US5783154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sensor for reducing or oxidizing gases
Assignee: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
•
Filing: 1996-11-18
•
Granted: 1998-07-21
•
Expires: 2016-11-18
Abstract
Abstract In a gas sensor for sensing reducing or oxidizing gases which comprises a semiconductive metal oxide film, there are provided stripe-like outer electrodes which define therebetween a continuous surface area and stripe-like inner electrodes which extend between, and parallel to, the outer electrodes so as to divide the continuous surface area into longitudinal segments which have different properties with respect to reducing or oxidizing gases such that different conductivity changes are generated for the different segments upon exposure to oxidizing or reducing gases.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Althainz
- 👤 Joachim Goschnick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/12; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A gas sensor for reducing or oxidizing gases, comprising: a) a number of gas sensitive, longitudinal segments consisting of a semiconductive metal oxide film, b) each of said segments having two strip electrodes in contact therewith, c) said segments having different properties with respect to reducing or oxidizing gases such that different conductivity changes are generated from said segments upon exposure to oxidizing or reducing gases, d) said segments defining together a continuous surface area, and e) said strip electrodes including outer electrodes extending at opposite ends of said continuous surface area so as to limit said continuous surface area, and inner electrodes extending between, and parallel to, said outer electrodes so as to divide said continuous surface area into said longitudinal segments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A gas sensor for reducing or oxidizing gases, comprising: a) a number of gas sensitive, longitudinal segments consisting of a semiconductive metal oxide film, b) each of said segments having two strip electrodes in contact therewith, c) said segments having different properties with respect to reducing or oxidizing gases such that different conductivity changes are generated from said segments upon exposure to oxidizing or reducing gases, d) said segments defining together a continuous surface area, and e) said strip electrodes including outer electrodes extending at opposite ends of said continuous surface area so as to limit said continuous surface area, and inner electrodes extending between, and parallel to, said outer electrodes so as to divide said continuous surface area into said longitudinal segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein said metal oxide film is provided with a coating having a permeability for reducing or oxidizing gases which changes continuously between said outer electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein said metal oxide thin film has a coating which reacts with the gas to be measured so as to convert said gas to a reducing or oxidizing gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A gas sensor according to claim 2, wherein said changing permeability for reducing and oxidizing gases is obtained by a continuously changing chemical composition of said coating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A gas sensor according to claim 2, wherein said continuous surface area includes a metal oxide film which is doped in such a way that its composition changes continuously between said outer electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein said continuous surface area is disposed on a first side of a substrate and meandering heating elements are disposed on a second side of said substrate, said heating elements being arranged opposite one or respective ones of said segments.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4007435A
Cited
US4377944A
Cited
US4457161A
Cited
US4697165A
Cited
GB2170913A
Cited
US4654624A
Cited
US4928513A
Cited
EP0364315A1
Cited
US5045285A
Cited
US5367283A
Cited
US5451371A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-20 | 2002-01-19 | 2002-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-20 | 2006-01-19 | 2006-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-20 | 2010-01-19 | 2010-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |