CN102906555B - Methods, devices, and systems for detecting properties of target samples - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for collecting portions of a target sample are disclosed herein. A method for detecting the presence and/or properties of a target sample can include selectively collecting a portion of a target sample with a sample collector and detecting, with the sample collector, the presence of one or more properties of the microscopic portion of the target sample. The method also includes analyzing, with the sample collector, the one or more properties of the microscopic portion of the target sample. Based on the analysis, the method further includes reporting, from the sample collector, a real-time indication of the analysis of the one or more properties of the target sample. The method can also include at least partially removing the microscopic portion of the target sample from the sample collector.; The methods and systems disclosed herein can be used, for example, in systems or environments directed to quality assurance, preventative maintenance, safety, hazard warnings, homeland security, chemical identification and surveillance, and/or other suitable environments.

Description

Method, device and system for detecting properties of target samples

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims priority and benefit to US Patent Application No. 61/304,403, filed February 13, 2010, entitled "FULL SPECTRUMENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE." This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 12/806,634, filed August 16, 2010, entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DETECTION OF PROPERTIESOF FLUID CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS," which claims the 2010 Priority and benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, entitled "FULLSPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE," filed on March 13. US Patent Application No. 12/806,634 is also a continuation-in-part of each of: PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24497, filed February 17, entitled "ELECTROLYTICCELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF"; Patent Application No. 12/707,653; PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24498, filed February 17, 2010, entitled "APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS"; US Patent Application No. 12/707,656 for APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS”; and PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24499, filed February 17, 2010, entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLINGNUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS,” Each of these applications claims priority and benefit to: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/153,253, filed February 17, 2009, entitled "FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY"; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,476, entitled "ELECTROLYZER ANDENERGY INDEPENDENCE TECHNOLOGIES"; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed February 13, 2010, entitled "FULL SPECTRUM ENERGYAND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE." Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. To the extent that the foregoing applications and/or any other material contained herein by reference conflicts with the disclosure expressed herein, the disclosure herein controls.

technical field

The present disclosure is generally directed to methods, devices and systems for detecting the presence and/or properties of a portion of a target sample.

Background technique

A joint is used to connect two objects, such as, for example, a pipe and a device that facilitates fluid communication with the pipe. An example of such a device is a valve. Fittings can also be used to terminate or plug openings or holes. Additionally, joints must remain sealed against leaks while meeting various design criteria regarding, for example, pressure, temperature, and vibration.

It may be advantageous to provide early detection of conditions that may result in leaks or incipient leak conditions for the purpose of specifying fail-safe operations and/or preventive maintenance.

Currently, the connections between the joints can be prone to leaks. Spills may result in hazardous conditions due to escape of oxidizing agents, odorants, pharmaceutical fluids, fuels, toxic substances, or other unpleasant or undesirable substances. Spills can result in the loss of a valuable substance or interruption of a process that involves delivering a specific substance in precise and sufficient quantities. In addition to degradation of O-rings or gaskets that form a seal between joints, leaks can come from mechanical loosening of connections. A common cause of slack can be thermal cycling or vibration of the system including the joint.

Contents of the invention

Embodiments of the disclosure described herein generally instruct methods, apparatus, devices, systems, etc., for monitoring and/or detecting one or more properties of a sample of target material. Some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, direct the collection of a sufficient amount of a target sample, the detection of the presence of a portion of the target sample and/or the analysis of properties of the target sample, the reporting of the results of the detection and/or analysis, and optionally the removal of the target sample, to allow for repeated or cyclic collection of additional samples. As explained in detail below, the sample volume that can be collected and analyzed may be very small or minute fractions of the target sample, including, for example, molecular or microscopic fractions of the target sample. Based on one or more factors related to the presence or properties of a target sample, the methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can provide an indication of appropriate action or treatment in response to detection and/or analysis. Networked systems and sensor arrays as described herein can be used in a variety of appropriate contexts, including, for example, pointing to quality assurance, preventive maintenance, safety (including trend analysis), hazard warning (including shutdown procedures), chemical identification, and regulatory , environmental monitoring and/or homeland security environments.

In some embodiments, for example, the systems described herein perform providing an indication that maintenance or other corrective action is required in response to detecting the location and/or concentration or properties of a target sample as well as an undesired sample. In other embodiments, the systems described herein may provide control events related to detected properties or presence of target samples. For example, in one embodiment, the system may prevent the dispersion of certain fluids (eg, drugs, fuels, etc.) if the system detects undesired properties or components in the fluid, including, for example, the wrong fluid. As described in detail below, the methods, devices, systems, etc. of the present disclosure utilize a number of different methods to detect and/or analyze the presence or properties of a target sample and forward or otherwise provide information regarding the detected presence or properties of a target sample . Thus, the present disclosure is directed to a variety of different applications including, for example, drug delivery; fuel delivery; tire pressure regulation; pressurized hydrogen and/or oxygen; safety systems for the automotive and truck industries; tracking for international and domestic shipments systems; security systems for natural gas networks; storage tanks and pipelines; homeland security, including hazard warnings, WAN sensor link arrays for airports, public buildings, hospitals, mass transit systems; police drug trafficking identification, military hazard identification, EPA identification of industrial pollutants, emissions reporting, carbon credit tracking and reporting, food chain transfer, medical delivery and monitoring applications, etc. Additionally, the systems and methods described herein provide adaptive management and control over the real-time and cyclic collection, analysis, and reporting of one or more attributes of a target sample.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system or sensor configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2A is a flowchart of a method configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

2B is a flowchart of a portion of the method shown in FIG. 2A configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

3A is a schematic molecular structure diagram, and FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of stacked sheets showing the molecular structure of layers characterized by crystal matrices configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

3C to 3E and 3G are cross-sectional side views, while FIG. 3F is an isometric cross-sectional view of a corresponding structural construct configured with parallel and spaced apart layers in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

4A-4C are schematic cross-sectional side views of a portion of a system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

5A and 5B are schematic side views of systems configured in accordance with additional embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of a network or system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

6B and 6C are flowcharts of methods configured in accordance with additional embodiments of the present disclosure;

7A is a side view of a mating assembly configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7B is a cross-sectional side view taken substantially along line 7B-7B of Figure 7A;

Figure 7C is an isometric view of the mating assembly of Figure 7A;

8A is a side view of a mating assembly configured in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 8B is a cross-sectional side view taken substantially along line 8B-8B of Figure 8A;

Figure 8C is an enlarged detail view of a portion of Figure 8B;

Figure 8D is an isometric view of the mating assembly of Figure 8A;

Figure 9A is a side cross-sectional view of an assembly configured in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figures 9B and 9C are enlarged details of a portion of Figure 9A;

Figure 9D is an exploded view of the assembly of Figure 9A;

9E is a side partial cross-sectional view of a system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9F is a schematic diagram of an application environment of a detector configured according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 10 is a schematic illustration of a fluid conduit system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 11 is a schematic illustration of a power generating device configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 12 illustrates another environment containing sensors according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 13 shows an electrolytic cell containing a sensor according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed ways

This application incorporates by reference in its entirety the subject matter of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/626,021, filed November 9, 2004, entitled "MULTIFUEL STORAGE, METERING AND IGNITION SYSTEM" (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8302US) . This application incorporates by reference in its entirety the subject matter of each of the following U.S. patent applications filed August 16, 2010, entitled "COMPREHENSIVE COST MODELING OFAUTOGENOUS SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ENERGY, MATERIAL RESOURCES AND NUTRIENT REGIMES" (Attorney Document No. 69545-8506US ); entitled "ELECTROLYTIC CELL ANDMETHOD OF USE THEREOF" (Attorney Document No. 69545-8106US); entitled "SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHINTEGRATED PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, MATERIALS RESOURCES" (Attorney文档No.69545-8501US)；题为“SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLEECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FULLSPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY”(代理人文档No.69545-8502US)；题为“SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTHROUGH INTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OFRENEWABLE MATERIAL RESOURCES” (代理人文档No.69545-8503US)；题为“METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING THEEFFICIENCY OF SUPPLEMENTED OCEAN THERMAL ENERGYCONVERSION (SOTEC)”(代理人文档No.69545-9601US)；题为“GASHYDRATE CONVERSION SYSTEM FOR HARVESTINGHYDROCARBON HYDRATE DEPOSITS "(Proxy Document No.69545-9701US); titled "APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR STORINGAND/OR FILTERING A SUBSTANCE" (Proxy Document No.69 545-8046US); titled "ENERGY SYSTEM FOR DWELLING SUPPORT" (Attorney Document No. 69545-8504US); entitled "ENERGY CONVERSION ASSEMBLIES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE" (Attorney Document No. 69545-9401US); and Entitled "INTERNALLY REINFORCEDSTRUCTURAL COMPOSITES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OFMANUFACTURING" (69545-9201US).

A. Guidelines for methods and systems for collecting, sensing, reporting and/or clearing a portion of a target sample Example overview

Methods, devices, apparatus, systems and related components for providing information related to specific properties and/or presence of a target sample are described herein. In some embodiments, the methods and systems provide a "whistleblower" or other type of feedback indication regarding target sample attributes, target sample status, target sample presence, and/or any other suitable attributes or characteristics related to the target sample . As used herein, the term target sample may include any material that is desired or intended to be detected and/or analyzed, including microscopic, molecular-scale or atomic-scale portions of the material. Furthermore, as used herein, the term fluid is intended to describe any type of flowable material including, for example, liquids, gases, plasmas, and the like.

In some embodiments, the methods, systems, and related components disclosed herein provide an indication of the presence of an object and/or specific attributes about an object. In one embodiment, for example, the systems and methods disclosed herein can detect and provide an indication that a target sample, such as a fluid, is leaking from a system delivering the fluid. More specifically, the methods and systems may include sensors or indicators that determine when a leak has occurred and provide an indication of a fluid leak, such as a signal or an alarm. Furthermore, as described in detail below, an indication of a leak (or detection of the presence or other attribute of a target sample) may be provided at a very early stage or at the incipient (eg, molecular or atomic) level of the leak. Additionally, the methods and systems described herein can detect leaks in response to interrogation signals directed to sensors or indicators. In this manner, embodiments described herein may provide early detection of unwanted leaks or any other property or state associated with a target sample.

So instead of odorants in natural gas or propane infiltrating the dwelling air before an unsuspecting person wakes up, doesn't happen to have a cold and happens to ask about the smell of "rotten eggs" and gets the alarm in their head Leak or other detection stages provide indications or alerts to prevent such delays. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may utilize the relatively small number of molecules of a target sample that has been collected or otherwise accumulated, such as, for example, through a seal, to judge incipient detection, and thus lead to immediate alarms and/or calls for maintenance. Furthermore, according to trends indicated by collection rate analysis and comparative assessment of the specific chemistries involved, the degree of urgency and corresponding appropriate response can be adjusted. If the system detects a collection rate of sufficient magnitude, for example, the system may provide an indication that immediate maintenance or other action is required. However, if the system detects a collection rate below a predetermined magnitude, the system may provide an indication of the presence of the target sample or other attribute, but may not require immediate maintenance. Additionally, as explained in detail below with reference to embodiments of the present disclosure, the system may detect, analyze, or otherwise measure certain properties of the target sample to determine control events for the target sample flow (eg, fluid flow). For example, if the system detects impurities in the fuel, or if the system detects the wrong type of fluid, the system can stop fuel flow or change fluid flow.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 100 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As explained in detail below, system 100 may be an isolated sensor or detector comprising a sensor or detector configured to sense the presence and/or properties of one or more target samples and provide an indication of target sample sensing. multiple components or parts. More specifically, system 100 includes collector portion 102 and sensing portion 104 . In some embodiments, sensing portion 106 may include detector portion 106 and analysis portion 108 . System 100 further includes a communication or control portion 110 and a scrubber portion 112 . In some embodiments, communication or control portion 109 may include reporter portion 110 and/or controller portion 111 . These parts or components of system 100 are shown schematically in FIG. 1 . Although these parts are schematically shown as separate parts, some or all of these parts may be combined into a single component. For example, while the scavenger portion 112 is schematically illustrated as a separate component from the collector portion 102, in some embodiments the collector portion 102 may be configured to perform the functions of the scavenger portion 112, or otherwise be associated with the scavenger portion 112. The processor portion 112 is integrated, and/or integrated with other portions of the system 100. Thus, while schematically shown as separate components or sections, references to any collector section 102, sensing section 104, communication or control section 109, and/or scavenger section 112 described herein may also include reference to the system 100 References to any other corresponding parts and components. Furthermore, each of these parts may communicate with some or all of the other corresponding parts of the system 100, as schematically shown in FIG. 1 . Several features of the functionality of these portions of system 100 will be described below with reference to Figures 2A and 2B. Additionally, the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 may also be referred to herein as a sensor or a snitch sensor.

Also as described in detail below, the components of system 100 (e.g., collector portion 102, sensor portion 104, communication or control portion 109, and/or scavenger portion 112) are configured to collect, analyze, and otherwise use the Small portion. For example, collector portion 102 can selectively collect or accumulate microscopic, microscopic, molecular-scale, or even atomic-scale portions of a sample of interest. In addition, the microscopic portion of the target sample is a relatively fine portion of the target sample itself. Therefore, a large number of target samples are not required to judge the existence or attributes of the target samples. In addition, sensor portion 104 may detect the presence of the target sample, or otherwise automatically analyze the molecular fraction of the target sample (i.e., once collector portion 102 has accumulated the fraction, sensor portion 104 may respond immediately to the presence of the fraction. sense the presence or properties of the part). Thus, in addition to having the ability to collect and analyze small quantities of samples, the system 100 can itself function as a microscope system or other relatively small-scale system. Additionally, the communication or control portion 109 may provide real-time, instant, or other forms of instantaneous indication, or sample collection and analysis reporting. For example, reporter portion 110 may selectively transmit signals or provide other appropriate indications regarding target sample collection, detection and/or analysis. Additionally, the controller portion 111 may provide adaptive control over sample collection, analysis, reporting, and/or clearance, as well as provide other information based on these actions, such as an indication of trends in collection or analysis. For example, the controller portion 111 may process or otherwise provide an indication of the amount collected or the rate of collection based on the fractional inventory of the target sample portion being collected and analyzed. In some embodiments, controller 111 may include a processor and/or memory for storing computer-readable instructions and for storing information related to collection and analysis (e.g., trends, rates, and/or or quantity; type of sample; location of sample collection, etc.). The communication section 109 can send information to and receive information from the remote control, including, for example, taking specific actions in response to the remote control. Additionally, the communication portion 109 may include an internal clock or an external clock for indicating a target sample sampling rate (eg, collection and/or purging). Furthermore, as described in detail below, the system 100 can be used or arranged in a network or matrix of like systems that can communicate with each other and with a central controller.

FIG. 2A is a flowchart of a process or method 200 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The method 200 may be implemented, controlled, or otherwise implemented by one or more of the systems 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1 . Referring to FIG. 2A, method 200 includes collecting a portion of the target sample (block 222). As described in detail below, collecting the portion of the target sample may include collecting or accumulating a microscopic portion of the target sample, such as, for example, a molecular sized portion of the target sample. As further described below, the collector portion 102 of FIG. 1 may utilize a variety of techniques, including, for example, any of the following techniques and/or applications to collect the target sample: specially designed surfaces for molecular filtration; optical analysis using refractive index , Capillarity, Thermal Analysis, Adsorption, Absorption, Adhesive Collection, Analysis of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Properties, Nano Radio Frequency Modulation, etc. Several of these techniques, as well as several representative environments, that may be applied to collector portion 102 of FIG. 1 are described in detail below with reference to the remaining figures.

As shown in FIG. 2A , after collecting the portion of the target sample, the method 200 further includes sensing one or more properties of the target sample (block 224 ). The sensing of method 220 may be implemented by sensing portion 104 of system 100 of FIG. 1 , which includes detector portion 106 and analyzer portion 108 . For example, and as shown in FIG. 2B which illustrates a portion of the method 200 shown in FIG. 2A, the sensing step of method 220 (block 224) may optionally include detecting one or more properties of the target sample (block 225) and the sub-step or sub-process of analyzing one or more properties of the target sample (block 227). In some embodiments, detecting the presence of the collected sample or detecting the accumulated volume of the target sample is sufficient for the purpose of sensing the target sample. However, in other embodiments it may be desirable or advantageous to analyze the portion of the target sample for a specific attribute or indicator. Furthermore, the step of sensing one or more properties of a sample may require only a small amount or molecular-sized fraction of the sample of interest. In other embodiments, the sensing step of method 220 (block 224) may depend on the mechanism or method used to collect the portion of the target sample (eg, at block 222). Additionally, sensing may include analyzing trends indicated by target sample collection rates or comparative assessments of specific chemistries of target samples. Several embodiments of suitable components and configurations for sensing (eg, detecting and/or analyzing) a sample of interest are described in detail below.

The method 220 further includes reporting an indication of detection and/or analysis of the portion of the target sample (block 226). The reporting step of method 220 may be implemented by reporter portion 110 of the system of FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, reporting may include sending or transmitting a signal (e.g., via a wired or wireless medium) to a controller or another similar system indicating the presence of a detected target sample or one or more properties of the target sample analysis results. In other embodiments, the signal may include an indication of appropriate action in response to sensing the target sample. For example, the signal may include information regarding preventive maintenance or safety related to the target sample, as well as information related to the location, quantity, concentration or other attributes of the target sample. Furthermore, the reporting signal may be sent immediately or otherwise in real-time as the target sample is sensed, or the reporting signal may be stored and transmitted later. Several embodiments of suitable components and arrangements for reporting an indication of detection or analysis of a target sample are described in detail below.

Method 220 may further optionally include purging at least a portion of the collected target samples (block 228). Scavenging may be performed by the scavenger portion 112 of the system 100 of FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, collected target sample portions may be cleared or eliminated to allow additional collection of new target sample portions. However, in other embodiments, the target sample may not be cleared. Several embodiments of suitable components and mechanisms for clearing target samples are described in detail below. Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, all or part of the steps of method 220 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B may be repeated cyclically, as indicated by arrow 229, for continuous or automatic collection, analysis, reporting and/or clearing. As described below, embodiments of the present disclosure include unique features that allow collection and analysis of microscopic target samples for real-time reporting and adaptive control.

B. Realization of the structural configuration of collectors, sensors, reporters, and/or scavengers that can be used in the system Embodiment and Features

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1-2B , collector portion 102 is configured to collect, accumulate, attract, or otherwise collect a portion of a target sample. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the collector portion 102 may utilize, at least in part, methods disclosed in co-filed U.S. Patent Application entitled "ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCT HAVING FOR EXAMPLE A PLURALITY OFARCHITECTURAL CRYSTALS" (Attorney Docket No. 69545.8701.US00). structure to achieve. For example, a structural construct can consist of a synthetic matrix representation of a crystal that can be specifically designed to achieve desired (1) thermal properties, (2) electromagnetic, optical and acoustic properties, (3) catalytic properties, (4) capillary properties, and (5) snapping properties. Architectural constructs can be designed to employ some or all of these properties for a particular application, such as collecting a predetermined target sample. The behavior of this architectural construct depends on its composition, the surface structure on its layers, its surface orientation, its dopants, and the coatings (including catalysts) applied on its surface. When it is configured as layers, its behavior also depends on the thickness of its layers, the spacers between its layers, the distances separating its layers and the means used to support its layers and/or separate its layers. Structural constructs are macroscopic structures designed to facilitate nanoscale micromanipulation. From a macro perspective, it can be configured to have a specific density, elastic modulus, and/or section modulus. And it can be designed so that from a microscopic point of view, it can be used as a molecular processor, charge processor and/or biological processor.

Collector portion 102, consisting at least in part of an architectural construct for collecting a portion of a target sample, can be configured in a variety of ways. For example, a designer can arrange it as a solid block (e.g., as multiple single-atom-thick layers on top of each other), as multiple spaced-apart layers each as thin as an atom, Or arranged into other structures by which desired properties can be exhibited. Designers can also dope the construct with substances or coat its surface, each causing it to behave differently than it should. Schematically, FIG. 3A is a molecular schematic diagram of a material layer 330a characterized by a crystal matrix of structural constructs. Layer 330a may include carbon, boron nitride, or another suitable substance. For example, crystalline matrix representation 100 may be a graphene layer. A crystalline matrix similar to that shown in FIG. 1A characterizes layers that can be configured into structural configurations by tailoring the layers, such as doping the layers or arranging the layers with other layers in specific configurations to produce configurations exhibit specific properties. The layers 330a forming the crystalline matrix representation of the architectural construct may be configured to be stacked together to form layers thicker than 1 atom (eg, graphene stacked to form graphite) and/or spaced apart from each other by a specified distance. Furthermore, the layers of the architectural construct may be oriented in different ways relative to each other.

Figure 3B is a schematic molecular diagram of the structure of a second material layer 330b represented by a crystal matrix superimposed on the first material layer 330a represented by the crystal matrix of Figure 3A (the first material layer 330a is represented by a dotted line in Figure 3B Shows). Referring to Figures 3A and 3B jointly, the layers are composed of graphene, which is an atomically thick flat sheet of carbon. In some embodiments, the one-atom-thick crystalline matrix-characterized sheets are composed of another substance in addition to carbon, such as boron nitride. In a further embodiment, the architectural construct may be configured as a solid block. The solid block structural construction may be composed of, for example, graphite or boron nitride. An architectural construct configured as a solid block includes a plurality of single-atom-thick layers stacked together. An architectural construct configured as a physical block is tailor-made, meaning that it is altered to behave in a particular way or to perform a predetermined function. In some embodiments, a solid block is tailored by doping or by orienting its single-atom-thick layers in a specific way relative to each other.

In some embodiments, the first and second layers of the architectural construct are configured such that atoms of the first layer are vertically aligned with atoms of the second layer when viewed from above. For example, molecules of an architectural construct composed of two layers aligned in this manner, when viewed from above, will look like the first layer 330a of the architectural construct of FIG. 3A. In other embodiments, the first layer may be rotated 30 degrees relative to the second layer. In some embodiments, the first layer of the architectural construct includes a first substance, such as carbon, and the second layer of the architectural construct includes a second substance, such as boron nitride. Layers made of different species or doped may appear uneven because larger molecules warp flat surfaces. As detailed further below, some properties of an architectural construct are affected by the orientation of its layers relative to each other. For example, a designer may rotate or offset a first layer of a construction relative to a second layer of the construction so that the construction exhibits particular optical properties, including particular gratings. In addition, layers of architectural constructs can be oriented relative to each other by applying tracking crystal modifiers such as neon, argon, or helium as the layers are deposited, either through heat treatments that move molecules into specific orientations, or through crystal torque during exfoliation. In a certain position (ie, offset and/or rotated as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 1A-C ).

An architectural construct configured according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be composed of a single substance (eg, graphene, boron nitride, etc.), or it may be tailored by doping or reacting with other substances. For example, an architectural construct composed of graphene may have regions that react with boron, forming both stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric subsets. Graphene can be tailored with nitrogen and can be composed of both graphene with a nitrogen interface and graphene with boron nitride. In some embodiments, compounds can be constructed based on this structural construct. For example, from a boron nitride interface, designers can construct magnesium aluminum boron compounds. By customizing structural constructs in these ways, designers can create a construct that exhibits different properties than one composed of only one type of substance.

Structural configurations comprising parallel layers spaced apart from one another can produce a wide range of properties and achieve many effects. For example, Figure 3C is a cross-sectional side view of an architectural construct 330c configured as parallel spaced apart layers 331, which may be composed of any number of substances, such as graphene, graphite, or boron nitride. The parallel layers 331 may be rectangular, circular or other suitable shapes. In FIG. 3C, layer 331 includes openings or holes through which support tubes 332 support structural construct 330c. The layers 331 are each separated by a distance D, producing regions 333 between the layers 331 . Individual plies 331 of architectural construct 330c may be fabricated to have any suitable thickness. In FIG. 3C, for example, each parallel layer 331 may be a single atom thick. For example, each layer can be a graphene sheet. In some embodiments, the layers of the architectural construct are thicker than one atom. In other embodiments, layers 331 may have different thicknesses and be spaced apart by different distances.

For example, Figure 3D is a cross-sectional side view of an architectural construct 330d having multiple layers 331 of varying thickness or width. In some embodiments, layers 331 are each thicker than one atom. However, in other embodiments, some layers 331 may be only a few atoms thick, while other layers 331 may be thicker, such as more than 20 atoms. More specifically, the layers 331 may include a first group 332a of relatively thinner layers 331 , and a second group 332b of relatively thicker layers 331 . According to an additional feature of the illustrated embodiment, the layers 331 of the first group 332a may include a first distance _D1 between adjacent layers 331 _that is greater than that between adjacent layers 331 of the second group 332b. The second distance D ₂ between them. These separation distances correspondingly create regions 333 between adjacent layers 331 . 3E is a cross-sectional side view of an architectural construct 330e having a plurality of layers 331 of approximately the same thickness but spaced different distances apart from one another. For example, layers 331 of first group 332a may be spaced apart from each other by a first distance D1 that is less than a second distance D2 that separates corresponding layers 331 of second group 332b. FIG. 3E also shows regions 333 between adjacent layers 331 . The regions 333 are dimensioned according to the separation distance between the layers 331 , so that, for example, a larger region 222 results in the second group 332b than in the first group 332a.

Figure 3F is a cross-sectional isometric partial view of an architectural construct composed of concentric tubular layers 331 characterized by a crystalline matrix. For example, a first layer 331a of architectural construct 330f is tubular and has a larger diameter than an adjacent second layer 331b. The architectural construct 350f may include a plurality of concentric layers spaced apart in this manner.

Turning next to FIG. 3G , FIG. 3G is a side cross-sectional partial side view showing the structural configuration 330 g of several spacers 334 between adjacent layers 331 . In some embodiments, the spacer may be composed of titanium (eg, forming titanium carbide with a graphene layer), iron (eg, forming iron carbide with a graphene layer), boron, nitrogen, or the like. To form the structure shown in Figure 3G, in some embodiments, a gas is dehydrogenated on the surface of each layer 331, resulting in a spacer 334 in which every molecule is dehydrogenated. For example, after layer 331 of architectural construct 330g has been exfoliated, methane may be heated on the surface of layer 331 , which will cause the methane molecules to split and deposit carbon atoms on the surface of layer 331 . The larger the molecule that is dehydrogenated, the larger the gap or spacer 334 that is created. For example, propane, which has 3 carbon atoms per molecule, will produce larger spacers 334 than methane, which has 1 carbon atom per molecule. In some embodiments, spacers 334 are surface structures, such as nanotubes and nanoscrolls, that transfer heat and facilitate loading of species into architectural construct 330g. Structural configurations including this type of surface structure are described in US Patent Application No. 12/857,515, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Structural constructions including any of the structures described above may take various forms, as in concurrently filed U.S. Patent Application entitled "ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCT HAVING FOR EXAMPLE APLURALITY OF ARCHITECTURAL CRYSTALS" (Attorney Docket No. 69545.8701.US00) and U.S. Patent No. 6,503,584 and pending US Patent Application No. 12/857,515, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. These methods may include, for example, forming a first layer by dehydrogenating a gas (e.g., a hydrocarbon) within a framework, and dehydrogenating the gas (e.g., titanium carbide) before forming a second layer on a spacer or surface structure. ) dehydrogenates to form spacers on the inside surface of the layer, thereby forming a layer or construct. Subsequent layers are then deposited in a similar manner. Other methods may include machining the single crystal into a desired shape and exfoliating the single crystal into layers. Other approaches may include diffusing a fluid (such as hydrogen) into the crystal and exfoliating layers from the crystal. The layers may be exfoliated a predetermined distance from adjacent layers. Furthermore, spacers or surface structures can also be deposited between the layers.

Certain features of the structural constructions disclosed herein and in U.S. Patent Application entitled "ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCT HAVING FOR EXAMPLE APLURALITY OF ARCHITECTURAL CRYSTALS" (Attorney Docket No. 69545.8701.US00), filed concurrently and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety It may be specifically designed to implement the collection, sensing, reporting, and/or clearing features of system 100 as described above with reference to FIG. 1 . For example, structural constructs can be designed to have specific densities, elastic moduli, and section moduli. These macroscopic features influence the properties exhibited by structural constructs at the microscopic level. More specifically, the density of a structural construct is defined as mass per unit volume, and density can be influenced by many different parameters. One parameter is the composition of the crystal matrix characterization. For example, boron nitride crystals are generally denser than graphite crystals. Another parameter is the distance separating the layers of the structural construct. Increasing or decreasing the spacing between layers will correspondingly increase or decrease the density of the architectural construct. In embodiments where the layers are separated by spacers, the density of the structural construct will also be greater than in embodiments where the layers are similarly separated but spacers are not used. Dopants added to the architectural construct will also affect density (eg, higher dopant levels correspond to higher densities).

Another property of a structural construct that can be specifically designed is the modulus of elasticity, which is its tendency to deform elastically (eg, defined as the slope of its stress-strain curve in its region of elastic deformation) when it is subjected to an applied force. Like its density, the modulus of elasticity of an architectural construct depends in part on its layer thickness, their spacing, and their composition. Its modulus of elasticity will also depend on how the layers are fixed relative to each other. For example, if the layers are supported by a central tube or support, the individual layers will generally elastically deform by a greater amount than if they were secured relative to each other by spacers. When the spacer secures the two layers relative to each other, when pressure is applied to either layer, each layer will reinforce the other corresponding layer, thereby dampening deflection caused by a given force. The amount that each layer reinforces each other depends in part on the density of the spacers between the layers and how rigidly the spacers hold the layers together.

An additional property of a structural construct that may be specifically designed is the section modulus, which is the ratio of the strength or second area moment of a section of a structural construct to the distance of the ultimate compressive fiber from the neutral axis. The section modulus of the structural construct will depend on the size and shape of each layer of the structural construct. Density, modulus of elasticity, and section modulus of a structural construct, as well as other macroscopic properties, may remain constant across the structural construct, or they may vary segmentally or periodically. Just as the density, modulus of elasticity, or section modulus of a structural construct can affect the properties exhibited by the structural construct, varying these macroscopic features by segment or periodically can cause the construct to behave differently in different parts or sections of the construct. For example, by having an architectural construct with a greater amount of layer separation in the first section than in the second section (thus giving it a greater density in the second section than in the first section), the architectural construct can be made more prone to A first substance is loaded, collected, or otherwise accumulated in a first section, and a second substance is loaded, collected, or otherwise accumulated in a second section.

C. Embodiments and features of the collector portion of the system

As described above with reference to FIG. 1 , collector portion 102 of system 100 is configured to load, accumulate, or otherwise collect a portion of a sample of interest (eg, a microscopic or molecular fraction). Collector portion 102 may be constructed, at least in part, of the structural constructs described in detail above. As described in further detail below, the collector portion 102 can collect the target sample by various mechanisms and/or methods.

1. Characteristics of the part about loading and unloading collectors

In some embodiments, collector portion 102 can be configured as a selective surface that can selectively load or accumulate a portion of a predetermined target sample. More specifically, in some embodiments where the collector portion is an architectural construct with a plurality of spaced apart layers, the layers may be configured to load target species into the region between the layers. When a target substance is absorbed onto the surface of the layers or into the region between the layers, molecules of the target substance are loaded between the parallel layers. For example, referring back to FIG. 3C , architectural construct 300 c may load molecules of matter present through support tube 332 to the inner periphery of bed 331 , into region 333 . For example, support tube 332 may supply the target substance to region 333 through apertures in support tube 332 .

In some embodiments, the architectural construct is configured to selectively load a particular molecule or molecules and avoid other non-target species molecules (eg, load a first target molecule while inhibiting loading a second non-target molecule). For example, the first set of layers can be configured such that they are separated by a particular distance to facilitate selective loading of the first molecule over the second molecule. Similarly, the second set of layers can be configured such that they are separated by a particular distance, which favors loading of the third molecule over the second molecule. Surface tension at the edge of the layer also affects whether molecules are loaded into the structural construct. For example, if a first set of layers has been loaded with molecules of a first substance, surface tension at the inside edge of the loaded first set of molecules may prevent the first set of layers from being loaded with molecules of a second substance, but allow the second set of layers to be loaded with molecules of a second substance. A set of layers continues to be loaded with molecules of the first substance.

In some embodiments, architectural constructs are configured to be non-sacrificial. For example, a non-sacrificial configuration could load and unload matter, or perform other tasks without sacrificing any of its structure. In other embodiments, architectural constructs are configured to sacrifice atoms from their crystal structure to favor a particular outcome. For example, an architectural construct composed of boron nitride can be configured to load a desired target sample, and boron nitride can react with the target sample. Thus, atoms from the construct will be sacrificed in the reaction of the boron nitride with the target sample, and when the product is unloaded from the construct, the structural construct will lose the sacrificed boron nitride molecules. In some embodiments, a construct that has sacrificed its structure can be at least partially restored. For example, a structural construct made of boron nitride can be restored by providing the construct with new boron nitride molecules and applying heat. The new boron nitride molecules can self-organize into the original shape of the structural construct.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein can selectively collect specific components of a target sample to analyze the collected or separated target sample components using chromatography.

2. Regarding the characteristics affecting the thermal properties of the collector part

One of the factors that affects whether or how a collector portion configured as an architectural construct is loaded with a portion of a target species includes the thermal properties of the collector portion. In some embodiments, the architectural construct is configured to conduct heat away from the molecule-loaded region. When a construct is cooled, it can load molecules faster, or it can load more molecules than when it's hot. Similarly, an architectural construct may be unloaded by transferring heat to the architectural construct. In further embodiments, how much heat is absorbed, reflected or sequestered may be a property of "collection" from the target sample and used for further analysis. Further details of the thermal properties and capabilities of the collector portion of the system configured as a structural construct are detailed below for collecting thermal and/or radiant energy.

In some embodiments, an architectural construct can be configured to harvest heat or energy, which can later be used to determine one or more properties of a sample of interest. For example, architectural constructs can be configured to have specific thermal properties that affect heat conduction and absorption. Even when its crystalline layers readily conduct heat, architectural constructs may be configured to have a higher or lower availability for conductively transferring heat. It may also be configured so that radiant heat is transferred through channels or elsewhere in the formation, reflected away from the formation, or absorbed by the formation. This paragraph describes various implementations of structural configurations designed to have specific thermal behavior. Some crystalline substances, such as graphene, graphite and boron nitride, conduct heat easily. In some applications, an architectural construct comprised of one of these substances is configured to transfer heat between two locations, or from/to a specific location. In other applications, structural constructs are configured such that heat can be efficiently transferred into or out of the construct as desired. Structural constructs made of graphene-like substances can be heated or cooled rapidly. Even with a density much lower than that of metals, architectural constructs can transport a greater amount of heat per unit area than solid silver, green graphite, copper, or aluminum.

A one-atom-thick layer of graphene appears to have more open space between defined carbon atoms. However, graphene is extremely thermally and electrically conductive in directions within the atomic plane, yet only about 2.3 percent of white light shining on it is absorbed. Similarly, approximately 2% to 5% of the thermal energy spectrum of radiation orthogonal to the atomic position is absorbed, while radiative heat rays parallel to separate structural build layers can be projected with even less attenuation. The net amount of light absorbed by the architectural construct depends in part on the orientation of the continuous layers relative to each other. Variations in the orientation of layers of structural constructs, as described above, can enable a variety of new applications. For example, radiant energy may be delivered to a location below the surface via a more absorbing orientation, such as that shown in Figure 3B. As another example, the radiation may be polarized via other suitable orientations, and these orientations may be further altered by shifting the layer by an amount in the direction of the layer plane, such as described for FIGS. 3A and 3B .

In some embodiments, an architectural construct may be arranged to have high availability for conductively transferring heat by configuring the architectural construct to have a high density of thermally conductive paths through a particular cross-section of the construct. By configuring a construct to have a low density of thermally conductive paths through a given cross-section of the construct, an architectural construct can be arranged to have a low availability for conductively transferring heat. For example, in such an embodiment, the first set of layers of the architectural construct is atomically thick and separated from each other by a first distance, and the second set of layers is atomically thick and separated from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance. Distance, the first set of layers has a higher density of thermal channels over the span of the second set of layers than the second set of layers (assuming the sets of layers span approximately the same distance). Thus, the first set of layers may have a higher availability for conductively transferring heat than the second set of layers. It can also be concluded that the second group does a better job than the first group at insulating the object or target sample being located. Additionally, in some embodiments, the architectural construct may be configured as parallel layers arranged to insulate surfaces that are not orthogonal thereto. For example, by offsetting the edges of successive layers by a specified amount so that the layers form a 45 degree angle with a flat surface when placed against the surface, a construct can be configured so that its layers meet at 45 degrees flat surface. In some embodiments, by being configured with thicker layers, the architectural construct is arranged to have a higher availability for conductively transferring heat.

The architectural construct may be further configured to collect or accumulate radiant energy. Structural constructs configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may be arranged to reflect, refract, or otherwise transform radiant energy. Thus, structural constructs can be configured to interact with radiant heat in specific ways. In some embodiments, an architectural construct is configured to transfer radiant heat through channels in the construct. The transport of radiant heat can take place at the speed of light. For example, the spacing between layers can be a certain distance, and individual layers can be configured to a certain thickness so that infrared energy incident parallel to the layers enters and is transmitted through the regions between the layers. More specifically, these distances and thicknesses can be configured to collect or transmit specific wavelengths of radiant energy. For example, in order to transmit specific frequencies of radiant energy, an architectural construct may consist of layers of boron nitride spaced apart according to quantum mechanical relationships. Similarly, as previously described, architectural constructs may also be configured to specifically absorb radiant energy. For example, the layers of the first set of layers can be spaced a particular distance apart, be composed of a particular substance, and have a particular thickness such that at least a portion of incident infrared energy is absorbed by the layers. The opacity of each individual layer or layer of suspension was 2.3% of orthogonal radiation as determined by quantum electrodynamics. The opacity of a set of layers depends on their spacing, the orientation of the structured layers and the interaction of relativistic electrons in the layers and the choice of spacers, such as surface structures.

The collecting portion formed of an architectural construct may also be arranged to shield or insulate the object from radiant energy, including radiant heat. In some embodiments, the architectural construct insulates the object from radiant heat by reflecting the radiant energy or transmitting the radiant energy through channels around or away from the object. Additionally, the thermal properties of an architectural construct can be altered by adding coatings to the surface of the construct or doping the construct. For example, architectural construct 400 may be doped as it self-organizes, either by diffusion or ion implantation to generally increase its thermal conductivity or to increase thermal conductivity in specific regions or directions. It can be coated with metals such as aluminum, silver, gold or copper to reflect more radiant heat than would otherwise be the case.

3. Characteristics concerning the acoustic, electromagnetic and optical properties affecting the collector part

Additional factors that affect whether and how a collector portion configured as an architectural construct collects a portion of a target species include the acoustic, electromagnetic, and optical properties of the collector portion. In some embodiments, for example, structural constructs can be fabricated to exhibit particular properties in response to acoustic energy. For example, they can be configured to resonate acoustically and/or electromagnetically at specific frequencies. They can also be configured to have a specific index of refraction, and they can be designed to shift the frequency of incident electromagnetic waves. These properties can be controlled by arranging the construct to have a specific structure, including a specific density, elastic modulus, and section modulus. As mentioned above, these parameters can be tuned by changing the composition of the construct, its processing, and its design. Furthermore, the layers of the structural construction can consist of graphite, so as to have a refractive index adjusted by the spacing between the layers and/or by increasing the adsorbed and/or absorbed species in the spacing. Additionally, in some embodiments, dopants are added to the architectural construct to alter its index of refraction. For example, a structural construct composed of boron nitride can be doped with nitrogen to increase its index of refraction.

The acoustic resonant frequency of a structural construct varies with a number of factors. Dense structural configurations resonate at lower frequencies than less dense, otherwise equal, structural configurations. Thus, when an architectural construct is arranged in parallel layers, thinner layers will have a higher resonant frequency than thicker layers. In addition, less densely packed layers (eg, greater distance between layers) will also have a higher resonant frequency than more densely packed layers. Structural constructs that are firmly supported at the edges will resonate at lower frequencies than structural constructs that are supported at the center. Furthermore, structural constructs with a high modulus of elasticity will resonate at higher frequencies than structural constructs with a lower modulus of elasticity, and structural constructs with a high section modulus will resonate at lower frequencies than structural constructs with a low section modulus. Furthermore, the resonant frequency of any layer can be lowered by making the layer diameter larger. In some embodiments, all layers of the architectural construct are designed to resonate at the same frequency, while in other embodiments, portions of the architectural construct will resonate at different frequencies. The resonant frequency of a structural construct also depends on its composition. Additionally, in some embodiments, dopants and/or coatings may be added to the structural construct to increase or decrease its acoustic resonance frequency. The resonant frequency of the structural construct can also be lowered by adding spacers between the layers.

In some embodiments, structural constructs may also be configured to electromagnetically resonate at specific frequencies. For example, the density, modulus of elasticity, and section modulus of each layer can be chosen such that the configuration, or each layer, has a particular resonant frequency in response to an applied electromagnetic force. An architectural construct can also be configured to absorb specific wavelengths of radiant energy.

In some embodiments, the architectural construct is configured to load molecules at a faster rate or at a higher density when a charge is applied to the architectural construct. For example, graphene, graphite and boron nitride conduct electricity. Architectural constructs made of these materials can be configured to load molecules at a higher rate when an electric charge is applied to their layers. Embodiments for heating or cooling structural constructs and for applying electrical charges are disclosed in US Patent Application No. 12/857,515, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, an architectural construct is configured to load or unload matter when radiant energy is directed at the construct. For example, the distance between each parallel layer can selectively allow the architectural construct to absorb infrared waves, causing the layer to heat up and unload its load. Additionally, in some embodiments, a catalyst may be applied to the outside edges of the layers to facilitate loading of material into the region between the layers.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the layers of the architectural construct are spaced apart to polarize incident electromagnetic waves. Also, as noted above, the structural construct may be configured to insulate the object from radiation. In some embodiments, an architectural construct insulates an object from radiation by reflecting radiant energy. For example, an architectural construct may be configured to insulate an object placed to the right of the architectural construct from radiation to the left of the construct. For example, each layer may be composed of boron nitride and spaced apart to reflect electromagnetic radiation within a specified wavelength.

4. Features concerning the selective surface and wavelength shifting properties affecting the collector section

Additional factors that affect whether and how a collector portion configured as an architectural configuration collects a portion of a target species include the selective surface and wavelength shifting properties of the collector portion. In some embodiments, for example, a collector portion configured as an architectural construct may include a surface that (1) passes a portion of radiation having a selected orientation and/or wavelength and (2) re-radiates at a different A fraction of the energy of the wavelength, thus positioned and/or configured to improve the entry of radiation into the collector portion or other desired area. Many factors affect whether an architectural construct absorbs radiant energy at a particular wavelength. For example, the ability of an architectural construct to absorb radiant energy at a particular wavelength depends on the layer thicknesses, their spacing, their composition, their dopants, their coatings, and/or spacers positioned between the layers. In some embodiments, the architectural construct is configured to transmit radiant energy at a first wavelength and to absorb and re-radiate energy at a different wavelength than the received radiant energy. For example, an architectural construct may be configured such that the layers are parallel to some, but not all, of the incident radiant energy. Parallel layers may be configured such that radiant energy parallel to the layers is transmitted while non-parallel radiation is absorbed by the configuration. In some embodiments, a re-irradiated substance (eg, silicon carbide, silicon boride, carbon boride, etc.) is coated on the surface of the architectural construct, such as by spraying the architectural construct with the substance. Then, when the non-parallel radiation contacts the structural construct, the re-radiated material absorbs the non-parallel radiation and re-radiates energy at a different wavelength than the received energy.

An architectural construct can also be configured to have a particular index of refraction (ie, an index of refraction that is in a particular range or has a precise value). The index of refraction of the architectural construct is a function of layer composition (eg, boron nitride, graphite, etc.), layer thickness, dopants, spacers, and distance separating the layers, among many variables. For example, the distance between the parallel layers and the thickness of the layers can be chosen so that the parallel layers have a specific index of refraction. Additionally, in some embodiments, dopants are added to the architectural construct to change its index of refraction. For example, a structural construct composed of boron nitride can be doped with nitrogen to increase its index of refraction. As matter is loaded into the construct, the refractive index of the construct may change. For example, an architectural construct existing in a vacuum may have a different index of refraction than when hydrogen is loaded into the construct and manifested as epitaxial layers and/or capillaries between epitaxial layers. In some embodiments, the index of refraction of the first portion of the architectural construct is different from the index of refraction of the second portion of the architectural construct. For example, a first set of parallel layers may have a different index of refraction than a second set of layers because the first set of layers is thinner and separated by a greater distance than layers in the second set of layers.

4A-4C illustrate several properties of collector portions configured as structural constructs to selectively transmit, absorb, and/or re-radiate energy of different wavelengths. FIG. 4A is, for example, a schematic diagram of a portion of a system 440a including a collector portion having a body 442 configured with a structural configuration having a radiant energy transmissive section 444 . Transmissive section 444 includes a plurality of spaced apart layers 446, which may include any of the properties disclosed herein with reference to parallel spaced apart layers of an architectural construct. In the illustrated embodiment, radiant energy indicated by arrow 448 that is transmitted generally parallel to layer 446 may be transmitted or otherwise allowed to pass through body 442 . Radiant energy passing through layer 446 is indicated by arrow 450 . Body 442 may absorb radiant energy not transmitted through layer 446 (eg, radiant energy 448 that is non-parallel with respect to layer 446 ).

According to an additional feature of the illustrated embodiment, a single layer 446 may include a coating 447 (e.g., silicon carbide, silicon boride, carbon boride, phosphorescent, fluorescent, etc.) for re-radiating energy passing through the transmissive section 444 . For example, radiant energy 448 entering the transmissive section and reflecting from coating 447 may be reflected or shifted to a different wavelength than the incoming radiant energy. For example, radiant energy passing through the transmissive segment and having a different or altered wavelength is indicated by arrow 452 . Thus, by (1) passing a portion of radiation 448 having a selected orientation (e.g., represented by arrow 450 exiting body 442) and (2) re-radiating a second portion of radiation at a different wavelength (e.g., indicated by arrow 450 exiting body 442), Indicated by the arrow 452), the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A and described above improves radiation through the body 442.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of a portion of a system 440b including a collector portion having a body 442 configured with an architectural configuration with radiant energy reflecting and absorbing surfaces 449 . Surface 449 may be configured to absorb radiant energy 448 at a particular orientation (eg, generally transverse to surface 449 ) and/or wavelength, and to reflect radiant energy 448 indicated by reflected energy at arrow 452 . In some embodiments, surface 449 may include a coating (eg, silicon carbide, silicon boride, carbon boride, phosphorescent, fluorescent, etc.) for re-radiating energy 452 . For example, coating 447 may be configured to re-radiate energy 452 at a wavelength different from that incident on surface 449 . Thus, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B can (1) absorb radiation (e.g., radiation at a predetermined orientation and/or wavelength), and (2) re-radiate a second portion of radiation at a different wavelength (e.g., as arrows exiting body 442). 452).

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of a portion of a system 440c including a collector portion having a body 442 configured as a structural configuration with conductive and re-radiative properties. For example, body 444 may be fabricated from an at least partially conductive material (eg, copper, beryllium oxide, etc.) and include a first surface 453 opposite second surface 449 . The first surface 453 faces the radiant energy represented by arrow 448 . Body 444 is configured to conduct radiant energy 448 . When energy 448 reaches second side 449 , second side 449 may again emit radiation away from second side 449 . In some embodiments, second surface 449 may include coating 447 that re-radiates energy at a different wavelength. For example, the re-radiated energy represented by arrow 452 may be re-emitted or re-radiated at a second wavelength different from the wavelength of radiant energy 448 .

The wavelength shifting and absorption, transmission, reflection and/or re-radiation features described above with reference to FIGS. SYSTEMS AND METHODS" (Attorney Docket No. 69545.8603.US00) of the United States patent application described in any features and components.

As described in detail below, energy that is absorbed, transmitted, reflected, conducted, and/or re-radiated can be used to determine the presence and/or relative one or more attributes or characteristics of For example, in some embodiments, the radiant energy may be visible light of a first color emitted from the target sample, and the re-radiated energy may be of a second color, different from the first color, indicative of the presence and/or properties of the target sample. visible light. Additionally, the portion of the radiant energy that is transmitted, absorbed, reflected, and/or re-radiated may be a component that is eliminated or otherwise separated from the target sample.

5. Relevant features affecting the catalytic properties of the collector section

Additional properties that affect whether and how a collector portion configured as an architectural configuration collects or loads a portion of a target species include the catalytic properties of the collector portion. For example, architectural constructs can be configured to catalyze a reaction in various ways that improve collection or loading of a portion of a sample of interest. More specifically, a construct consisting of parallel layers can catalyze a chemical reaction or biological reaction. An architectural construct can also catalyze a reaction by increasing the rate of the reaction, prolonging the reaction, permitting the reaction, or otherwise facilitating the reaction. Many variables can be varied to catalyze a particular reaction. In some embodiments, for example, the thickness of individual layers of an architectural construct is selected to catalyze a reaction. Additionally, the distance between layers and/or layer composition (eg, boron nitride, carbon, etc.) can be selected to catalyze a reaction. In additional embodiments, dopants can be added to the architectural construct, or spacers with specific chemistries can be added between layers to catalyze specific reactions.

Parallel layers can catalyze a reaction by transferring heat to the area where the reaction takes place. In other implementations, parallel layers catalyze a reaction by removing heat from the region where the reaction occurs. For example, heat may be transferred conductively into the parallel layers (such as discussed in US Patent Application No. 12/857,515, incorporated herein in its entirety) to provide heat to endothermic reactions within the support tubes of the layers. In some implementations, parallel layers catalyze a reaction by eliminating reaction products from the region where the reaction occurs. For example, parallel beds can absorb alcohols from biochemical reactions from within the central support tube, where the alcohols are by-products, thereby expulsing the alcohols to the outer edges of the parallel beds and prolonging the biochemical reactions involved in the process. Microbial life.

In some embodiments, a first set of parallel layers may be configured to catalyze a reaction, while a second set of parallel layers is configured to absorb and/or adsorb the reaction product. For example, a first set of layers may be configured to catalyze a chemical reaction by allowing a reaction between two molecules, while a second set of layers of different spacing and/or thickness may be configured to adsorb reaction products, thus prolonging the duration of the chemical reaction. length.

In further embodiments, an architectural construct can be electrically charged (eg, as discussed in US Patent Application No. 12/857,515) to catalyze a reaction in proximity to the architectural construct. For example, structural constructs can be configured to resonate acoustically at specific frequencies, causing the molecules to orient themselves in a way that catalyzes a reaction. Additionally, the molecules can be oriented to allow chemical reactions or they absorb onto the layer. In some embodiments, an architectural construct is configured to emit or absorb radiant energy to catalyze a reaction. For example, a first set of layers may be configured to absorb radiant energy and convert the radiant energy into heat that is utilized by a second set of layers of different spacing and/or thickness to facilitate an endothermic reaction. In other embodiments, catalysts are added to an architectural construct to catalyze reactions proximate to the construct. The catalyst can be applied to the edge of the bed of the construction or on the surface of the construction. For example, chromium oxide can be applied to the edges of structural constructs, and the chromium oxide can catalyze a chemical reaction between methane and ozone generated from air using ionizing ultraviolet radiation or induced sparks.

6. Regarding the characteristics affecting the capillary properties of the collector part

Additional factors that affect whether and how a collector portion configured as an architectural configuration collects or loads a portion of the target media include the capillary properties of the collector portion. For example, an architectural construct with parallel layers may be arranged or configured to allow liquid to move between its layers via capillary action. Any of a number of variables can be varied to allow the parallel layers to wick against a particular substance. In some embodiments, layer composition, dopants, spacing, and/or thickness are selected to provide capillary action of the architectural construct with respect to a particular target species. For example, the distance between the individual layers is selected so that the structural construct creates capillary action with respect to the particular substance. In certain embodiments, each concentric layer of an architectural construct can be spaced apart from each other by a capillary distance for water, and the architectural construct can force water to climb up the construct via capillary action.

The architectural construct may consist of some layers having a first capillary distance or spacing for the first molecules and other layers having a second capillary distance or spacing for the second molecules. For example, a first set of layers may have a capillary distance relative to a first molecule such as propane, while a second set of layers having individual layers of varying spacing and/or thickness may wick against a second molecule such as hydrogen. Additionally, in some embodiments, structural constructs are configured such that heat can be transferred into or out of the construct to facilitate capillary action. In other embodiments, an electrical charge may be applied to the layers of the architectural construct to facilitate capillary action.

Figure 5A is a schematic side view of a system 560a configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. System 560a includes heat pipe 561 configured to have a first input portion 562a opposite a second output portion 562b. The first and second end portions 562 may each include a plurality of spaced apart parallel first layers 564 of an architectural construct. In the illustrated embodiment, the orientation direction of the first material layer 564 located at the end portion 562 is aligned with or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heat pipe 561 . The heat pipe 561 further includes a plurality of spaced parallel second layers 566 extending laterally away from the middle portion of the heat pipe 560a. The second material layer 566 extends from the heat pipe 561 at an angle substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the heat pipe 561 . The first layer 564 and the second layer 566 can be accessed externally into the system and are configured to selectively attract a predetermined material or portion of the sample into or out of the heat pipe 560a. These layers can also transfer heat into and out of the heat pipe 561 . For example, in operation, heat may be introduced into the heat pipe 561 at the first end portion 562a. The heat at the first end portion 562a causes the working fluid to at least partially evaporate. The generated steam travels from the first end portion 562a to the second end portion 562b and condenses at the second end portion 562b. The condensed portion of the working fluid returns from the second end portion 562b to the first end portion 562a. As a result of the working fluid condensing at the second end portion 562b, heat is transferred out of the second end portion 562b of the heat pipe 560a.

According to some features of the illustrated embodiment, when heat exits the heat pipe 560a, at least a portion of the target sample or predetermined component may also be eliminated (e.g., steam) from the solution at the second end portion 562b via the first material layer 564 because it is brought to the top or second end portion 562b of the heat pipe 560a. In addition, the second layer 566 can transfer heat as the condensate travels from the second end portion 562b to the first end portion 562a, in addition to transferring a target sample or predetermined component from the liquid portion of the condensate. For example, in some embodiments, the working fluid within heat pipe 561 may be water, and first layer 564 and/or second layer 566 may remove methane or other solubles (eg, carbon dioxide) from the water. In other embodiments, the first material layer 564 and/or the second material layer 566 may be preloaded with predetermined dopants or materials to adjust the surface tension of adsorption along these surfaces.

Figure 5B is a schematic side view of a system 560b configured in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. System 560b includes heat pipe 561, which is similar in structure and function to the heat pipe described above with reference to FIG. 5A. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, heat pipe 561 includes a working fluid enclosed between a first end portion 562a and an opposing second end portion 562b. The first and second end portions 562 include first layers of structural configuration oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heat pipe 561 . The heat pipe further includes a second layer 566 extending radially into the heat pipe 561 in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the heat pipe. The second layer 566 is accordingly positioned at least partially within the heat pipe and may be configured to load or otherwise remove or collect sample portions from the working fluid.

The capillary adsorption properties of the methods and systems disclosed herein may include U.S. Patent Application entitled "THERMAL TRANSFER DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS" (Attorney Docket No. 69545.8604.US00), filed concurrently and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety Any feature of the system described in .

7. Relevant features affecting the surface structure of the collector part

In further embodiments, an architectural construct may include one or more surface structures on its surface to facilitate the amount and rate of loading or unloading of a target sample substance to or from the architectural construct. As described in co-pending US Patent Application No. 12/857,515, surface structures may be epitaxially oriented by the lattice structure of the layer to which they are applied. As noted above, in some embodiments they are formed by the dehydrogenation of gases on the surface of the bed. In other embodiments, adjacent layers are coated on top of the layers before they are deployed on the construction. Surface structures can include nanotubes, nanoscrolls, nanoflowers, and other structures. More specifically, the nanoflower structure can absorb molecules of matter into regions within the structure, and adsorb target sample molecules onto its surface. In some embodiments, the surface structure allows the structural configuration to load specific compounds of matter. In some embodiments, the surface structure allows the architectural construct to load and/or unload species molecules more rapidly. In some embodiments, a particular type of surface structure is preferred over another type of surface structure. For example, in some embodiments, nanoscrolls may be preferred over nanotubes. Nanoscrolls can load and unload molecules of matter faster than nanotubes because nanoscrolls can load and unload multiple molecules of matter at the same time, while nanotubes can only load or unload one molecule at a time. In some embodiments, a first type of surface structure is loaded with a first compound and a second type of surface structure is loaded with a second compound. In some embodiments, the surface structure is composed of an electrically conductive material and/or has high availability for heat transfer. In some embodiments, the surface structure is composed of carbon.

In some embodiments, the surface structures may be oriented generally perpendicular to the surface of the layer of structural constructs. In other embodiments, at least some of the surface structures are not oriented perpendicular to the surface to which they are applied. For example, at least some of the surface structures may be oriented at different angles (eg, other than a 90 degree angle) relative to the corresponding surface of the structural construct. Surface structures can be oriented at specific angles to increase the surface area of the surface structure, increase the rate at which molecules are collected or loaded by the surface structure, increase the loading and collection density of the surface structure, and/or tend to collect or load specific Molecules of compounds, or for other reasons.

In some embodiments, the surface structure may be disposed on the structural construct and be composed of a different material than the structural construct. More specifically, the layers of the structural construct can be composed of graphene, while the surface structure can be composed of boron nitride. The surface structure may be composed of other materials such as boron hydride, diborane (B ₂ H ₆ ), sodium aluminum hydride, MgH ₂ , LiH, titanium hydride, and/or other metal hydrides or other suitable compounds.

D. Embodiments and Features of the Sensing Portion of the System

As described above with reference to FIG. 1 , the sensor portion 104 of the system 100 is configured to detect and/or analyze the presence of one or more portions of a target sample (e.g., a microscopic portion or a molecular portion), and to detect and/or analyze a portion of a target sample. One or more properties or characteristics of a sample. The sensor portion 104 may be integrally formed with other portions of the system 100 including, for example, the collector portion 102 . As described in further detail below, sensor portion 104, and more specifically, detector portion 106 and analyzer portion 108, may detect and/or analyze properties of a target sample through various mechanisms or methods.

For example, methods and structures for detecting and analyzing properties of target samples may relate to methods and structures for collecting or otherwise accumulating samples. In some embodiments where the sample (eg, minimal or molecular) is partially loaded between the layers of the architectural construct, detection and/or analysis may include the rate at which the sample is loaded between the layers. Detection and/or analysis may further include the depth or length of penetration of the sample between layers of the structural construct. More specifically, samples, loading rates, and/or depths may serve as indicators of a particular target sample, or of a specific property of a target sample. In further embodiments, sensing may include examining the remaining target sample for products after selectively removing specific components or other moieties from the target sample.

In other embodiments, the collected optical properties may provide useful information for sensing decisions. For example, and with reference to the selective surfaces described in detail above, transmission, reflection and/or refraction may be indicative of the presence of a target sample or an indication of a property of the target sample. In some embodiments of directed wavelength shifting, the target sample may emit energy at a first wavelength associated with a first color that is different from that transmitted, absorbed, reflected and/or refracted according to embodiments described herein. The energy of the second color is associated with the second wavelength. Such a wavelength change or color change may in turn provide useful information about the target sample, including for example the presence of the target sample and/or what the target sample is made of. Similarly, the difference in angular deflection of the incident and emitted wavelengths can help. For example, photodetecting materials such as silicon, gallium, arsenide, etc., can be deposited in patterns in the architectural construct to facilitate optical sensing of the collected radiant energy. Furthermore, the phase transition temperature of the target sample can also be used to detect information about the target sample, and in particular with reference to the rapid heat input to the target sample. A further useful technique for sensing (eg, detecting and/or analyzing) a collected target sample includes inductively generating a magnetic or electric field to observe the effect on the target sample. For example, varying the frequency of the electric field and monitoring the behavior against the varying frequency can additionally demonstrate the presence and/or type of target sample.

In other embodiments, the sensing portion 104 of the system 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1 may include one or more microprocessors. For example, the architectural constructs discussed herein can be designed to exploit one or more of the properties discussed above to arrive at specific results or conclusions at the microscopic level. Numerous applications employing structural constructs include charge processors, molecular processors, and/or biological processors. Structural constructs configured as charge processors can be used to construct microcircuits, detect the presence of specific atoms or molecules in an environment, or derive other results. In some embodiments, an architectural construct configured as a charge processor forms a circuit. For example, parallel layers of graphene can be separated by a dielectric material so that the architectural construct stores charge and acts like a capacitor. In some embodiments, an architectural construct can be configured into a high temperature capacitor by isolating parallel layers of the construct with ceramic. In other embodiments, the architectural construct can be configured into a low temperature capacitor by separating the parallel layers with a polymer. In other example embodiments, the architectural construct may be configured to process ions. For example, an architectural construct may be configured with a semi-permeable membrane covering the region between the layers of the construct. The semi-permeable membrane allows specific ions to pass through the membrane and enter the architectural construct where they are detected for specific purposes. In some embodiments, the architectural construct is configured as a solid state converter.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the structural constructs can transduce electromagnetic waves at the molecular level. For example, an architectural construct may be configured to convert 100 BTU of white light into 75 BTU of red and blue light. The white light is waveshifted by chemically resonating the white light, thereby converting it into blue and red light. Additionally, the architectural construct can be composed of carbon and selected regions converted to solid solutions or compounds such as carbides using reactants such as boron, titanium, iron, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, and/or silicon, and the architectural construct can be configured to allow material The layers are oriented to shift white light to desired wavelengths such as red and/or blue and/or infrared frequencies.

Constructs configured as bioprocessors can be used to produce enzymes, carbohydrates, lipids, or other substances. In some embodiments, the architectural construct is configured in parallel layers, and it removes biochemical reaction products from the reaction zone so that the biochemical reaction can continue. For example, structural constructs may be configured to load toxic substances, such as alcohols, from reaction zones within corresponding support tubes of the support layer. By eliminating the toxic substances, the microorganisms involved in the biochemical reaction are not killed, and the biochemical reaction can continue without interruption. In other embodiments, an architectural construct can be configured to remove a useful product of a biochemical reaction from a reaction site without interrupting the reaction. For example, support tubes within a construct may house biochemical reactions that produce useful lipids that are loaded into the region between the layers of the construct and unloaded at the outer edges of the region. Thus, according to these embodiments, biochemical reactions can continue while useful products are removed.

E. Embodiments and Features of the Communication and Controller Portions of the System

As described above with reference to FIG. 1 , the communication and controller portion 109 of the system 100, including the reporter portion 110 and/or the controller portion 111, is configured to provide real-time or automated signals or other information regarding target sample collection, detection, and/or analysis. appropriate instructions. Reporter portion 110 may be constructed, at least in part, from the structural constructs described in detail above. In some embodiments, reporting may include sending or transmitting a signal (e.g., via a wired or wireless medium) to a controller or another similar system indicating the presence of a detected target sample or one or more properties of the target sample analysis results. In other embodiments, the signal may include an indication to take appropriate action in response to sensing the target sample. For example, the signal may include information about the target sample for preventive maintenance or safety, as well as information about the location, quantity, concentration or other attributes of the target sample. Furthermore, the reporting signal can be sent simultaneously with the sensing target sample or otherwise in real time, or the reporting signal can be stored and transmitted at a later time. Several embodiments of suitable components and arrangements for reporting an indication of target sample detection or analysis are described in detail below. In addition, results reporting can be customized for the specific sample of interest that was acquired. For example, a reporting signal may include diagnostic or prophylactic information about a sample of interest. Communicating target sample analysis results can provide several advantages. For example, communication can be real-time and based on targeted samples of microscopic sections. This is a significant departure from traditional testing techniques, where a relatively large portion of a sample may need to be obtained, sent to a laboratory, and awaited for analysis, with the constant threat of contamination of the sample.

According to some embodiments, an architectural construct may include a microprocessor as described in detail above. In some examples, electrical current from one or more optical sensors may communicate with a microprocessor to emit a signal or provide another suitable indication of result. Additionally, the architectural construct may include one or more nanoradios for transmitting the resulting signal. The system may accordingly provide the resulting signal locally or remotely from the target sample source.

F. Embodiments and features of the scavenger portion of the system

As described above with reference to FIG. 1 , the remover portion 112 of the system 100 is configured to remove, unload, or otherwise eliminate a collected portion (eg, a microscopic or molecular portion) of a target sample. Scrubber portion 112 may be constructed, at least in part, of the structural constructs described in detail above. Additionally, the scavenger portion 112 may be integrated with any other portion of the system described herein, including, for example, the collector portion 102 , the sensor portion 104 and/or the reporter portion 110 . In some embodiments, the mechanism or method used by the remover portion 112 to eliminate the collected target sample may relate to or depend on the mechanism or method used to collect or load the target sample. Suitable methods for clearing the sample of interest include, for example, applying a pressure gradient to the portion of the architectural construct holding the sample of interest. Such pressure gradients may include, for example, releasing pressure or increasing pressure, such as from electrolysis, mechanical pumps, and the like. In further embodiments, micro-electrolysis can be performed using aqueous and non-aqueous media to clear or otherwise draw out a sample of interest. For example, the electrolytic medium can be selected according to the composition of the target sample.

According to additional embodiments of the present disclosure, a predetermined gas or fluid may be used by the scavenger portion 112 shown in FIG. 1 to purge or flush accumulated target samples from the collector portion 102 . In one embodiment, for example, hydrogen may be used to clear collection areas between spaced apart layers of an architectural construct. In addition, at least a portion of the hydrogen may remain in the collection areas as the hydrogen flushes or clears these areas. The retained or loaded hydrogen may have a first affinity to remain between the layers, but the retained hydrogen may be collected by another with a second affinity greater than the first. The target sample is displaced and thus loaded into the collection area between the layers of the structural construct. In other embodiments, removal of accumulated target sample from collector portion 102 may be accomplished or assisted by plasma, capacitive, hydrogen, oxygen, and/or steam flushing of collector portion 102 .

G. Systems, components and methods for collecting, sensing, reporting and or clearing a portion of a sample of interest additional embodiment

According to additional embodiments of the present disclosure, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be used in a variety of environments. For example, a system for collecting a microscopic portion of a target sample, sensing (e.g., detecting sample presence and/or analyzing sample properties), reporting an indication of sensing, and/or clearing a target sample can be used in a variety of settings and for implemented for different purposes. Embodiments disclosed herein may use one or more sensors, including, for example, sensors with collector, sensor (eg, detection and analysis), reporter/controller, and/or scavenger portions as described above with reference to FIG. 1 . For example, the systems, sensors, and related reports described herein may be part of an interconnected system or network. For example, Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of a network or system 630 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, system 630 includes sets of collectors/sensors/reporters/scavengers (“sensors”) having the features described herein, such as system 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-2B . 6A, for example, system 630 includes a first sensor 600a of a first node or group 631a, a second sensor 600b of a second node or group 631b, and a third sensor 600c of a third node or group 631c. Some of the sensors 600 may be connected to each other or otherwise configured to communicate with each other via a wired connection 633 . However, other sensors, such as schematically represented by the third sensor 600c, any of which may communicate wirelessly. According to an additional feature of the illustrated embodiment, the first group 631a includes a first controller 632a coupled (eg, wired, wirelessly, etc.) to the one or more first sensors 600a. Additionally, the third group 632c includes a third controller 632c wirelessly coupled to the one or more third sensors 600c. Additionally, any of these controllers and sensors may be coupled (eg, wired, wireless, etc.) to other sensors and/or controllers in another set. Furthermore, several sensors 600 may be positioned on or near the same structural component for the purpose of collecting and analyzing the same target sample. However, in other embodiments, different sensors 600 may be positioned at different locations or on different structures for the purpose of collecting and analyzing data on different target samples. In other embodiments, one of the controllers 632 may operate as the controller for all groups 631 or all sensors 600 of the entire system. Additionally, one or more controllers 632 may operate as a relay to communicate information and/or receive instructions or information from remote controls. According to additional embodiments of the present disclosure, system 600 is scalable to collect, analyze, and transmit data in environments of any scale, including, for example, international or global environments.

The system 630 shown in FIG. 6A accordingly shows a network or system of interconnected sensors 600 and controllers 632 that may be configured to communicate with each other and/or provide feedback for different environments. For example, the sensor 600 shown in FIG. 6A can be used in different systems, applications and/or environments, such as schools, hospitals, public transportation (airplanes, buses, trains, subways, etc.). System 630 may additionally be used in applications such as quality assurance, preventive maintenance, safety (including trend analysis), hazard warning (including shutdown procedures), chemical identification and regulation, environmental monitoring, homeland security, transportation of hazardous materials, and Monitoring, pollution detection systems, etc.

Additionally, the system 630 shown in FIG. 6A correspondingly illustrates a wide area network of interconnected sensors 600 and controllers 632 that can be configured to allow scalability of regional, national, international global networks, data acquisition, information for microchemical sampling processing, trend analysis, and/or forecasting involving geology, environmental protection, public health, and economics. Any sensor 600 may be a geographic sensor, which may be defined as any device that receives and measures an environmental stimulus that may be used as a geographic reference. Such geographic sensors include inertial or acceleration sensors to provide a record of equipment or system motion, including, for example, earthquakes and longer-term motion. More specifically, one or more of the sensors or geographic sensors disclosed herein may be carried by a device traveling through different locations. The sensors and/or geographic sensors accordingly allow device trips to be queried and verified for time of each trip and location of each event, thereby providing a distinctive identification or signature of device location and/or trip using, for example, seismic data. While large-scale sensor networks have been attempted for decades in such examples, as the World Meteorological Organization is used to measure weather and climate patterns, and the Argos buoy network is used to measure the temperature and salinity of the world's oceans, these networks have not yet been realized Real-time chemical monitoring is limited to the chemical information they can identify and report. However, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, one or more networked sensor 600 and controller 632 systems are suitable for weather ship or aircraft deployed sensors, oceanographic data buoy sensors, surface weather station sensors, upper atmosphere stations, and weather balloon deployments sensors, etc.

An advantage of the present disclosure for environmental and/or geospatial monitoring is that it allows the acquisition of chemical information that can be used as georeferenced and then reported in a continuous real-time stream, or implemented over widely dispersed areas. Programmed time-series batch reporting, or even triggered reporting (such as hazard warnings). This broad array of sensor data can be configured to transmit and exchange information over a collaborative working arrangement such as the Internet to (a) capture georeferenced chemical information that was previously unavailable or costly to obtain through conventional means, and (b) Obtain the necessary number and distribution of data sources to allow the transformation of data into information that can be used for public policy decisions. For example, the Global Earth Observation Supersystem (GEOSS) is foreseen by the Group on Earth Observation (GEO), an intergovernmental organization of 73 countries, the European Union and 52 international organizations whose goal is to promote scientific connection. Using the sensor network disclosed in this paper, the way of acquiring geospatial data is revolutionized. In another example of a particularly useful application of the embodiments disclosed herein, in 2000, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) initiated the "Digital Earth" project (first proposed by US Vice President Al Gore in 1998, describing a virtual representation of the Earth for spatial referencing and interconnection with the world's digital knowledge base) to improve decision-makers' access to global environmental information for economic and social policy issues. In another example, the economics of greenhouse gas emission control have led to various programs for economic incentives for carbon credits to promote business use of industrial processes that reduce or eliminate harmful emissions. More specifically, widespread criticism of this international effort has been that it lacks adequate safeguards against fraud or widespread "system spoofing," does not measure the actual time of each trip, correlates with seismic events, and other environmental data empirically Linked to specific industrial behavior and specific government policies. However, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the measurement benefits of at least the following tracking and evaluation by allowing microscopic chemical sampling to be widely dispersed: energy (bioenergy, biomass, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, etc.); and atmospheric changes, greenhouse gas emissions, water and energy exchange, etc.); water (sources, quality, and patterns of terrestrial water use); weather (atmospheric changes in wind, temperature, cloud cover, humidity, air pressure, etc. for land, sea, and vegetation impacts, etc.); ecosystems (health and stressors affecting macro- and micro-systems, related needs of living systems); agriculture (cropping patterns, forest and land degradation, etc.); biodiversity (ecosystem characteristics that indicate their viability , including habitat fragmentation, animal and plant species extinction rates and factors, etc.); disaster response and mitigation (fire monitoring, land-ocean-atmospheric degradation, early warning of fires, floods, earthquakes, landslides, mudslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.); and and/or public health (terrestrial, plant and animal changes, disease vectors, boundary conditions, etc.).

6B is a flowchart of a process or method 650 for use in a homeland security application or environment to detect potential threats, or other locations or environments suitable for wide area network monitoring, including, for example, chemical surveillance. For example, method 650 includes monitoring the environment for the presence and/or properties of target samples that pose a threat (block 652). The monitored environment may include public environments such as airports, train stations, bus stops, other public transportation locations, shopping malls, stadiums or stadiums, government buildings, and the like. Additionally, a network of multiple sensors as described with reference to the network array shown in FIG. 6A may be deployed throughout an environment to monitor a target sample. Additionally, individual sensors may include a controller and/or the network may include a central controller in communication with a single controller. The sensors can be placed in a network throughout the environment to efficiently monitor target samples. For example, with reference to an airport environment, one or more sensors may be positioned at baggage claim, screening or security checkpoints, walkways, gates, aircraft, etc.

Threats may include any unwanted or undesired target samples in the environment, including, for example, toxic or dangerous target samples. At decision block 654, the method includes determining whether a threat has been detected, eg, by the presence of the target sample, one or more attributes of the target sample, the accumulation rate or quantity of the target sample, or the like. In some embodiments, individual sensors may locally or independently determine whether a target sample poses a threat. However, in other embodiments, individual sensors may send data about the collected and/or analyzed target samples to the central control so that the central controller can determine whether the target samples pose a threat. If no threats are detected (eg, by the central controller or one or more individual network sensors), method 650 includes maintaining trends regarding target sample collection and/or analysis (block 656 ). The trend may include target sample accumulation amount, accumulation rate, accumulation location, target sample type, and the like. Furthermore, the trend can be saved locally in the individual sensor collecting the portion, as well as in the central controller receiving an indication of this information from that sensor. After saving the trend, the method may further include clearing at least a portion of the target sample from the sensor (block 658), and continuing to monitor the environment (return to block 652). In some embodiments, to clear the collected portion from the sensor, the central controller may send a signal to the sensor instructing the sensor to clear the sample.

If a threat is detected, the method 650 includes reporting the threat or trend from the sensor to the central controller, and/or saving the trend at the local sensor or the central controller (block 660). Method 650 may also include saving at sensor 662 at least a portion of the collected partial target sample. Additionally, the method 650 may further include clearing at least a portion of the target sample to continue or recursively monitor the environment (block 664). While the method 650 described above is applicable to a homeland security environment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the method 650 may be used in other applications or in other environments, including, for example, monitoring substances that do not pose a threat.

6C is a flow diagram of another process or method 670 for use in a quality assurance application or environment to detect an acceptable level of quality or a target part or product (eg, impurities or the presence of chemicals or ingredients, etc.). For example, method 670 may be used in various processes or sub-processes where collecting, sensing, reporting, and/or clearing events occurs before starting the next process or sub-process. More specifically, method 670 includes, in a first process or sub-process in a process (eg, "Process 1"), collecting a sample, sensing the presence and/or properties of the sample, and reporting the sensing results (block 672a). Method 670 also includes determining whether the first process results in an acceptable level of quality assurance (decision block 674). If the quality assurance is unacceptable, method 670 includes sending a report of unacceptable quality, saving a trend (e.g., accumulation rate, amount, type, etc.) of collected samples, purging at least a portion of the samples, and/or stopping the first process (block 676).

If the quality assurance is acceptable, the method 670 includes allowing the second process or sub-process to proceed in the second process (e.g., "Process 2") and collecting the sample, sensing the presence and/or properties of the sample, and reporting the sensing results (Block 672b). Referring to the second process, method 670 includes the same steps as shown above at 674 , 676 and/or 678 . If the quality assurance is acceptable in the second process, method 670 includes allowing another process or sub-process to proceed and collect the sample, sensing sample presence and/or attributes in another process (e.g., "Process n"), and report the sensing results (block 672n). The nth process is intended to indicate that as many processes as the designer desires are included in the method 670 . Referring to the nth process, method 670 includes the same steps shown above at blocks 674 , 676 , and/or 678 . Method 670 may include looping back to the first process or continuing to perform a predetermined number of other processes.

In other embodiments, a system for collecting a microscopic portion of a target sample, sensing (e.g., detecting sample presence and/or analyzing sample properties), reporting an indication of sensing, and/or clearing a target sample, may be used for a variety of other applications including, for example, safety including trend analysis, hazard warning including shutdown procedures, preventive maintenance, cleanroom monitoring and cleanroom standard maintenance, communication with existing or external computer networks including RFID systems , homeland security including threat detection, attack source prediction and identification, drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorist surveillance, munitions, alcohol, and drug law enforcement, and transportation industry including container movement, food chain transportation, manufacturing process, chemical industrial process, Medical delivery processes, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, fuel management and safety, natural gas pipeline safety and quality, carbon credit recording and reporting, and/or olfactory medical diagnostics. For carbon credits, for example, the methods and systems disclosed herein provide a way to reliably and conveniently track and report carbon credits. In other embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein may include inertial sensors to track location and/or geographic data about the sensors.

In other embodiments, the systems and sensors disclosed herein may be used in at least the following environments: the shipping industry (including, for example, container movement by trucks, railroads, and/or ships); natural gas pipeline quality and safety; the Office of Homeland Security ( Including, for example, terrorist monitoring, threat detection, attack source prediction and identification, public transportation system security (such as airports, buses, boats, ships, trucks, railways, anti-human trafficking, etc.); arms, alcohol and drug law enforcement (including , such as the prohibition of drug trafficking); fluid supply or distribution systems (including, for example, water supply and distribution); food production, packaging and transportation systems; manufacturing processes (including, for example, chemical industry manufacturing processes, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, etc.); medical delivery processes (including, for example, ensuring proper medical delivery, olfactory medical diagnosis, etc.); fuel management and safety; carbon credit recording and reporting of greenhouse gases; environmental agency toxic emissions monitoring; and/or cleanroom monitoring and maintenance of cleanroom standards.

In other embodiments, the systems and sensors may be used in specific medical applications. More specifically, in one embodiment, for example, the sensors disclosed herein can provide an indication of the body's T cell response to provide an indication of the body's immune system or immune activity. For example, a medical professional may biopsy an undiagnosed tumor from a patient and provide a portion of the tumor as input to a sensor configured in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. The sensor accordingly determines whether there is a T cell response from the patient associated with the tumor from a microscopic or molecular sample. Thus, the sensor could provide quick and early information about the activity of the patient's immune system and/or the tumor. Furthermore, a patient's T cell response is only one example of an appropriate judgment that can be made according to the systems and methods of the present disclosure. For example, in other embodiments, these systems may be configured to detect other medical conditions or responses of the body (eg, specific proteins are raised as a result of a specific medical condition, etc.).

According to additional features of the present disclosure, the methods and systems disclosed herein include indicators or sensors for use in a fitting assembly, such as a fitting assembly connected to one or more catheters. FIG. 7A is, for example, a side view of a fitting assembly 700 including an indicator configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. While several features of the present disclosure are described below with reference to fitting assembly 700, these features are applicable to any type of fluid delivery system including, for example, flexible conduits, rigid conduits, hoses, plugs, nozzles, sprinklers, filters , catheters, IV catheters, syringes, needles, inner tubes, inner tubes, and/or any type of component associated with a fluid delivery system or device. Returning to the drawings, FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional side view of assembly 700 taken substantially along line 7B-7B of FIG. 7A , and FIG. 7C is an isometric view of mating assembly 700 . Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C in conjunction, in the illustrated embodiment, assembly 700 includes a male connector 708 that mates with or connects to female connector 702 to provide connection to conduit 706 . Assembly 700 further includes a "snitch" element, such as a sensor or indicator, for providing an alarm or other type of indication regarding fluid flowing through assembly 700 . In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the indicator is carried by the assembly 700 in the vicinity of the connection formed by the male connector 708 and the female connector 702 . More specifically, one or more indicators may be carried by the assembly at 710, 712, 714, and/or 716 on male connector 708 and female connector 702 as shown in FIG. 7A. Additionally, male connector 708 and female connector 702 may include features configured to connect to or conform to reducer pipe threads, flared or compression fittings, or other types of conduits. For example, the first component or male connector 708 may include one or more threaded end portions axially aligned about the longitudinal center axis of the assembly 700 . The second component or female connector 702 may have a female threaded section 710 which may also be axially aligned about the longitudinal center axis. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the assembly 700 is connected to a catheter 706 having a flared end portion that mates against a corresponding surface of a male connector 708 . Assembly 700 also includes a compression seal 704 positioned between female connector 702 and conduit 706 . When assembled, the female connector 702 urges the compression seal 704 and the flared portion of the conduit 706 tightly against the male connector 708 .

In some embodiments, the telltale element or indicator may include any type of detector or sensor to detect if and/or when the seal between the fitting assembly 700 and the conduit 706 fails and fluid begins to leak. The indicator may provide a visual leak indication, for example to allow a user to visually check assembly 700 for leaks. For example, the indicator may provide a dyed leak indication. More specifically, the indicator may release a colored dye when activated by (eg, in contact with) leaking fluid or with an active agent added to the fluid flowing through assembly 700 . In some embodiments, for example, halogens such as iodine, chlorine, and/or fluorine in water may act as active agents that react with the indicator and cause release of liquid (or other indication) from the telltale element indicator 704 . In such an embodiment, the indicator may provide an amplified signal after collecting or contacting a relatively small number of leaked fluid molecules. The signal can include, for example, easily detectable color, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and the like. Additionally, other alarm or snitch triggering events may include other signals, such as radio signals emitted by the indicator caused by changes in capacitance, resistance, and/or magnetic field induced by the indicator 704 in the indicator due to fluid contact or leakage.

In another example, the indicator may provide an indication of an incipient leak in response to a query signal transmitted to the indicator 704 . In these embodiments, the telltale element indicator senses chemical, physical, optical, radio or thermal information to detect an incipient leak and emit a leak indication. Additionally, the detectors may transmit request signals for preventive maintenance, or otherwise interact with interrogation signals with reply requests for preventive maintenance. Such data sent to or from the indicator may include information such as mating location, identity, fluid type, leak rate or amount, application history, and the like.

In some applications, the indicator includes small, micro, or nanoscale sensing circuitry, such as at locations 712 and/or 710 . The circuit may be activated by optoelectronic material carried by assembly 700 in the vicinity of the indicator, for example at locations 714 and/or 716 . Thus, if a detector detects an incipient leak using the sensor circuits at locations 710 and/or 712, ambient light or an interrogating light source may provide photoelectric power to the photoelectric material at locations 714 and/or 716 to activate 710 and/or 712 at the circuit. In this way, the indicator can provide a radio signal or serve a circuit acting as a ring oscillator to generate an incipient leak signal which is broadcast or interrogated by contactless means including, for example, radio waves or infrared. The following quotes relate to microelectronics and are incorporated by reference in their entirety: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/4839088: http:/ /www.bio-medicine.org/biology-technology-1/Toward-worlds-smallest-radio-3A-nano-sized-detector-turns-radio-waves-into-music-1330-1/: University of California at Berkeley Physics Department-Nanotube Radio: Supplemental Materials: ScienceDaily.com-″First Fully-functional RadioFrom A SingleCarbon Nanotube Created″: PhysicsOrg.com-″Make Way for the RealNanopod: Researchers Create First Fully Functional Nanotubek http://www Radio. .com/spotlight/spotid=3080.php.

FIG. 8A is a side view of another assembly 800 configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 8B is a side cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 8B-8B of FIG. 8A , FIG. 8C is an enlarged detail view of detail 8C in FIG. 8B , and FIG. 8D is an isometric view of assembly 800 . Referring to FIGS. 8A-8D in conjunction, an assembly 800 is shown configured to compressively seal a tube 806 to a fitting 808 . Compression of the annular seal 804 is achieved, for example, by tightening the nut 802 to force the sealing element 804 to move axially into a conical receiver at the end of the fitting 808 and at least partially sink to form a seal against the tube 806. At least a contact seal line, and a corresponding contact seal line is formed against joint 808 . Assembly 800 also includes a tamper sensor or indicator 810 that may be positioned near or on sealing element 804 . Indicator 810 serves as an early whistleblower indicator of an incipient leak to describe and/or broadcast an appropriate maintenance request signal or otherwise provide an indication that a leak has occurred within assembly 800 .

In some embodiments, assembly 800 also includes one or more detectors at locations indicated by 812, 814, and/or 816, as shown in FIG. 8B. In conjunction with detectors 812 and/or 814, component 816 may respond to visible light, UV, and/or microwave radiation when interrogated in order to forward and/or otherwise participate in preventive maintenance signals or requests. This allows for rapid inspection from one or more detectors using illumination and/or activation of light sources to detect any identification signal.

As shown in FIG. 8C , assembly 800 also includes a detector with one or more leak collectors 803 adjacent to one or more small circuits 801 . Circuit 801 may provide signals in a manner selected from the techniques taught herein. Small, micro, or nanoscale circuitry may similarly be positioned on or within other suitable locations within assembly 800, including, for example, on nut 802 as desired to provide redundancy in leak detection and signal description at the earliest occurrence or indication of a leak. I guarantee.

Figure 9A is a side cross-sectional view of an assembly 950 including one or more detectors, indicators, sensors, etc. configured in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 9B is an enlarged view of detail D of Fig. 9A, and Fig. 9C is an enlarged view of detail C of Fig. 9A. Figure 9D is an exploded view of the assembly 950 of Figure 9A. Referring to FIGS. 9A-9D in conjunction, assembly 950 includes a multifunctional elastically deformable seal and status indicator 964 , an elastomeric annular seal 960 , an annular seal support 958 and a locking ring 956 . Illustratively, as shown in Figures 9A and 9D, the annular seal 964 may be made of a relatively soft closed-cell sponge polymer, having a generally oval cross-section before changing to another cross-section as shown in Figure 9A shape. An annular groove is provided in the tube 952 to receive a locking ring 956 which is restrained from expansion by the annular gland of the nut 954 as shown. The seal support 958 bears against the nut 954 to make and actuates the seal 960 to deform and seal against the annular gland of the fitting 962 and the tube 952 to provide a guaranteed leak-free seal even when the support The 956 continues to function despite being moved a considerable axial distance as shown.

Status indicator 964 provides a means for one or more preventive maintenance signals that axial displacement of fitting 962 from end cap 954 also results in axial displacement of seal ring 960 , support 958 and/or tube 952 . Exemplary means for providing the preventive maintenance signal include using at least one different texture or color in different areas of the status indicator 964 . For example, first area 970 and/or second area 972 may have different colors, such as white for area 970 and red for area 972 . Thus, if visual inspection detects red next to white on the status indicator 964, the status indicator 964 is providing a signal or indication of a leak or other need for preventive maintenance.

Other suitable means for signaling preventive maintenance include placing small, micro or nanocircuits at locations 982 and 984 as shown in FIG. 9B. One or more leak accumulators or concentrators 988, 990 provide signal amplification for early detection and activation of maintenance requests or alarm signals. The circuit at 984 may be activated by a photovoltaic powered circuit. Thus, if the sensor circuit or detector detects an incipient leak at position 982 or 986, ambient light or an interrogation light source provides photoelectric power to activate a radio signal or serve a circuit acting as a ring oscillator to generate an incipient leak signal, which Signals are broadcast or interrogated from detectors by non-contact means such as radio waves or infrared stimuli.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, additional or backup locations for placing small, micro or nanocircuits are shown at locations 966 and/or 968, which circuits may be activated by optoelectronic circuits. Thus, if a sensor circuit or detector senses an incipient leak at locations 966 and/or 968, the detector may emit a radio signal or trigger a circuit participating as a ring oscillator to generate an incipient leak signal, which is broadcast or Non-contact means such as radio waves or infrared magnetic pole interrogation.

Additional embodiments of the present disclosure direct the detection of incipient leaks using surface active substances to enhance or suppress wettability of areas or regions where it is desired to detect leaks or other fluid properties. In FIG. 9D , for example, application of a hydrophobic substance and/or a hydrophilic substance to status indicator 964 (eg, an O-ring) may provide fluid concentration at various locations on status indicator 964 . Indicators configured in accordance with these embodiments may utilize these different concentrations to emit or otherwise generate warning signals. More specifically, referring to status indicator 964 of FIG. 9D , a hydrophobic substance may be applied to the outer equatorial zone region of status indicator 964, or strap 970, to at least partially prevent incipient leakage molecules from adhering to strap 970 (e.g. , the straps are "soaked" by the incipient leak molecules). Additionally, a hydrophobic substance may be applied to the remainder of the inner portion 972 of the status indicator 964 surrounding the strap 970, thereby causing the inner portion 972 to wet to allow for a number of leak concentrations and signal occurrence locations. In one embodiment, for example, in response to hydrophilic wetting, the outer strap 970 and inner portion 972 may provide a color change releasing odor or fragrance molecules that are more readily detected by the sensor circuitry 982 or The odor detector in 986 detects in response to the parts per billion or parts per million concentration on the hydrophilic detection surface and/or provides an electrical or electro-optical signal generated from the status indicator. Portions of status indicator 964 (or any other indicator disclosed herein) having different wettability characteristics are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 9D, as will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a hydrophobic wetting capability similar to the fine fuzz covering a peach (or other type of surface texture), promoting wetting of some areas while preventing or prohibiting wetting of other areas. More specifically, an indicator may include a textured or treated surface that causes fluid (eg, water) to bead or wet in some areas while preventing wetting in other areas, thereby collecting discarded fluid to wet adjacent areas. area. In this way, the indicator can use the collected fluid to generate a maintenance signal with a low concentration of incipient leak molecules. In the figures, for example, the surface treatment of the detector at 966, 968, or the surface treatment on the status indicator 964 at 970 and/or 972, may include regions with different wetting characteristics. In some embodiments, for example, detectors or sensors at these locations may include hydrophobic spots adjacent to hydrophilic spots. In some embodiments, for example, these regions may comprise a thin transparent titanium dioxide film that is exposed or otherwise receptive to ultraviolet interrogating light. In some embodiments, activation with UV light provides wettability through alcohols, water, and oils. Appropriately activating the titania film, nanoscale domains can thus be created where hydrocarbon molecules are adsorbed to provide wettability for water and aqueous solutions, while adjacent regions provide wettability for oil or oil solutions. Titanium dioxide films according to these embodiments can be altered to respond to specific stimuli. For example, titanium dioxide films can be doped with nitrogen, silver, silicon, or other semiconducting enhancers to lower the bandgap and tailor interrogation photoactivation to longer wavelengths, thereby providing an indication of incipient leakage and/or information about the involved Information about the type of molecule or other properties of the fluid.

According to another embodiment of the sensor or detector disclosed herein, the detector may utilize capillary wicking to gather a portion of the fluid of interest. For example, detectors or sensors configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may include nanowicking structures with closely spaced pores on substrates such as silica, titania, and carbon. Leaked molecules of the fluid are capillary wicked, accumulating or aggregating them for the generation of a stronger signal. For example, aggregated fluid molecules may provide enhanced reflectivity, transmissivity, or absorptivity for light as a characteristic type of signal distinction, or alternatively enhanced anti-reflection as a distinctive means for enabling signal generation. The presence of aggregated or amplified detectable molecules provides a very early indication of incipient leakage. In addition, intelligent interrogation programs take into account leak rate trends and environmental conditions, resulting in greater safety and confidence in systems that store and/or transmit high-value, dangerous, objectionable or objectionable fluids .

Another application of the "monitor" or "traffic police" indicators and sensors disclosed herein for preventive maintenance measures is to provide identification, verification and appropriate action upon detection of a specific composition or components of a fluid or an alert program. For example, the sensors and detectors disclosed herein can detect specific components in fluids, such as key ingredients in approved pharmaceutical formulations, or conversely, potentially harmful substances, such as aflatoxins, mycotoxins, or ochra in fluid media. Mycin. In this case, the fluid transported by conduit 592 is monitored by comparing the UV, visible and/or IR signals generated at emitter 974 and transmitted to reader 980, which includes mini, micro or nano Radio transceivers to provide appropriate function instructions or alerts. Transmitter 978 and transmitter 980 may be carried by assembly 950 . In some embodiments, one or more fiber optic components or light guides 974 , 976 , 977 may transmit the interrogation frequency between the transmitter 978 and the transceiver 980 . Light pipes 974, 976, 977 may comprise selected surface materials with known refractive indices and/or other optical properties that generate signals by adhering to or adsorbing specific molecules in the fluid being monitored. A comparative analysis of the rate of change of the optical property provides an analysis or inference for the concentration of the monitored molecule in the monitored fluid medium. Many different selective surfaces can be provided at different locations or on individual fiber optic components 974,976,977. In some examples, fluid delivery by conduit 952 may be slowed or stopped by a valve, such as 951 (FIG. 9F), to provide time for signal enhancement of the substance being monitored. Comparison of the diffusion pattern, attenuation, enhancement or intensification of selected radiation frequencies used as interrogation signals in the light guides 974, 976, 977 allows for identification, verification and appropriate action or warning procedures to be provided.

9C is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of tubular system 971 carried by assembly 950 shown in FIG. 9A, FIG. 9E is a side cross-sectional view of tubular system 971, and FIG. schematic diagram. 9C, 9E, and 9F in conjunction, in another embodiment, the fluid sample in conduit 952 is introduced into tubular system 971, which includes selected capillaries 971, 973, 975, 989, 979, 981, etc., having various Various surface treatments, geometries, shapes and scales are shown in detail in Figure 9C. After isolation in these capillaries 971, 973, 975, 989, 979, 981 from fluids such as water, milk or soy milk, specific molecules of interest, such as beneficial or unfavorable reagents, are selectively identified by appropriate methods, including for example toxicology analysis family of species, such as those disclosed in US Patent Nos. 4,859,611, 4,181,853, 5,178,832 or US Patent Application No. 10/245,758, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Between cyclic isolation and indication of the species or molecules being monitored, the capillaries 971, 973, 975, 989, 979, 981 can be cleared by introducing appropriate scrubbers and/or using hydrogen and/or oxygen expulsion. For example, the hydrogen and/or oxygen may be produced by a small electrolytic cell 961 or by a large electrolytic cell or provided by another storage device feeding capillary tubes 971, 973, 975, depending on the tendency of the species being monitored. , 989, 979, 981 provide pressurized hydrogen and/or oxygen.

Figure 9C shows an enlarged section of the tubular system 971 showing capillaries 971, 973, 975, 989, 979, 981 of various sizes and shapes. FIG. 9E shows a longitudinal section of the tubular package structure of the system 971 and includes an opto-semiconductor 957 or some other suitable power source to power the test procedure that the system 971 implements. In system 971, fluid samples are passed in capillaries 971, 973, 975, 989, 979, 981 depending on the selected material, size, geometry and possible coatings applied to capillaries 971, 973, 975, 989, 979, 981 Depending on the resulting viscosity, surface tension, and wettability, they travel different distances. One or more detectors 967, such as photoelectric light readers and/or sensors, can contact the sample fluid to identify and report via wireless communication to a controller 953 (FIG. 9F), which includes a wireless relay or transponder, Used to generate appropriate alarms, fail-safe activity, or verification messages.

In instances where accelerated purge 971, 973, 975, 989, 979, 981 is advantageous, for example, as part of a fail-safe monitoring rapid cycle, a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen may be generated from electrolytic cell 961 by applying a spark at 963 The plasma is ignited and burned to provide a rapid pressure rise and flush the capillaries 971 , 973 , 975 , 989 , 979 , 981 . This mixture may be provided by mixing the anode and cathode outputs of the electrolysis cell 961, or by reversing the voltage applied to the electrodes of the electrolysis cell 961 to alternately produce hydrogen and oxygen. Controlling the events and current magnitude during this voltage reversal provides control over the ratio of oxygen and hydrogen in the resulting mixture. In addition, during the cleaning operation of the capillaries 971, 973, 975, 989, 979, 981, the isolation film 959 is used to isolate one of the electrodes from being precipitated during the cleaning operation, allowing this occasional reversed voltage and current to be applied to the other electrode 965, To provide stoichiometric or enriched mixtures of hydrogen or oxygen for purposes such as lowering peak combustion temperatures, providing neutral streams, oxygen enriched oxidizing streams or hydrogen enriched reducing streams for specific cleaning performance.

If a more or less stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is combusted, a small amount of water may form and be expelled and mostly condense in the fluid in conduit 952, and the capillaries 971, 973 after purging shrink due to a phase change , 975, 989, 979, 981, the vacuum created and resulting in volumetric contraction provides rapid reloading of the monitored substance sample. In instances where oxygen is retained in the capillaries, hydrogen can be generated and mixed with this oxygen to form a gas flow. If hydrogen remains in the capillary, oxygen can be produced and mixed with this hydrogen to create a gas flow during the procedure to standardize or normalize the test cycle.

Referring to FIG. 9F , which shows compressor or pump 971 , conduit 952 , telltale fit indicator 950 , controller 953 , valve 951 , and delivery to collector 969 . In the illustrated embodiment, if the detector or sensor 950 indicates a peak concentration of leakage, an undesired substance, or any other property of the fluid flowing through the conduit 952, the detector 950 can generate an alarm so that the flow through the conduit 952 Can be stopped by valve 951 or diverted into collection conduit as shown in Figure 9F. In some embodiments, the indicator 950 may wirelessly transmit a signal or alarm to the controller. This provides protection and/or sample collection for various purposes including depletion, post reference and/or validity testing.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a fluid conduit system 1094 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the system 1094 includes a plurality of fluid delivery conduits 1098 coupled to one another with respective connector assemblies 1096 . Fitting assembly 1096 may also terminate at the end of conduit 1098 . The fitting assembly 1096 in the illustrated system 1094 can be substantially similar to the fitting assembly and related components described above with reference to FIGS. 7A-9F , and/or include any of the features of the snitch embodiments described herein. For example, the mating assembly 1096 may include a male connector having retaining features that rotationally engage corresponding engagement features of a female connector. According to another feature of the illustrated system 1094, the conduit 1098 can be a generally straight or curved conduit. For example, a generally straight conduit 1098 may comprise a stiff drawn tube or tubing, while a curved conduit 1098 may comprise an annealed or soft tube or conduit, or other flexible type conduits. The conduit 1098 of the illustrated embodiment may be configured to be suitable for conveying or transporting various types of fluids (eg, liquids, gases, etc.), for conveying cables or lines, or for any other application in which conduits are commonly used. Additionally, conduit 1098 may be made of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a power generation device 1100 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As exemplarily shown in FIG. 11 , the device includes various sensors configured according to embodiments of the present disclosure (i.e., configured to collect target samples, detect or analyze target sample properties, report analysis or detection indications, and/or clear target sample sensors), and the sensors can be combined to provide overall system quality control and compositional assurance. For example, sensors A-H may be perturbed at various locations in a full spectrum energy system such as U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,479, filed August 27, 2009, entitled "Full Spectrum Energy" disclosed, this patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. As shown in FIG. 11 , sensors A-H can be remotely monitored and controlled by a central control unit 1101 . According to one embodiment, sensors A-H may monitor the following system characteristics: sensor A monitors working fluid characteristics (temperature, gas/liquid state, fluid composition, etc.) at the location of the solar thermal device adding solar heat to the hydrogen donor; sensor B monitors Working fluid characteristics (temperature, gas/liquid state, chemical content, etc.) of the working fluid flowing into and out of the geothermal storage; Sensor C monitors the working fluid characteristics (temperature, humidity, etc.) entering the system; Sensor D monitors the working fluid at the heat exchanger Characteristics (temperature/energy, etc.); sensor E monitors working fluid characteristics in the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine at the insulated tailpipe; sensor F includes multiple sensors located in the electrolytic cell to monitor working fluid characteristics (temperature, gas/liquid state, fluid composition , chemical content, etc.); sensor G monitors working fluid characteristics (temperature/energy, humidity, etc.) in the upward exhaust duct at the turbine location; while sensor H monitors working fluid characteristics (temperature, humidity, gas content, etc.) ).

FIG. 12 illustrates another environment or network system 1200 that includes the sensors disclosed herein. As shown in Figure 12, the sensors may be involved in chemical monitoring and security tracking of shipping containers 1202 for truck, rail, ship shipping, and the like. For example, sensors may monitor the mode of transportation used for drugs, hazardous materials, and/or other attributes of the materials being transported. Additionally, sensors may be positioned generally on various international shipping containers and/or vehicles, including, for example, land-based (eg, truck, rail, etc.), marine, and/or air vehicles. According to one embodiment, system 100 may include sensor A, which may be visibly or non-visibly positioned in wall 1201 of the shipping container. Sensor A can signal if tampered with or if its state is intact. Sensor A may also discriminatively keep a record of how often and when the door is opened, and provide an indication if the targeted contents have been removed. The target content can be chemically tagged such that only sensor A can detect the corresponding chemical tag. According to one aspect, sensor A can also identify whether people smuggling has occurred. Alternatively, sensor A may identify whether drugs are being transported. Sensor B shows a sensor positioned close to the door 1204 when the door 1204 is in the closed position, and accordingly serves as a real-time tamper-proof report when the door is opened and the seal is broken. Sensor C shows a sensor located at the seal of the door 1204, and serves as a real-time tamper-proof report, for example, when the door is opened and the seal is broken. Sensor D shows a sensor positioned at the interface of a transport truck 1206 (railroad car, sea or ship transport, etc.) and container 1200 . If the seal is broken, the sensor D can report accordingly in real time, as well as chemically sense and report in real time if the container 1202 is exposed to any external hazard.

Figure 13 shows an electrolytic cell according to the published co-pending application incorporated herein by reference above, with at least one sensor according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, electrolytic cell 1300 may include sensor A positioned outside vessel 1302 to monitor first fluid connection 1304, and sensor B positioned inside vessel 1302 to monitor flow into the vessel 1304. Electrolyte flow in the upper portion; sensor C, positioned outside the container 1302, for monitoring the second connection 1306; and sensor D, positioned inside the container 1302, for monitoring flow away from the container in the lower portion of the container electrolyte flow.

In operation, sensors A and C are connection sensors that watch for fluid leaks at high pressure to provide early warning of incipient leaks. Therefore, sensors A and C can be used to monitor the integrity of the high voltage system. Sensors B and D may be fluid sensors (eg, sensors for liquids and/or gases) that differentially monitor the chemical content at various locations in the electrolytic vessel and provide feedback. Although only four sensors are schematically shown in FIG. 13 , in further embodiments the electrolytic cell 1300 may include more than four sensors at various locations on the inside and outside of the vessel 1302 .

Similar to the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 13 , in additional embodiments, sensors may be networked or otherwise located throughout the process or manufacturing line to monitor the integrity of the line or system. For example, networked sensors may be positioned generally on each appropriate process line, including, for example, chemical process lines, pharmaceutical process lines, gas process lines or pipelines, water or other fluid process lines. Additionally, chemical surveillance and/or identification in these and other systems can be combined with radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, global positioning systems (GPS), and/or inertial tracking systems to provide reliable and enhanced security and tracking system.

Additional systems, assemblies, methods, components, and other features configured according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include any of the following examples. One example directs a fitting assembly for connecting to an end portion of a catheter, the fitting assembly comprising: a first member configured to receive the end portion of the catheter; operatively coupled to the a second part of the first part, wherein the second part engages the first part to retain the end portion of the catheter in the first part; and by the first and second parts An indicator carried by at least one of them, wherein the indicator provides an externally accessible indication of information about fluid flowing through the fitting assembly.

In the fitting assembly, the indicator may be a first leak indicator, and the fitting assembly may further include a plurality of leak indicators located at different locations on the fitting assembly. Furthermore, the first leak indicator may provide a first type of indication that is different from a second type of indication provided by the second leak indicator. Furthermore, the indicator may be positioned to contact an external surface of the end portion of the catheter when the first component receives the end portion of the catheter. Additionally, the indicator may be configured to chemically react with fluid flowing through the mating assembly when the fluid contacts the indicator. In some embodiments, the indication of information may include a visual indication of a fluid leak, releasing fluid from the indicator. The liquid may have a first color that is different from a second color of fluid flowing through the fitting assembly. Additionally, the indicator may react with fluid flowing through the mating assembly to provide the visual indication. Additionally, the indication of information may include at least one of a visual indication released by the indicator, a scent emitted by the indicator, and a radio signal emitted by the indicator. The indication of information may also be responsive to at least one of visible light radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and microwave radiation directed at the mating component, and/or include a radio signal emitted by the indicator. The radio signal may be provided in response to a change in at least one of capacitance, resistance, and magnetic field of the leak detector caused by fluid flowing through the mating assembly. Additionally, the indicator may include circuitry configured to sense a fluid leak, and wherein the indication of the fluid leak includes a radio signal emitted by the circuitry of the indicator. Also, the adapter assembly may further include a power source operatively coupled to the detector. The power source may be a photoelectric power source responsive to an external stimulus directed at the mating assembly. Additionally, the indication of information may include a signal emitted by the indicator, wherein the signal includes information about at least one of an amount of fluid leakage, a position of the mating component, an event of a fluid leakage. The indicator may further comprise a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion, and the conduit may be configured to transmit water, and the hydrophilic portion of the leak detector may collect a portion of the water contacting the indicator to amplify the the presence of water on the leak detector. Additionally, at least a portion of the detector includes titanium dioxide, and a capillary assembly configured to collect at least a portion of the fluid.

In other embodiments, the mating assembly may include: a first member configured to receive a portion of a fluid transfer catheter; configured to engage the first member to secure the portion of the catheter in the first a second member within a member, wherein the second member is axially aligned with the first member; and a seal engaged with the first and second members, wherein the seal provides the first member with respect to A visual indication of the axial position of the second member. The seal may include a collar positioned between the first and second members, and the collar may include a first portion having a first color and a portion having a second color different from the first color. the second part. Additionally, the first portion may be positioned in an outer strap region extending around the circumference of the ring, and the second portion may substantially surround the first portion. Also, only the first color is visible when the first member is in a first axial position relative to the second member, and when the first member faces away from the second member from the first axis Both the first and second colors are visible when spaced toward the location. Furthermore, only the first color is visible when the first member is in a fluid-tight connection position relative to the second member, whereas when the first member is positioned in a non-fluid-tight connection relative to the second member position, both the primary and secondary colors are visible. Additionally, the mating assembly may further include a leak detector carried by at least one of the first and second components, wherein if the leak detector contacts fluid flowing through the mating assembly, the A leak detector provides an indication of a leak from the mating assembly. The leak indication may include colored liquid released from the fitting component in response to contact with fluid flowing through the fitting component. Additionally, the leak detector can react with fluid flowing through the assembly and change the color of the fluid in contact with the leak detector. The leak indication may also include a radio signal emitted from the leak detector. The leak indicator may also respond to a stimulus directed at the leak detector. The stimulus may include at least one of visible radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and microwave radiation. Additionally, the seal may include a first seal, and the mating assembly may further include: a second seal axially spaced from the first seal; positioned adjacent to and in contact with the second seal; and a leak detector carried by at least one of said first and second members, wherein said leak indicator is configured to provide fluid leakage from a mating assembly through said second seal instructions.

A method of diagnosing the early stages of a leak in a fitting assembly may include: providing a conduit for conveying fluid; connecting a fitting assembly to the conduit, wherein the fitting assembly includes a first component coupled to the conduit, a second component configured to engage the first component to retain the conduit within the first component, and a leak detector carried by at least one of the first and second components; and allowing fluid flow The leak detector provides a warning in response to fluid leakage from the fitting assembly via the conduit and the fitting assembly if the fluid contacts the leak indicator. The method may also include providing a stimulus to the leak detector while flowing fluid through the conduit. Providing a stimulus may include emitting at least one of visible light radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and microwave radiation to the leak indicator, and wherein the stimulus amplifies the warning. Additionally, the warning may include a visual indication of a fluid leak. Connecting the adapter assembly with the fluid detector may further comprise providing a sensor circuit carried by the adapter assembly, and wherein the warning comprises a radio signal emitted by the sensor circuit.

Another embodiment of a fluid conduit system may include: a first conduit configured to convey a fluid; a second conduit configured to convey the fluid; and a conduit configured to couple the first conduit to the second conduit an adapter assembly for transferring fluid therebetween, wherein the adapter assembly includes: a first member configured to connect to at least one of the first and second conduits; a first member carried by the first member a second component, wherein the second component engages the first component to retain at least first and second conduits; and a leak indicator carried by at least one of the first and second components, wherein if fluid is removed from If the fitting assembly between the first and second conduits leaks, the leak indicator provides a warning. The first part may be a body having a first end portion opposite a second end portion, the first end portion being coupled to the first conduit, and the second end portion being coupled to to the second conduit; and the second member may be a sleeve aligned with the body and disposed over at least one region of one of the first and second end portions. The leak indicator may be positioned to contact at least one of the first and second conduits. Additionally, the warning may include a visual indication accessible from outside the mating assembly. In additional embodiments, the warning includes a radio signal emitted from the mating assembly, thereby alerting the fluid leak. Also, the alert may be received in response to a query stimulus directed at the fluid conduit assembly. The query stimulus may include at least one of visible light radiation, ultraviolet radiation, microwave radiation, infrared radiation and radio signals. Additionally, the first and second conduits may be a first set of conduits, and the fitting assembly may be a first fitting assembly associated with a corresponding first set of conduits, and the fluid conduit system may further comprise: sets of conduits substantially similar to said first set of conduits; and a plurality of fitting assemblies, wherein each fitting assembly is substantially similar to said first fitting assembly, and wherein each fitting assembly is associated with a corresponding set of conduits associated.

From the foregoing it should be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of illustration, but that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

To the extent not previously incorporated herein by reference, this application incorporates by reference in its entirety the subject matter of each of: CHEMICAL PROCESSES AND REACTORS FOR EFFICIENTLY PRODUCING HYDROGEN FUELS, filed February 14, 2011 AND STRUCTURAL MATERIALS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS" Attorney Document No. 69545-8601.US00; filed February 14, 2011, entitled "REACTOR VESSELSWITH TRANSMISSIVE SURFACES FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN-BASED FUELS ANDSTRUCTURAL, Attorney Document No.69545-8602.US00 for METHODS; Attorney Document No.69545-8603.US00, filed February 14, 2011, entitled "CHEMICAL REACTORS WITH RE-RADI ATING SURFACES AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS"; Attorney Document No. 69545-8604.US00, filed February 14, 2011, entitled "THERMAL TRANSFER DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMSAND METHODS"; REMOVAL DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS" DOCUMENT NO.69545-8605.US00; REACTORS FOR CONDUCTINGTHERMOCHEMICAL PROCES SES WITH SOLAR HEAT INPUTDS, ANDASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND MET, filed 14 February 2011 Document No. 69545-8606.US00; filed February 14, 2011, entitled "INDUCTION FORTHERMOCHEMICAL PROCESS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS" Attorney Docket No. 69545-8608.US00; Attorney Docket No. 69545-8611.US00, filed Feb. 14, 2011, entitled "COUPLED THERMOCHEMICAL REACTORS AND ENGINES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS"; Sep. 2010 U.S. Patent Application No. 61/385,508, filed on February 22, entitled "REDUCING ANDHARVESTING DRAG ENERGY ON MOBILE ENGINES USINGTHERMAL CHEMICAL REGENERATION"; 69545-8616.US00, PRODUCING HYDROGEN-BASED FUELS AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS, ANDASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS"; AND AGENT, "ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCT HAVING FOR EXAMPLE A PLURALITY O Document No. 69545-8701.US00.

Claims (20)

1. A method for detecting the presence and/or attributes of a target sample, said method comprising: A microscopic portion of a target sample is selectively collected using a sample collector comprised of a structural construct comprising spaced apart layers and exhibiting specific properties, wherein the specific property of the structural construct is used to determine the The sample collector collects the portion of the target sample; Use the sample collector to detect at least one of the following: the presence of a target sample of said microscopic portion within said sample collector; or one or more properties of the target sample of the microscopic portion; reporting from the sample collector an indication of detection of the one or more properties of the target sample of the microscopic portion; and The microscopic portion of the target sample is at least partially removed from the sample collector. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the spaced apart layers are layers of crystalline matrix characterization material. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein selectively collecting a target sample of the microscopic fraction comprises at least one of: filtering individual molecules of the target sample through corresponding layers of the structural construct; absorbing individual molecules of the target sample between corresponding layers of the architectural construct; reflecting a target sample of said microscopic portion between corresponding layers of said architectural construct; extracting a target sample of said microscopic portion by capillary action between corresponding layers of said architectural construct; and A pressure gradient is induced that at least partially urges the target sample of the microscopic portion between respective layers of the architectural construct. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting with the sample collector comprises at least one of the following: sensing a loading rate of the portion of the target sample between respective layers of the architectural construct; sensing the loading depth of the portion of the target sample between respective layers of the architectural construct; sensing at least one of transmissivity, reflectivity, and refraction of the portion of the target sample between respective layers of the architectural construct; and A wavelength shift of the portion of the target sample between respective layers of the architectural construct is sensed. 5. The method of claim 1 , wherein reporting an indication of detection of one or more properties of the portion of the target sample comprises: Using nanoradio to transmit radio signals; generate current; providing responses to interrogation signals; and Signals are provided to individual collector sections in the network of collector sections. 6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least partially removing the portion of the target sample comprises at least partially removing the portion of the target sample using the same method as selectively collecting the portion of the target sample. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample collector is a first sample collector in a network of a plurality of sample collectors, and wherein the method further comprises utilizing a plurality of individual sample collectors to collect , detection, reporting and removal steps. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing one or more properties of the microscopic portion to determine one or more corresponding characteristics of the target sample. 9. A method comprising: Selectively collecting a microscopic portion of a target sample using a self-contained sensing element comprised of an architectural construct comprising spaced apart layers and exhibiting specific properties, wherein the specific properties of the architectural construct are used for determining a portion of the target sample collected by the sensing component; automatically sensing at least one property of the collected microscopic portion of the target sample with the sensing means; and A real-time, externally obtainable indication of the at least one property is provided from the sensing means. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein sensing at least one property of the microscopic portion comprises: detecting the presence of a target sample of said microscopic portion; or One or more material properties of the target sample are analyzed. 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising purging at least a portion of the target sample from the sensing component and cyclically repeating the collecting, sensing, and providing an externally accessible indication. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein collecting microscopic fractions comprises collecting molecular sized fractions of the target sample, and wherein sensing at least one property comprises collecting molecular sized fractions of the target sample At least one attribute is sensed. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein collecting microscopic portions comprises accumulating a predetermined amount of the target sample sufficient to sense the at least one property of the target sample. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein collecting a sample of a microscopic portion comprises: collecting a sample of a microscopic portion within at least one of the following environments or systems: quality assurance, preventive maintenance, safety and hazard warnings, homeland security and chemical regulation. 15. A system comprising: A sample collector for selectively collecting a portion of a target sample, wherein said portion is a microscopic portion relative to the size of said target sample, wherein said sample collector is composed of an architectural construct comprising spaced apart layers , and exhibit specific properties, wherein the specific properties of the structural construct are used to determine the portion of the target sample collected by the sample collector; means for automatically detecting the presence of one or more properties of a collected portion of a target sample; means for automatically analyzing said one or more properties of said microscopic portion of a target sample; and means for reporting an instantaneous indication of the analysis of said one or more properties of said target sample. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for removing the portion of the target sample from the sample collector. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the sample collector, the means for automatically detecting, the means for automatically analyzing, and the means for reporting is part of a first sensor, and wherein The system further includes: a plurality of sensors, each sensor having the same characteristics as said first sensor; and A controller configured to communicate with at least one of the sensors. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of sensors are distributed throughout at least one of the following environments: a public transportation system; a water supply or distribution system; a food production, packaging or transportation system; a natural gas pipeline distribution system; medical delivery systems; and/or chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing systems. 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the spaced apart layers are layers of crystal matrix characterization material. 20. The system of claim 15, wherein the sample collector includes means for accumulating one or more individual molecular-sized fractions of the target sample.