COMBUSTIBLE GAS SENSORS INCLUDING INTEGRAL SUPPORT STRUCTURES AND COMBUSTIBLE GAS SENSOR WITH MULTIPLE ACTIVE ELEMENTS

摘要

A combustible gas sensor includes at least a first sensing element comprising a first conductive element having, for example, an average diameter less than 20 μm in electrical connection with electronic circuitry. The combustible gas sensor further includes a first support element having a first anchored end, a second anchored end and an extending intermediate section between the first anchored end and the second anchored end, the extending intermediate section providing support for the first conductive element. Another combustible gas sensor includes a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element includes a first catalyst support member having a volume less than a sphere having a diameter of 500 μm. The second sensing element includes a second catalyst support member having a volume less than a sphere having a diameter of 500 μm. The combustible gas sensor further includes electronic circuitry that is adapted to cycle between a first mode in which the first sensing element is operated in a higher power mode and the second sensing element is operated in a lower power mode and a second mode in which the second sensing element is operated in a higher power mode and the first sensing element is operated in a lower power mode.

主权项

1. A combustible gas sensor, comprising: at least a first sensing element comprising a first conductive element having an average diameter less than 20 μm in electrical connection with electronic circuitry, the combustible gas sensor further comprising a first support element having a first anchored end and a second anchored end and an intermediate section extending between the first anchored end and the second anchored end, the intermediate section providing support for the first conductive element, wherein the first support element exhibits a quotient calculated by dividing a tensile strength thereof in units of pounds per square inch or psi by a thermal conductivity thereof in units of watts/cm/° C. of at least 250,000.