The present invention provides a nanomechanical sensor in which a negative influence of water in a sample on measurement is suppressed. In an embodiment of the present invention, as a receptor material of the nanomechanical sensor, a low-hygroscopic material such as polysulfone, polycaprolactone, poly(vinylidene fluoride), or poly(4-methylstyrene) is used. According to this embodiment, a negative influence, such as saturation of a receptor layer by water in the sample, or masking of an output signal based on trace components by an output signal based on water contained in the sample in a large amount, can be suppressed.

A photoacoustic detector includes an emitter, an acoustic resonator having a single-pass cavity with a transparent wall, and an acoustic sensor. The emitter is arranged adjacent to the transparent wall and is configured to emit modulated electromagnetic radiation that enters the acoustic resonator through the transparent wall in a direction that intersects with a longitudinal axis of the cavity.

An inspection apparatus includes a container, first and second detectors, and a controller. The container stores a specimen. The first detector detects a substance emitted by the specimen stored in the container. The second detector detects a different component than the substance in the atmosphere inside the container. The controller corrects the result of detection of the substance by the first detector on the basis of the component detected by the second detector and judges a quality of the specimen.

A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.

A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.

A sensor device for sensing CO.sub.2 comprises a hybrid sensing material and a transducer. The hybrid sensing material comprises at least amines and nanoparticles, wherein the hybrid sensing material has a property and is configured to change the property dependent on a current CO.sub.2 concentration in the surrounding. The transducer is configured to output an electrical sensor signal dependent on the property of the hybrid sensing material.

A through-hole (3) is disposed in a supporting substrate (2). Plate-shaped beams (4 (4A, 4B)) each includes a piezoelectric element, extends from an edge of the through-hole (3) toward an opposite edge to close a part of the through-hole (3), supports a substance adsorption film to which a constitutive substance to be detected adheres, and has a vibration frequency that is varied due to adhesion of the constitutive substance to the substance adsorption film. Drive electrodes (16) apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element to vibrate and deform the beams (4). Detection electrodes (17) detect information about the vibration frequencies of the beams (4).

An ultrasonic gas sensor includes a housing, and a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer that are separately arranged at a top of an inner chamber of the housing, where the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer form a V-shaped ultrasonic transmission path in the housing; the housing is provided therein with a gas inlet channel and a gas outlet channel; an upper end of the gas inlet channel is close to the first ultrasonic transducer, and an upper end of the gas outlet channel is close to the second ultrasonic transducer, such that a measured gas flow entering a bypass tube passes through a detection area of the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer; a lower end of the gas inlet channel and a lower end of the gas outlet channel communicate with a gas sensor mount.

A method and an aircraft air contaminant analyzer for determining and classifying air contaminants, providing a sample flow path and bypass flow path bypassing the sample flow path, are disclosed, the analyzer comprising a contaminant collector comprising a medium desorbing captured contaminants, the collector providing a first sample flow path; a heater vaporizing captured contaminants; a bypass comprising a channel including a second sample flow path, the channel bypassing the collector; a sensor responding when air contaminant mass is added to or removed from the sensor, for classifying contaminant type; the sensor receiving contaminants desorbed from the medium; a frequency measurement device measuring the response generated by the sensor as the air contaminant is added to and removed from the sensor; a computer readable medium bearing a contaminant recognition program and calibration data; and, a processor executing the program, the program including a module classifying the contaminant by type.

An air contaminant collector device for use in an aircraft air contaminant analyzer, and a method for its use, are disclosed.