Abstract:
A monitoring system ( 10 ) includes at least one sensor ( 12, 100, 102, 104, 106 ) configured to monitor at least one of sound, light, temperature, pressure, humidity, biological, anabolic, and anatomic data. The sensor ( 12, 100, 102, 104, 106 ) is connected to a controller ( 14 ) configured to control operation of the sensor ( 12, 100, 102, 104, 106 ) such that the sensor ( 12, 100, 102, 104, 106 ) is trainable to alert conditions and events. Preferably, the sensor ( 12, 100, 102, 104, 106 ) and controller ( 14 ) are interconnected to a plurality of sensors ( 12, 100, 102, 104, 106 ) so that a number of values associated with the data of interest are acquirable. Preferably, the acquired data is stored and categorized to enhance the operability and functionality of the sensor ( 12, 100, 102, 104, 106 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/698,230 filed on Jul. 11, 2005, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of remote monitoring, and more particularly to sensors constructed to adapt to monitor environmental conditions as well as a system of connecting a plurality of sensors to provide an interconnected monitoring array. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    It is known to remotely monitor environmental conditions and parameters. Environmental parameters associated with weather conditions such as temperature, pressure, and precipitation are frequently remotely monitored through a plurality of sensors positioned at remote monitoring facilities. Each of the remote monitoring devices communicates the sensed data to a central facility where an operator or other system synthesizes the collected data into a report associated with the weather events in the area being monitored. The remotely located sensors are frequently configured to monitor a single parameter and are frequently costly to manufacture, operate, and maintain. Although such systems are widespread and monitor weather conditions across diverse geographic areas, these systems are incapable of monitoring human effective events such as malicious, militant, and/or natural biological events such as the spread of disease. 
         [0006]    With the advent of efficient travel modalities such as land, marine, and air vehicles, it is relatively efficient to transport large and small amounts of goods, materials, information, and personnel over great and short distances. Such modalities as well as predictable weather conditions also provide an efficient means of communicating and directing environmental hazards quickly and efficiently. That is, it has become comparatively easy for militant minded individuals to tailor bio-hazardous materials for dissemination in an intended direction and with a predetermined effective area. In order to combat the effects of such dissemination or to prevent such disseminations, preventative measures have been attempted. 
         [0007]    Such measures generally include widely associated checkpoints and detectors. Implementation of such a counter-terrorism measure is often time consuming, costly, logistically complex, and only marginally effective. That is, current sensor and detector configurations generally include a sensor configured to detect a predetermined characteristic. For example, sensors are available which can detect the presence of alcohol-based materials but the sensors are ill equipped to detect and/or distinguish between different types of alcohol-based materials. Understandably, there are naturally occurring and/or derivative materials which are detectable but non-threateningly associated with the intended target material. As such, such detector systems frequently alert threat conditions where no threat actually exists but a derivative of the threatening material is present. That is, such systems occasionally provide false positive alert conditions. Alerting false positive conditions undermines the reliability of the hazard detection system. That is, operators who are frequently subjected to false positive alerts may have a tendency to disregard future actual alert conditions as false positives. Furthermore, the number of false positive alerts erodes the efficient non-hazardous utilization of the travel, transport, or dispersion modality. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a sensor capable of differentiating between variants of general classes of pollutants and/or hazardous materials thereby improving the reliability and the specificity of the sensor system. 
         [0008]    It would also be desirable to provide a sensor capable of detecting travel characteristics to a pollutant event. Particularly with bio-hazardous events, knowledge of the direction and travel speed of the pollutant event is frequently critical to event containment, determining an effected area, and to personnel such as first responders. Biological monitoring is also beneficial to non-military activities. In particular, medical facilities would benefit from the collection of data associated with pathogen travel and classification to better combat the spread and diagnosis of disease. Accordingly, it is desired to provide a low cost, dynamic monitoring system capable of configuration for operation in a plurality of environments and operable for detecting a number of parameters. 
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    By way of summary, the present invention is directed to a sensor system network and a number of sensors operable therewith. The network includes a plurality of interconnected sensors that are configured to monitor a desired parameter. The desired parameter could be any of pressure, temperature, aerosol particle counter, biological particle counter, a biological parameter, and a surface biological parameter, and the like. The information acquired by the sensor is communicated to a central facility where, when a plurality of sensors are interconnected, generates a sensed environment overview indicative of the concentration or value of the desired parameter. 
         [0010]    One aspect of the present invention is a monitoring system having a controller and a database connected to the controller. A sensor is connected to the controller and configured to monitor a desired parameter and populate the database with the monitored information. The controller is configured to monitor and adjust operation of the sensor responsive to the information of the database. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a sensor is provided and configured to monitor a desired parameter. The sensor includes an input constructed to power the sensor over an Ethernet and an output connectable to at least one of an Ethernet, the Internet, and an intranet. The sensor includes an identifier configured to identify the sensor among a number of sensors. The sensor output communicates an operating status of the sensor to a network. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the invention includes a sensor having at least one elliptical reflector and at least one source. The source emits radiation that is focused onto a particle probe region. A detector is positioned proximate the reflector and configured to acquire a forward scattering of a particle of interest. Preferably, the particle probe region and the detector are located at the foci of the at least one elliptical reflector. 
         [0013]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, a sensor is disclosed that is constructed to monitor a biological particle. The sensor includes a first exciter constructed to fire at a first frequency and a second exciter constructed to fire at a second frequency different than the first frequency. A detector is oriented proximate the first exciter and the second exciter and configured to monitor the fluorescence induced in a target particle. 
         [0014]    Another aspect of the present invention includes a sensor system having a metal oxide sensor connected to a processor. The sensor is configured to communicate an output value and a signal range surrounding the output value to the processor. The processor is configured to process the output value and the signal range surrounding the output value to identify gas-phase molecules. 
         [0015]    Yet a further aspect of the present invention discloses a sensor having a first exciter configured to generate a first signal proximate an ultraviolet range. The sensor includes a second exciter configured to generate a second signal proximate the ultraviolet range. A pair of photo-sensors are positioned proximate the first and second exciters and configured to acquire a particle emissive energy. A controller synchronizes operation of the emitters and a gating of the photo-sensors to identify a particle. Preferably, the sensor monitors a fluorescent lifetime, a ratio of intensities between the pair of photo-sensors, and a particle size to identify pathogenic and non-pathogenic materials. 
         [0016]    The ability to collect unique sensor identifiers, collect transducer electronic datasheets, collect location and time-dependant extensible markup language (XML) formatted data, and provide expert-system analysis in a single package are considered new features. Another aspect of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is ruggedized and reliable, thereby decreasing down time and operating costs. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that has one or more of the characteristics discussed above but which is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble using a minimum of equipment. 
         [0017]    These, and other aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views, and in which  FIGS. 1-18  illustrate various aspects of the present invention. Specifically, 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a monitoring system according to the present invention, 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary controller of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary segregation of the systems of the sensor and the systems of controller of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary communication protocol of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary organizational structure of a database of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  shows the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 1  having a plurality of differently configured sensors connected to the system, 
           [0026]      FIG. 8-12  show a particle counter sensor of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 7 , 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  shows biological particle counter sensor of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 7 , 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  shows the elliptical reflector of the sensor shown in  FIG. 13 , 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  shows a surface biological sensor  104  of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 7 , 
           [0030]      FIGS. 16-18  show the graphical representation of data acquired with another sensor of the monitoring system shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
       [0031]    A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated herein. In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word “connected,” “attached,” or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description. Specific embodiments of the present invention are further described by the following, non-limiting examples which will serve to illustrate various features of significance. The examples are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the present invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the present invention. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. 
         [0033]    One embodiment of the present invention is a monitoring system having a controller and a database connected to the controller. A sensor is connected to the controller and configured to monitor a desired parameter and populate the database with the monitored information. The controller is configured to monitor and adjust operation of the sensor responsive to the information of the database. 
         [0034]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, a sensor is provided and configured to monitor a desired parameter. The sensor includes an input constructed to power the sensor over an Ethernet and an output connectable to at least one of an Ethernet, the Internet, and an intranet. The sensor includes an identifier configured to identify the sensor among a number of sensors. The sensor output communicates an operating status of the sensor to a network. 
         [0035]    Another embodiment of the invention includes a sensor having at least one elliptical reflector and at least one source. The source emits radiation that is focused onto a particle probe region. A detector is positioned proximate the reflector and configured to acquire a forward scattering of a particle of interest. Preferably, the particle probe region and the detector are located at the foci of the at least one elliptical reflector. 
         [0036]    According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a sensor is constructed to monitor a biological particle. The sensor includes a first exciter constructed to fire at a first frequency and a second exciter constructed to fire at a second frequency different than the first frequency. A detector is oriented proximate the first exciter and the second exciter and configured to monitor the fluorescence induced in a target particle. 
         [0037]    Another embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor system having a metal oxide sensor connected to a processor. The sensor is configured to communicate an output value and a signal range surrounding the output value to the processor. The processor is configured to process the output value and the signal range surrounding the output value to identify gas-phase molecules. 
         [0038]    Yet a further embodiment of the present invention discloses a sensor having a first exciter configured to generate a first ultraviolet energy. The sensor includes a second exciter configured to generate a second ultraviolet energy. A pair of photo-sensors are positioned proximate the first and second exciters and configured to acquire a particle emissive energy. A controller synchronizes operation of the emitters and a gating of the photo-sensors to identify a particle. Preferably, the sensor monitors a fluorescent lifetime, a ratio of intensities between the pair of photo-sensors, and a particle size to identify pathogenic and non-pathogenic materials. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a monitoring system  10  includes a number of sensors  12  and a controller  14 . A number of communication links  16  allow communication between sensors  12  and controller  14 . An optional communication link  18  allows communication between each of the sensors  12  of the system. Understandably, links  16  and  18  may be a physical connection such as a Local Area Network or LAN connection or a wireless communication link generated by the inclusion of a transmitter and receiver in one of the sensor and the controller, respectively. Each sensor  12  includes a detector  20  configured to monitor a desired parameter. A processor  22  is connected to one of sensors  12  and controller  14  and configured to direct operation of detector  20 . A database  24  is connected to controller  14  and configured to receive and maintain data acquired by each of the sensors  12  of monitoring system  10 . A processor  26  is attached to controller  14  and monitors the operation of controller  14  and database  24 . Although shown as separate components, it is appreciated that sensor  12  and controller  14  be integrated into a common device such that the sensor is a fully transportable and self-supporting monitoring device. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  shows a graphical representation of an exemplary control protocol of monitoring system  10 . A sensor array consisting of one or more sensors  12  communicates the information acquired therefrom to an interface or sensor interface  30  and a sensor node  32  into a multiple user system  34 . The multiple user system  34  is communicatively connected to a database/processor  36  and configured to monitor in the information acquired by sensor array  28 . The system  34  generates an incident report or alert  38  when a target event occurs. Depending on the parameter, the sensor array  28  is configured to monitor the alert may be directed to personnel directly associated with the monitored parameter. That is, if sensor array  28  is configured to monitor biological or chemical adversarial emissions, alert  38  is directed to infield personnel, proximate first responders, or other personnel as may be deemed necessary given the nature of the parameter monitored. Furthermore, the continuous, real-time, non-contact nature of operation of monitoring system  10  allows relatively expedient, inline operation, monitoring, and resolution of alert events. The continued and maintained operation of database  24  allows for the continual and real-time updating of the monitoring of sensors  12  of sensor array  28 . Such a configuration allows operational adjustment of the control of sensors  12  during acquisition of information thereby allowing on-the-fly adaptation of sensors  12  to environmental events. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows an optional configuration of monitoring system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a first security protocol  40  prevents unauthorized access to a shielded portion  42  of monitoring system  10 . Information is collected by sensor array  28  and communicated to database  24  and accessible thereby at a computer  44 . An Ethernet connection  46  connects sensor array  28  to a power source and communicates the information acquired by the sensor array to computer  44 . A secured system  48  is connected to computer  44  such that only restricted access is permitted to the information contained on secure system  48 . Understandably, all of the information acquired by sensor array  28  could be confined behind security protocol  40 . Another security protocol  50  allows communication of instructions from secure system  48  to a remote responder  52  not otherwise in communication with monitoring system  10 . That is, only in the event of an alert condition is an instruction sent to remote responder that an alert condition has occurred. Such a construction reduces the personnel monitoring of system  10  and allows relatively uninterrupted operation of system  10  until an alert condition occurs. Although remote responder  52  is shown as connected to secure system  48  via an Internet connection  54 , it is understood that other connection modalities such as wireless connection are envisioned and within the scope of the claims. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary segregation of the systems of sensor  12  and the systems of controller  16 . A signal generated by detector  20  of sensor  12  is conditioned  56  and digitized  58  from analog (A) to digital (D). The data is stored in memory  60  and a controller or microcontroller  62  formats the stored data into an XML message. Authorization identification (ID)  64  is assigned to the information acquired by sensor  12  to prevent unauthorized acquisition or transmission of the acquired data. A communication device  66  allows for the connection of sensor  12  to the other operation components of monitoring system  10  such as controller  14 . Controller  14  includes a reciprocal communication device or access layer  68  that is constructed to communicate with the communication device  66  of sensor  12 . Understandably, communication devices  66 ,  68  are constructed to allow communication between sensor  12  and controller  14  regardless of the modality of the communication interface. That is, if the sensor and the controller are preferred to wirelessly communicate, communication devices  66 ,  68  are constructed to facilitate wireless communication therebetween. Likewise, if wired communication is desired, communication devices  66 ,  68  are constructed to allow wired connection of sensor  12  and controller  14 . Controller  14  includes a server  70  constructed to control operation and exchange of information between controller  14  and sensor  12 . Server  70  also provides for the connection and communication of a plurality of sensor with controller  14 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary communication protocol of monitoring system  10 . At least one signal process or, e.g., an algorithm  72  processes data received from sensor  12  and preferably stores the data in a memory module  74 . Additionally, where desired, signal-processing algorithm  72  may encode the data acquired by sensor  12  prior to or after storage of the data. A transducer electronic datasheet  76  stores information about sensor  12  which can include sensor calibration and control information. A web server  78  provides a communication interface that allows external viewing, monitoring, manipulating, and polling of the data collected from sensor  12 . The sensor collected information, whether encrypted or not, is carried in XML packets transferred through a transmission control protocol/internet protocol or TCP/IP protocol. An optional polling service  82  runs on the server  78  and polls data from the sensors connected to monitoring system  10 . The data about the sensors and data from the sensors is stored in a relational database  84  and a signal processing service  86  queries data from database  84  and processes it per a rules-based algorithm as will be described further below. A sensor parameter service  88  maintains updated parameter information from and to the sensors of the monitoring system. An optional analysis server  90  provides system trend analysis of regional datasets and produces alarms based on non-nominal sensor readings and also considers rules-based false-alarm intelligence. Analysis server  90  automatically updates the operation of monitoring system  10  in response to, in part, the operational performance of sensor  12 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary organizational structure of database  24 . Understandably, database  24  could be any of connected to sensor  12 , connected to controller  14 , or remote therefrom. Database  24  is preferably continuously in communication with sensor  12  during the acquisition of data to ensure the maximum acquisition of information monitored by sensor  12 . Additionally, it is further understood that sensor  12  include a database to allow continued data acquisition and retention even when sensor  12  is not in communication with controller  14 . Such a construction allows continued data acquisition until a connection with the sensor is established. The sensor data is collected into a storage area  94  that records a timestamp, network packet information and raw sensor data. Information about the operational parameters of sensors  12  such as test limits or operating ranges is stored in an operating parameters storage area  96  and used to configure sensor  1 Z for desired operation and to assess the operating condition of the sensor. After the data acquired by the sensor has been processed, database  24  includes a resolved data table  98  constructed to store the analyzed information as determined by the data acquired by the sensor. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  shows an exemplary monitoring system  10  having a plurality of differently configured sensors connected to the system. A particle counter sensor  100  and a biological particle counter sensor  102  are constructed to monitor a fluid flow or the like. For example, in a medical facility, sensors  100 ,  102  could be located in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to monitor for particulates carried on the flow. A surface biological sensor  104  is connected to monitoring system  10  and constructed to test surfaces such as walls, instruments, hands, catheters and the like for pollutants. Additionally, when configured in a remote operation configuration, surface biological sensor  104  is constructed to monitor pathogenic material in patients. Sensor  106  is a trainable sensor constructed to dynamically adjust operation of the sensor responsive to environmental stimuli. 
         [0046]    Preferably, database  24  and server  78  are interconnected to a plurality of sensors  12 , e.g., sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 , or  106 , and are configured to monitor a desired area. Depending on the type of pollutant being monitored any combination of sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  may be formed to provide a desired monitoring of a environment. It is further understood and appreciated that sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  be intermixed on a monitoring network to provide a near complete pollutant determination of the area being scanned. It is further appreciated that the dispersion modality of the plurality of sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  provides a highly functional environmental monitoring system. That is, in those applications where installing a plurality of sensors is logistically impractical, it is envisioned that sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  be remotely delivered to the remote location and automatically dispersed at the location by, e.g., a remotely controlled vehicle. Regardless of the delivery means, the specific type of sensor utilized, and the number of sensors enabled, monitoring system  10  provides a dynamic, robust, and efficient means of monitoring an area for a plurality of quality factors. 
         [0047]    An application server and database  108 ,  109  are connected to monitoring system  10  and configured to control and monitor the operation of sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  and record and monitor the information acquired therefrom, respectively. Application server  108  is configured to communicate the necessary instructions to each of sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  such that the sensors operate according to parameters correlating to the parameters they are configured to monitor. Application server  108  and database  109  are configured to monitor the number and identification of the sensors connected thereto. Such a configuration ensures that information of the system is secure and provides a dynamic monitoring system by allowing continuing inclusion and exclusion of sensors as determined by the operability of the sensors of the parameter desired to be acquired. 
         [0048]    The sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  will now be discussed in greater detail. As previously stated, a monitoring system according to the present invention can include any number of sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  and any combination thereof.  FIGS. 8-12  show particle counter sensor  100 . Particle counter sensor  100  operates continuous in real-time and includes no consumables and is constructed to detect aerosol-borne organisms such as fungi, bacteria and other viable organisms. An emitter or source  110  emits radiation, indicated by line  112  that is focused onto a particle probe region  114 . Radiation that impacts the particle is scattered and is reflected by an array of reflectors  116  onto a detector  118 . Preferably, reflectors  116  are elliptically shaped and concentrically arranged about probe region  114 . Preferably, detector  118  is a photo-detector and the particle probe region  114  and detector  118  are located at the foci of a reflector  116 . An optical particle size can be calculated by analyzing the signal amplitudes at different scattering angles. Preferably, a low-cost detector  118  collects light reflected from each reflector  116 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , positioning a plurality of detectors  118  about probe region  114  provides for acquisition of a majority of the energy associated with the impacting of the particle thereby allowing accurate determination of a particle type from a plurality of potential particle types. As shown in  FIG. 10 , focusing the radiation  112  emitted from source  110  onto the particle probe region  114  scatters radiation that is reflected by reflectors  116  onto detector  118 . The particle probe region  114  and detector  118  are located at the foci of one of the elliptical reflectors  120 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the arrangement of detectors  118  and reflectors  116  about the particle probe region  114  ensures expeditious identification of the particle passing thereby. By analyzing the signal amplitudes at different photo detectors  118 , a shape, and thereby, the type of particle can be determined. The arrangement of elliptical reflectors and focusing of the energy scattering allows detector  118  to be very economical in construction. Preferably, the reflector is be made out of aluminized injection-molded plastic. 
         [0050]      FIG. 13  shows an example of a biological particle counter sensor  102 . Sensor  102  allows an ambient environment to be continuously monitored for potentially harmful biological aerosols, and particle fluorescence. When excited by radiation tuned to the principal biological fluorophores contained within biological organisms, intrinsic particle fluorescence can be used to help differentiate biological from non-biological particles and can even provide some discrimination between biological particles which are normal constituents of an ambient environment and those which may be considered a threat. However, because intrinsic fluorescence from biological fluorophores is generally weak, and because the fluorophores in airborne biological particles are normally present in extremely small quantities, the exciting radiation must be intense. However, solid-state harmonic lasers generally utilized for such excitation are relatively expensive and impractical where multiple-point detection or widespread field monitoring is desired. Sensor  102  includes a plurality of Ultra Violet (UV) laser emitting diodes (LEDs) and allows for a lightweight, transportable, and economical biological material sensor. Sensor  102  includes a plurality of UV LEDs  126  that are controlled to cause excitation by consecutively firing 280 nm and 370 nm UV LEDs using about ten times the rated current (200 mA) for extremely short periods of time (˜ns) resulting in 100 mW of optical power. Understandably, the values are merely preferable and exemplary. As particles pass sensor  102  along a flow, indicated by arrow  128 , a detector  130  acquires signals associated with the scattering of bioparticles off of the particles. The detector  130  measures the induced fluorescence as the radiation contacts an elliptical reflector  132  as shown in  FIG. 14 . The reflected radiation is directed to detector, e.g., a photo-detector  130 , and utilized to determine the nature of the particle passing proximate sensor  102 . Sensor  102  a very cost effective means of detecting species of interest and compounds released in a given environment. Further, it can be trained to detect aerosol agents through its own on-board processor and is sensitive to the level of sub PPM (parts per million). Alternatively, sensor  102  could be constructed to simply communicate the acquired data to a remote controller. 
         [0051]      FIG. 15  shows an exemplary surface biological sensor  104 . Sensor  104  is constructed to detect the presence of biological agents, for example Bacillus anthracis, or anthrax, on surfaces as well as distinguish between active and inactive variants of the agents. Sensor  104  is also constructed for remote and transportable operation of the sensor. Sensor  104  includes a pair of emitters  136 ,  138  configured to cause excitation in a particle of interest. Preferably, emitters  136 ,  138  are xenon flash tubes configured to emit a broad-spectrum light pulse that includes energy in the ultraviolet region. A filter (not shown) provides a narrow band emission centered around 280 nm of emitter  136 . Emitter  138  emits a broad-spectrum light pulse that is filtered to a narrow band around 370 nm. The light pulse is incident on a surface  140  that is desired to be scanned. UV is absorbed by natural flouraphores in the biological material and re-emits energy in the visible spectral region. An integrating sphere/lens  142  collects the radiation and separates the incoming light into two components by a beam splitter  144 . A first portion of the energy in the spectral region between X and Y is detected by a photo-sensor  146 . A second portion of the energy is filtered to pass energy in the spectral region between Z and W. The second portion of the energy is detected by another photo-sensor  148 . The pulse generated by emitter  136  and  138  is synchronized with the gating of the signal received at detectors  146  and  148  to measure the fluorescent lifetime of the emission. A combination of the fluorescent lifetime, the ratios of intensities from detector  146  and  148  and the particle size, yield a result that provides a highly specific identification of pathogenic and non-pathogenic biological material monitored with sensor  104 . Operation of sensor  104  provides a continuous, real-time operating sensor that monitors a surface from a standoff distance. Accordingly, sensor  104  provides analysis of a surface without agitation of the surface that could result in sending polluting particles airborne and further polluting other surfaces. Sensor  104  is constructed to provide differentiation of viable pathogenic organisms from other biological material. Sensor  104  has applications to medicine, food services, the military, etc. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 16-18  show an example of an operational protocol of another sensor according to the present invention. Sensor  106  is a biometric trainable sensor constructed to monitor values having ascertainable oxide values. It is capable of both environmental and medical monitoring. 
         [0053]    Living organisms such as bacteria and fungi produce gaseous by-products of metabolism. A gas sensor can sense these gaseous species, which in some cases are toxic. The presence of such by-products is used as an indicator of the presence of a specific living organism. Similarly, humans produce gaseous by-products during metabolism. Various changes in the health of a human take place that results in changes in the species of the gaseous by-products and serves as a non-invasive indicator of toxicity and other healthcare quality parameters. As a healthcare tool, placement of sensor  106  on a cell-phone or other mobile personal electronic device allows convenient and comparatively constant monitoring of a health indicative parameter. Talking into the device causes breath gases to collect in the headspace of the device. Sensor  106  measures the gaseous by-products in this headspace and sends information to the sensor network for analysis. 
         [0054]    Sensor  106  is of the type more commonly known as a metal oxide sensor (MOS) or Taguchi sensor. Such sensors include a surface active, grainy, semi-conductive oxide (usually SnO 2 ) based gas sensing film  150  that operates at elevated temperatures. The grain size of film  150  can be as small as 10 nanometers. The stochastic sensor signal is represented by the temporal microscopic fluctuations in the sensor resistance, and the ambient gas influences these fluctuations. The sensor&#39;s DC resistance is dominated by charge carrier transport through the potential barriers at inter-grain boundaries  152 . The barrier is formed when the metal oxide crystal is heated in air, and oxygen is adsorbed which acts as a donor due to its negative charge. The barrier height is reduced when the concentration of oxygen ions decreases in the presence of a reducing gas. As a result, the DC resistance decreases. The resistance is typically used as a measure of the presence of a reducing gas. The relationship between sensor resistance and the concentration of deoxidizing gas can be expressed by the following equation over a certain range of gas concentration: 
         [0000]    
       
      
       Rs=A[C]−a  
      
     
         [0055]    where Rs=electrical resistance of the sensor; A=slope; [C]=gas concentration; and a=constant of Rs curve. Preferably, sensor  106  is fabricated by the simple casting of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on an interdigitated electrode (IDE). Sensor  106  responses are linear for concentrations of sub ppm to hundreds of ppm with detection limits of 44 ppb for NO2 and 262 ppb for nitrotoluene. The time is on the order of seconds for the detection response and minutes for the recovery. The extended detection capability from gas to organic vapors is attributed to direct charge transfer on individual semiconducting SWNT conductivity with additional electron hopping effects on intertube conductivity through physically adsorbed molecules between SWNTs. Such a construction provides a gas sensor that is highly responsive, does not consume excess power, is comparatively small, is operatively sensitive and robust. 
         [0056]    The envisioned technological demonstration is built upon the understanding of stochastic processes present in the detection signals of traditional chemical sensors. Here, the fluctuation activity has been shown to contain valuable sensor information that can be obtained not only by spectral analysis but also by methods of higher-order statistics. Indeed, the interaction between a chemical sensor and the molecules it detects is always a dynamic stochastic process. Furthermore, stochastic fingerprinting of breath is an indicator of health condition. The above-described process may be represented by the following chemical equations: 
         [0057]    Variations in the readings of sensor  106  are indicative of a “stochastic fingerprint” of the chemicals (and potentially also from interacting biological molecules) that arise from the time-dependent interactions with the sensor. Rather than simply acquiring a mean value, sensor  106  is constructed to acquire a range of inputs generally proximate the mean value. Such a construction allows sensor  106  to determine a particle type with a great degree of specificity. As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the signal generated by sensor  106  is configured to generate a signal indicative of a particular particle being sensed. Sensor  106  is constructed to account for the micro-fluctuations present in the sensor and operates under fluctuation-enhanced sensing (FES) that utilizes the micro-fluctuations already present in the sensor and that are influenced by very low concentrations of chemical (and also potentially by biological) agents. 
         [0058]    The sensitivity and selectivity of sensor  106  is constructed for detection of particles down to parts per trillion levels. These improvements are due in part to the fact that stochastic information acquired from sensor  106  was utilized to estimate concentrations and to achieve identification of chemical species. Small arrays of sensors further improve performance and reliability. That is, if a sample of a known particle is acquired and analyzed with sensor  106 , sensor  106  can be configured to identify the “fingerprint” of the tested particle. Accordingly, sensor  106  is constructed to provide a non-invasive, continuous, real-time, low cost, highly portable, robust, and trainable sensor. Oxidative stress is a general indicator of disease or exposure to toxic substances. Thus, detecting various manifestations of oxidative stress could be used as a preliminary screening for toxic exposure. Accordingly, human breath analysis sensing is an inexpensive, non-invasive means of monitoring health conditions. 
         [0059]    As mentioned, a monitoring system according to the present invention preferably includes many different sensors and an innumerable number of sensor orientations and configurations per monitoring environment or event. For example, the monitoring system includes multiple user configurable alarm levels, a robust construction operable between approximately −20 C° and approximately +70 C°, and a number of operating power ranges from low voltages to at least 120 V operation input. Preferably, the monitoring system includes an IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) or wireless communication interface and each sensor is uniquely identified to allow expedient identification of alert or alarm conditions. Preferably, sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  are interchangeable and combinable in any format with monitoring system  10  and allow for remote and secure communication with the monitoring system. The system preferably includes a database constructed to monitor and record operation of the sensors of the systems. 
         [0060]    Monitoring system  10  and sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  provide a highly dynamic and flexible monitoring system. The monitoring system can include any combination of sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  and any number thereof. Understandably, the number of sensors, the dispersion of the sensors, and the diversity of the sensors connected to the network all contribute to the definition of the sensed parameters as well as the geographic area defined for monitoring. Understandably, incorporation of any of sensors  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  into a prolific device such as cell phones or other personal devices including vehicles or computers, whether movable or not, would provide a far reaching and responsive monitoring system. 
         [0061]    Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. In addition, the individual components need not be fabricated from the disclosed materials, but could be fabricated from virtually any suitable materials. Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration. Further, although the modules described herein are physically separate, it will be manifest that they may be integrated into the apparatus with which it is associated. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each disclosed embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive.