Abstract:
In a sensor for measuring the quantity of a substance in a compositionof matter of the type including a membrane which is permeable to the substance and substantially impermeable to liquid and ions, the permeability of the membrane being a function of the pressure thereon, the sensor providing an electrical output signal which is a function of the quantity of the substance in the composition of matter, there is disclosed an improvement consisting of a method and means for accurately compensating the output of the sensor for the effect of pressure upon membrane permeability by multiplying the output signal by the function ekp thus cancelling the pressure effect which is given by the function Poe-kp where Po=membrane permeability at zero pressure, p=absolute pressure, and k=a membrane constant. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such multiplication is achieved through the use of a pressure-driven, variable resistance in the feed-back loop of an operational amplifier.
Abstract:
Apparatus for determining the partial pressure of a paramagnetic gas in a gas mixture wherein a pivotally mounted test body is supported in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, the test body being deflected from a null position when the paramagnetic gas is present, the improvement wherein an AC bridge circuit is utilized, in response to deflection of the test body from the null position, to generate an AC signal indicative of the partial pressure of the paramagnetic gas. The bridge circuit comprises a pair of electrostatic vanes which, in conjunction with the test body, form capacitive elements of the bridge circuit. The AC signal is either measured to determine the test body position, or demodulated to provide a DC signal. The DC signal may be fed back to the bridge circuit to return the test body to the null position for improved linearity and stability. Apparatus is further provided to vary the fraction of the DC signal fed back to the bridge circuit with changes in temperature of the test body to compensate the apparatus for temperature variations.