Process and apparatus for monitoring ambient carbon monoxide
US4617277A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1984 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/205831
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for monitoring ambient carbon monoxide. Light from a source (14) is directed against a measuring element (10) which darkens in color as it absorbs carbon monoxide. The light reflected from the element is received by a photocell (16) which generates an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of the reflected light received thereby. The signal is sampled periodically, and stored in a microprocessor (24) which computes the rate of change of the signals. The periodic measurement of the intensity of the light can be varied in response to the rate of change of the light intensity measurement. When the rate of change reaches a level indicative of an unsafe level of ambient carbon monoxide, an alarm (34) is energized. Light from the source is simultaneously directed against a reference element (12) with the light reflected therefrom being received by a photocell (18) which generates an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of the light received thereby. A comparator (30) compares the electrical signal generated by the photocells and energizes an indicator (32) when the comparison indicates that the measuring element has absorbed sufficient carbon monoxide to requ…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.