US 11,740,201 B2
Sensor interrogation
Towner Bennett Scheffler, Lansdale, PA (US); Michael Alvin Brown, Cranberry Township, PA (US); and Brian Keith Davis, Butler, PA (US)
Assigned to MSA Technology, LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed by MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/163,710.
Application 17/163,710 is a continuation of application No. 13/796,652, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, granted, now 10,908,111.
Application 13/796,652 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/650,613, filed on Oct. 12, 2012, granted, now 9,410,940.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/698,153, filed on Sep. 7, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/547,245, filed on Oct. 14, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2021/0148849 A1, May 20, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 27/404 (2006.01); G01N 27/26 (2006.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/497 (2006.01); G01N 27/417 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/26 (2013.01) [G01N 27/4175 (2013.01); G01N 33/007 (2013.01); G01N 33/497 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a housing comprising an inlet,
an electrolyte within the housing,
a first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor comprising a first working electrode in contact with the electrolyte,
a second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor comprising a second working electrode and a second counter electrode in contact with the electrolyte, and
electronic circuitry comprising a control system configured to operate the first amperometric electrochemical in a sensing mode wherein the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor is responsive to gas in fluid connection with the inlet and in an interrogation mode wherein the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor is electronically interrogated to test the functionality of the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor by applying an electric signal to the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor to electronically simulate a gas response of the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor by generating a current flow between the first working electrode of the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor and a first counter electrode of the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor via the electrolyte; the control system further being configured to operate the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor in a sensing mode wherein the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor is responsive to the gas in fluid connection with the inlet and in an interrogation mode wherein the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor is electronically interrogated to test the functionality of the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor by applying an electric signal to the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor to electronically simulate a gas response of the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor by generating a current flow between the second working electrode of the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor and the second counter electrode of the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor via the electrolyte; wherein the control system is further configured to place the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor in the interrogation mode only if the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor is in the sensing mode and placing the second amperometric electrochemical gas sensor in the interrogation mode only if the first amperometric electrochemical gas sensor is in the sensing mode.