes in the applied potential or current.
According to a first aspect of the present invention a personnel recognition sensor comprises a multiplicity of differentially responding chemo-resistor elements,
each element comprising a non-conductive substrate,
a plurality of electrodes disposed on the substrate and one or more layers of a conductive polymer overlaying the electrodes,
the conductive polymers of at least two of the elements being different;
a detector responsive to signals provided by the multiplicity of elements and arranged to provide an output signal characteristic of the multiplicity of signals;
the elements being disposed in a housing having an inlet arranged so that a gaseous sample passing into or through the inlet contacts all of the elements in use.
A personnel recognition sensor in accordance with this invention is adapted to discriminate between human individuals (or individuals of other mammalian species).
A preferred sensor may incorporate display means adapted to provide a display characteristic of the signals from an individual. Such a display may be referred to as an odour profile.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention the personnel recognition sensor is adapted to identify a human individual.
The sensor may further include a memory adapted to store a library of odour profiles characteristic of particular individuals and means for comparison of the odour profile constituted by the multiplicity of signals from the sensor elements with an odour profile contained in said library. Standard pattern recognition techniques or a neural network may be adapted to retain characteristic features of the multiplicity of signals for incorporation into the library.
The sensor may further comprise a sample collector. The sample collector may comprise means for drawing a predetermined volume or amount of ambient atmosphere from the vicinity of an individual. The collector may define an enclosed or partially enclosed chamber into which an individual or a part thereof may be disposed. A compartment in which a user's hand may be inserted may form a convenient collector. The collector may further include means for drawing air from the vicinity of the user's hand into the sensor closing. Gas may be circulated repeatedly within the collector and/or housing to enhance the concentration of odour analytes.
An unexpected property of sensors in accordance with the present invention is that characteristic odour profiles may be obtained in the presence of odiferous cosmetic compositions including perfumes and deodorants. The sensors have no significant response to the common odour volatiles present in cosmetics but are very responsive to human body
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Pearce et al., "Machine Olfactoin: Intelligent Sensing of Odours'", Internation Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics. Conference Proceedings, vol. 5, pp. 165-170, Oct. 1993.
EG&G Princeton Applied Research, "Interdigitated Microsensor Electrodes", IME 1550 Series, No Date Supplied.
TC Pierce, et al. "Machine Olfaction: Intelligent Sensing of Odours", 1993, International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics. Conference Proceedings, vol. 5, Oct. 17 1993 Le Touquet, France.
Paolo Pelosi and Krishna Persaud, "Gas Sensors, Towards an Artificial Nose", ASI series vol. F43, Sensors and Sensory Systems For Advanced Robots, Springer Verlag Berlin Hiedelberg, 1988.
Gibson Timothy David
Hulbert John Neal
Li Zhuoshu
Marshall Robert Wilson
Puttick Peter
Alexander Lyle A.
Bloodhound Sensors, Ltd.
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