DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR DETECTING ODORANTS

摘要

Devices, systems, and methods for sensing one or more odorants are disclosed. The device may include an oscillator crystal coated with a polymer. The oscillator crystal may typically oscillate at a known first frequency. The coated crystal may respond to exposure to an odorant by oscillating at one or more alternative frequencies. The coated crystal response may depend on the polymer composition, polymer concentration, coating geometry, and/or odorant to which it may be exposed. The system may include one or more oscillator crystals, each coated with a different polymer composition, polymer concentration, and/or coating geometry. The system may include non-coated crystals. The system may also include additional electronics to measure the frequencies of the one or more coated or non-coated crystals and to analyze their frequencies. The method may include the use of such devices and/or systems to identify and/or determine the concentration of one or more odorants.

主权项

1. A device for sensing one or more odorants, the device comprising:
an oscillator crystal having a first side; a first conductive film in electrical communication with the first side of the oscillator crystal; and a first polymer coating in physical communication with the first conductive film; wherein the first polymer coating has a first diffusivity constant for a first odorant, a second diffusivity constant for a second odorant, and the first diffusivity constant is different than the second diffusivity constant.