US5028394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chemical sensors
Assignee: Bend Research Inc
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Filing: 1990-04-13
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Granted: 1991-07-02
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Expires: 2010-04-13
Abstract
Abstract Sensors responsive to small changes in the concentration of chemical species are disclosed, comprising (a) a mechanochemically responsive polymeric film capable of expansion or contraction in response to a change in its chemical environment, operatively coupled to (b) a transducer capable of directly converting said expansion or contraction to a measurable electrical response.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Lowell, Jr.
- 👤 David J. Edlund
- 👤 Dwayne T. Friesen
- 👤 George W. Rayfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N19/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A chemical sensor comprising (a) a mechanochemically responsive polymeric film capable of dimensional expansion or contraction in response to a change in its chemical environment, adhered to (b) a transducer capable of directly converting said dimensional expansion or contraction to an electrical response.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
A chemical sensor comprising (a) a mechanochemically responsive polymeric film capable of dimensional expansion or contraction in response to a change in its chemical environment, adhered to (b) a transducer capable of directly converting said dimensional expansion or contraction to an electrical response.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said mechanochemically responsive polymeric film contains at least one functional group, said at least one functional group being selected from an aldehyde, an amine, an imine, an amide, an imide, a carbamate, a carboxylate, an ester, an ether, a hydroquinone, a hydroxy, a ketone, a lactam, a lactone, a nitrile, a phosphate, a phosphine, a phosphite, a pyridine, an alkylated pyridine, a sulfone, a sulfoxide, a thiol, a thioamide, a thioester, a thioether, a thiourea, a urea, a urethane, and heterocycles containing oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur hetero atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sensor of claim 2 wherein said mechanochemically responsive polymer film is doped with said at least one functional group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensor of claim 2 wherein said at least one functional group is covalently bonded to the polymer backbone of said mechanochemically responsive polymeric film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sensor of claim 4 wherein said at least one functional group is in pendant positions on said polymer backbone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sensor of claim 4 wherein said at least one functional group is part of the repeating unit of said polymer backbone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said mechanochemically responsive polymeric film is selected from polyethyleneimine, poly(acrylic acid) and poly(alkylacrylic acid).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said mechanochemically responsive polymeric film is crosslinked with 0.01 to 0.2 mol crosslinking reagent per polymer repeating unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sensor of claim 8 where said crosslinking reagent is selected from the group consisting of a polyamine, a polyol, an acid chloride and an isocyanate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sensor of claim 9 wherein said crosslinking reagent is a polyamine and said polyamine is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, hexamethylenediamine, 1,6-hexanediamine and a phenylenediamine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The sensor of claim 9 wherein said crosslinking reagent is a polyol and said polyol is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, sorbitol, mannitol, scyllitol and inisotols.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sensor of claim 9 wherein said crosslinking reagent is an acid chloride and said acid chloride is selected from the group consisting of adipoyl chloride, isophthaloyl chloride, malonyl chloride, terephthaloyl chloride and trimesoyl chloride.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The sensor of claim 9 wherein said crosslinking reagent is an isocyanate and said isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of tolylene diisocyanate, a phenylene diisocyanate, methylene bis-(phenylisocyanate) and poly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said mechanochemically responsive polymer film comprises a functional group-grafted copolymer wherein the functional group is selected from carboxylate, sulfonate and amine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sensor of claim 14 wherein the polymer to which said functional group is grafted is selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinylidenefluoride) and polysulfone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said transducer is selected from a piezoelectric material and a strain gauge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 16 wherein said piezoelectric material is a piezoelectric polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 17 wherein said piezoelectric polymer is polarized poly(vinylidenefluoride).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sensor of claim 16 wherein said strain gauge is selected from a metal foil strain gauge and a semiconductor strain gauge.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the change in chemical environment is a change in hydrogen ion concentration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the change in chemical environment is a change in the concentration of a weak acid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 20 or 21 wherein the chemical environment is aqueous.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 20 or 21 wherein the chemical environment is nonaqueous.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the change in chemical environment is a change in hydroxide ion concentration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the change in chemical environment is a change in the concentration of a weak base.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 23 or 24 wherein the chemical environment is aqueous.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 23 or 24 wherein the chemical environment is nonaqueous.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the change in chemical environment is a change in transition metal ion concentration.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 28 wherein the transition metal ion is Cd(II).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 28 wherein the transition metal ion is Cr(III).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 28 wherein the transition metal ion is Cr(VI).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 28 wherein the transition metal ion is Cu(II).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 28 wherein the transition metal ion is Fe(II).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 28 wherein the transition metal ion is Fe(III).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor of claim 28 wherein the mechanochemically responsive polymeric film is doped with a beta-diketone.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the change in chemical environment is a change in Ba(II) concentration.
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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) | 1994-07-01 | 1994-12-31 | 1995-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-01 | 1998-12-31 | 1999-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-01 | 2002-12-31 | 2003-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |