# US 10,871,303 B2 · Air quality sensor and data acquisition apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,303 B2 - Document ID: US10871303B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/718,584 - Filed: 2019-12-18 - Published: 2020-04-23 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-20 - Assignees: Grand Valley State University - Applicants: Grand Valley State University - Inventors: Leo M. McCormick; Sean M. McManus; Tom Michalak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871303B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/89: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - F24F 11/74: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity - G01N 1/2273: {Atmospheric sampling} - G01N 1/24: Suction devices {(G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence)} - G01N 1/26: with provision for intake from several spaces - F24F 2110/50: Air quality properties - F24F 2110/70: Carbon dioxide - G01N 33/004: {CO or CO2} - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An air sampling system is configured to detect an air quality metric for a plurality of regions. The sampling system comprises an air sample unit and an air sensor in fluid communication with a sensor supply line and configured to measure the air quality metric. A controller is configured to control the air sample unit to selectively direct a selected sample of a plurality of air samples to the sensor supply line. The controller is further configured to control the air sample unit to direct the remaining air samples to a sample purge line bypassing the sensor supply line. The controller is further configured to 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air sampling system configured to detect an air quality metric for a plurality of regions, the system comprising: an air sample unit configured to independently transfer air from the plurality of regions as a plurality of air samples; an air sensor in fluid communication with a sensor supply line and configured to measure the air quality metric; a controller configured to: control the air sample unit to selectively direct a selected sample of the plurality of air samples to the sensor supply line; control the air sample unit to direct the remaining air samples to a sample purge line bypassing the sensor supply line, wherein the remaining air samples are directed to the sample purge line in coordination with the selected sample being directed to the sensor supply line such that the remaining samples are concurrently drawn to the air sample unit; 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 sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air sampling system according to claim 1, further comprising: an air flow sensor in communication with the controller and configured to monitor air flow to the air sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The air sampling system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive an air flow signal from the air flow sensor; and identify whether the air flow is sufficient to measure the air quality metric based on the air flow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The air sampling system according to claim 2, wherein the air flow sensor comprises a pressure differential sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The air sampling system according to claim 4, wherein the pressure differential sensor is configured to measure a pressure differential between an inlet and an outlet of the sensor supply line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The air sampling system according to claim 4, wherein the inlet and the outlet are positioned on opposing sides of the air sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The air sampling system according to claim 2, wherein the air sample unit comprises a Venturi vacuum device configured to induce the air flow to the sensor supply line and the sample purge line. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air sampling system according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the remaining air samples to the sample purge line supplies updated air samples from each of the plurality of regions to the air sample unit in response to the selected sample being directed to the sensor supply line. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The air sampling system according to claim 1, wherein the remaining air samples are the plurality of air samples with the exception of the selected sample. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The air sampling system according to claim 1, wherein the air sensor is configured to measure at least one of a carbon dioxide level, a volatile organic compound (VOC) level, humidity level, a carbon monoxide level, and an ozone level. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: detecting an air flow through the sensor supply line; and identifying whether the air flow is sufficient to measure the air quality metric based on the air flow. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the air flow is detected based on a pressure differential between an inlet and an outlet of the sensor supply line. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The air sampling system according to claim 13, wherein pressure differential is measured on opposing sides of an air quality sensor configured to measure the air quality metric. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising: inducing the air flow for the sensor supply line and the sample purge line via a Venturi vacuum device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The air sampling system according to claim 11, wherein the air quality metric is a measure of at least one of a carbon dioxide level, a volatile organic compound (VOC) level, humidity level, a carbon monoxide level, and an ozone level. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The air sampling apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: an air flow sensor in communication with the controller and configured to monitor air flow to the air quality sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The air sampling apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive an air flow signal from the air flow sensor; and identify whether the air flow is sufficient to measure the air quality metric based on the air flow. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The air sampling system according to claim 18, wherein the air flow sensor comprises a pressure differential sensor configured to measure a pressure differential across the air quality sensor.