US 12,339,267 B2
System and method for simultaneously examining, maintaining and calibrating multiple sensors and sensor types
George Lazea, Newton, MA (US); and Andrew Szabo, Charlton, MA (US)
Assigned to Aircuity, Inc., Norwood, MA (US)
Filed by Aircuity, Inc., Norwood, MA (US)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/934,557.
Prior Publication US 2024/0102983 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 1/26 (2006.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01); G01N 37/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/0075 (2013.01) [G01N 33/0006 (2013.01); G01N 33/0016 (2013.01); G01N 33/0067 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for simultaneously examining and calibrating air quality sensor units, said method comprising:
providing a plurality of air quality sensor units in need of testing and calibration, wherein each of said plurality of air quality sensor units has a unique electronic identifier and a unique test history;
providing a centralized station that contains receptacles a manifold, tubes, and cables, wherein said receptacles receive and retain said plurality of air quality sensor units at a plurality of test positions on said centralized station;
connecting at least one of said tubes and at least one of said cables to each of said plurality of air quality sensor units retained in one of said receptacles;
providing a computer at said centralized station that has access to an archive database, wherein said archive database stores said unique test history for each of said plurality of air quality sensor units,
wherein said computer electronically communicates with said plurality of air quality sensor units via said cables and reads said unique electronic identifier from each of said plurality of air quality sensor units as said plurality of air quality sensor units are attached to said cables;
supplying a test gas to said manifold, wherein said manifold distributes said test gas to said plurality of air quality sensor units in said receptacles via said tubes;
utilizing said computer to perform an electronics check test on said plurality of air quality sensor units that are connected to said cables in said receptacles, wherein said electronics check test produces electronics test data,
calibrating said plurality of air quality sensor units utilizing said test gas, wherein said plurality of air quality sensor units produce gas test data that is supplied to said computer;
retrieving said unique test history for each of said plurality of air quality sensor units from said archive database using said unique electronic identifier for each of said plurality of air quality sensor units and comparing said unique test history of each said plurality of air quality sensor units to said electronics test data and said gas test data to determine a rate of data drift for each of said plurality of air quality sensor units; and
identifying any of said plurality of air quality sensor units that have a rate of data drift indicative of impending failure.