Patent ID: 8243274
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A portable diesel particulate matter (DPM) monitor, comprising: (a) a portable housing including a sample cassette door; (b) an intake component that separates a DPM fraction from ambient air, the DPM fraction including DPM entrained in air; (c) a rigid sample cassette support disposed within the housing; (d) a replaceable sample cassette including an optically transmissive sampling substrate onto which DPM are uniformly deposited, the sample cassette being supported by the rigid sample cassette support and being accessible via the sample cassette door, the sample cassette being in fluid communication with the intake component; (e) a pump disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the intake component and the sample cassette, enabling the DPM fraction to be introduced into the sample cassette; (f) a laser disposed in the housing and positioned to direct a beam of light onto the optically transmissive substrate; (g) a light detector disposed in the housing and positioned to receive the beam of light after the beam passes through the optically transmissive substrate, DPM deposited onto the substrate attenuating the beam; (h) a display for providing an indication of DPM to a user; (i) a controller disposed in the housing and logically coupled to the laser, the light detector, the display, and the pump, the controller implementing at least the function of using data from the light detector to provide an indication of DPM on the display; and (j) a battery for supplying power to the pump, the laser, the display, and the controller.