Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of detecting environmental gaseous products in a gaseous sample comprising contacting a gaseous sample suspected of containing environmental gaseous products with a sensing surface of a dielectric material having a surface resistivity at least equal to 1×10 10 ohms per square centimeter and a bulk resistivity of 1×19 12 ohm-cm at 50% RH relative humidity and having dispersion bonding forces and minimal dipole hydrogen bonding forces by passing said sample through a free spaced formed by said sensing surface formed by said dielectric material and shield electrode as a reference electrode, holding said shield electrode at a fixed reference potential during the passing of said sample through said free space and thereby reacting said gaseous products with said dielectric material, generating a detectable electrical output potential from said reaction, amplifying said electrical output by passing said output through a high impedance amplifier thereby generating an amplified signal and transmitting said amplified signal to a detecting device for indicating the presence of said gaseous products.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of detecting environmental gaseous products in a gaseous sample comprising contacting a gaseous sample suspected of containing environmental gaseous products with a sensing surface of a dielectric material having a surface resistivity at least equal to 1×10 10 ohms per square centimeter and a bulk resistivity of 1×19 12 ohm-cm at 50% RH relative humidity and having dispersion bonding forces and minimal dipole hydrogen bonding forces by passing said sample through a free spaced formed by said sensing surface formed by said dielectric material and shield electrode as a reference electrode, holding said shield electrode at a fixed reference potential during the passing of said sample through said free space and thereby reacting said gaseous products with said dielectric material, generating a detectable electrical output potential from said reaction, amplifying said electrical output by passing said output through a high impedance amplifier thereby generating an amplified signal and transmitting said amplified signal to a detecting device for indicating the presence of said gaseous products.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is formed of dielectric material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polystyrene, polyethylene, polyester, polyterephthalate, polyimide and polysulfone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is formed of polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is formed of polystyrene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is formed of polyethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is formed of perfluoroalkoxy (PFA).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is formed of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is formed of a material including a predominate portion selected from polytetrafluorethylene (TFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polystyrene and polyethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 including the forming of the ground shield as an outer perforated enclosure with said probe means mounted within the enclosure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the method of claim 1 wherein said dielectric material surface resistivity is in excess of 1×10 15 ohm/square and said bulk resistivity is in excess of 1×10 15 ohm-cm at 50%RH.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 including intimately attaching said material as a coating to a conductive supporting base member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 including adhesively bonding the dielectric material to the base member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 12 including use of a silicone contact adhesive to bond said material to the base member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the method of claim 1 wherein said dipole-hydrogen bonding force is less than 5.0 ergs/cm 2 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 including use of said material having a dipole-hydrogen bonding force of less than 1 ergs/cm 2 .
Claim 17
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of detecting environmental gaseous products in a gaseous sample comprising contacting a gaseous sample suspected of containing environmental gaseous products such as combustion products with a capacitance sensing surface of a dielectric material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polystyrene, and polyethylene by passing said sample through a free spaced formed by said sensing surface formed by said dielectric material and a grounded shield electrode as a capacitance reference electrode spaced to form a sensing capacitor unit, holding said shield electrode at a reference ground potential during the passing of said sample through said free space and thereby reacting said gaseous products with said dielectric material, generating a detectable electrical output potential from said reaction, amplifying said electrical output by passing said output through a high impedance amplifier thereby generating an amplified signal and transmitting said amplified signal to a detecting device for indicating the presence of said gaseous products.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of detecting environmental gaseous products in a gaseous sample comprising contacting a gaseous sample suspected of containing environmental gaseous products such as combustion products with a capacitance sensing surface of a dielectric material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polystyrene, and polyethylene by passing said sample through a free spaced formed by said sensing surface formed by said dielectric material and a grounded shield electrode as a capacitance reference electrode spaced to form a sensing capacitor unit, holding said shield electrode at a reference ground potential during the passing of said sample through said free space and thereby reacting said gaseous products with said dielectric material, generating a detectable electrical output potential from said reaction, amplifying said electrical output by passing said output through a high impedance amplifier thereby generating an amplified signal and transmitting said amplified signal to a detecting device for indicating the presence of said gaseous products.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 including forming of the probe means as a disc-like element mounted within the ground shield means and having said material on opposite sides of the first electrode means.