# US 12,181,400 B2 · Fluid composition sensor device and method of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,400 B2 - Document ID: US12181400B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/674,325 - Filed: 2022-02-17 - Published: 2022-06-02 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-14 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Ronald W. Myers; Jamie W. Speldrich; Richard Charles Sorenson; Andy Walker Brown; Steven Lowery - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181400B2 ## CPC - G01N 15/0227: using imaging; using holography - G01N 1/2208: {with impactors} - G01N 1/2273: {Atmospheric sampling} - G01N 15/00: Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials - G01N 15/0255: {with mechanical, e.g. inertial, classification, and investigation of sorted collections (with centrifuges G01N15/042)} - G01N 15/06: Investigating concentration of particle suspensions (by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10) - G01N 15/1404: Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing - G01N 15/1433: using image recognition - G01N 15/075: by optical means - G01N 2001/2223: {aerosol sampling devices} - G01N 2015/0233: {using holography} - G01N 2015/1454: {using phase shift or interference, e.g. for improving contrast} - G01N 2015/1493: {Particle size} - 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 Various embodiments are directed to a fluid composition sensor device and method of using the same. In various embodiments, the fluid flow composition sensor is configured to receive a volume of fluid, the fluid composition sensor comprising a housing, a removable fluid flow component, an impactor nozzle, a collection media assembly dock element configured to receive a replaceable collection media assembly comprising a collection media configured to receive one or more particles within the volume of fluid, an imaging device configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the one or more particles received by the fluid composition sensor, and a controller configured to determine, based at least in part on the image, at least one particle characteristic of the volume of fluid. The imaging device may be configured to capture the image of one or more particles received by the fluid composition sensor using lensless holography. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for detecting fluid particle characteristics comprising: a fluid composition sensor configured to receive a volume of fluid, the fluid composition sensor comprising: a removable fluid flow component disposed within an internal sensor portion and configured to define at least a portion of a fluid flow path; a collection media assembly dock element configured to receive a replaceable collection media assembly comprising a collection media configured to receive one or more particles of a plurality of particles within the volume of fluid and the replaceable collection media assembly is arranged within the internal sensor portion in a particle collection position; a housing defining the internal sensor portion and being selectively configurable between an open housing configuration and a closed housing configuration, wherein when the housing is in the closed housing configuration, a vertical compression force is applied to the replaceable collection media assembly so as to at least partially constrain the replaceable collection media assembly in a vertical direction; and an imaging device, wherein the imaging device is configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the one or more particles of the plurality of particles received by the collection media using lensless holography. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to determine, based at least in part on the image, at least one particle characteristic of the plurality of particles of the volume of fluid and fluid flow path extends in a fluid flow direction that is at least substantially toward the collection media. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the collection media assembly dock element comprises one or more alignment features configured to engage the replaceable collection media assembly so as to constrain the replaceable collection media assembly against movement relative to the collection media assembly dock element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the replaceable collection media assembly further comprises one or more alignment features configured to engage the collection media assembly dock element so as to constrain the replaceable collection media assembly against movement relative to the collection media assembly dock element in at least a second direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet configured to receive the volume of fluid, wherein the open housing configuration provides an opening through which the replaceable collection media assembly may be removed from within the internal sensor portion, and wherein the fluid composition sensor in the closed housing configuration is configured to constrain the replaceable collection media assembly against movement relative to the collection media assembly dock element in at least a lateral direction, a vertical direction, and an angular direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the imaging device is operatively secured to the collection media assembly dock element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the fluid flow path is defined at least in part by a fluid impaction outlet disposed within the internal sensor portion and configured relative to the collection media assembly dock element so as to direct the volume of fluid in the fluid flow direction at least substantially perpendicular to the collection media of the replaceable collection media assembly received by the collection media assembly dock element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the fluid impaction outlet is defined at least in part by a fluid impaction outlet shape that is at least substantially similar to a field of view shape of the imaging device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the fluid composition sensor is configured such that at least a portion of the collection media of the replaceable collection media assembly received by the collection media assembly dock element is at least substantially aligned with a field of view of the imaging device and a central axis of the fluid impaction outlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the fluid flow path is defined at least in part by an impactor nozzle, and wherein the fluid impaction outlet is defined by an impactor nozzle outlet of the impactor nozzle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, further comprising at least one illumination source configured to emit one or more light beams so as to engage the collection media of the replaceable collection media assembly received by the collection media assembly dock element and illuminate the one or more particles received by the collection media. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein one or both of the controller and the imaging device is configured to read one or more identification elements disposed on the replaceable collection media assembly received by the collection media assembly dock element so as to identify the replaceable collection media assembly, wherein the one or more identification elements configured to uniquely identify the replaceable collection media assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid composition sensor is configured such that the volume of fluid passes over at least a portion of an internal circuitry disposed within the internal sensor portion before the volume of fluid is dispensed from the internal sensor portion through a fluid outlet of the fluid composition sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid composition sensor is configured to consecutively receive a plurality of replaceable collection media assemblies within the internal sensor portion in series. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the removable fluid flow component is configured to be removable from within the internal sensor portion when the fluid composition sensos in the open housing configuration. ### Claim 16 A method for detecting fluid particle characteristics comprising: receiving, via a fluid composition sensor, a volume of fluid; capturing, using an imaging device disposed within the fluid composition sensor, an image of at least a portion of one or more particles of a plurality of particles received by a collection media using lensless holography; determining, based at least in part on the image, at least one particle characteristic of the plurality of particles of volume of fluid; upon determining the at least one particle characteristic of the plurality of particles of volume of fluid, reconfiguring the fluid composition sensor to an open configuration; and replacing a first replaceable collection media assembly with a second replaceable collection media assembly; wherein the second replaceable collection media assembly comprises at least one alignment feature, and wherein replacing the first replaceable collection media assembly with the second replaceable collection media assembly comprises positioning the second replaceable collection media assembly within a portion of the fluid composition sensor based at least in part on the at least one alignment feature, and wherein, when the fluid composition sensor is in a closed housing configuration, a vertical compression force is applied to the first replaceable collection media assembly so as to at least partially constrain the first replaceable collection media assembly in a vertical direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising directing the volume of fluid, via an impactor nozzle, toward the collection media of the first replaceable collection media assembly and is captured using lensless holography. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, via the collection media, the one or more particles of the plurality of particles within the volume of fluid for image capturing.