Patent ID: 6558626
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A detector for detecting vapors emitted from energetic compounds present in a sample, comprising:a housing defining an enclosed sensing volume, the housing having an inlet and an outlet communicating with the enclosed sensing volume such that a carrier gas can be moved sequentially through the inlet, the enclosed sensing volume and the outlet; a pump communicating with the housing for moving the carrier gas sequentially through the enclosed sensing volume at a predetermined flow rate; and a sensing assembly for sensing the vapors of the energetic compound delivered by the carrier gas as the carrier gas passes through the housing, the sensing assembly comprising: a sensing unit constructed of an amplifying fluorescent polymer positioned in the housing so as to be openly communicating with the enclosed sensing volume of the housing, wherein the intensity of light emitted by the amplifying fluorescent polymer varies in response to interaction of the amplifying fluorescent polymer with molecules of the energetic compound delivered by the carrier gas; a source of excitation producing a medium that interacts with the amplifying fluorescent polymer to cause the amplifying fluorescent polymer to generate light; a light detector positioned to receive the light generated by the amplifying fluorescent polymer, the light detector outputting a signal indicative of the intensity of the light generated by the amplifying fluorescent polymer; and a converter assembly receiving the signal from the light detector and converting such signal into a format perceivable by an individual.