Provided is a gas sensor and methods of monitoring the same. The gas sensor may detect gas restrictions within the gas sensor. The gas sensor may include a test gas diffusion path allowing for monitoring of restrictions within the gas sensor. A pulse of test gas may be electrochemically generated into a void disposed between the membrane and capillary of the gas sensor. The resulting transient signal on the sensing electrode may be analyzed to determine the degree of restriction present in the gas sensor.

A system that includes a gas sensor, a fresh air flow controller, a sample flow controller, and a system controller. The fresh air flow controller is configured to deliver fresh air to the gas sensor. The sample flow controller is configured to deliver a sample to the gas sensor. The system controller has a processor connected to memory storing instructions that are executable by the processor. When executed, the instructions cause the processor to determine an intermix ratio of the sample to the fresh air, instruct the fresh air flow controller and the sample flow controller to deliver the fresh air and the sample, respectively, to the gas sensor in accordance with the intermix ratio, and receive a sensor reading from the gas sensor after the fresh air flow controller and the sample flow controller have adjusted the fresh air and the sample, respectively.

An inspection apparatus capable of performing responsivity inspection on a plurality of gas sensors at equivalent accuracies is provided. The inspection apparatus includes a plurality of inspected sensor disposing parts that are provided halfway through one gas flow path at equal intervals in an extending direction of the flow path and in each of which a gas sensor to be inspected is disposed, and a plurality of straightening plates provided upstream of each of the inspected sensor disposing parts on the gas flow path and separated at a constant distance from the inspected sensor disposing parts. The straightening plates each include a rectangular opening orthogonal to the gas flow path and open to the gas flow path. When the gas flow path extends in one direction in a horizontal plane, the opening has a longitudinal direction along a direction orthogonal to the one direction in the horizontal plane.

Embodiments relate generally to a gas detector test fixture (102) that recycles test gas, which can then be reused. A portable gas detector test fixture (102), comprises a test chamber (104), a processor (134), a docking connector (132) communicatively coupled to the processor (134), an output device (138) communicatively coupled to the processor (134), a memory (136) communicatively coupled to the processor (134), and an application (137) stored in the memory (136) that, when executed by the processor (134), is configured to conduct a bump test on a portable gas detector (106) plugged into the docking connector (132) and to output the bump test result to the output device (138). The test fixture (102) further comprises an inflow line (124) configured to connect to a test gas supply line (120) of a test gas container (118), where the inflow line (124) is coupled to the test chamber (104), and an outflow line (130) configured to connect to a test gas return line (126) of the test gas container (118), where the outflow line (130) is coupled to the test chamber (104).

A gas detection method includes a first process, a second process, and a third process. The first to third process include changing routes to be followed by gases into first to third routes, respectively. The first route follows a first passage, a sensor chamber, and a second passage in this order. The second route follows a sample gas supply path, which bypasses a filter unit, and the sensor chamber in this order and allows the gas to be exhausted without letting the gas pass through the filter unit while flowing from the sensor chamber. The third route follows the first passage and the sensor chamber in this order and allows the gas to be exhausted without letting the gas pass through the filter unit while flowing from the sensor chamber.

A method for testing a gas sensor and a gas sensor are disclosed. In an embodiment a method for testing at least one gas sensor includes exposing in a first measurement the gas sensor to a test gas under first gas conditions including a first pressure and exposing in a second measurement the gas sensor to the test gas under second gas conditions including a second pressure, the second gas conditions being different from the first gas conditions, wherein the second pressure is different from the first pressure, and/or wherein the gas sensor is exposed to an intermediate pressure different from the first pressure between the first measurement and the second measurement.

Gas sensors for the detection of rare events consume very little or no power. The sensors include materials that interact with a target gas. Accumulation of the target gas on the sensor materials leads to a change in electrical properties of the sensor. The sensors may have high gain, meaning that a large electrical change is induced upon gas accumulation. The sensor might change from an extremely high resistance (open circuit) to a measurably low resistance, or it might change from a relatively low capacitance to a high capacitance. The gas sensors are connected to electronics that can transmit an alarm signal after gas has been detected. The electronics may be in a low power sleep mode until awakened by a signal from the sensor.

Embodiments relate generally to a gas detector test fixture that recycles test gas. A portable gas detector test fixture, comprises a test chamber, a processor, a docking connector communicatively coupled to the processor, an output device communicatively coupled to the processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, is configured to conduct a bump test on a portable gas detector plugged into the docking connector and to output the bump test result to the output device. The test fixture further comprises an inflow line configured to connect to a test gas supply line of a test gas container, where the inflow line is coupled to the test chamber, and an outflow line configured to connect to a test gas return line of the test gas container, where the outflow line is coupled to the test chamber.

A method for operating a test station (10) for portable gas-measuring devices (20) is provided. The gas-measuring device (20) is arranged in fluid-communication with the test station (10) via at least one interface (13). A flow time is set, during which the test gas (30) is fed and a waiting time is set, during which no test gas (30) is fed. After an end of the feed of the at least one test gas results of the test are analyzed. The test station (10) is configured for feeding at least one test gas (30) to the interface (13). The test station (10) for portable gas-measuring devices (20) has at least one interface (13) for the fluid-communicating arrangement of the gas-measuring device (20), and wherein the test station (10) is configured for feeding at least one test gas (30) to the interface (13).

An apparatus for evaluating a response time of gas sensors includes: a pipe; a first gas supplier for supplying a first gas to the pipe; a second gas adding machine for adding a second gas to the first gas in the pipe; and gas sensors for detecting components in a mixed gas of the first gas and the second gas, each of the gas sensors being attached to the pipe on a downstream side of an addition position of the second gas in a flow direction of the first gas. The second gas adding machine includes: a supply source of the second gas; a connecting pipe for connecting the supply source to the pipe; and a connecting pipe on-off valve for opening and closing the connecting pipe.