DigiFlux™ Hall effect gas sensor [FIG. 1] is based on the Hall effect, which if an electric current flows through a conductor in a magnetic field, the magnetic field exerts a transverse force on the moving charge carriers which tends to push them to one side of the conductor. This is most evident in a thin flat conductor as illustrated. A buildup of charge at the sides of the conductors will balance this magnetic influence, producing a measurable voltage (Vh) between the two sides of the conductor. The presence of this measurable transverse voltage (Vh) is called the Hall effect after E. H. Hall who discovered it in 1879. In DigiFlux™ Hall effect gas sensor [FIG. 1], the air-float [FIG. 1.6] bottom is attached with a small magnetic-iron [FIG. 1.5], and is upright on a Hall effect sensor [FIG. 1.4] made by a conductor with I/O connector [FIG. 1.2] and includes a power supply and Hall voltage (Vh) signal sensor socket.
The air-float [FIG. 1.6] senses the influx of gas by the pressure of the gas which moves the air-float [FIG. 1.6]. A start signal sent by sensor to the MCU/DSP [FIG. 2] begins calculating gas usage. When the gas stops, the MCU/DSP will stop calculating and save the result record to the memory on the MCU/DSP, then output the result record to the LCD display screen [FIG. 2] on the device.
Gas enters valve (gas-in) [FIG. 1] installed on a gas flow I/O screw socket [FIG. 1.1.1] which is connected with gas source. When gas passes valve (gas-in) [FIG. 1.1], gas will flow up and against the air-float [FIG. 1.6] and cause it certain movement. Hall effect sensor [FIG. 1.4] will sense the air-float movement by electromagnetic sense, and generate Hall voltage (Vh) signal. Gas will flow and bypass the air-float [FIG. 1.6] then out from valve (gas-out) [FIG. 1.9]. To prevent the air-float [FIG. 1.6] from blocking the valve (gas-out) [FIG. 1.9], an air-float unblock spring [FIG. 1.8] is installed on valve (gas-out) [FIG. 1.9]. Then gas will flow out by Gas-out pass [FIG. 1.12] between this sensor inside shell [FIG. 1.7] and outside shell [FIG. 1.10], finally, gas will through Gas flow I/O screw socket [FIG. 1.1.1] out to use.
The DigiFlux™ Hall effect gas sensor works better when it is on vertical status and therefore a vertical balance switch [FIG. 1.13] is installed on the top of sensor pipe shell (out-side) [FIG. 1.10], which can warn MCU/DSP of non-vertical status of DigiFlux™ Hall effect gas sensor.
The Hall voltage (Vh) signal from Hall effect sensor [FIG. 1.4] will be amplified [FIG. 2], then converted to digital signal by the MCU/DSP [FIG. 2]. The calculation in the MCU/DSP will be based on a specially designed program by manufacturer. This device can be modified to customized functions, such as flow-mode, timer-mode, total-usage-mode, among others.
The entire DigiFlux™ Hall effect gas sensor is made by High-Pressure-Stand material such as engineering plastics (medical use PVC), which allows the gas to be able to be mixed with medicine and with high pressure from the gas source.
DigiFlux™ Hall effect gas sensor's Gas flow I/O screw socket [FIG. 1.1.1] can be modified to fit on different standard socket connectors for gas source, such as medical use oxygen tank.
If there is any unexpected stoppage in gas supply, the MCU/DSP will, based on the program, warn by alarm. This device can share the data with a central computer in a network. The network can use Bluetooth, Serial port, or Ethernet. This device can be modified for changes in network protocol as the network improves.