US 12,405,201 B2
Method for detecting aerosol particles in ambient air, involves irradiating analysis volume with radiation modulated with modulation frequency to generate sound pressure waves
Achim Bittner, Heilbronn (DE); Alfons Dehé, Reutlingen (DE); and Rebecca Wienbruch, Aach (DE)
Assigned to Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für Angewandte Forschung e. V., Villingen-Schwenningen (DE)
Appl. No. 18/007,004
Filed by Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e. V., Villingen-Schwenningen (DE)
PCT Filed Jul. 21, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/070394
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 26, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/023141, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20188316 (EP), filed on Jul. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0266222 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 15/06 (2024.01); G01N 15/075 (2024.01); G01N 21/17 (2006.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 15/06 (2013.01) [G01N 33/0027 (2013.01); G01N 15/075 (2024.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for a detection of aerosol particles in ambient air, comprising
a. providing a photoacoustic gas sensor comprising,
a modulable emitter,
an analysis volume which is in fluid communication with the ambient air, wherein the analysis volume is an open system having one or more opening(s) such that the ambient air comprising aerosol particles can flow or diffuse into the analysis volume,
a MEMS sensor for the detection of sound pressure waves,
wherein the analysis volume is present in a beam path of the emitter such that the emitter can use modulable radiation to excite aerosol particles in the analysis volume to form sound pressure waves which are detected by the MEMS sensor,
b. irradiating the analysis volume with radiation modulated with a modulation frequency to generate sound pressure waves
c. measuring the generated sound pressure waves by the MEMS sensor
d. determining a presence and/or concentration of aerosol particles in the ambient air based on measurement results,
wherein the aerosol particles are bioaerosols and wherein a selective excitation and a detection of the aerosol particles is performed by tuning a wavelength of an emitted radiation to an absorption behavior of the aerosol particles.