US 12,332,151 B2
Near real-time, hands-off detection of airborne particulate contaminants and bioburden
Ernst-Ulrich Berndt, Berlin (DE); Lea Ann Ellermeier, Dallas, TX (US); Ruedger Rubbert, Berlin (DE); Justin Bernstein, Dallas, TX (US); Jonathan Berndt, Berlin (DE); and Richard William Nesbit, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by Ernst-Ulrich Berndt, Berlin (DE); Lea Ann Ellermeier, Dallas, TX (US); Ruedger Rubbert, Berlin (DE); Justin Bernstein, Dallas, TX (US); Jonathan Berndt, Berlin (DE); and Richard William Nesbit, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/461,937.
Prior Publication US 2023/0064876 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 15/06 (2024.01); G01N 1/22 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01); G01N 15/0205 (2024.01); G01N 15/1434 (2024.01); G01N 21/94 (2006.01); G01N 15/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/10 (2006.01); G01N 15/14 (2006.01); G01N 21/85 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/2205 (2013.01) [G01N 1/2273 (2013.01); G01N 1/2813 (2013.01); G01N 15/0211 (2013.01); G01N 15/0637 (2013.01); G01N 15/0656 (2013.01); G01N 15/1436 (2013.01); G01N 21/94 (2013.01); G01N 2001/2833 (2013.01); G01N 2015/0046 (2013.01); G01N 2015/03 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1029 (2024.01); G01N 2015/103 (2024.01); G01N 2015/1493 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1497 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8585 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A detection system comprising:
an intake and an exhaust for an air flow;
a first assembly including an enclosure adjacent the intake and the exhaust, the first assembly further including a substrate; the first assembly operational to generate and direct the air flow adjacent the substrate;
a collected bulk of condensed matter adhering to the substrate;
a spectroscopic optical sensor system directed to the collected bulk of condensed matter adhering to the substrate, the spectroscopic optical sensor system operational to detect in near real-time at least one distinctive feature of the collected bulk of condensed matter adhering to the substrate, wherein the spectroscopic optical sensor system is further configured to sense at least one phenomenon of physics selected from the group consisting of: an emission spectrum and an emission anisotropy;
an electronic converter operational to transform a first signal received from the spectroscopic optical sensor system representative of the at least one distinctive feature into electronic data in a format for display or transmission by a communications interface;
a handling unit;
a control unit operational to perform a plurality of process steps at least partially sequential, each process step is performed at least one time, in any order, and without an operator interaction to thereby define a hands-off, near real-time detection cycle; wherein the plurality of process steps comprising:
(a) obtaining the collected bulk of condensed matter adhering to the substrate,
(b) detecting the at least one distinctive feature utilizing an excitement process of a plasmon resonance of at least one portion of the collected bulk of condensed matter adhering to the substrate, and further utilizing a detection process of an enhanced plasmon resonance of at least a portion of the collected bulk of condensed matter adhering to the substrate,
(c) transforming the first signal received from the spectroscopic optical sensor system into the electronic data, and
(d) replacing or recycling the substrate via the handling unit configured to automate a sequential replacement or recycling of the substrate without interrupting a continuity of a plurality of near real-time detection cycles; and
wherein the control unit is further operational to perform each near real-time detection cycle over a period of time to thereby define an automatic cycle time.