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US3697749A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and methods for enhancing the detection of small-source plumes from moving aircraft
Assignee: PCP Inc A CORP OF FLORIDA
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Filing: 1970-09-30
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Detection of small-source plumes, as by an airborne instrument, wherein ions formed from the molecules of a gaseous sample and collected by the airborne instrument are segregated in a drift field, and signals produced in response to the detection of the segregated ions are separated into short-duration plume signal components and long-duration background components. The shortduration components are indicated with enhanced resolution.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger F Wernlund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/62; G01N27/622
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of testing a gaseous sample with enhanced resolution, which comprises providing during a sampling period a gaseous sample having a long-duration component and a shortduration component, ionizing molecules of said sample, including molecules of said components, producing an electrical signal in response to the ions, including a background signal component of long-duration and a trace signal component of relatively shortduration, and separating said signal components.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of testing a gaseous sample with enhanced resolution, which comprises providing during a sampling period a gaseous sample having a long-duration component and a shortduration component, ionizing molecules of said sample, including molecules of said components, producing an electrical signal in response to the ions, including a background signal component of long-duration and a trace signal component of relatively shortduration, and separating said signal components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said signal components are separated by passing a portion of said signal through a low-pass filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said signal is applied to signal indicating means and wherein the base indicating level of said signal indicating means is varied in accordance with the output of said low-pass filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said signal components are separated by applying said signal to a high-pass filter, and wherein the output of said filter is indicated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ionizing of molecules of said sample comprises reacting molecules of said sample with primary ions to produce secondary ions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said ions are segregated in accordance with their velocity in a drift field and said signal is produced in response to the detection of at least some of the segregated ions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said ionizing and segregating occurs in a region the dimensions of which are large compared to the length of the mean free path of said ions in said region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordancd with claim 1, wherein the method is performed by collecting a sample aerially.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the method is performed by collecting a sample of a plume by moving a vehicle past the plume.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for testing a gaseous sample with enhanced resolution, which comprises means for providing, during a sampling period, a gaseous sample having a long-duration component and a short-duration component, means for ionizing molecules of said sample, including molecules of said components, means for producing an electrical signal in response to said ions, including a background signal component of long duration and a trace signal component of relatively short-duration, and means for separating said signal components.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for testing a gaseous sample with enhanced resolution, which comprises means for providing, during a sampling period, a gaseous sample having a long-duration component and a short-duration component, means for ionizing molecules of said sample, including molecules of said components, means for producing an electrical signal in response to said ions, including a background signal component of long duration and a trace signal component of relatively short-duration, and means for separating said signal components.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said separating means comprises a low-pass filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, further comprising indicating means, and means responsive to the output of said low-pass filter for controlling the base indicating level of said indicating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said separating means comprises a high-pass filter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said ionizing means comprises means for reacting molecules of said sample with primary ions to produce secondary ions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, further comprising means for subjecting said ions to a drift field and for segregating said ions in accordance with their velocity in said field, and wherein said signal producing means is responsive to at least some of the segregated ions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, said meAns for ionizing said molecules and segregating said ions comprising a drift cell, and means for maintaining the length of the mean free path of ions in said drift cell very small compared to the dimensions of said cell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said separating means comprises a low-pass filter having an upper limit of the order of 1.6 Hz or less.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said separating means comprises a high-pass filter having a lower limit of the order of 0.08 Hz or less.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said apparatus includes means for attenuating noise frequencies higher than said trace signal component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2463544A
Cited
US3254209A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |