Patent ID: 7319039
Filing Date: 2008-01-15
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting the presence of airborne molecules of a target substance comprising the steps of: producing an aerosol of ligands to the target substance in a region of sky believed to contain airborne molecules of said target substance to produce in said region at least some airborne molecules of said target substance bound respectively to said ligand to define a revised aerosol in said region of sky, if airborne molecules of said target substance were present in said region; said ligands having the collective property of accepting light of a first frequency and emitting light of a second frequency displaced from said first frequency; directing light of said first frequency into said revised aerosol, wherein at least some of said light is incident on at least some of said ligands; and inspecting said revised aerosol for emissions of light of said second frequency following said step of directing light; and initiating a perceptible warning if light of said second frequency is observed during said step of inspecting; and wherein said step of producing an aerosol of ligands includes any of the steps of spraying, releasing or depositing ligands in a liquid base and wherein said liquid base comprises ethylene glycol.