US Patent No: 5,554,269

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

No.sub.x sensor using electrochemical reactions and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV)

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

A sensor system accurately measures nitrogen oxide (NO.sub.x) in a gas mixture via the use of at least one electrochemical sensing cell and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The sensor system has a sensor with an electrochemical sensing cell for producing an electrical signal (current, voltage, etc.) indicative of an amount of the nitrogen oxide within the gas mixture. The sensing cell has an electrolyte interposed between an anode electrocatalyst and a cathode electrocatalyst. Significantly, a DPV mechanism is connected to the sensing cell for enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of the electrolyte associated with the sensing cell. The DPV mechanism has (1) a pulse superimposition mechanism for combining a pulse with a sensing cell bias imposed upon the sensing cell; (2) a measurement mechanism for measuring the electrical signal before and during superimposition of the pulse to derive first and second sample signals; and (3) a concentration derivation mechanism for mathematically combining (preferably, subtraction) the first and second sample signals to derive a DPV signal which is indicative of the NO.sub.x concentration. Optionally, based upon the material structure of the sensing cell, the sensor system may also be equipped with an electrochemical pumping cell for consuming oxygen (O.sub.2) within the gas mixture.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

Related Publications

Loading Related Publications... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTECHICAGO, IL522

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Joseph, Jose P Palo Alto, CA 18 603
Oh, Seajin Palo Alto, CA 21 322

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
COMMTECH INTERNATIONAL (1)
4,900,405 Surface type microelectronic gas and vapor sensor 85 1987
 
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC. (1)
4,500,391 Method of and system for real time differential pulse detection 12 1983
 
GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE (1)
5,397,442 Sensor and method for accurately measuring concentrations of oxide compounds in gas mixtures 43 1994
 
GTE LABORATORIES INCORPORATED (1)
5,304,294 Method and apparatus for sensing nox 19 1992
 
MICROBIONICS, INC. (1)
4,874,500 Microelectrochemical sensor and sensor array 285 1987
 
NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (1)
4,927,517 NOx sensor having catalyst for decomposing NOx 63 1989
 
NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD. (1)
4,988,428 NOx concentration measuring apparatus 11 1990
 
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1)
4,897,162 Pulse voltammetry 208 1988
 
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH (1)
4,805,624 Low-potential electrochemical redox sensors 220 1987
 
VERIZON LABORATORIES INC. (1)
5,034,107 Method for sensing nitrous oxide 7 1989

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (10)
6,427,437 Method for improved performance of an engine emission control system 6 2000
6,360,530 Method and apparatus for measuring lean-burn engine emissions 7 2000
6,546,718 Method and system for reducing vehicle emissions using a sensor downstream of an emission control device 5 2001
6,539,706 Method and system for preconditioning an emission control device for operation about stoichiometry 1 2001
6,502,387 Method and system for controlling storage and release of exhaust gas constituents in an emission control device 11 2001
6,490,860 Open-loop method and system for controlling the storage and release cycles of an emission control device 7 2001
6,487,853 Method and system for reducing lean-burn vehicle emissions using a downstream reductant sensor 7 2001
6,467,259 Method and system for operating dual-exhaust engine 44 2001
6,463,733 Method and system for optimizing open-loop fill and purge times for an emission control device 32 2001
6,453,666 Method and system for reducing vehicle tailpipe emissions when operating lean 3 2001
 
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (10)
6,843,051 Method and apparatus for controlling lean-burn engine to purge trap of stored NOx 0 2000
6,691,507 Closed-loop temperature control for an emission control device 11 2000
6,860,100 Degradation detection method for an engine having a NOx sensor 2 2001
6,694,244 Method for quantifying oxygen stored in a vehicle emission control device 5 2001
6,691,020 Method and system for optimizing purge of exhaust gas constituent stored in an emission control device 2 2001
6,650,991 Closed-loop method and system for purging a vehicle emission control 2 2001
6,615,577 Method and system for controlling a regeneration cycle of an emission control device 20 2001
6,604,504 Method and system for transitioning between lean and stoichiometric operation of a lean-burn engine 6 2001
6,553,754 Method and system for controlling an emission control device based on depletion of device storage capacity 13 2001
7,059,112 Degradation detection method for an engine having a NOx sensor 10 2004
 
BAYER HEALTHCARE LLC (3)
8,026,104 Transient decay amperometry 0 2007
8,425,757 Gated amperometry 0 2007
8,404,100 Gated voltammetry 0 2008
 
BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE (1)
6,565,737 Method and apparatus for selectively removing oxygen using a non-catalytic electrode in an electrochemical cell 1 2000
 
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH (1)
6,385,966 Method for regenerating an NOx storage catalyst 6 2001
 
DELPHI RECHNOLOGIES, INC. (1)
6,616,820 Exhaust species sensing method and device 6 2000
 
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC (1)
7,153,401 Current-biased potentiometric NOx sensor for vehicle emissions 1 2003
 
OSAKA GAS CO., LTD. (1)
6,306,351 Nitrogen oxides detection method, and sensor element for detection of nitrogen oxides 3 1999
 
RIKEN (1)
5,861,092 Nitrogen oxide detector 6 1997
 
SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (1)
6,378,295 Method for cleaning exhaust gas with trimming control 6 2000