LaserSPECks: : laser SPECtroscopic trace-gas sensor networks - sensor integration and applications

We introduce a novel laser spectroscopic trace-gas sensor platform, LaserSPECks that integrates recently developed miniature quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) gas sensing technology. This universal platform uses infrared laser spectroscopy detect and quantify numerous gas species at part-per-million to part-per-billion (ppm-ppb) concentrations [2]. Traditional gas sensing devices capable of the same sensitivity and specificity are several orders of magnitude larger in size, cost, and power consumption. Thus, high resolution gas sensing technology has been difficult to integrate into small, low-power, replicated sensors suitable for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). This paper presents the principles behind laser based trace gas detection, design issues, and outlines the implementation of a miniaturized trace-gas sensor from commerical-off-the-shelf (COTS) components. We report on an early prototype as a proofof-concept for integration into WSN applications. We also d...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: IPSN
• Authors: Stephen So, Farinaz Koushanfar, Anatoliy Kosterev, Frank Tittel
• Keywords: Gas Sensing Technology, IPSN 2007, Sensing, Sensor Networks, Trace-gas Sensors