Patent ID: 8650932

Claim:
A detection and identification system, comprising: a sensor unit that is configured to detect and identify at least one chemical included in an air flow, the sensor unit including a sensor array; a pump that is configured to drive the air flow through the detection and identification system, the pump receiving the air flow that has passed out of the sensor unit; an adsorption unit that is configured to substantially dry and substantially clean the air flow within the detection and identification system, the adsorption unit receiving the air flow that has passed out of the pump; and at least one valve that is configured to receive the substantially dry and substantially clean air flow that has passed through the adsorption unit, wherein the at least one valve provides the substantially dry and substantially clean air flow to the sensor unit in a close-loop circulation operation of the detection and identification system to thereby clean the sensor array in a purge stage, and wherein the at least one valve operates to receive input air from an external environment and then to the sensor array, and the at least one sensor operates to provide exhaust air out to the external environment, in an open-loop flow operation of the detection and identification system in which a chemical or contaminant in the sample is detected and identified in a sample stage.