GAS-MEASURING CHIP, PORTABLE CHIP MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A PORTABLE CHIP MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A gas-measuring chip (10), used with a gas-measuring device (100) of a portable chip measurement system, has a carrier (11) and measuring channels (20, 20′, 20″). A regenerable, nonconsumable sensor (30, 30′, 30″) is arranged in each measuring channel. A method includes inserting the gas-measuring chip (10) into the gas-measuring device (100) and connecting one measuring channel of the gas-measuring chip (10) to a pumping system (120, 121) of the gas-measuring device (100). A measurement is carried out with a first measuring channel (20, 20′, 20′) with a switching over to a measuring channel different from the first measuring channel. The sensors (30, 30′, 30″) of the measuring channel used last is regenerated and optionally simultaneously there is a measurement with the measuring channel switched over to. There is a switching over to a measuring channel, which is different from the measuring channel last used for the measurement.

Claims

1. A gas-measuring chip for use with a gas-measuring device of a portable chip measurement system, the gas-measuring chip comprising: a carrier; at least two measuring channels; and at least one regenerable, nonconsumable sensor arranged in each of the measuring channels.

2. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 1, wherein the measuring channels are configured to be connected to a pumping system of the gas-measuring device.

3. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gas-measuring chip has a contact device, which is configured to transmit information of the sensors to an analysis unit of the gas-measuring device.

4. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an information carrier configured for transmitting information on the gas-measuring chip to the gas-measuring device.

5. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one regenerable, nonconsumable sensor comprises a plurality of regenerable, nonconsumable sensors arranged in one of the measuring channels.

6. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 5, wherein a plurality of the regenerable sensors are arranged in series within the one of the measuring channels.

7. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 5, wherein the regenerable sensors are selected from among cantilever sensors, surface-acoustic wave sensors, quartz crystal microbalances, optical systems, and field effect transistor systems.

8. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 1, wherein a printed circuit board, on which the sensors of said measuring channel are arranged, is arranged in at least one of the measuring channels.

9. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one of the measuring channels has a plurality of sensors, which are based on different principles of measurement.

10. A gas-measuring chip in accordance with claim 10, wherein all sensors of one measuring channel are based on the same principle of measurement.

11. A portable chip measurement system comprising: a gas-measuring chip; a portable gas-measuring device, wherein the gas-measuring device has a receptacle, into which the gas-measuring chip is inserted; at least one pumping system; and an analysis unit, wherein the gas-measuring chip comprises: a carrier; at least two measuring channels; and at least one regenerable, nonconsumable sensor arranged in each of the measuring channels.

12. A method for operating a portable chip measurement system comprising a gas-measuring chip, a portable gas-measuring device, wherein the gas-measuring device has a receptacle, into which the gas-measuring chip is insertable, at least one pumping system; and an analysis unit wherein the gas-measuring chip comprises: a carrier; at least two measuring channels; and at least one regenerable, nonconsumable sensor arranged in each of the measuring channels, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the gas-measuring chip into the gas-measuring device and connecting at least one of the measuring channels of the gas-measuring chip to the pumping system of the gas-measuring device; carrying out a measurement with a first measuring channel; switching over to a second measuring channel different from the first measuring channel; regenerating the sensors of the first measuring channel used last; carrying out a measurement with the second measuring channel either after the step of regenerating the sensors or simultaneously with the step of regenerating the sensors; switching over to another measuring channel, which other measuring channel is different from the second measuring channel (20, 20′, 20″) used last.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the step of regenerating the sensors comprises heating of the measuring channels.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein a maximum time for heating a measuring channel corresponds to a product t.sub.K×M, in which t.sub.K=measuring time and M=a number of measuring channels−1.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the temperature for the heating is about 30° C. to about 150° C.

16. A portable chip measurement system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the gas-measuring chip further comprises a contact device configured to transmit information of the sensors to an analysis unit of the gas-measuring device.

17. A portable chip measurement system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising an information carrier configured to transmit information relating to the gas-measuring chip to the gas-measuring device.

18. A portable chip measurement system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one regenerable, nonconsumable sensor comprises a plurality of regenerable, nonconsumable sensors, each being arranged in one of the measuring channels.

19. A portable chip measurement system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the plurality regenerable sensors are arranged in series within the one of the measuring channels.

20. A portable chip measurement system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the regenerable sensors are selected from among cantilever sensors, surface-acoustic wave sensors, quartz crystal microbalances, optical systems, and field effect transistor systems.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] In the drawings:

[0039] FIG. 1a is a schematic view showing an example of a gas-measuring chip according to the present invention;

[0040] FIG. 1b is a top view of a measuring channel of a gas-measuring chip according to the present invention, a cross section of which is shown in FIG. 1c;

[0041] FIG. 1c is a cross sectional view through the measuring channel shown in FIG. 1b;

[0042] FIG. 2a is a schematic view showing an example of a sensor arranged in a measuring channel according to the present invention of a gas-measuring chip, namely a CCFET sensor;

[0043] FIG. 2b is a graph showing an example of a typical signal curve of a sensor according to FIG. 2a;

[0044] FIG. 3a is a schematic view showing another exemplary embodiment of a gas-measuring chip according to the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 3b is a schematic view showing a variant of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3a;

[0046] FIG. 3c is a schematic view showing another variant of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3a;

[0047] FIG. 4a is a schematic view of a portable chip measurement system according to the present invention with a gas-measuring chip and with a gas-measuring device;

[0048] FIG. 4b is a schematic view showing another example of a portable chip measurement system according to the present invention; and

[0049] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the course of the method according to the present invention for operating a portable chip measurement system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] Referring to the drawings, the gas-measuring chip 10 shown in FIG. 1a has a carrier 11, on which a plurality of measuring channels 20 are arranged. At least one sensor 30 is arranged in each measuring channel 20. Each measuring channel 20 has, moreover, a gas inlet 21 and a gas outlet 22. The gas inlet 21 and the gas outlet 22 can be connected to a pumping system 120, 121 of the gas-measuring device 100 when the gas-measuring chip 10 is inserted into a gas-measuring device 100 (cf. FIGS. 4a and 4b).

[0051] Furthermore, an information carrier 12 is arranged on the carrier 11 of the gas-measuring chip 10. The information that is contained in or on this information carrier 12 is gas-measuring chip-specific or sensor-specific data, such as the name of the detectable analyte, the measurement range of the sensors of the gas-measuring chip 10, possible or minimal measuring time and the like.

[0052] The gas-measuring chip 10 has, furthermore, a contact device 13. This is configured as a lateral strip on the carrier 11. Other embodiment variants, e.g., contact sections, contact pins or the like, are, of course, conceivable.

[0053] It is seen in FIG. 1b that each contact device 13 is associated with a measuring channel 20. The contact device 13 is connected to the sensor or sensors 30 arranged in the measuring channel 20 in an electrically conductive manner. This is seen especially in FIG. 1c. The sensor 30 is arranged on a printed circuit board 24. This printed circuit board 24 is, in turn, in contact with the contact device 13. Electrical signals, which are outputted by the sensor 30, can be transmitted to the contact device 13 via the printed circuit board 24.

[0054] It is seen, furthermore, in FIG. 1c that the printed circuit board 24 forms a lower limitation of the measuring channel 20 in this exemplary embodiment. The printed circuit board 24 is thus arranged in the measuring channel 20.

[0055] The gas inlet 21 and the gas outlet 22 of the measuring channel 20 are, in addition, closed by septum seals 23. These septum seals 23 can be punctured when the gas-measuring chip 10 is inserted into a gas-measuring device 100. A gas sample will then flow through the gas inlet 21 into the measuring channel 20 and through the measuring channel 20. The gas sample now flows past the sensor 30. A correspondingly suitable analyte, possibly contained in the gas sample, can then interact with the sensor 30. The sensor 30 subsequently sends a correspondingly suitable signal. This signal is transmitted, as was described above, from the printed circuit board 24 to the contact device 13. The gas sample then flows out of the measuring channel through the gas outlet 22. The gas-measuring chip 10, which will be described below and is shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c as well as in FIGS. 3a and 3c, is consequently a gas-measuring chip 10 for use with a gas-measuring device 100 of a portable chip measurement system, wherein the gas-measuring chip 10 has a carrier 11 and at least two measuring channels 20 and wherein at least one regenerable, nonconsumable sensor 30 is arranged in each measuring channel 20. The measuring channels 20 of the gas-measuring chip 10 are configured to be connected to a pumping system 120 of the gas-measuring device 100 (cf. FIGS. 4a and 4b). The gas-measuring chip 10 has, furthermore, a contact device 13, which is configured to transmit information of the sensors 30 to an analysis unit 130 (cf. FIGS. 4a and 4b) of the gas-measuring 100. In addition, the gas-measuring chip 10 has an information carrier 12, which is suitable for transmitting information via the gas-measuring chip 10 to the gas-measuring device 100.

[0056] FIG. 2a shows an exemplary embodiment of a sensor 30, which can be used in a gas-measuring chip 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 2a shows a so-called CCFET sensor (Capacitively Controlled Field Effect Transistor sensor). This CCFET sensor has a first electrode 31, which is coated with a gas-sensitive layer 32, and a second electrode 34. An air gap 33 is formed between the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 34. The air gap 33 acts as a dielectric, so that the electrodes 31, 34 act as a capacitor. For an example, an analyte can be carried to the gas-sensitive layer 32 through the air gap 33 and adsorbed there. Such an adsorption leads to a change in the capacity of the capacitor formed by the electrodes 31, 34. This change in capacity can be detected by a field effect transistor 35, which is connected to the capacitor. As a consequence, an electrical measured signal S is outputted. This electrical measured signal S can then be transmitted through the printed circuit board 24, on which the sensor 30 is mounted, to the contact device 13, as was described above.

[0057] FIG. 2b shows a typical example of the signal curve of such an electrical measured signal S. The curve K drawn in broken line describes here the concentration curve of the analyte. At the time tS, the electrical measured signal S rises because of the adsorption of the analyte molecules on the gas-sensitive layer 32 in order to reach the maximum at the time tZ1. The analyte concentration is brought to 0 at the time te. The analyte molecules are then desorbed from the surface to be completely desorbed by the time tZ2. The interval between the times te and tZ2 is the period that is called the regeneration time or recovery time of the sensor 30.

[0058] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c show further exemplary embodiments of a gas-measuring chip 10 according to the present invention. The gas-measuring chip 10 has again a carrier 11 in this case as well, on which a plurality of measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ are arranged. Each of these measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ has a gas inlet 21 and a gas outlet 22. In addition, all measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ are coupled with a contact device 13. This gas-measuring chip 10 has an information carrier 12 as well.

[0059] A plurality of sensors 30, 30′, 30″ are arranged in each of the gas-measuring channels 20. These sensors 30, 30′, 30″ may differ in both their principles of measurement and their specificity for a particular analyte to be detected. Different sensors 30, 30′, 30″ are arranged in each measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3b. The variety of analytes that can be detected by means of this gas-measuring chip 10 is increased in this way. The information carrier 12 contains information on which type of sensor 30, 30′, 30″ is arranged in which of the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″. The gas-measuring device 100′, in which such a gas-measuring chip 10 is used, can then specifically select one of the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ and send the gas sample to be analyzed through that measuring channel.

[0060] Identical sensors 30, 30′, 30″ are arranged in each of the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ in the example shown in FIG. 3c. On the one hand, the variety of analytes is increased here, because different sensors 30, 30′, 30″ are arranged in the individual measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″. At the same time, this exemplary embodiment offers the possibility of switching over to another measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ in case of unexpectedly high analyte concentrations, as was described above. Continuous measurement can be guaranteed in this way even at high analyte concentrations. In addition, this gas-measuring chip is resistant to occurring memory effects.

[0061] It is therefore seen that the gas-measuring chip 10 in FIG. 3a or 3b and 3c has at least one measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, in which a plurality of regenerable, nonconsumable sensors 30, 30′, 30″ are arranged. It seen, furthermore, that the sensors 30, 30′, 30″ are arranged in series within the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″.

[0062] The sensors 30, 30′, 30″ are selected from among cantilever sensors, surface-acoustic wave sensors, quartz crystal microbalances, optical systems, field effect transistor systems or the like. In a special embodiment, the sensors 30, 30′, 30″ are field effect transistor systems, preferably CCFET sensors as described in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The sensors are arranged on a printed circuit board 24 in this gas-measuring chip 10 as well, as was already described in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c. The printed circuit board 24 is arranged in the respective measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ in this case as well. All sensors 30 of one measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ may be based on the same principle of measurement. In an alternative embodiment, each measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ has a plurality of sensors 30, 30′, 30″, which are based on different principles of measurement.

[0063] FIGS. 4a and 4b show each a schematic view of portable chip measurement systems according to the present invention, which comprise each a gas-measuring chip 10 and a gas-measuring device 100. The gas-measuring chip 10 can be replaced depending on the desired analyte, which shall be detected with the corresponding gas-measuring chip 10. The gas-measuring device 100 has a receptacle 110, into which the gas-measuring chip 10 can be inserted. The gas-measuring device 100 has, furthermore, a receptacle 110, into which the gas-measuring chip 10 can be inserted. The gas-measuring device 100 has, furthermore, a pumping system 120 and an analysis unit 130. The pumping system 120 can be connected to the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″, which are arranged on the gas-measuring chip. In another embodiment, not shown, the gas-measuring device 100 may have a needle system for this, which is arranged in the receptacle 110 and can establish the connection between the gas inlet 21, the gas outlet 22 and the pumping system 120.

[0064] The analysis unit 130 of the gas-measuring device 100 according to the present invention can be connected directly or indirectly to the contact device 13 of the gas-measuring chip 10 in any case. The gas-measuring device 100 has a contact element (not shown) for this, which is likewise arranged in the receptacle 110 and which can establish an electrically conductive connection between the contact device 13 and the analysis unit 130. The contact element may be a contact surface, a contact pin or the like.

[0065] Furthermore, a reading unit 150 is provided in the embodiment variant of the gas-measuring device 100 shown in FIG. 4a. This reading unit can detect information, which is provided by the information carrier 12 of the gas-measuring chip 10, and correspondingly transmit it to the analysis unit 130. When analyzing the electrical signals received, the analysis unit 130 can then take into account this information, for example, by selecting a corresponding, suitable algorithm in order to display the measurement results or to suitably adapt corresponding measuring times.

[0066] The gas-measuring device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4b has, just like the gas-measuring device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4a, a receptacle 110 for the gas-measuring chip 10 as well as a first pumping system 120, an analysis unit 130 and a reading unit 150. The gas-measuring device 100 shown in FIG. 4b additionally has a second pumping system 121, a display 160 as well as operating elements 140. The respective components of this gas-measuring device 100 are shown only schematically in FIG. 4b (just like in the case of the gas-measuring device 100 according to FIG. 4a). All components are always arranged in a common housing 200.

[0067] The second pumping system 121 shown in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4b is connected to a circulation filter system, not shown. It is used to pump analyte-free air through the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ of the gas-measuring chip 10. The gas-measuring chip 10 or the gas-measuring device 100 can be calibrated in this way when inserting the chip 10 or between a plurality of measurements.

[0068] The operating elements 140 and the display 160 are used to make possible the comfortable handling of the gas-measuring device 100 or of the portable chip measurement system for a user.

[0069] Thus, FIGS. 4a and 4b show a portable chip measurement system with a gas-measuring chip 10 and with a portable gas-measuring device 100, wherein the gas-measuring device 100 has a receptacle 110, into which the gas-measuring chip 10 can be inserted, at least one pumping system 120, 121 and an analysis unit 130, wherein the gas-measuring chip 10 is a gas-measuring chip 10 that is suitable for use with a gas-measuring device of a portable chip measurement system, wherein the gas-measuring chip 10 has a carrier 11 and at least two measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ and wherein at least one regenerable, nonconsumable sensor 30, 30′, 30″ is arranged in each measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″.

[0070] A method as is schematically shown can be carried out with such a system. In a first step a), the gas-measuring chip 10 is inserted into the gas-measuring device 100 for starting the method. At least one of the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ of the gas-measuring chip 10 is connected to the pumping system 120, 121 of the gas-measuring device 100 when the gas-measuring chip 10 is inserted. If the gas-measuring device 100 is equipped with a second pumping system 121 corresponding to, for example, FIG. 4b, the gas-measuring chip 10 can first be connected to the second pumping system 121 in step a). This second pumping system 121 then pumps first analyte-free air through the measuring channel or the respective connected measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ for calibrating or zeroing the gas-measuring chip 10. In a next step, which is not shown in FIG. 5 and is a substep of step a), the first pumping system 120 can then be connected to the respective measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ in order to proceed with the next step, namely, step b).

[0071] It is thus seen that the first step of the method according to the present invention, namely, step a) in a gas-measuring device 100 corresponding to FIG. 4b comprises the insertion of the gas-measuring chip 10 into the gas-measuring device 100 and the connection of at least one measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ of the gas-measuring chip 10 to the pumping system 120 of the gas-measuring device 100. This step may also comprise the insertion of the gas-measuring chip 10 into the gas-measuring device 100, the connection of a pumping system 121 to the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″, the calibration of the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ and the connection of the pumping system 120 to one or more measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ after calibration in a gas-measuring device 100 corresponding to FIG. 4b. It is also conceivable in another embodiment variant, not shown, that the first pumping system 120 is used to calibrate the gas-measuring chip 10. Step a) now comprises the corresponding substeps of inserting the gas-measuring chip 10 into the gas-measuring device 100, connection of at least one measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ to the pumping system 120 and calibration of the gas-measuring system.

[0072] Subsequent to step a), a first measurement is carried out with a first measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ according to step b) of the method shown in FIG. 5. The pumping system 120 pumps for this a gas sample to be analyzed through the respective measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″. The pumping system 120 draws the corresponding gas sample through the gas inlet 21 of the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ into the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ and removes it through the gas outlet 22. The gas sample to be analyzed now flows past the sensor or sensors 30, 30′, 30″ arranged in the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″. These sensors can correspondingly interact with analytes that are possibly present and output a signal, e.g., an electrical measured signal S, as is shown in FIG. 2a. This signal is transmitted to the contact device 13 via the printed circuit board 24 and there to the gas-measuring device 100, namely, the analysis unit 130.

[0073] If the measuring system is exposed, as was described above, to a very high analyte concentration, or detection of another analyte is desired, for which no suitable sensor 30, 30′, 30″ is arranged in the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ used in step b), the process is switched over in the next step c) from the first measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, which is used in step b), to a new measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″. The sensors 30, 30′, 30″ arranged in the first measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, which were used for the first measurement in step b), can then regenerate in the next step d), i.e., the analytes adsorbed on their surfaces can now be desorbed. At the same time, a further measurement can be carried out in step d) with the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, to which the process was switched over in step c), or the measurement started in step b) with the first measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ can be continued with this measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, to which the process was switched over. The switchover in step c) takes place by the chip 10 being conveyed either forward or backward within the receptacle 110 of the gas-measuring device 100. The gas-measuring device 100 may contain a conveying system in an embodiment variant, not shown. As an alternative, the switchover in step c) is brought about by the pumping system 120 being switched over within the gas-measuring device 100 such that the gas sample to be analyzed is drawn through another measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″.

[0074] The regeneration of the sensors in step d) comprises, in one embodiment variant, the heating of the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20. The temperature within the respective measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ is increased for this for a certain time to a temperature of about 30° C. to about 150° C. The temperature of the sensors 30, 30′, 30″, which are arranged in the corresponding measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, is also increased in the process. In one embodiment variant, the temperature is increased to about 40° C. to about 130° C. In another embodiment variant, the temperature is increased to about 50° C. to about 120° C. In yet another embodiment variant, the temperature is increased to 80° C.

[0075] In another embodiment variant, the regeneration of the sensors 30, 30′, 30″ additionally includes the flushing of the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ with analyte-free air. Provisions are made in this connection in a first embodiment variant for the regeneration to comprise both the flushing and the above-mentioned heating of the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″. Provisions are made in another variant for the regeneration to comprise the flushing or heating of the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″. It is obvious that a plurality of measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ may also always be regenerated simultaneously in all these variants.

[0076] The maximum time for the regeneration and hence for the flushing and/or heating of the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ corresponds to the product of the measuring time t.sub.K and the number of channels that are arranged on the gas-measuring chip 10 minus 1, i.e., to the product t.sub.K×M, in which t.sub.K=measuring time and M=(number of measuring channels−1).

[0077] If the sensors 30, 30′, 30″ to be regenerated in step d) are fully regenerated and are again ready to be used or the measurement carried out in step d) has ended, the process is again switched over to another measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ in step e), as is seen in FIG. 5. The switchover is carried out corresponding to the switchover in step c). The process may be switched over now either to the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ used in step b) (switched back) or to another measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, which is likewise arranged on the gas-measuring chip 10.

[0078] It is seen, furthermore, in FIG. 5 that according to step f), steps d) and e) can be repeated. The number of repetitions is freely selectable, i.e., steps d) and e) may be carried out one after another as often as desired.

[0079] If no repetition according to step f) is desired, the method according to the present invention has ended.

[0080] It is seen that the greater the number of measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ arranged on the respective gas-measuring chip 10, the longer may be the duration of the regeneration of the sensors 30, 30′, 30″. If, for example, a gas-measuring chip 10 has five measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ and each measuring channel shall be used for a duration of two minutes for the measurement corresponding to step b) or step d), the sensors 30, 30′, 30″ which in the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″ that are not being used now can be regenerated each for eight minutes without the two-minute measurement frequency having to be reduced.

[0081] Therefore, the method shown in FIG. 5 for operating a portable chip measurement system with a gas-measuring chip 10 and with a portable gas-measuring device 100, wherein the gas-measuring device 100 has a receptacle 110, into which the gas-measuring chip 10 can be inserted; at least one pumping system 120, 121 and an analysis unit 130; and wherein the gas-measuring chip 10 is suitable for use with a gas-measuring device 100 of such a portable chip measurement system; wherein the gas-measuring chip 10 has a carrier 11 and at least two measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″, and wherein at least one regenerable, nonconsumable sensor 30, 30′, 30″ is arranged in each measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, has the following steps: a) inserting the gas-measuring chip 10 into the gas-measuring device 100 and connection of at least one measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ of the gas-measuring chip 10 to the pumping system 120, 121 of the gas-measuring device 100, b) carrying out a measurement with a first measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, c) switching over to a measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ different from the first measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, d) regeneration of the sensors 30, 30′, 30″ of the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ used last and optionally simultaneous performance of a measurement with the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ to which the process was switched over in the preceding step, e) switching over to a measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″, which is different from the measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ used for the measurement in the preceding step, and f) optionally repeating steps d) and e).

[0082] It is, furthermore, seen in FIG. 5 that the regeneration of the sensors 30, 30′, 30″ in step d) comprises the heating of the measuring channels 20, 20′, 20″. The maximum time for heating a measuring channel 20, 20′, 20″ corresponds to the product t.sub.K×M, in which t.sub.K=measuring time and M=(number of measuring channels−1). The temperature for the heating is about 150° C., preferably about 40° C. to about 130° C., and especially preferably about 50° C. to about 120° C.

[0083] The present invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described, but may be modified in many different ways. All the features and advantages, including design details, arrangement in space and method steps, which appear from the claims, the description and the drawings, may be essential for the present invention both in themselves and in the many different combinations as well.

[0084] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.