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A MEMS-based super fast dew point hygrometer—construction and medical applications

Ryszard S Jachowicz, Jerzy Weremczuk, Daniel Paczesny and Grzegorz Tarapata

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The paper shows how MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) technology and a modified principle of fast temperature control (by heat injection instead of careful control of cooling) can considerably improve the dynamic parameters of dew point hygrometers. Some aspects of MEMS-type integrated sensor construction and technology, whole measurement system design, the control algorithm to run the system as well as empirical dynamic parameters from the tests are discussed too. The hygrometer can easily obtain five to six measurements per second with an uncertainty of less than 0.3 K. The meter range is between −10 °C and 40 °C dew point. In the second part of the paper (section 2), two different successful applications in medicine based on fast humidity measurements have been discussed. Some specific constructions of these super fast dew point hygrometers based on a MEMS sensor as well as limited empirical results from clinical tests have been reported too.


PACS

87.80.-y Biophysical techniques (research methods)

07.10.Cm Micromechanical devices and systems

07.07.Vx Hygrometers

07.07.Df Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing

Subjects

Instrumentation and measurement

Medical physics

Biological physics

Dates

Issue 12 (December 2009)

Received 30 April 2009, in final form 4 September 2009

Published 26 October 2009



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