Device and method for measuring gas concentration
阅读说明：本技术 用于测量气体浓度的装置和方法 (Device and method for measuring gas concentration ) 是由 郑元淙 南宫桷 李列镐 李埈炯 张基永 于 2020-04-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于测量目标气体的浓度的装置包括：气体传感器,包括感测层,感测层的电阻通过气体分子与感测层之间的氧化反应或还原反应而改变；以及处理器,被配置为响应于目标气体与空气一起被引入到气体传感器中,监测感测层的电阻变化,并且通过分析电阻变化的形状来确定目标气体的浓度。(An apparatus for measuring a concentration of a target gas includes: a gas sensor including a sensing layer, a resistance of which is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer; and a processor configured to monitor a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to a target gas being introduced into the gas sensor together with air, and determine a concentration of the target gas by analyzing a shape of the change in resistance.)
1. An apparatus for measuring a concentration of a target gas, the apparatus comprising:
a gas sensor including a sensing layer whose resistance is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer; and
a processor configured to monitor a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to the target gas being introduced into the gas sensor with air, and determine a concentration of the target gas by analyzing a shape of the change in resistance.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: the resistance change is approximated as a sum of a first resistance change caused by the oxidation reaction and a second resistance change caused by the reduction reaction, and the concentration of the target gas is determined based on the second resistance change.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to: the resistance change is approximated using a sigmoid function.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to: determining the concentration of the target gas by using a coefficient of a term of a predetermined function that approximates a sum of the first and second changes in resistance, the coefficient representing the second change in resistance.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to: determining the concentration of the target gas based on a predefined relationship between the coefficient and the concentration of the target gas.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing layer comprises at least one of a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS), graphene oxide, Carbon Nanotube (CNT), and a conductive polymer.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing layer comprises nanostructures.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the nanostructures comprise at least one of nanofiber structures, nanotube structures, nanoparticle structures, nanosphere structures, and nanoribbon structures.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing layer comprises a metal catalyst for gas sensitivity and selectivity.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas sensor further comprises an electrical resistance measurer configured to measure the electrical resistance of the sensing layer.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas sensor further comprises a heater configured to control a reactivity of the sensing layer.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of: a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure exerted on the sensing layer or an ambient pressure around the sensing layer, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the sensing layer or an ambient temperature around the sensing layer, and a humidity sensor configured to measure an ambient humidity around the sensing layer.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to: correcting the determined concentration of the target gas based on at least one of the measured pressure, the measured ambient pressure, the measured temperature, the measured ambient temperature, and the measured ambient humidity.
14. An apparatus for measuring a concentration of a target gas, the apparatus comprising:
a gas sensor including a sensing layer whose resistance is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer; and
a processor configured to monitor a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to the target gas being introduced into the gas sensor with air, and determine a concentration of the target gas based on a slope of the change in resistance during a predetermined period of time after the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor with air.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to: determining the concentration of the target gas based on a predefined relationship between a slope of the change in resistance and the concentration of the target gas during the predetermined time period.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the predetermined period of time is a plateau period.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the predetermined period of time begins at a time when the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor with air.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing layer comprises at least one of a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS), graphene oxide, Carbon Nanotube (CNT), and a conductive polymer.
19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing layer comprises nanostructures.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the nanostructures comprise at least one of nanofiber structures, nanotube structures, nanoparticle structures, nanosphere structures, and nanoribbon structures.
21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing layer comprises a metal catalyst for gas sensitivity and selectivity.
22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the gas sensor further comprises an electrical resistance measurer configured to measure the electrical resistance of the sensing layer.
23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the gas sensor further comprises a heater configured to control a reactivity of the sensing layer.
24. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising at least one of: a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure exerted on the sensing layer or an ambient pressure around the sensing layer, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the sensing layer or an ambient temperature around the sensing layer, and a humidity sensor configured to measure an ambient humidity around the sensing layer.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to: correcting the determined concentration of the target gas based on at least one of the measured pressure, the measured ambient pressure, the measured temperature, the measured ambient temperature, and the measured ambient humidity.
26. A method of measuring a concentration of a target gas by using a gas sensor including a sensing layer whose resistance is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer, the method comprising:
monitoring a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to the target gas being introduced into the gas sensor with air; and
determining the concentration of the target gas by analyzing the shape of the resistance change.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the concentration of the target gas comprises:
approximating the change in resistance as a sum of a first change in resistance caused by the oxidation reaction and a second change in resistance caused by the reduction reaction; and
determining a concentration of the target gas based on the second resistance change.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the approximation of the resistance change is performed using a sigmoid function.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein determining the concentration of the target gas comprises: determining the concentration of the target gas by using a coefficient of a term of a predetermined function that approximates a sum of the first and second changes in resistance, the coefficient representing the second change in resistance.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein determining the concentration of the target gas further comprises: determining the concentration of the target gas based on a predefined relationship between the coefficient and the concentration of the target gas.
31. A method of measuring a concentration of a target gas by using a gas sensor including a sensing layer whose resistance is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer, the method comprising:
monitoring a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to the target gas being introduced into the gas sensor with air; and
determining a concentration of the target gas based on a slope of a change in resistance during a predetermined period of time after the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor together with air.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein determining the concentration of the target gas comprises: determining the concentration of the target gas based on a predefined relationship between a slope of the change in resistance and the concentration of the target gas during the predetermined time period.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein the predetermined period of time is a plateau period.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein the predetermined period of time begins at a time when the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor with air.
35. A gas concentration sensor comprising:
a sensing layer whose resistance changes based on a concentration of a target gas in the gas concentration sensor;
a resistance measurer configured to measure a resistance of the sensing layer at a predetermined time;
a memory configured to store a predefined relationship between a change in resistance of the sensing layer and a concentration of the target gas; and
a processor configured to determine a concentration of the target gas based on the measured resistance and the stored predefined relationship.
36. The gas concentration sensor according to claim 35, wherein the predefined relationship comprises:
a first function defining resistance with respect to time, the first function including a first term having a coefficient; and
a second function defining a concentration of the target gas with respect to the coefficient,
wherein the processor is further configured to: determining the coefficient of the first term in the first function based on the measured resistance and the predetermined time, and determining the concentration of the target gas based on the determined coefficient.
37. The gas concentration sensor according to claim 36, wherein the first function is a sum of the first term and a second term, the first term representing a first resistance change caused by the target gas in the gas concentration sensor, and the second term representing a second resistance change caused by an oxidizing gas in the gas concentration sensor.
38. The gas concentration sensor according to claim 35, wherein the predefined relationship comprises:
a first function defining resistance with respect to time; and
a second function defining a concentration of the target gas relative to a slope of a region of the first function,
wherein the processor is further configured to: determining the slope of the region of the first function based on the measured resistance and the predetermined time, and determining the concentration of the target gas based on the determined slope.
39. The gas concentration sensor according to claim 38, wherein the first function is a sum of a first term and a second term, the first term representing a first resistance change caused by the target gas in the gas concentration sensor, and the second term representing a second resistance change caused by an oxidizing gas in the gas concentration sensor.
40. The gas concentration sensor according to claim 38, wherein the region of the first function is a time period during which the first function has a plateau shape.
41. The gas concentration sensor according to claim 38, wherein the region of the first function is a time period from a time at which the target gas enters the gas concentration sensor.
Technical Field
The apparatus and method of the present disclosure relate to measuring gas concentration.
Background
Gas sensors for measuring a specific gas concentration generally use a method of measuring the gas concentration based on a change in resistance caused by gas molecules adsorbed/desorbed on a sensor surface.
In a general measurement environment, a target gas to be measured is mixed with air and introduced into a gas sensor, and in this case, various gases contained in the air in addition to the target gas to be measured may be factors that reduce the accuracy of the gas sensor.
Disclosure of Invention
Example embodiments provide an apparatus and method for measuring a gas concentration.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment, an apparatus for measuring a concentration of a target gas includes: a gas sensor including a sensing layer including a resistance changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer; and a processor configured to monitor a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to the target gas being introduced into the gas sensor with air, and determine a concentration of the target gas by analyzing a shape of the change in resistance.
The processor may be further configured to: the resistance change is approximated as a sum of a first resistance change caused by the oxidation reaction and a second resistance change caused by the reduction reaction, and the concentration of the target gas is determined based on the second resistance change.
The processor may be further configured to: the resistance change is approximated using a sigmoid function.
The processor may be further configured to: determining the concentration of the target gas by using a coefficient of a term of a predetermined function that approximates a sum of the first and second changes in resistance, the coefficient representing the second change in resistance.
The processor may be further configured to: determining the concentration of the target gas based on a predefined relationship between the coefficient and the concentration of the target gas.
The sensing layer may include at least one of a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS), graphene oxide, Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), and a conductive polymer.
The sensing layer may include nanostructures.
The nanostructures may include at least one of a nanofiber structure, a nanotube structure, a nanoparticle structure, a nanosphere structure, and a nanobelt structure.
The sensing layer may include a metal catalyst for gas sensitivity and selectivity.
The gas sensor may further include an electrical resistance measurer configured to measure an electrical resistance of the sensing layer.
The gas sensor may further include a heater configured to control the reactivity of the sensing layer.
The apparatus may further comprise at least one of: a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure exerted on the sensing layer or an ambient pressure around the sensing layer, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the sensing layer or an ambient temperature around the sensing layer, and a humidity sensor configured to measure an ambient humidity around the sensing layer.
The processor may be further configured to: correcting the determined concentration of the target gas based on at least one of the measured pressure, the measured ambient pressure, the measured temperature, the measured ambient temperature, and the measured ambient humidity.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment, an apparatus for measuring a concentration of a target gas includes: a gas sensor including a sensing layer whose resistance is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer; and a processor configured to monitor a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to the target gas being introduced into the gas sensor with air, and determine a concentration of the target gas based on a slope of the change in resistance during a predetermined period of time after the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor with air.
The processor may be further configured to: determining the concentration of the target gas based on a predefined relationship between a slope of the change in resistance and the concentration of the target gas during the predetermined time period.
The predetermined period of time may be a plateau period.
The predetermined period of time may start from the time when the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor together with air.
The sensing layer may include at least one of a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS), graphene oxide, Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), and a conductive polymer.
The sensing layer may include nanostructures.
The nanostructures may include at least one of a nanofiber structure, a nanotube structure, a nanoparticle structure, a nanosphere structure, and a nanobelt structure.
The sensing layer may include a metal catalyst for gas sensitivity and selectivity.
The gas sensor may further include an electrical resistance measurer configured to measure an electrical resistance of the sensing layer.
The gas sensor may further include a heater configured to control the reactivity of the sensing layer.
The apparatus may further comprise at least one of: a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure exerted on the sensing layer or an ambient pressure around the sensing layer, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the sensing layer or an ambient temperature around the sensing layer, and a humidity sensor configured to measure an ambient humidity around the sensing layer.
The processor may be further configured to: correcting the determined concentration of the target gas based on at least one of the measured pressure, the measured ambient pressure, the measured temperature, the measured ambient temperature, and the measured ambient humidity.
According to an aspect of example embodiments, a method of measuring a concentration of a target gas by using a gas sensor having a sensing layer, wherein a resistance of the sensing layer is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer, the method comprising: monitoring a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to the target gas being introduced into the gas sensor with air; and determining the concentration of the target gas by analyzing the shape of the resistance change.
Determining the concentration of the target gas may include: approximating the change in resistance as a sum of a first change in resistance caused by the oxidation reaction and a second change in resistance caused by the reduction reaction; and determining a concentration of the target gas based on the second resistance change.
An approximation of the resistance change may be performed using a sigmoid function.
Determining the concentration of the target gas may include: determining the concentration of the target gas by using a coefficient of a term of a predetermined function that approximates a sum of the first and second changes in resistance, the coefficient representing the second change in resistance.
Determining the concentration of the target gas may further include: determining the concentration of the target gas based on a predefined relationship between the coefficient and the concentration of the target gas.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of measuring a concentration of a target gas by using a gas sensor including a sensing layer whose resistance is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction between gas molecules and the sensing layer, includes: monitoring a change in resistance of the sensing layer in response to the target gas being introduced into the gas sensor with air; and determining the concentration of the target gas based on a slope of a change in resistance during a predetermined period of time after the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor together with air.
Determining the concentration of the target gas may include: determining the concentration of the target gas based on a predefined relationship between a slope of the change in resistance and the concentration of the target gas during the predetermined time period.
The predetermined period of time may be a plateau period.
The predetermined period of time may start from the time when the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor together with air.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a gas concentration sensor includes: a sensing layer whose resistance changes based on a concentration of a target gas in the gas concentration sensor; a resistance measurer configured to measure a resistance of the sensing layer at a predetermined time; a memory configured to store a predefined relationship between a change in resistance of the sensing layer and a concentration of the target gas; and a processor configured to determine a concentration of the target gas based on the measured resistance and the stored predefined relationship.
The predefined relationship may include: a first function defining resistance with respect to time, the first function including a first term having a coefficient; and a second function defining a concentration of the target gas relative to the coefficient, wherein the processor is further configured to: determining the coefficient of the first term in the first function based on the measured resistance and the predetermined time, and determining the concentration of the target gas based on the determined coefficient.
The first function may be a sum of the first term representing a first resistance change caused by the target gas in the gas concentration sensor and a second term representing a second resistance change caused by an oxidizing gas in the gas concentration sensor.
The predefined relationship may include: a first function defining resistance with respect to time; and a second function defining a concentration of the target gas relative to a slope of a region of the first function, wherein the processor is further configured to: determining the slope of the region of the first function based on the measured resistance and the predetermined time, and determining the concentration of the target gas based on the determined slope.
The first function may be a sum of a first term representing a first resistance change caused by the target gas in the gas concentration sensor and a second term representing a second resistance change caused by an oxidizing gas in the gas concentration sensor.
The region of the first function may be a time period in which the first function has a plateau shape.
The region of the first function may be a time period from a time when the target gas enters the gas concentration sensor.
Drawings
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for measuring a gas concentration according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating a change in resistance of a sensing layer according to an example embodiment;
3A, 3B, and 3C are graphs illustrating the generation of a first concentration estimation equation according to an example embodiment;
fig. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating generation of a second concentration estimation equation according to example embodiments;
fig. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating generation of a second concentration estimation equation according to example embodiments;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a gas sensor according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for measuring gas concentration according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for measuring gas concentration according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method of measuring gas concentration according to an example embodiment; and
fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of measuring a gas concentration according to an example embodiment.
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same reference numerals and/or numbers refer to the same components, whenever possible, even in different drawings. The relative sizes and depictions of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure.
Unless a specified order is explicitly stated in the context of the present disclosure, the process steps described herein may be performed in an order different from the specified order. That is, each step may be performed in the order specified, substantially concurrently with other steps, or in the reverse order.
Further, terms used throughout the specification are defined in consideration of functions according to example embodiments, and may be changed according to the purpose or precedent of a user or administrator, or the like. Therefore, the definition of terms should be made based on the overall context.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Any reference to the singular may include the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. In the present disclosure, it is to be understood that terms such as "including" or "having" are intended to indicate the presence of the disclosed features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may be present or may be added. As used herein, expressions such as "at least one of … …" modify the entire list of elements when following the list of elements, without modifying the individual elements in the list. For example, the expression "at least one of a, b and c" is understood to mean: including only a, only b, only c, including both a and b, including both a and c, including both b and c, or including all of a, b, and c.
Further, components to be described in the specification are distinguished only by functions mainly performed by the components. That is, two or more components may be integrated into a single component. Further, a single component may be divided into two or more components. Further, each component may additionally perform some or all of the functions performed by another component in addition to the primary functions of each component. Some or all of the primary functions of each component may be performed by another component. Each component may be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of both.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for measuring a gas concentration according to an example embodiment, and fig. 2 is a graph illustrating a change in resistance of a sensing layer according to an example embodiment. Fig. 2 shows an example in which the sensing layer is formed as an n-type metal oxide semiconductor.
Referring to fig. 1, an apparatus 100 for measuring a gas concentration (i.e., a gas concentration sensor) includes a gas sensor 110 and a processor 120.
The gas sensor 110 may include a sensing layer 111, and the resistance of the sensing layer 111 is changed by an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction with gas molecules.
The sensing layer 111 may be made of a gas reactive material that is oxidized or reduced by gas molecules. In one embodiment, the gaseous reactive material may include Metal Oxide Semiconductors (MOS), graphene oxide, Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), conductive polymers, or combinations thereof. Further, the gas reactive material may have a nanostructure and may be arranged as a 2D sheet. Herein, the nanostructure may include a nanofiber structure, a nanotube structure, a nanoparticle structure, a nanosphere structure, a nanobelt structure, and the like.
In one embodiment, the sensing layer 111 may include a metal catalyst for gas sensitivity and selectivity. In this case, the metal catalyst may be dispersed in the gas reactive material by using a nano-sized template.
For convenience of explanation, the following description will be given by using MOS as an example of the gas reactive material.
The processor 120 may control the overall operation of the apparatus 100 for measuring a gas concentration, and may process various signals related to the operation of the apparatus 100 for measuring a gas concentration.
Once the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor 110 together with air, the processor 120 may monitor the resistance change of the sensing layer 111, and may determine the concentration of the target gas by analyzing the resistance change of the sensing layer 111.
In an example embodiment, the processor 120 may determine the concentration of the target gas by analyzing the shape (e.g., the overall shape) of the change in resistance of the sensing layer 111 when the resistance is plotted against time.
As shown in fig. 2, once the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor 110 together with air, an oxidation reaction between the sensing layer 111 and the oxidizing gas 210 in the air and a reduction reaction between the sensing layer 111 and the target gas 220 may simultaneously occur on the sensing layer 111, and a change in resistance of the sensing layer 111 may be determined by a competitive reaction between the oxidizing gas 210 and the target gas 220. Accordingly, the resistance change 250 of the sensing layer 111 may be expressed as a sum of the resistance change 230 (i.e., a first resistance change) caused by the oxidation reaction and the resistance change 240 (i.e., a second resistance change) caused by the reduction reaction, as shown in equation 1.
[ equation 1]
Here, Σ Signal (gas _ oxidation) represents a change in resistance due to the oxidizing gas, and Σ Signal (targetgas _ reduction) represents a change in resistance due to the target gas.
In an example embodiment, by using a predetermined function (i.e., a first function), the processor 120 may approximate the resistance change of the sensing layer 111 as a sum of a resistance change caused by an oxidation reaction of an oxidizing gas (e.g., oxygen) in the air and a resistance change caused by a reduction reaction of the target gas. Herein, the predetermined function may be a sigmoid function including a logistic function, a hyperbolic function, an arctangent function, an error function, etc., but is not limited thereto.
For example, the processor 120 may approximate the change in resistance of the sensing layer 111 by using equation 2 below.
[ equation 2]
f(t)＝a+b×erf(c×t)+d×erf(e×t)
Here, d × erf (e × t) represents a change in resistance (i.e., a first change) caused by a reduction reaction of the target gas; b × erf (c × t) represents a change in resistance caused by an oxidation reaction of the oxidizing gas (i.e., a second change); erf represents the error function; b and c represent the nature of the oxidizing gas in air; d and e represent properties of the target gas, where a, b, and c may be determined during the process of generating the first concentration estimation equation (i.e., the second function), as will be described below.
The processor 120 may determine the concentration of the target gas based on the change in resistance caused by the target gas.
For example, the processor 120 may determine the concentration of the target gas by using the coefficient of the term (i.e., the first term) of the predetermined function representing the change in resistance caused by the target gas, and the first concentration estimation equation. For example, the term used may be the term d × erf (e × t) in equation 2 above. In this case, the first concentration estimation equation may define a relationship between a coefficient of a term representing a resistance change caused by the target gas and the concentration of the target gas. Further, the first concentration estimation equation may be obtained experimentally in advance through regression analysis, and may be stored in an internal or external database of the processor 120. For example, the processor 120 may determine the concentration of the target gas by using the coefficient d of equation 2 and the first concentration estimation equation (in this case, the first concentration estimation equation defines a relationship between the coefficient d and the concentration of the target gas), or the processor 120 may determine the concentration of the target gas by using both the coefficients d and e of equation 2 and the first concentration estimation equation (in this case, the first concentration estimation equation defines a relationship between the coefficients d and e and the concentration of the target gas).
Although the description has been given above of an example in which the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 100 determines the concentration of one target gas, the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 100 is not limited thereto. That is, the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 100 may determine the concentrations of two or more target gases, in which case an additional term representing a change in resistance caused by another target gas may be further included in equation 2.
In one embodiment, processor 120 may determine the concentration of the target gas by analyzing the slope of the change in resistance of sensing layer 111 when the resistance is plotted versus time. For example, the processor 120 may determine the concentration of the target gas by using the slope of the change in resistance during the predetermined phase and a second concentration estimation equation. In this context, the predetermined phase may be a time period, and the slope of the change in resistance may be determined over the time period. In this case, the predetermined period may be a plateau period (i.e., a period in which the change in resistance is relatively small), or may be a period between the time when the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor 110 together with air and the time when the predetermined period elapses (i.e., a predetermined period from the time when the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor 110 together with air). However, the predetermined phase is not limited thereto, and may be a phase between the first random time and the second random time. The second concentration estimation equation may define a relationship between a slope of a change in resistance during a predetermined period and a concentration of the target gas, and may be obtained experimentally in advance through regression analysis and may be stored in an internal or external database of the processor 120.
Fig. 3A, 3B, and 3C are diagrams illustrating generation of a first concentration estimation equation according to example embodiments. Fig. 3A, 3B, and 3C show examples in which the sensing layer is formed of an n-type metal oxide semiconductor.
Referring to fig. 3A, once air is introduced into the gas sensor, the sensing layer 111 is oxidized by the oxidizing gas in the air, so that the resistance of the sensing layer 111 increases (alternatively, in the case of a p-type metal oxide semiconductor, the resistance decreases by an oxidation reaction).
The change in resistance of the sensing layer 111 due to the oxidation reaction may be approximated by using a predetermined function, which may be represented by the following equation 3.
[ equation 3]
Sig_oxidation(t)＝a+b×erf(c×t)
Here, a, b, and c may be determined to fit measurement data acquired during approximation of a resistance change caused by an oxidizing gas in air by using equation 3, and the determined a, b, and c may be used for a, b, and c of equation 2.
Referring to fig. 3B, by introducing a target gas into the gas sensor together with air while changing the concentration of the target gas, an oxidation reaction of the oxidizing gas in the air and a reduction reaction of the target gas may simultaneously occur on the sensing layer 111, and the change in resistance of the sensing layer 111 may be expressed as the sum of an amount of increase caused by the oxidation reaction and an amount of decrease caused by the reduction reaction (alternatively, in the case of a p-type metal oxide semiconductor, the sum of the amount of decrease caused by the oxidation reaction and the amount of increase caused by the reduction reaction).
The overall resistance change of the sensing layer 111 can be approximated for each concentration of the target gas by using a predetermined function, which can be represented by the following equation 4.
[ equation 4]
Sigi(t)＝Sig_oxidation(t)+di*erf(ei*t)
Here, i denotes an index indicating the concentration of the target gas, and d may be determined during the period in which the resistance change caused by the oxidizing gas in the air and the target gas is approximated for each concentration of the target gas by using equation 4iAnd ei. The coefficient d can be determinediAnd eiFitting the measurement data Sig with known concentrations for the target gas and with known functions Sig _ oxidation (t)i(t)。
Referring to fig. 3C, it can be seen that there is a high correlation between the coefficient d and the concentration of the target gas. Therefore, by performing regression analysis on the coefficient d and the concentration of the target gas, the first concentration estimation equation 310 (shown as a line in fig. 3C) may be generated. The predefined function and the first concentration estimation equation 310 may be collectively referred to as a predefined relationship between the coefficients of the terms of the predefined function and the concentration of the target gas.
Fig. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating generation of a second concentration estimation equation according to example embodiments. Fig. 4A and 4B show an example in which the sensing layer is formed of an n-type metal oxide semiconductor.
Referring to fig. 4A, by introducing a target gas 220 into a gas sensor together with air while changing the concentration of the target gas by a known amount, an oxidation reaction of an oxidizing gas 210 in air and a reduction reaction of the target gas 220 may simultaneously occur on a sensing layer 111, and a resistance change of the sensing layer 111 may be expressed as a sum of an amount of increase caused by the oxidation reaction and an amount of decrease caused by the reduction reaction (alternatively, in the case of a p-type metal oxide semiconductor, a sum of the amount of decrease caused by the oxidation reaction and the amount of increase caused by the reduction reaction).
By determining a plateau 410 of the change in resistance of the sensing layer 111 for each concentration of the target gas, the slope of the plateau can be determined for each known concentration. The plateau 410 may be determined as a region corresponding to a period of time over which the resistance change has the shape of a plateau as shown in fig. 4A, for example.
Referring to fig. 4B, it can be seen that there is a high correlation between the slope of the plateau 410 and the concentration of the target gas. Thus, by performing a regression analysis on the slope of the plateau 410 and the concentration of the target gas, a second concentration estimation equation 420 (shown as a line in fig. 4B) may be generated. The predefined function and the second concentration estimation equation 420 may be collectively referred to as a predefined relationship between the slope of the change in resistance and the concentration of the target gas.
Fig. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating generation of a second concentration estimation equation according to example embodiments. Fig. 5A to 5B show an example in which the sensing layer is formed of an n-type metal oxide semiconductor.
Referring to fig. 5A, by introducing a target gas 220 into a gas sensor together with air while changing the concentration of the target gas by a known amount, an oxidation reaction of an oxidizing gas 210 in air and a reduction reaction of the target gas 220 may simultaneously occur on a sensing layer 111, and a resistance change of the sensing layer 111 may be expressed as a sum of an amount of increase caused by the oxidation reaction and an amount of decrease caused by the reduction reaction (alternatively, in the case of a p-type metal oxide semiconductor, a sum of the amount of decrease caused by the oxidation reaction and the amount of increase caused by the reduction reaction).
The slope of the change in resistance of the sensing layer 111 during the phase (i.e., region) 510 between the time when the target gas 220 is introduced into the gas sensor with air and the time five seconds have elapsed, for example, may be determined for each concentration. In other words, the phase may be a predetermined period of time from the time when the target gas 220 is introduced into the gas sensor together with air.
Referring to fig. 5B, it can be seen that there is a high correlation between the concentration of the target gas 220 and the slope during phase 510, where phase 510 is between the time when the target gas 220 is introduced into the gas sensor with air and the time five seconds have elapsed. Thus, by performing a regression analysis on the concentration of the target gas 220 and the slope during phase 510, a second concentration estimation equation 520 (shown as a line in fig. 5B) may be generated, where phase 510 is between the time when the target gas 220 is introduced into the gas sensor with air and the time five seconds have elapsed.
Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a gas sensor according to an example embodiment. The gas sensor 600 of fig. 6 may be an example of the gas sensor 110 of fig. 1.
Referring to fig. 6, the gas sensor 600 includes a sensing layer 111, a resistance measurer 610, and a heater 620. Here, the sensing layer 111 is described above with reference to fig. 1, so that a detailed description thereof will be omitted to avoid redundancy.
The resistance measurer 610 includes a plurality of electrodes, and may measure the resistance of the sensing layer 111, for example, at a predetermined time or during a predetermined period of time.
The heater 620 includes one or more electrodes, and can adjust the temperature of the sensing layer 111 to control the activity (i.e., reactivity) of the sensing layer 111.
Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for measuring a gas concentration according to an example embodiment.
Referring to fig. 7, an apparatus 700 for measuring a gas concentration includes a gas sensor 110, a processor 120, a pressure sensor 710, a temperature sensor 720, and a humidity sensor 730. Here, the gas sensor 110 and the processor 120 are described above with reference to fig. 1, so that detailed description thereof will be omitted to avoid redundancy.
The pressure sensor 710 may measure a pressure exerted on the sensing layer 111 of the gas sensor 110 or an ambient pressure around the sensing layer. For example, the pressure sensor 710 may include, but is not limited to, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, a strain gauge, a piezoelectric film, a load sensor, a radar, and the like.
The temperature sensor 720 may measure the temperature of the sensing layer 111 of the gas sensor 110 or the ambient temperature around the sensing layer. The humidity sensor 730 may measure the ambient humidity around the sensing layer 111 of the gas sensor 110.
By analyzing the change in resistance of the sensing layer 111 based on at least one of: the processor 120 may correct the determined concentration of the target gas by a pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 710 (measuring the pressure exerted on the sensing layer 111 or the ambient pressure around the sensing layer 111), a temperature value measured by the temperature sensor 720 (measuring the temperature of the sensing layer 111 or the ambient temperature around the sensing layer 111), and a humidity value measured by the humidity sensor 730 (measuring the ambient humidity around the sensing layer 111). In this case, the processor 120 may use a concentration correction equation that defines a relationship between at least one of pressure, temperature, and humidity and the concentration of the target gas. The concentration correction equation may be obtained experimentally and may be stored in an internal or external database of the processor 120.
Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for measuring a gas concentration according to an example embodiment.
Referring to fig. 8, an apparatus 800 for measuring a gas concentration includes a gas sensor 110, a processor 120, an input interface 810, a storage device 820, a communication interface 830, and an output interface 840. Here, the gas sensor 110 and the processor 120 are described above with reference to fig. 1 to 7, so that detailed description thereof will be omitted to avoid redundancy.
The input interface 810 may receive input of various operation signals from a user. In an embodiment, input interface 810 may include a keyboard, a dome switch, a touchpad (static pressure/capacitance), a scroll wheel switch, hardware (H/W) buttons, and the like. In particular, a touch panel forming a layered structure with a display may be referred to as a touch screen.
The storage 820 may store a program or a command for operating the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, and may store data input to the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, data measured and processed by the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, and the like. Storage 820 may include at least one of the following storage media: flash type memory, hard disk type memory, multimedia card micro memory, card type memory (e.g., SD memory, XD memory, etc.), Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), magnetic memory, magnetic and optical disks, and the like. Further, the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800 may operate an external storage medium such as a network storage or the like on the internet that performs a storage function of the storage device 820.
The communication interface 830 may communicate with external devices. For example, communication interface 830 may send to or receive from an external device: data input to and stored in the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, data measured and processed by the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, and the like; or the communication interface 830 may transmit to or receive from an external device: various data that can be used to estimate biological information.
In this case, the external device may be a medical device using data input to and stored in the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, data measured and processed by the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, or the like, a printer that prints out a result, or a display that displays a result. Further, the external device may be a digital television, a desktop computer, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a navigation device, an MP3 player, a digital camera, a wearable device, etc., but is not limited thereto.
The communication interface 830 may communicate with an external device by using the following means: bluetooth communication, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, Near Field Communication (NFC), WLAN communication, Zigbee communication, infrared data association (IrDA) communication, Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication, Ultra Wideband (UWB) communication, Ant + communication, WIFI communication, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication, 3G communication, 4G communication, 5G communication, and the like. However, these are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting.
The output interface 840 may output data input to and stored in the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, data measured and processed by the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, and the like. In an example embodiment, the output interface 840 may output data input to and stored in the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, data measured and processed by the apparatus for measuring a gas concentration 800, and the like by using at least one of an acoustic method, a visual method, and a tactile method. To this end, the output interface 840 may include a display, a speaker, a vibrator, and the like.
Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of measuring a gas concentration of a target gas introduced into a gas sensor together with air according to an example embodiment. The method of measuring a gas concentration of fig. 9 may be performed by the apparatuses 100, 700, and 800 for measuring a gas concentration described above with reference to fig. 1 to 8.
Referring to fig. 9, in 910, once a target gas is introduced into a gas sensor together with air, a device for measuring a gas concentration may monitor a resistance change of a sensing layer of the gas sensor.
At 920, the means for measuring the gas concentration may determine the concentration of the target gas by analyzing the overall shape of the change in resistance of the sensing layer.
As shown in fig. 2, once the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor together with air, an oxidation reaction between the sensing layer and the oxidizing gas in the air and a reduction reaction between the sensing layer and the target gas may simultaneously occur on the sensing layer, and a change in resistance of the sensing layer may be determined by a competitive reaction between the oxidizing gas and the target gas.
In one embodiment, the means for measuring the gas concentration may approximate the change in resistance of the sensing layer as a sum of a change in resistance caused by an oxidation reaction of an oxidizing gas in the air and a change in resistance caused by a reduction reaction of the target gas. Herein, the predetermined function may be a sigmoid function including a logistic function, a hyperbolic function, an arctangent function, an error function, etc., but is not limited thereto. For example, the apparatus for measuring the gas concentration may approximate the resistance change of the sensing layer by using equation 2 above.
The means for measuring the gas concentration may determine the concentration of the target gas based on a change in resistance caused by the target gas. For example, the apparatus for measuring the gas concentration may determine the concentration of the target gas by using the coefficient of the term of a predetermined function representing the change in resistance caused by the target gas (e.g., the term d × erf (e × t) in equation 2 above), and a first concentration estimation equation (e.g., an equation representing the line 310 shown in fig. 3C). In this case, the first concentration estimation equation may define a relationship between a coefficient of a term representing a resistance change caused by the target gas and the concentration of the target gas. For example, the apparatus for measuring the concentration of the gas may determine the concentration of the target gas by using the coefficient d of equation 2 and the first concentration estimation equation (in this case, the first concentration estimation equation defines the relationship between the coefficient d and the concentration of the target gas), or may determine the concentration of the target gas by using both the coefficients d and e of equation 2 and the first concentration estimation equation (in this case, the first concentration estimation equation defines the relationship between the coefficients d and e and the concentration of the target gas).
Further, in an example embodiment, the means for measuring the concentration of the gas may measure at least one of a pressure exerted on the sensing layer, an ambient pressure around the sensing layer, a temperature of the sensing layer, an ambient temperature around the sensing layer, and an ambient humidity around the sensing layer, and may correct the determined concentration of the target gas based on the at least one measurement value. In this case, the means for measuring the gas concentration may use a concentration correction equation that defines a relationship between the concentration of the target gas and at least one of the pressure, the temperature, and the humidity.
Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of measuring a gas concentration of a target gas introduced into a gas sensor together with air according to an example embodiment. The method of measuring a gas concentration of fig. 10 may be performed by the apparatuses 100, 700, and 800 for measuring a gas concentration described above with reference to fig. 1 to 8.
Referring to fig. 10, in 1010, once a target gas is introduced into a gas sensor along with air, a device for measuring a gas concentration may monitor a change in resistance of a sensing layer of the gas sensor.
In 1020, the means for measuring the gas concentration may determine the concentration of the target gas by analyzing a slope of a change in resistance of the sensing layer. For example, the means for measuring the gas concentration may determine the concentration of the target gas by using the slope of the change in resistance during the predetermined phase and a second concentration estimation equation (e.g., an equation representing line 420 shown in fig. 4B). In this case, the predetermined phase may be any one of the following: a stationary section; and a stage between a time when the target gas is introduced into the gas sensor together with air and a time when a predetermined period of time has elapsed. However, the predetermined phase is not limited thereto, and may be a phase between the first random time and the second random time. The second concentration estimation equation may define a relationship between a slope of the resistance change during the predetermined period and the concentration of the target gas.
The exemplary embodiments can be implemented as computer readable codes written on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium may be any type of recording device in which data is stored in a computer-readable manner.
Examples of the computer readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and a carrier wave (e.g., data transmission through the internet). The computer-readable recording medium can be distributed over a plurality of computer systems connected to a network so that computer-readable code is written thereto and executed therefrom in a decentralized manner. One of ordinary skill in the art can infer the functional programs, codes, and code segments needed to implement the embodiments.
Although the exemplary embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications may be made without changing the technical ideas and essential features of the present disclosure. It is therefore evident that the above-described exemplary embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.