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US 10,132,786 B2Granted
Method for testing a gas sensor and gas-measuring device with a testing device for testing a gas sensor
AssigneeDräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
InventorWilfried Diekmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for testing a gas sensor (30) and a gas-measuring device with a testing device for testing the gas sensor (30) make possible an improved analysis and evaluation of states of gas sensors (30). Due to the testing of a gas admission element (8) by monitoring measured signals (35, 38) in a time course (400) and a comparison with threshold values (350, 351) at predefined times (403, 404), (403″, 404″) in conjunction with the dispensing (91) of a quantity of test substance (5, 6), it is possible to test whether a gas supply (7) to the gas sensor (30, 309) is possible and given.
Claims20
A method for testing at least one gas admission element of a gas sensor or of a gas-measuring arrangement having at least one gas sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a control unit to control a sequence of operating states;
- with the control unit, beginning from a start time, bringing about a first operating state with a continuous measuring operation;
- with the control unit, bringing about, in a second operating state, a dispensing of a quantity of test substance, by means of a test gas dispensing unit arranged downstream of the gas admission element and upstream of the sensor-measuring arrangement, to a sensor-measuring arrangement arranged in the gas sensor;
- with the control unit, initiating a start of an expectancy time window, in a third operating state, with the control unit detecting at least one measured signal or a plurality of measured signals of the gas sensor with the beginning of the expectancy time window, and with the control unit comparing the at least one detected measured signal or one of a plurality of measured signals with a first measured signal threshold value;
- with the control unit, detecting at least one additional measured signal or another plurality of measured signals of the gas sensor, in a fourth operating state, with the control unit comparing the at least one additional detected measured signal or one of the additional plurality of measured signals with a second measured signal threshold value, and the control unit initiating an end of the expectancy time window;
- with the control unit, determining, on the basis of the comparison of the measured signal with the first measured signal threshold value or with the second measured signal threshold value or with both the first measured signal threshold value and the second measured signal threshold value, whether the gas admission element is ready to function for feeding air, gas or gas mixture from a measuring environment, in a fifth operating state;
- and
- with the control unit, determining an indicator of the readiness of the gas sensor to operate on the basis of the comparison of the measured signal with the first measured signal threshold value or with the second measured signal threshold value or with both the first measured signal threshold value and the second measured signal threshold value.
5 more elements
A gas-measuring device comprising:
- at least one gas sensor with at least one sensor-measuring arrangement, wherein the gas sensor or the gas-measuring arrangement detects a gas concentration or a change in a gas concentration and comprises a gas admission element arranged upstream of the sensor-measuring arrangement;
- a test gas dispensing unit arranged downstream of the gas admission element in the gas sensor or in the gas-measuring arrangement;
- and
- a control unit and memory associated with the control unit wherein the control unit is configured to:
- beginning from a start time, bring about a first operating state with a continuous measuring operation;
- bring about, in a second operating state, a dispensing of a quantity of test substance, by means of a test gas dispensing unit arranged downstream of the gas admission element and upstream of the sensor-measuring arrangement, to a sensor-measuring arrangement arranged in the gas sensor;
- initiate a start of an expectancy time window, in a third operating state, with the control unit detecting at least one measured signal or a plurality of measured signals of the gas sensor with the beginning of the expectancy time window, and with the control unit comparing the at least one detected measured signal or one of a plurality of measured signals with a first measured signal threshold value;
- detect at least one additional measured signal or another plurality of measured signals of the gas sensor, in a fourth operating state, with the control unit comparing the at least one additional detected measured signal or one of the additional plurality of measured signals with a second measured signal threshold value, and the control unit initiating an end of the expectancy time window;
- determine on the basis of the comparison of the measured signal with the first measured signal threshold value or with the second measured signal threshold value or with both the first measured signal threshold value and the second measured signal threshold value, whether the gas admission element is ready to function for feeding air, gas or gas mixture from a measuring environment, in a fifth operating state;
- and
- determine an indicator of the readiness of the gas sensor to operate on the basis of the comparison of the measured signal with the first measured signal threshold value or with the second measured signal threshold value or with both the first measured signal threshold value and the second measured signal threshold value.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.