Condensation associated with the collection and identification of airborne particles is detected. Upon the detection, one or more condensation countermeasures are triggered to address the condensation.

The present disclosure describes methods of detecting viral biomolecules such as viruses through frequency response. A method (200) of detecting a vims includes exposing (210) a sensor surface to a fluid sample containing a suspected virus. The sensor surface can be a surface of a resonator having a clean resonant frequency from about 1 MHz to about 1 GHz. The surface can be modified with molecular recognition groups selective for binding to the viral biomolecule. A resonant frequency of the resonator can be measured (220) after exposing the sensor surface to the fluid sample. The measured resonant frequency can be compared (230) with a clean resonant frequency indicating the presence of the viral biomolecule bound to the molecular recognition groups and then outputted (240) as a detection signal.

A particle monitoring device includes a camera sensor for imaging particles, a set of light sources, and an optical component. A first light source provides light of a first color component. A second light source provides light of a second color component. The optical component receives light of the first color component in a first direction from the first light source, and redirects the light of the first color component in an output direction towards the particles to illuminate the particles using light of the first color component. The optical component receives light of a second color component in a second direction, different from the first direction, from the second light source, and redirects the light of the second color component in the output direction towards the particles to illuminate the particles using light of the second color component.

Various implementations, systems and methods are disclosed for continuous, near real-time, hands-off sampling of airborne particulate matter, and qualification and/or quantification of biomolecules in the sample representative for biologic or microbial contamination. The systems and methods may utilize an electrostatic precipitator for sampling the matter; and a measurement assembly configured to illuminate, excite, or breakdown the sampled matter by electromagnetic radiation, and to detect a spectrum, or one or more wavelength bands of the scatter emitted by the sample. In an exemplary implementation, a sputter deposition process is employed to configure the sample for an enhanced plasmon resonance. The measurement data may be transferred via wireless communication means for cloud storage and signal processing.

The following is an apparatus and a method that enables the automated collection and identification of airborne particulate matter comprising dust, pollen grains, mold spores, bacterial cells, and soot from a gaseous medium comprising the ambient air. Once ambient air is inducted into the apparatus, aerosol particulates are acquired and imaged under a novel lighting environment that is used to highlight diagnostic features of the acquired airborne particulate matter. Identity determinations of acquired airborne particulate matter are made based on captured images. Abundance quantifications can be made using identity classifications. Raw and summary information are communicated across a data network for review or further analysis by a user. Other than routine maintenance or subsequent analyses, the basic operations of the apparatus may use, but do not require the active participation of a human operator.

The inventive concept relates to a device for detecting particles in air, said device comprising a receiver for receiving a flow of air comprising particles, a sample carrier, and a particle capturing arrangement. The particle capturing arrangement is configured to separate the particles from the flow of air for and to collect a set of particles on a surface of the sample carrier. The device further comprises a light source configured to illuminate the particles on the sample carrier, such that an interference pattern is formed by interference between light being scattered by the particles and non-scattered light from the light source. The device further comprises an image sensor configured to detect the interference pattern. The device further comprises a cleaner configured for cleaning the surface of the sample carrier for enabling re-use of the surface for collection of a subsequent set of particles.

Disclosed are methods for determining and classifying aircraft air contaminants comprising one or more of: turbine engine oil, hydraulic fluid and deicing fluid using contaminant analyzers comprising a contaminant collector comprising a membrane and a heater vaporizing the contaminants; a gravimetric sensor generating a response when contaminant mass is added to or removed from the sensor, the sensor receiving contaminants desorbed from the heated membrane; a frequency measurement device, measuring the response generated by the sensor as the contaminant is added to and removed from the sensor; a computer readable medium bearing a contaminant recognition program and calibration data; a processor executing the program, the program including a module classifying contaminants by type, and a module using the data for comparison with magnitude of response generated by the sensor to calculate contaminant concentration; and, a pump, generating flow of air through the collector before and after the membrane is heated.

Systems and methods for monitoring air particulate matter are provided herein that capture particles from the air for analysis. Particles are captured using electrostatic and/or mechanical means to deflect particles toward a substrate. Electrostatic precipitation causes charged carriers to deflect towards a charged substrate. Filtration-based means employ filters and/or fibers to capture particles from air flowing therethrough. A sensor such as a camera is used to read the captured particles. An illumination source directs light towards the substrate, causing the particles to scatter light, which the sensor can detect and derive information or imaging therefrom, which can also be used for further particle or pollution analyses. The substrate can be replenished using electrostatic techniques such as reverse electrostatic force, or mechanical means such as cleaning using a brush or replacing a tape substrate. Dynamic PM monitoring detects and makes adjustments such as those related to air volume, imaging characteristics and substrate replenishment.

A sensor element includes a membrane structure suspended on a frame structure, wherein the membrane structure includes a membrane element and an actuator. The membrane structure is deflectable in a first stable deflection state and in a second stable deflection state and is operable in a resonance mode in at least one of the first and the second stable deflection states. The actuator is configured to deflect the membrane structure in a first actuation state into one of the first and the second stable deflection states, and to operate the membrane structure in a second actuation state in a resonance mode having an associated resonance frequency.

A system for measuring air quality, including a housing having an inlet, and outlet, and defining an air pathway therebetween, an air pump operationally connected in fluidic communication with air inlet and outlet for urging along the air flow pathway, a particle collector having an adhesive side positioned in the air flow pathway, and an electronic controller operationally connected to the optical sensor assembly for sending control signals to the optical sensor assembly and for receiving data from the optical sensor assembly. The system also includes an optical sensor assembly positioned for optical interrogate the particle collector, and further including a light source positioned to shine on the particle collector and an optical sensor positioned to receive light travelling from the particle collector.