Patent ID: 8453494
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a gas detector comprising: determining a magnitude of a current to define a first current magnitude; setting up an electric field to transport gas molecules to a detection structure after the first current magnitude has been defined; removing the electric field after a predetermined period of time; determining the magnitude of the current to define a second current magnitude after the electric field has been removed, a difference between the second current magnitude and the first current magnitude being greater than an error tolerance if gas molecules were transported to the detection structure; further comprising setting up a reverse electric field to transport gas molecules away from the detection structure; removing the reverse electric field after a predefined period of time; determining the magnitude of the current to define a third current magnitude after the reverse electric field has been removed; and further comprising determining the magnitude of the current to redefine the first current magnitude when a difference between the third current magnitude and the first current magnitude is greater than an error tolerance.