Systems and methods for sensing of gases using a configurable dynamic range of a sensor

A method of operating a gas sensor system providing extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations, comprising:

• applying contextual inputs for selection of application scenarios with an extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations;
• preselecting operation parameters of the gas sensor system based on the applied contextual inputs, wherein the operation parameters comprise:
• first operation parameters, that when selected, are configured to measure a first range of gas concentrations, wherein the first operation parameters comprise a first capacitance value of a tuning capacitor, a first operation voltage, and a first operation temperature;
• and
• second operation parameters, that when selected, are configured to measure a second range of gas concentrations different from the first range of gas concentrations, wherein the second operation parameters comprise a second capacitance value of the tuning capacitor different from the first capacitance value, a second operation voltage different from the first operation voltage, and a second operation temperature different from the first operation voltage;
• exposing a gas sensing element of a gas sensor to an environment comprising an analyte gas, wherein the gas sensing element comprises at least two electrodes, a dielectric substrate, and a sensing material coupled to the substrate and configured to be exposed to an analyte gas;
• heating the sensing material to an operation temperature corresponding to the preselected operation parameters via a heating element;
• providing the tuning capacitor with a capacitance value corresponding to the preselected operation parameters in parallel to the gas sensing element;
• measuring one or more impedance outputs of the gas sensing element via an impedance detector at the preselected operation parameters;
• comparing the one or more impedance outputs at the preselected operation parameters to corresponding values stored in a look-up table;
• determining a concentration of measured gas at a given time or over a period of time based on the look-up table;
• displaying the determined concentration of measured gas at a given time or the determined concentrations of measured gas over time via an output device.

A gas sensor providing extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations, comprising:

• a gas sensing element comprising at least two electrodes, a dielectric substrate, and a sensing material coupled to the substrate and configured to be exposed to an analyte gas;
• at least one heating element coupled to the dielectric substrate and configured to heat the gas sensing element to an operation temperature based on a selected operation voltage;
• at least one impedance detector configured to operate at two or more operation frequencies;
• one or more tuning capacitors located in an electric circuit of the gas sensor and parallel with the gas sensing element;
• and
• control circuitry comprising:
• a controller of a power supply of the at least one heating element configured to select the operation voltage with which to heat the at least one heating element to reach the operation temperature;
• a controller of the at least one impedance detector configured to adjust the two or more frequencies of the at least one impedance detector, wherein an alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element is provided at the two or more frequencies;
• and
• a controller of the one or more tuning capacitors configured to select the one or more tuning capacitors based on, at least in part, the selected operation voltage;
• wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect a first range of gas concentrations via measuring one or more response signals in response to the alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element at a first value of the one or more tuning capacitors and at a first value of the selected operation voltage;
• wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect a second range of gas concentrations via measuring the one or more response signals in response to the alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element at a second value of the one or more tuning capacitors and a second value of the selected operation voltage, and
• wherein the second range of gas concentrations is different from the first range of gas concentrations, the second value of the one or more tuning capacitors is different from the first value of the one or more tuning capacitors, and the second value of the selected operation voltage is different from the first value of the selected operation voltage.

A gas sensor system providing extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations, the gas sensor system comprising:

• a gas sensor comprising:
• a gas sensing element comprising at least two electrodes, a dielectric substrate, and a sensing material coupled to the at least two electrodes and configured to be exposed to an analyte gas;
• at least one energy-delivering element coupled to the sensing material and configured to deliver energy to the gas sensing material to an operation energy level based on a selected energy level;
• at least one impedance detector configured to operate at two or more frequencies;
• and
• one or more tuning capacitors located in an electric circuit of the gas sensor system and parallel with the gas sensing element;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• control an energy source of the at least one energy-delivering element, wherein the energy source is configured to select an energy level with which to control the at least one energy source element to reach an operation energy level based on the selected operation energy level;
• adjust the two or more frequencies of the at least one impedance detector, wherein an alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element is provided at the two or more frequencies;
• and
• select the one or more tuning capacitors based on, at least in part, the selected operation energy level;
• and
• data acquisition circuitry configured to receive one or more response signals from the gas sensing element upon the alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element;
• wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect a first range of gas concentrations via measuring the one or more response signals in response to the alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element at a first value of the one or more tuning capacitors and at a first value of the selected operation energy level;
• wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect a second range of gas concentrations via measuring the one or more response signals in response to the alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element at a second value of the one or more tuning capacitors and a second value of the selected operation energy level, and
• wherein the second range of gas concentrations is different from the first range of gas concentrations, the second value of the one or more tuning capacitors is different from the first value of the one or more tuning capacitors, and the second value of the selected operation energy level is different from the first value of the selected operation energy level.