US5034107A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for sensing nitrous oxide
Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1989-12-12
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Granted: 1991-07-23
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Expires: 2009-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for identifying and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a gas containing nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen is disclosed. A negative voltage is applied across a set of electrodes separated by an electrolyte wall. The voltage is of such a magnitude to produce an electric current which is on a plateau. The current is measured initially using air or oxygen as a test gas. After this reading is taken the gas containing nitrous oxide in oxygen and air is measured for its current and the concentration of nitrous oxide is determined using the two measured currents. The negative voltage can be applied at two different magnitudes to have two currents measured. Nitrous oxide containing mixtures would yield equivalent current readings.
Inventors
- 👤 Da Y. Wang
- 👤 Daniel T. Kennedy
- 👤 Burton W. MacAllister, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4071; G01N27/4065; G01N27/4073; G01N27/4074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen gas comprising: providing a solid electrolyte sensor having a solid electrolyte wall in contact with and interposed between a first platinum electrode and a second platinum electrode said first and second platinum electrodes exposed to a test gas containing a known amount of oxygen; applying a first negative voltage across said first and second electrodes, causing electrochemical pumping and a first electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said first electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said first electric current; removing the test gas and replacing it with a gas containing nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen; applying a second negative voltage of the same magnitude as the first negative voltage across said first and a second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and second electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said second electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said second electric current; determining the concentration of nitrous oxide and oxygen by comparing the magnitude of said first and second electric currents.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen gas comprising: providing a solid electrolyte sensor having a solid electrolyte wall in contact with and interposed between a first platinum electrode and a second platinum electrode said first and second platinum electrodes exposed to a test gas containing a known amount of oxygen; applying a first negative voltage across said first and second electrodes, causing electrochemical pumping and a first electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said first electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said first electric current; removing the test gas and replacing it with a gas containing nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen; applying a second negative voltage of the same magnitude as the first negative voltage across said first and a second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and second electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said second electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said second electric current; determining the concentration of nitrous oxide and oxygen by comparing the magnitude of said first and second electric currents.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said test gas is air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said electrolyte wall is made of yttria stabilized zirconia.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide and oxygen gas comprising: providing a solid electrolyte sensor having a solid wall in contact with and interposed between a first platinum electrode and second platinum electrode in communication with a test gas of pure oxygen; applying a first negative voltage across said first and second platinum electrodes, causing electrochemical oxygen pumping and a first electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said first electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said first electric current; removing the test gas of pure oxygen and replacing it with a gas containing nitrous oxide and oxygen; applying a second negative voltage of the same magnitude as the first across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a second electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said second electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said current; determining the concentration of nitrous oxide and oxygen by correlating the magnitude of said first and second electric currents.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide and oxygen gas comprising: providing a solid electrolyte sensor having a solid wall in contact with and interposed between a first platinum electrode and second platinum electrode in communication with a test gas of pure oxygen; applying a first negative voltage across said first and second platinum electrodes, causing electrochemical oxygen pumping and a first electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said first electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said first electric current; removing the test gas of pure oxygen and replacing it with a gas containing nitrous oxide and oxygen; applying a second negative voltage of the same magnitude as the first across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a second electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said second electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said current; determining the concentration of nitrous oxide and oxygen by correlating the magnitude of said first and second electric currents.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein said electrolyte wall is made of yttria stabilized zirconia.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
316 words
A method for detecting and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen gas comprising: providing a solid electrolyte sensor having a solid electrolyte wall in contact with and interposed between a first platinum electrode and a second platinum electrode said first and second platinum electrodes exposed to a test gas containing a known amount of oxygen; applying a first negative voltage across said first and second electrodes, causing electrochemical pumping and a first electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said first electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said first electric current; removing the test gas and replacing it with a gas containing nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen; applying a second negative voltage of the same magnitude as the first negative voltage across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a second electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said second electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said second electric current; applying a third negative voltage of a magnitude at least 1000 mV different from the first and second negative voltages across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a third electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said third electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said third electric current; comparing it with said second electric currents will be equal if nitrous oxide is the only other gas present and said third and second electric currents will be different if a gas other than nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen is present; and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide and oxygen by comparing the magnitude of said first and second electric currents.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
316 words
A method for detecting and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen gas comprising: providing a solid electrolyte sensor having a solid electrolyte wall in contact with and interposed between a first platinum electrode and a second platinum electrode said first and second platinum electrodes exposed to a test gas containing a known amount of oxygen; applying a first negative voltage across said first and second electrodes, causing electrochemical pumping and a first electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said first electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said first electric current; removing the test gas and replacing it with a gas containing nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen; applying a second negative voltage of the same magnitude as the first negative voltage across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a second electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said second electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said second electric current; applying a third negative voltage of a magnitude at least 1000 mV different from the first and second negative voltages across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a third electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said third electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said third electric current; comparing it with said second electric currents will be equal if nitrous oxide is the only other gas present and said third and second electric currents will be different if a gas other than nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen is present; and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide and oxygen by comparing the magnitude of said first and second electric currents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein said test gas is air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein said electrolyte wall is made of yttria stabilized zirconia.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
316 words
A method for detecting and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide and oxygen gas comprising: providing a solid electrolyte sensor having a solid wall in contact with and interposed between a first platinum electrode and second platinum electrode in communication with a test gas of pure oxygen; applying a first negative voltage across said first and second platinum electrodes, causing electrochemical oxygen pumping and a first electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said first negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said first electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said first electric current; removing the test gas of pure oxygen and replacing it with a gas containing nitrous oxide and oxygen; applying a second negative voltage of the same magnitude as the first negative voltage across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a second electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said second negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said second electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said current; applying a third negative voltage of a magnitude at least 1000 mV different from the first and second negative voltages across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a third electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said third current electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said third current; comparing said second and third electric currents, wherein said second and third electric currents will be equal if nitrous oxide is the only other gas present and said second and third electric current will be different if a gas other than nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen is present; and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide and oxygen by correlating the magnitude of said first and second electric currents.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
316 words
A method for detecting and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide and oxygen gas comprising: providing a solid electrolyte sensor having a solid wall in contact with and interposed between a first platinum electrode and second platinum electrode in communication with a test gas of pure oxygen; applying a first negative voltage across said first and second platinum electrodes, causing electrochemical oxygen pumping and a first electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said first negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said first electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said first electric current; removing the test gas of pure oxygen and replacing it with a gas containing nitrous oxide and oxygen; applying a second negative voltage of the same magnitude as the first negative voltage across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a second electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said second negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said second electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said current; applying a third negative voltage of a magnitude at least 1000 mV different from the first and second negative voltages across said first and second electrodes causing electrochemical pumping and a third electric current to flow through the electrolyte wall, said negative voltage of a magnitude to cause said third current electric current to be on a current plateau; measuring the magnitude of said third current; comparing said second and third electric currents, wherein said second and third electric currents will be equal if nitrous oxide is the only other gas present and said second and third electric current will be different if a gas other than nitrous oxide, oxygen and nitrogen is present; and determining the concentration of nitrous oxide and oxygen by correlating the magnitude of said first and second electric currents.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein said electrolyte wall is made of yttria stabilized zirconia.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-22 | 1995-01-21 | 1995-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-22 | 1999-01-21 | 1999-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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