Mark M Goldstein

US Patent:

6429019, Aug 6, 2002

Filed:

Jan 19, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/487512

Inventors:

Mark K. Goldstein - Del Mar CA
Jaeseok Ryu - San Diego CA
Gerhard N. Schrauzer - Coronado CA
Lucian Scripca - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Quantum Group, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01N 3300

US Classification:

436134, 436167, 422 86, 422 93, 422111

Abstract:

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the concentration of CO gas in a fuel reformate stream such as in a PEM fuel cell vehicle. This invention protects the fuel cell catalyst by controlling the reformate stream system to minimize the CO and reduce it by a novel catalyst system that selectively converts CO to methane but does not react with carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The catalyst may reduce the CO to methane by reaction with hydrogen. The preferred embodiment both monitors the CO by a thermal differential sensing means and an optical biomimetic sensor and or a conductivity sensor. These sensors respond to the CO gas and are monitored by one or more monitoring sensors such as the temperature and or conductivity difference between the control and the catalytic material such as nickel and in the biomimetic sensor an optical change is monitored. The optical sensing comprising a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and photodiode system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one other sensors response to the CO gas, e. g. , transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode.

US Patent:

6479019, Nov 12, 2002

Filed:

Apr 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/550557

Inventors:

Mark K. Goldstein - Del Mar CA
Michelle S. Oum - Chula Vista CA

Assignee:

Quantum Group, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01N 3100

US Classification:

422 84, 422 83, 422 85, 422 86, 436164

Abstract:

Sensor and sensor assemblies generally comprises a sensor body having a chamber disposed therein for accommodating a sensor reagent or material. The chamber is defined within the body between optically transparent body portions. The chamber is in gas flow communication with a passage used for passing a collected breath to the sensor material. A liquid or solid sensor material is disposed within the chamber and is designed to change in optical properties upon exposure to a target gas within the collected breath sample by reaction therewith. A gas permeable membrane can be disposed over the chamber opening to retain the sensor material, in the event it is liquid, and to permit the diffusion of gas from the collected breath sample to the sensor material. The sensor assembly is used with a photon source that emits photons, within a selected wavelength band, onto the chamber and sensor material, and a photon collector that is used to receive photons that exit the chamber. The photon source and photon collector can be part of the sensor assembly or can be part of a breath diagnostic assembly, of which the sensor assembly is a removable member.

US Patent:

6663297, Dec 16, 2003

Filed:

Jul 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/916418

Inventors:

Mark K. Goldstein - Del Mar CA

Assignee:

Quantum Group Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 6255

US Classification:

385 97, 385 95

Abstract:

A device for welding together optical fiber, constructed and put into practice, according to the principles of this invention, comprises a photon source capable of transmitting photons to at a desired waveband to a desired target, e. g. , a solid state part, a fiber optic cable, or a optical waveguide. The desired target, e. g. , the end of an optical fiber, comprises a photon absorber material that is designed to absorb the photons emitted by the photon source. Through exposure of the photons emitted from the photon source, the absorber is caused to melt within a very short period of time for a defined period of time, during which time the desired target parts are joined and welded together. Ideally, the photon absorber material is matched to absorb photons in the same waveband as that emitted by the photon source. The device is configured to efficiently produce, focus, and deliver photons to the target area for welding.

US Patent:

6819811, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Nov 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/010728

Inventors:

Mark K. Goldstein - Del Mar CA

Assignee:

Quantum Group Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 626

US Classification:

385 12, 385 32

Abstract:

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the presence and/or concentration gases using an optical response. These sensors may be very small, fast and low-cost. The preferred embodiment of the invention is accomplished by means of photon monitoring one or more sensors that respond to the target gas. For example by 1) passing the photons through the sensor, 2) multi-passes of a photon beam through the sensor, 3) by evanescent field absorption (EFA) and 4) by using index of refraction changes to switch the photon from one path to another. Rapid detection of gases such as CO can be made by multiple passes of photons through a sensor that is absorbing photons of that wavelength range. The photon beam is passed back and forth through the sensor by some means such as using highly reflective optical surfaces or cavity. In essences the multiple internal reflections in a waveguide are similar to the multi-pass photon method except chat the evanescent method only penetrates about 200 nm.

US Patent:

6998991, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Oct 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/262047

Inventors:

Mark K. Goldstein - San Diego CA, US
Robert Banach - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

Quantum Group Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G08B 17/10

US Classification:

340628, 340629, 340633

Abstract:

The present invention is a new sensor system with catalyst for control and one with a dummy catalyst. An apparatus and method for rapidly determining the concentration of CO, water vapor, and temperature. One of the major reasons to rapidly determine a small but sudden rise CO is for fire detection. The combination of the CO, followed by rapid relative humidity rise is a clear indication of possible fire or an appliance malfunction, blocked flu or other combustion process gone awry. If the incident is accompanied by ions or particles that would be smoke from a fire. The signal from the CO determined by numerically compensating for humidity changes. Any one or two parameters could cause an increase the sensitivity of the other in a fire detector such as combination CO, relative humidity, temperature and smoke detector. Another application for rapid CO detection is in a vehicle to protect the occupants from a catastrophic CO event. The preferred embodiment by means of optically monitoring the control and CO responding sensors that respond to the CO by means monitoring the optical change to the humidity in one and humidity and CO in the other and provide a means to remove the humidity.

US Patent:

20070192041, Aug 16, 2007

Filed:

Aug 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/509875

Inventors:

Mark Goldstein - Del Mar CA, US
Eric Gonzales - Aurora IL, US

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702024000, 324500000, 361816000, 361818000

Abstract:

A sensor apparatus incorporates a responding gas sensor to measure and display gas concentrations or other indications. Calculation of a gas concentration may be derived from an output signal of a light detector through the use of a linear equation. Through the use of digital processing an output signal may be sampled to calculate a gas concentration based on a rate of change of the output voltage.

US Patent:

20080173817, Jul 24, 2008

Filed:

Apr 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/786883

Inventors:

Mark K. Goldstein - Del Mar CA, US
Michelle S. Oum - Chula Vista CA, US

International Classification:

G01J 5/00
G08B 17/10
G08B 17/00

US Classification:

2503381, 340632, 340584, 340628, 340589

Abstract:

The present invention provides very small low cost apparatus and method for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of optically monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photocurrent from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculated the CO concentration.There are a number of methods to compute the CO hazard and these is subject of another patent to be filed. In addition, a preferred method to meet the BSI and European CO Standards is described using two sensor systems with two different sensors each having different sensitivity within one housing. The single housing dual sensor uses one LED and two photodiodes. The novel two sensors method to meet the European (BSI) CO standard is similar to the method developed to meet the Japanese standard.The major advantages of MICROSIR over SIR are: 1. Lower cost (estimates saving of US$1.25 per sensor, 2. Better controlled gas path therefore more accurate and more precision, 3. Better getter system therefore longer life (as shown by ammonia accelerated age tests), and 4. Better RESERVOIR SYSTEM THEREFORE BETTER humidity CONTROL AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH (as shown by sensor response curves).5. The MICROSIR Edgeview is faster and meets the Japanese standard for CO and the European Standard for CO enhanced smoke, 6. More easily automated as the board of alarms use surface mount and MICROSIR is a surface mount part that attaches over surface mounted optics after the soldering, 7. small size, and 8. approved UL recognized component.The MICROSIR device can also be used to detect the CO, which may be combined with temperature and smoke in a very small package. The detection of one or more indicators such as smoke and CO; increases the sensitivity of the other indicators. Combining signals produces an improved fire detector comprising a CO sensor and a smoke sensor in one unit. The smoke detection sensor may be either ionization or photoelectric either or both may be combined with the CO sensor to provide earlier warning to fire and reduce false alarms.

US Patent:

20090043515, Feb 12, 2009

Filed:

Oct 20, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/254799

Inventors:

Mark K. Goldstein - Del Mar CA, US
Eric Gonzales - Aurora IL, US

International Classification:

G01N 31/00

US Classification:

702 24

Abstract:

A sensor apparatus incorporates a responding gas sensor to measure and display gas concentrations or other indications. Calculation of a gas concentration may be derived from an output signal of a light detector through the use of a linear equation. Through the use of digital processing an output signal may be sampled to calculate a gas concentration based on a rate of change of the output voltage.