Solid state pH sensor

Claim 2

A solid state pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, said pH sensor comprising: (a) an indicator electrode, said indicator electrode comprising (1) a first electrically conductive conductor imbedded in a first electrically non-conductive substrate, said first electrically conductive conductor having a first electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal oxide coating on said first electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal oxide coating entirely covers said first electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, (3) a first annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said metal/metal oxide coating, such that said first annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating entirely covers said metal/metal oxide coating, and (4) an indicator contact zone electrically connected to said first electrically conductive conductor, wherein said indicator contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said first electrically conductive conductor and said pH sensing equipment; and (b) a reference electrode, said reference electrode comprising (1) a second electrically electrically conductive conductor imbedded in a second electrically non-conductive substrate, said second electrically conductive conductor having a second electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal salt coating on said second electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said second electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, (3) an immobilized electrolyte coating on said metal/metal salt coating, such that said immobilized electrolyte coating entirely covers said metal/metal salt coating, (4) a second annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said immobilized electrolyte coating, such that said second annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating entirely covers said immobilized electrolyte coating, and (5) a reference contact zone electrically connected to said second electrically conductive conductor, wherein said reference contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said second electrically conductive conductor and said pH sensing equipment; (c) wherein said indicator and reference electrodes are electrically insulated from each other.

Claim 3

A solid state pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, said pH sensor comprising: an electricall non-conductive substrate, a first electrically conductive conductor imbedded in and extending through said electrically non-conductive substrate, said first electrically conductive conductor having two exposed ends, a second electrically conductive conductor imbedded in and extending through said electrically non-conductive substrate, said second electrically conductive conductor having two exposed ends and said second electrically conductive conductor being electrically insulated from said first electrically conductive conductor, a metal/metal oxide coating on one of the exposed ends of said first electrically conductive conductor, such that said metal/metal oxide coating entirely covers this exposed end, a metal/metal salt coating on one of the exposed ends of said second electrically conductive conductor, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers this exposed end and such that said metal/metal salt coating does not contact said metal/metal oxide coating, an immobilized electrolyte coating on said metal/metal salt coating, such that said immobilized electrolyte coating entirely covers said metal/metal salt coating, and an annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said immobilized electrolyte coating and said metal/metal oxide coating, wherein the remaining exposed end of said first electrically conductive conductor and of said second electrically conductive conductor are each utilized as an electrical contact zone for said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 4

In a pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, an electrode, said electrode comprising: (a) an electrically conductive conductor imbedded in an electrically non-conductive substrate, said electrically conductive conductor having an exposed portion; (b) an electrode-typing coating on said exposed portion, such that said electrode-typing coating entirely covers said exposed portion, said electrode-typing coating selected from the group consisting of a metal/metal oxide coating for indicator electrodes, a metal oxide coating for indicator electrodes and a metal/metal salt coating for reference electrodes; and (c) a contact zone electrically connected to said electrically conductive conductor, wherein said contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said electrically conductive conductor and said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 5

In a pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, an electrode, said electrode comprising: (a) an electrically conductive conductor imbedded in an electrically non-conductive substrate, said electrically conductive conductor having an exposed portion; (b) an electrode-typing coating on said exposed portion, such that said electrode-typing coating entirely covers said exposed portion, said electrode-typing coating selected from the group consisting of a metal/metal oxide coating for indicator electrodes, a metal oxide coating for indicator electrodes and a metal/metal salt coating for reference electrodes; and (c) an annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said electrode-typing coating, such that said annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating entirely covers said electrode-typing coating; and (d) a contact zone electrically connected to said electrically conductive conductor, wherein said contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said electrically conductive conductor and said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 6

In a pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, a reference-electrode, said reference electrode comprising: (a) an electrically conductive conductor imbedded in an electrically non-conductive substrate, said electrically conductive conductor having an exposed portion; (b) a metal/metal salt coating on said exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said exposed portion; (c) an immobilized electrolyte coating on said metal/metal salt coating, such that said immobilized electrolyte coating entirely covers said metal/metal salt coating; and (d) a contact zone electrically connected to said electrically conductive conductor, wherein said contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said electrically conductive conductor and said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 7

In a pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, a reference electrode, said reference electrode comprising: (a) an electrically conductive conductor imbedded in an electrically non-conductive substrate, said electrically conductive conductor having an exposed portion; (b) a metal/metal salt coating on said exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said exposed portion; (c) an immobilized electrolyte coating on said metal/metal salt coating, such that said immobilized electrolyte coating entirely covers said metal/metal salt coating; and (d) an annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said immobilized electrolyte coating, such that said annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating entirely covers said immobilized electrolyte coating; and (e) a contact zone electrically connected to said electrically conductive conductor, wherein said contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said electrically conductive conductor and said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 8

A solid state pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, said pH sensor comprising: (a) an indicator electrode, said indicator electrode comprising (1) a first electrically conductive conductor imbedded in a first portion of an electrically non-conductive substrate, said first electrically conductive conductor having a first electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal oxide coating or a metal oxide coating on said first electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal oxide or metal oxide coating entirely covers said first electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, and (3) an indicator contact zone electrically connected to said first electrically conductive conductor, wherein said indicator contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said first electrically conductive conductor and said pH sensing equipment, and (b) a reference electrode, said reference electrode comprising (1) a second electrically conductive conductor imbedded in a second portion of said electrically non-conductive substrate, said second electrically conductive conductor having a second electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal salt coating on said second electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said second electrically conductive conductor exposed portion, and (3) a reference contact zone electrically connected to said second electrically conductive conductor, wherein said reference contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said second electrically conductive conductor and said pH sensing equipment; (c) wherein said indicator and reference electrodes are electrically insulated from each other; and (d) wherein said reference electrode is in contact with a reference electrolyte source.

Claim 9

A solid state pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, said pH sensor comprising: (a) an indicator electrode, said indicator electrode comprising (1) a first cermet conductor imbedded in a first ceramic substrate, said first cermet conductor having a first cermet conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal oxide coating on said first cermet conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal oxide coating entirely covers said first cermet conductor exposed portion, and (3) an indicator contact zone electrically connected to said first cermet conductor, wherein said indicator contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said first cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment, and (b) a reference electrode, said reference electrode comprising (1) a second cermet conductor imbedded in a second ceramic substrate, said second cermet conductor having a second cermet conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal salt coating on said second cermet conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said second cermet conductor exposed portion, and (3) a reference contact zone electrically connected to said second cermet conductor, wherein said reference contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said second cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment; (c) Wherein said indicator and reference electrodes are electrically insulated from each other; and (d) Wherein said reference electrode is in contact with a reference electrolyte source.

Claim 10

A solid state pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, said pH sensor comprising: (a) an indicator electrode, said indicator electrode comprising (1) a first cermet conductor imbedded in a first ceramic substrate, said first cermet conductor having a first cermet conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal oxide coating on said first cermet conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal oxide coating entirely covers said first cermet conductor exposed portion, (3) a first annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said metal/metal oxide coating, such that said first annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating entirely covers said metal/metal oxide coating, and (4) an indicator contact zone electrically connected to said first cermet conductor, wherein said indicator contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said first cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment; and (b) a reference electrode, said reference electrode comprising (1) a second cermet conductor imbedded in a second ceramic substrate, said second cermet conductor having a second cermet conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal salt coating on said second cermet conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said second cermet conductor exposed portion, (3) an immobilized electrolyte coating on said metal/metal salt coating, such that said immobilized electrolyte coating entirely covers said metal/metal salt coating, (4) a second annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said immobilized electrolyte coating, such that said second annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating entirely covers said immobilized electrolyte coating, and (5) a reference contact zone electrically connected to said second cermet conductor, wherein said reference contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said second cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment; (c) wherein said indicator and reference electrodes are electrically insulated from each other.

Claim 11

A solid state pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, said pH sensor comprising: a ceramic substrate, a first cermet conductor imbedded in and extending through said ceramic substrate, said first cermet conductor having two exposed ends, a second cermet conductor imbedded in and extending through said ceramic substrate, said second cermet conductor having two exposed ends and said second cermet conductor being electrically insulated from said first cermet conductor, a metal/metal oxide coating on one of the exposed ends of said first cermet conductor, such that said metal/metal oxide coating entirely covers this exposed end, a metal/metal salt coating on one of the exposed ends of said second cermet conductor, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers this exposed end and such that said metal/metal salt coating does not contact said metal/metal oxide coating, an immobilized electrolyte coating on said metal/metal salt coating, such that said immobilized electrolyte coating entirely covers said metal/metal salt coating, and an annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said immobilized electrolyte coating and said metal/metal oxide coating, wherein the remaining exposed end of said first cermet conductor and of said second cermet conductor are each utilized as an electrical contact zone for said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 12

In a pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, an electrode, said electrode comprising: (a) a cermet conductor imbedded in a ceramic substrate, said cermet conductor having an exposed portion; (b) an electrode-typing coating on said exposed portion, such that said electrode-typing coating entirely covers said exposed portion, said electrode-typing coating selected from the group consisting of a metal/metal oxide coating for indicator electrodes, a metal oxide coating for indicator electrodes and a metal/metal salt coating for reference electrodes; and (c) a contact zone electrically connected to said cermet conductor, wherein said contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 13

In a pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, an electrode, said electrode comprising: (a) a cermet conductor imbedded in a ceramic substrate, said cermet conductor having an exposed portion; (b) an electrode-typing coating on said exposed portion, such that said electrode-typing coating entirely covers said exposed portion, said electrode-typing coating selected from the group consisting of a metal/metal oxide coating for indicator electrodes, a metal oxide coating for indicator electrodes and a metal/metal salt coating for reference electrodes; and (c) an annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said electrode-typing coating, such that said annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating entirely covers said electrode-typing coating; and (d) a contact zone electrically connected to said cermet conductor, wherein said contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 14

In a pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, a reference electrode, said reference electrode comprising: (a) a cermet conductor imbedded in a ceramic substrate, said cermet conductor having an exposed portion; (b) a metal/metal salt coating on said exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said exposed portion; (c) an immobilized electrolyte coating on said metal/metal salt coating, such that said immobilized electrolyte coating entirely covers said metal/metal salt coating; and (d) a contact zone electrically connected to said cermet conductor, wherein said contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 15

In a pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, a reference electrode, said reference electrode comprising: (a) a cermet conductor imbedded in a ceramic substrate, said cermet conductor having an exposed portion; (b) a metal/metal salt coating on said exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said exposed portion; (c) an immobilized electrolyte coating on said metal/metal salt coating, such that said immobilized electrolyte coating entirely covers said metal/metal salt coating; and (d) an annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating on said immobilized electrolyte coating, such that said annealed perfluorocarbon copolymer coating entirely covers said immobilized electrolyte coating; and (e) a contact zone electrically connected to said cermet conductor, wherein said contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment.

Claim 16

A solid state pH sensor for pH sensing equipment, said pH sensor comprising: (a) an indicator electrode, said indicator electrode comprising (1) a first cermet conductor imbedded in a first portion of a ceramic substrate, said first cermet conductor having a first cermet conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal oxide coating or a metal oxide coating on said first cermet conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal oxide or metal oxide coating entirely covers said first cermet conductor exposed portion, and (3) an indicator contact zone electrically connected to said first cermet conductor, wherein said indicator contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said first cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment, and (b) a reference electrode, said reference electrode comprising (1) a second cermet conductor imbedded in a second portion of said ceramic substrate, said second cermet conductor having a second cermet conductor exposed portion, (2) a metal/metal salt coating on said second cermet conductor exposed portion, such that said metal/metal salt coating entirely covers said second cermet conductor exposed portion, and (3) a reference contact zone electrically connected to said second cermet conductor, wherein said reference contact zone is utilized in making electrical contact between said second cermet conductor and said pH sensing equipment; (c) wherein said indicator and reference electrodes are electrically insulated from each other; and (d) wherein said reference electrode is in contact with a reference electrolyte source.