Air quality sensor and data acquisition apparatus

A method for detecting air quality for a plurality of volumetric regions, the method comprising:

• transferring air from a plurality of regions of a building as a plurality of air samples;
• controlling an air sample unit to selectively direct a selected sample of the plurality of air samples to a sensor supply line;
• in response to the selected sample directed to the sensor supply line, controlling the air sample unit to direct at least one remaining air sample of the plurality of air samples to a sample purge line bypassing the sensor supply line;
• detecting an air quality metric for the selected sample supplied to the sensor supply line;
• and
• changing the selected sample over time among the plurality of air samples, such that the air quality metric is identified for the plurality of regions, wherein the controlling of the air sample unit to direct the at least one remaining air sample to the sample purge line supplies updated air samples from each of the plurality of regions to the air sample unit in coordination with the selected sample being directed to the sensor supply line.

An air sampling apparatus configured to detect an air quality metric for a plurality of regions, the apparatus comprising:

• an air sample unit configured to receive a plurality of air samples from the plurality of regions, wherein the plurality of air samples comprise a selected sample and at least one remaining sample and the air sample unit is configured to direct the at least one remaining air sample to a sample purge line in coordination with the selected sample being directed to a sensor supply line;
• an air quality sensor in fluid communication with the sensor supply line and configured to measure the air quality metric;
• a controller configured to:
• control the air sample unit to selectively direct the selected sample of the plurality of air samples to the sensor supply line;
• control the air sample unit to direct the at least one remaining air sample to the sample purge line bypassing the sensor supply line in response to the selected sample directed to the sensor supply line;
• change the selected sample over time among the plurality of air samples such that the air quality metric is identified for the plurality of regions;
• and
• receive an indication of the air quality metric of the selected sample from the air quality sensor.