Patent ID: 7940175

Claim:
A device comprising: a conduit carrying a sample gas flow; a gas sensor; a water trap mount; a water trap detachably connected to said water trap mount, said water trap being connected to said conduit and to said gas sensor via said water trap mount, the sample gas flow being directed through said water trap to feed said sample gas flow to said gas sensor, said water trap being separably connected via said water trap mount for connection to and removal from the device; a radio frequency marking associated with said water trap; a data memory; a radio frequency detection device with a detection area for detecting said radio frequency marking, wherein said radio frequency detection device detects said radio frequency marking in said detection area with said water trap connected to said water trap mount and said radio frequency detection device generates a marking signal with said water trap connected to said water trap mount in an initial connected state, said marking signal representing marking information and a connected state of said water trap mount and said water trap; and a control unit controlling the device as a function of the marking signal, said control unit generating an initial time period corresponding to a duration of time during which said water trap is initially connected to the device as a function of detection of said marking signal, said control unit providing said initial time period as output to at least one of said radio frequency marking and said data memory, wherein said water trap is disconnected from said device in a disconnected state, said water trap being reconnected to said device in a reconnected state, said marking signal being generated via said radio frequency detection device with said water trap reconnected to said device in said reconnected state, said control unit comparing said initial time period in one of said data memory and said radio frequency marking with a predetermined run time period with said water trap and said device in said reconnected state, said control unit generating an additional time period corresponding to the duration of time during which said water trap is reconnected to the device as a function of detection of the marking signal, said additional time period comprising said initial time period, wherein said water trap does not operate with said additional time period being substantially equal to said predetermined time period.