# US 10,871,420 B2 · Particulate matter/number synchronization measurement device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,420 B2 - Document ID: US10871420B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/220,835 - Filed: 2018-12-14 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-19 - Assignees: 3DATX Corporation - Applicants: 3DATX Corporation - Inventors: David W. Miller; John William Hynd; Gurdas S. Sandhu; Andrew D. Burnette; Karl Ropkins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871420B2 ## CPC - G01M 15/102: {by monitoring exhaust gases} - G01N 15/00: Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials - G01N 15/02: Investigating particle size or size distribution (by measuring osmotic pressure G01N7/10; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10) - G01N 15/0656: {using electric, e.g. electrostatic methods or magnetic methods (by investigating individual particles G01N15/1031, G01N15/12)} - G01N 2015/0046: {in gas, e.g. smoke} - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) ## Abstract An emissions measurement system capable of providing an accurate, real-time estimate of particle number (PN)/particulate matter (PM) within exhaust is disclosed. The system is capable of accurately differentiating the size and composition of PM/PN by synchronizing dissimilarly configured sensors. The exhaust may be generated by an internal combustion engine, in which case the system may be sequentially connected to the exhaust from the internal combustion engine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An emissions measurement system comprising: an emissions sample inlet; at least three sensors connected to the emissions sample inlet, wherein the sensors are sequentially connected in a linear arrangement, wherein each of the sensors is configured to perform a different measurement of a sample, and wherein the sensors comprise a laser light opacity sensor, a light scattering sensor, and a particle ionization sensor; and an emissions sample outlet connected to the sensors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The emissions measurement system of claim 1, wherein the laser light opacity sensor is configured to use a blue laser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The emissions measurement system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are configured to be synchronized. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The emissions measurement system of claim 1, further comprising a processing unit wirelessly connected to the sensors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The emissions measurement system of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide results based on data provided by the sensors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The emissions measurement system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit is configured to triangulate the data provided by the sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The emissions measurement system of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor cartridge defining the emissions sample inlet and the emissions sample outlet; and a sample probe that is fluidically connected to the emissions sample inlet, wherein the at least three sensors are disposed within the sensor cartridge between the emissions sample inlet and emissions sample outlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The emissions measurement system of claim 7, wherein a temperature in any of the sensors is equal thereby reducing water vapor and condensation buildup. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The emissions measurement system of claim 7, wherein the sensor cartridge further comprises a shock absorbing material disposed in the sensor cartridge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The emissions measurement system of claim 7, wherein the sensor cartridge is configured to be connected to an exhaust of an internal combustion engine. ### Claim 11 A method of measuring emissions comprising: linearly transporting an emissions sample through at least three sensors, wherein each of the sensors is configured to perform a different measurement of the emissions sample, and wherein the sensors comprise a laser light opacity sensor, a light scattering sensor, and a particle ionization sensor; and calculating, using a processing unit, a particle number (PN) or particulate matter (PM) measurement for the emissions sample using data from the sensors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising triangulating the data from the sensors using the processing unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the calculating uses a proportionality factor, a weighted linear integral factor, or a non-linear integral factor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving readings of an exhaust sample from the sensors at the processing unit, wherein each of the readings comprises at least one of the particulate matter and the particle number; applying a union function to the readings using the processing unit; applying an intersect function to the readings using the processing unit; and identifying a quantity of a pollutant within the exhaust sample using the processing unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the quantity of the pollutant within the exhaust sample comprises a mass of particles, a number of particles, or a concentration of particles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising filtering the readings of the exhaust sample from the sensors prior to applying the union function or the intersect function using the processing unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the identifying is based on at least one parameter associated with another exhaust sample. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising triangulating the readings of the exhaust sample using the processing unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: directing the emissions sample into an emissions sample inlet defined by a sensor cartridge; and directing the emissions sample out of an emissions sample outlet defined by the sensor cartridge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the sensors are disposed in the sensor cartridge.