US4892834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chemical sensor
Assignee: EIC Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 1987-09-03
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Granted: 1990-01-09
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Expires: 2007-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A sensor for detecting a chemical substance includes an insertion element having a structure which enables insertion of the chemical substance with a resulting change in the bulk electrical characteristics of the insertion element under conditions sufficient to permit effective insertion; the change in the bulk electrical characteristics of the insertion element is detected as an indication of the presence of the chemical substance.
Inventors
- 👤 R. David Rauh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/22; G01N27/227; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/414; G01N27/4141; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0036; G01N33/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/17; Y10T436/173845; Y10T436/175383; Y10T436/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A sensor for detecting a chemical substance comprising an insertion element comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of IRO 2 and HfS 2 having a structure which enables insertion of said chemical substance with a resulting change in the bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element; and detecting means for measuring the change in capacitance of said sensor as a manifestation of said change in said bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element to detect the presence of said chemical substance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A sensor for detecting a chemical substance comprising an insertion element comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of IRO 2 and HfS 2 having a structure which enables insertion of said chemical substance with a resulting change in the bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element; and detecting means for measuring the change in capacitance of said sensor as a manifestation of said change in said bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element to detect the presence of said chemical substance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A sensor for detecting a chemical substance comprising an insertion element comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of IRO 2 and HfS 2 having a structure which enables insertion of said chemical substance with a resulting change in the bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element; and detecting means comprising first and second electrically conductive elements that sandwich said insertion element for detecting said change in said bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element as an indication of the presence of said chemical substance, wherein at least one of said electrically conductive elements comprises a semiconductor or electrically conductive ceramic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
A sensor for detecting a chemical substance comprising an insertion element comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of IRO 2 and HfS 2 having a structure which enables insertion of said chemical substance with a resulting change in the bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element; and detecting means comprising first and second electrically conductive elements that sandwich said insertion element for detecting said change in said bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element as an indication of the presence of said chemical substance, wherein at least one of said electrically conductive elements comprises a semiconductor or electrically conductive ceramic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sensor for detecting a chemical substance comprising an insertion element comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of IRO 2 and HfS 2 having a structure which enables insertion of said chemical substance with a resulting change in the bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element; and detecting means for measuring the change in said bulk electrical characteristics as an indication of the presence of said chemical substance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sensor for detecting a chemical substance comprising an insertion element comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of IRO 2 and HfS 2 having a structure which enables insertion of said chemical substance with a resulting change in the bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element; and detecting means for measuring the change in said bulk electrical characteristics as an indication of the presence of said chemical substance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sensor of claims 1 or 3 wherein said detecting means comprises first and second electrically conductive elements that sandwich said insertion element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The sensor of claim 4 wherein said first electrically conductive element comprises a catalytic element which serves to dissociate said chemical substance into species that can insert into the bulk of said insertion element, and said second electrically conductive element comprises a metal, semiconductor, or electrically conductive ceramic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sensor of claim 5 wherein said catalytic element is Pt, Pd, Cu, Ru, Ni, Au, or a combination thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 5 wherein said semiconductor is p-Si or n-Si.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sensor of claim 5 wherein said second electrically conductive element comprises a semicondutor and said sensor is incorporated as part of a field effect transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sensor of claims 1, 2, or 3 further comprising a dielectric element in electrical contact with said insertion element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sensor of claim 9 wherein said dielectric element comprises SiO 2 or Ta 2 O 5 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensor of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein said chemical substance comprises hydrogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensor of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein said chemical substance comprises ammonia.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sensor of claim 2 wherein one of said electrically conductive elements comprises a catalytic element which serves to dissociate said chemical substance into species that can insert into the bulk of said insertion element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sensor of claim 13 wherein said catalytic element is Pt, Pd, Cu, Ru, Ni, Au, or a combination thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 2 wherein said semiconductor is p-Si or n-Si.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sensor of claim 2 wherein said second electrically conductive element comprises a semiconductor and said sensor is incorporated as part of a field effect transistor.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for detecting a chemical substance comprising the steps of providing a sensor comprising an insertion element comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of IrO 2 and HfS 2 ; contacting said sensor with said chemical substance under conditions sufficient to permit effective insertion, whereupon said chemical substance inserts into the bulk of said insertion element and causes the bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element to change; and detecting said change in said bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element as an indication of the presence of said chemical substance.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for detecting a chemical substance comprising the steps of providing a sensor comprising an insertion element comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of IrO 2 and HfS 2 ; contacting said sensor with said chemical substance under conditions sufficient to permit effective insertion, whereupon said chemical substance inserts into the bulk of said insertion element and causes the bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element to change; and detecting said change in said bulk electrical characteristics of said insertion element as an indication of the presence of said chemical substance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said sensor is operated at a temperature below 150° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said sensor is operated at room temperature.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said change in said bulk electrical characteristics is detected by means of first and second electrically conductive elements that sandwich said insertion element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said first electrically conductive element comprises a catalytic element which serves to dissociate said chemical substance into species that can insert into said bulk of said insertion element, and said second electrically conductive element comprises a metal, semiconductor, or electrically conductive ceramic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said sensor further comprises a dielectric element in electrical contact with said insertion element, said dielectric element and said insertion element being disposed between said first and second electrically conductive elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said sensor further comprises a dielectric element in electrical contact with said insertion element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said chemical substance comprises hydrogen.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said chemical substance comprises ammonia.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-08 | 1993-07-10 | 1994-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-08 | 1997-07-10 | 1998-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-08 | 2001-07-10 | 2002-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |