US 11,703,473 B2
Operation of combustible gas sensor in a dynamic mode with a constant resistance setpoint
Daniel D. Santoro, Jr., Pittsburgh, PA (US); Meghan E. Swanson, Cranberry Township, PA (US); and Michael Alvin Brown, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Assigned to MSA Technology, LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed by MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 11, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/711,413.
Prior Publication US 2021/0181135 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 27/18 (2006.01); G01N 27/16 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/18 (2013.01) [G01N 27/16 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a sensing element comprising a heating element in operative connection with electronic circuitry, the sensing element forming a resistive element in a circuit of the electronic circuitry, comprising: activating the electronic circuitry to heat the sensing element to a temperature at which the sensing element is responsive to an analyte gas via a pulse of energy which is input to the heating element, wherein a constant resistance setpoint is set for the sensing element, variably controlling energy through the circuit in at least a first phase during the pulse of energy toward achieving the constant resistance setpoint, and measuring a response of the sensing element over time during the pulse of energy to detect the analyte gas.