Electro-optical sensing of target gas composition using gas chemistry sensor

Abstract

Target gas components, such as ambient gases in the environment, may be detected using a gas chemistry detector. The functionalized region of the gas chemistry detector may be exposed to ambient gas. The functionalized region may include an optical property indicative of a target gas composition. An optical response signal may be generated based on the optical property, and the functionalized region is used to indicate a target gas composition within the ambient gas in the environment. The electrical property may be electrochemically converted into an electrical response signal, the electrical property being indicative of a target gas composition. Both electrical and optical properties may be used together to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas in the ambient environment, such as a gas that may be produced by a target bacterium or infection source.

Description

[0002] Claiming priority

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 370,223, filed on August 2, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0005] Certain technologies can help quickly identify infectious agents in biological specimens, such as for identifying infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis, Lyme disease, and hepatitis. For example, some diagnostic tests, particularly those used to detect infectious agents, do not provide results in a short period of time, such as within two hours or less. For example, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure is a nucleic acid amplification technique used to amplify and identify nucleic acid sequences unique to a specific organism or a given strain of an organism in a specimen. While PCR technology can help identify the presence of very small amounts of an organism in a specimen, there is a challenge with the technology because it can include a complex and time-consuming procedure that requires expensive and sophisticated equipment.

[0006] For example, random mutagenesis PCR (RM-PCR) can be used with matrix-assisted laser desorption / ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to help identify infectious agents in biological specimens. The reagent is incubated with the sample containing RM-PCR reagents (such as PCR primers and DNA polymerase) to produce complementary DNA (cDNA) copies of the genome of multiple variants of the reagent. The resulting PCR products can then be analyzed using conventional PCR and DNA sequencing methods. One challenge associated with this approach is the relative efficiency of the mutagenesis process (e.g., the yield of mutation-induced variants). While random mutagenesis is generally faster, RM-PCR produces relatively few mutations per round of selection, resulting in a slow testing process.

[0007] Alternatively, chromatography and mass spectrometry can be used to detect certain gaseous components associated with a target organism. For example, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) machine can be used with a microfluidics system to screen a sample containing a target organism for a target gaseous component, such as a component that is only found in the presence of the target organism. GC-MS machines can be used to detect certain gases of diagnostic interest, such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen. However, this technology may have a relatively poor dynamic range, a slow testing process, and an inherently slow detection rate. For example, a GC-MS machine can be used to detect certain gaseous components, such as ethanol, in the blood of a patient who may be suspected of being under the influence of an alcohol-containing substance, such as might be found in a test for a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. However, the detection range of such machines may be insufficient for samples where a specific infectious agent is not suspected, such as might be found in a test of a patient with pneumonia or sepsis. Summary of the invention

[0008] Methods for detecting a target gas component in ambient gas in an environment are described herein, such as using a gas chemistry detector including a functionalized region. Such a functionalized region may include an optical property indicative of the target gas composition. An electrical property of the target gas may be detected along with the optical property of the functionalized region. For example, the electrical property may be different from the optical property, and at least one of the electrical and optical properties may be associated with a change in the functionalized region to distinguish the target gas component from other ambient gases.

[0009] The functionalized region of the electrochemical sensor may include one or more functionalized materials, such as a coating, a film, a membrane, or a combination thereof. The functionalized material may be sensitive to electrically or optically distinguishable properties in the presence of the target gas composition. For example, the functionalized region may include carbon nanotubes or other similar semiconductors or conductors. The carbon nanotubes or other similar components may be functionalized with one or more functionalized materials (e.g., oligonucleotides, metal coordination complexes, porphyrins, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), polymers, pyrrole derivatives, phthalocyanines, nanomaterial decorations, dendrimers, fluorophores, nanoparticles, nanoparticles decorated with one or more moieties, etc.). In the presence of the target gas composition, the one or more functionalized materials may change one or more electronic, thermal, or optical properties detected in the functionalized region. Measuring various optical and electrical parameters in multiple functionalized regions helps to make qualitative or quantitative assessments of gas concentrations.

[0010] While it may be desirable to detect a target gas component from a source having a relatively high concentration of the target gas component (e.g., 1-10%), the functionalized carbon nanotubes can measure the target gas component from a source having a relatively low concentration of the target gas component (e.g., <1%). This capability is advantageous for use in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and measuring the concentration of a target gas in a breath sample.

[0011] For example, electromagnetic energy, such as visible light from a light source, can be received at the functionalized area. The functionalized area can be used to generate an optical response signal, such as one based on optical properties and indicative of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment. The electrical property can be electrochemically converted, and the electrical property can indicate the conversion of the target gas component into the electrical response signal. Using the optical response signal and the electrical response signal, the presence or other characteristics of the target gas component in the ambient gas in the environment can be determined.

[0012] The functionalized area can be imaged so that the functionalized area is used to produce an image readable feature indicative of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment. For example, an image of the functionalized area can be image processed to detect the image readable feature. Here, the image readable feature can be used to help generate at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of the presence or other characteristics of the target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment.

[0013] Additionally, the functionalized area can be illuminated with electromagnetic energy, such as by a broadband or tunable wavelength light source. Thus, at least a portion of an optical response signal based on optical properties and indicative of target gas composition within the ambient gas in the environment can be generated in response to illumination with the functionalized area.

[0014] In one example, at least a portion of generating the optical response signal may include generating spectral response data in response to the illumination, the spectral response data including at least one of absorption, reflection, fluorescence, elastic scattering, or inelastic (Raman) scattering of the functionalized area indicating the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component in an ambient gas in an environment of the functionalized area.

[0015] In one example, the illumination can be varied between a plurality of different illuminations. Here, the functionalized region can be used to generate at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment in response to the different illuminations. The optical response signal under the different illuminations can be processed to determine the presence or other characteristics of the target gas component in the ambient gas in the environment.

[0016] In one example, the same or different functionalized regions of the gas chemistry detector can be used to electrochemically convert the electrical characteristic into an electrical response signal. An optical response signal indicative of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment can be generated using the functionalized regions, which can include using, for example, a field effect transistor (FET) associated with the functionalized region.

[0017] In one example, the FET can be electrically biased at a specified bias level to help determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component in an ambient gas in an environment. In addition, the electrical properties of the FET can change in response to exposure of the functionalized area to an ambient gas that includes the target gas component. For example, the changed electrical characteristics of the FET can include at least one of an effective gate voltage of the FET, an effective channel resistance of the FET, an equivalent channel conductance of the FET, an efficient transconductance of the FET, or at least one of a gate-body, gate-drain, or gate-source interface characteristic of the FET.

[0018] The process of determining the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment may include comparing or analyzing spectral response data from the optical response signal using at least one of a library template or a trained model.

[0019] The gas chemical detector device described herein may include a sensor, the sensor including a functionalized area. The sensor may include at least one of an electrochemical transducer, a photodetector, or a colorimetric imaging sensor. In one example, the sensor may be positioned facing an opposing illuminator and arranged to allow ambient gas from the environment to enter the space between the sensor and the illuminator.

[0020] The gas chemical detector devices described herein may also include at least one carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNFET), such as a CNFET array. For example, a single CNFET in the CNFET array may correspond to different functionalized regions corresponding to different target gas components.

[0021] Each non-limiting example described herein may stand alone or in various permutations or combinations with one or more other examples.

[0022] This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of this patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to provide more information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, the same numerals may describe similar components in different views. Similar numerals with different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The accompanying drawings generally illustrate various embodiments discussed in this document by way of example and not limitation.

[0025] Figure 1A An example of a gas chemistry detector device including a housing is depicted.

[0026] Figure 1B An electrochemical transducer is depicted.

[0027] Figure 1C An electrochemical transducer is depicted that includes a plurality of sensors that each include a functionalized region.

[0028] Figure 2A An example of a sensor included in an electrochemical transducer is depicted.

[0029] Figure 2B An example of an electrochemical transducer comprising a sensor array is depicted.

[0030] Figure 2C is a detailed view showing an example of a sensor included in an electrochemical converter.

[0031] Figure 3A A perspective view of an example of a portion of an example of a sensing unit is depicted.

[0032] Figure 3B A perspective view illustrating an example of a portion of an example of a sensing unit.

[0033] Figure 4A A perspective view of an example of a portion of an example of a sensing unit is depicted.

[0034] Figure 4B A perspective view illustrating an example of a portion of an example of a sensing unit.

[0035] Figure 5 A model diagram including examples of profiles associated with different kinds of infectious agents is depicted.

[0036] Figure 6 is a block diagram of an example of a gas chemistry detector device.

[0037] Figure 7 is a block diagram of another example of a gas chemical detection device.

[0038] Figure 8 is a block diagram of another example of a gas chemical detection device.

[0039] Fig. 9 is a flow chart describing a method for detecting a target gas component.

[0040] Fig.10 is a block diagram showing components of a machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] This document generally describes, among other things, an apparatus and method for detecting a target gas component. More specifically, the document describes detecting a target gas component in ambient gas in an environment using a gas chemical detector having a functionalized material.

[0042] Methods for identifying infectious agents in biological specimens may include analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the biological specimen. Some infectious bacteria may produce a distinguishable VOC composition that, using gas detection techniques, may indicate the presence or other characteristics of the bacteria. One technique for detecting the presence of a target gas may involve analyzing the sample using a gas chromatograph (GC). For example, a biological specimen sample may be subjected to a chemical or physical separation to extract or purify the VOCs from the sample. Thereafter, the GC measures, identifies, and quantifies the VOCs by providing a gas chromatogram of the sample. The chromatogram provides a peak pattern indicating how the relative abundance of different compounds (i.e., one or more peaks represent a specific concentration of a specific compound) changes over time (i.e., as a function of the GC column). As a result of the analysis of the chromatogram, the presence, concentration, or other characteristics of the target gas in the sample may be determined.

[0043] One challenge with such GC techniques is that they may require extensive sample preparation or a large number of gas chromatography analyses. More specifically, these techniques may be relatively long due to the need to obtain an accurate sample and complete the GC. In addition, these techniques may not be sensitive enough for some applications, such as being unable to detect small amounts of target gas in a sample. Therefore, GC methods may not be suitable for detecting target gases in a short period of time. Another challenge with the above GC techniques is that they may employ complex methods to extract or purify VOCs from samples and to separate VOCs from other ambient air components. For example, some GC systems may require that samples be extracted through a sampling line. This can be achieved with a vacuum or a suction pump. To ensure consistency in the sample being analyzed, these systems require a substantially constant flow rate. However, these systems have a long dead volume (i.e., the volume of the system that is not in contact with the sample) that can contain some of the sample being analyzed. To improve the efficiency of the vacuum system, the flow through the line must not vary significantly. In methods that achieve sufficiently constant flow, high mass transfer areas are used, requiring relatively large volumes of pumping elements. This GC sensing approach hinders the ability to install accurate gas sensing systems in small or portable field kits, or in other locations where space and weight are important.

[0044] The inventors have recognized a need for a gas sensing technology with improved sensitivity and including a smaller (e.g., more portable) form factor. Apparatus and methods for detecting target gas components in ambient gas in an environment are described herein. For example, a gas chemistry detector may include or use a functionalized region. Such a functionalized region may include an optical property indicative of the composition of the target gas. An electrical property of the target gas may be detected along with (e.g., simultaneously detected) the optical property of the functionalized region. The electrical property may be different from the optical property. At least one of the electrical property and the optical property may be associated with a change in the functionalized region and used to distinguish the target gas component from other ambient gases. For example, simultaneously measuring the electrical property and the optical property can help improve the ability to distinguish different infectious agents in a biological sample.

[0045] Figure 1A , Figure 1B and Figure 1C An example of a gas chemistry detector device 100 is depicted. Figure 1A As shown, the gas chemistry detector device 100 may include a housing 102 for housing a gas chemistry detector assembly therein. The size and shape of the housing may be designed to be held in a person's hand, such as for portable gas sensing or as part of a field kit. The gas chemistry detector device 100 may also include a sensing unit 104 that includes at least one gas transmission opening 106 (e.g., one or more holes, channels, or pores) to allow gas to be transmitted from the surrounding environment to the gas chemistry detector assembly.

[0046] Figure 1B An electrochemical transducer 130 comprising an array of sensors is depicted. The sensing unit 104 may also include or use an electrochemical transducer 130 for converting at least one electrical characteristic indicative of a target gas component into an electrical response signal. For example, the electrochemical transducer 130 may include at least one sensor 115, such as an array of sensors 115. For example, a single sensor 115 may include an electrochemical sensing element, such as a field effect transistor (FET), a pn junction diode, an electrochemical cell, a conductive polymer or electrode, or other semiconductor or other device, which, when exposed to a specific target gas component, changes a signal (e.g., current, voltage, or impedance) based on the presence or concentration of the target gas component.

[0047] Figure 1C An electrochemical transducer 130 is depicted, including a plurality of sensors each including a functionalized region. In one example, a single sensor 115 may include or utilize at least one functionalized region 110. The functionalized region 110 may include a covering or coating including at least one functionalized material 112 on an electrochemical sensing element of the single sensor 115. In addition, the at least one functionalized material 112 may be present at or formed with the electrochemical sensing element of the single sensor 115 in other ways. Figure 1C As shown, the electrochemical transducer 130 may include a plurality of sensors 115, each including different functionalized materials, such as functionalized materials 112a, 112b, and 112c. In one example, the different functionalized materials may include oligonucleotides, metal coordination complexes, porphyrins, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), polymers, pyrrole derivatives, phthalocyanines, or nanomaterial decorations.

[0048] Back to Figure 1A In one example, the gas chemistry detector device 100 may further include a detector circuit 120 arranged to generate an optical response signal indicative of a target gas component. For example, the detector circuit 120 may use optical properties of a single functionalized region 100 of at least one functionalized material 112 included in the functionalized region 110, such as absorption, reflection, fluorescence, elastic scattering, or inelastic (Raman) scattering.

[0049] The gas chemistry detector device 100 may also include a signal processing circuit 140 that uses the optical response signal and the electrical response signal to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment. In one example, the signal processing circuit 140 may be communicatively coupled to a user input 142, such as a keyboard, a touch screen, or a similar device that a user may use to communicate user input to the signal processing circuit.

[0050] Figure 2AAn example of a sensor included in an electrochemical converter is depicted. In one example, a sensor 215 (e.g., Figure 2B The electrochemical transducer 217 may include or use at least one carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNFET) 217. As shown, the CNFET may include a source (S), a drain (D), and a gate (G) region. A CNFET is a transistor that uses the conductivity of various carbon nanotubes instead of the bulk semiconductor channel region in a metal field oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The CNFET 217 may include a channel formed using one or more carbon nanotubes (CNTs) 219 and a gate G located above the channel and at the interface between the channel and the gate. The CNTs 219 may provide a controlled conductive channel between the drain and the source, such as by applying a bias to the gate G. The functionalized material may change the effective bias at the gate G in response to the presence or concentration of one or more target component analytes in the ambient gas in the environment. By controlling the conductivity of the channel carbon nanotubes using a gate, the electrochemical transducer may generate at least a portion of an electrical response signal for determining the presence or other characteristics of a target gas.

[0051] Figure 2B and Figure 2C An example of an electrochemical transducer 230 including a sensor array is depicted. For example, the sensor array 215 of the electrochemical transducer 230 can each include a corresponding CNFET 217. Figure 2C In the detailed view shown, at least one functionalizing material 212 can be applied to a single sensor 215, for example, at a CNFET 217 of the sensor 215. Application of the functionalizing material 212 can include, for example, physical evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, photolithography, spin coating, or dip coating of the functionalizing material 112 at the functionalized region 210 of the sensor 215. For example, a single layer, a double layer, or multiple layers of the functionalizing material 212 can be applied to the CNT 219 of a single CNFET 217.

[0052] As further described below, certain functionalized materials 212 may include optically detectable properties to aid in detecting target gas compositions. For example, the functionalized material 212 may be optically detectable or luminescent such that it emits light when exposed to a particular target gas composition. For example, the functionalized material 212 may include colorimetric indicator molecules that may change color or fluoresce when exposed to a particular target gas composition.

[0053] The sensor array 215 can be functionalized with a plurality of different functionalized materials 212. For example, the sensor array 215 can include at least one functionalized material 212 that includes an optically detectable property to aid in detecting a target gas component, and at least one electrically detectable property to aid in detecting the same target gas component. In another example, the sensor array 215 can be functionalized with a plurality of functionalized materials 212 that include optically or electrically detectable properties to aid in detecting at least two different target gas components. Here, the sensor array 215 can screen for the presence or other characteristics of multiple target gases or multiple target gas components simultaneously and individually.

[0054] The functionalized material 212 for a single functionalized region 210 of the electrochemical transducer 230 may include, for example, oligonucleotides, metal coordination complexes, porphyrins, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), polymers, pyrrole derivatives, phthalocyanines, nanomaterial decorations, biotin-avidin linkages, peptides, antibodies, enzymes, or one or more combinations thereof. In addition, as further described below, certain functionalized materials 212 may be included in the electrochemical sensor, such as at the functionalized region 210, for optical signal conversion and digitization before and after exposure to a target gas. Such functionalized materials may include, for example, antibodies, polymer probes, aptamers, microparticles with molecular targets, metal particles, fluorescent materials, silica microspheres, silica / polymer hybrid microspheres, nanocomposites with magnetic, noble metal or semiconductor nanoparticles, or one or more combinations thereof.

[0055] Figure 3A and Figure 3B A perspective view of an example of a portion of an example of a sensing unit is shown. The sensing unit 204 may include or use an electrochemical transducer 230, which includes at least one sensor 215. At least one sensor 215 (e.g., an array of sensors 215 as shown) may be positioned facing an opposing illuminator 250 and arranged to allow ambient gas from the environment to enter the space between the sensor 215 and the illuminator 250. The illuminator may include or use at least one spectrally specifiable or adjustable illumination source 255. For example, the illumination source may include one or more visible or invisible light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes (LDs), laser semiconductor arrays (LDAs), light emitting molecules (LEMs), or one or more combinations thereof.

[0056] In one example, illumination source 255 can be located on a first integrated circuit die and first and second functionalized regions can be located on an opposing second integrated circuit die, facing the first integrated circuit die, with the region therebetween exposed to ambient gas from the environment to be sensed.

[0057] Figure 4Aand Figure 4B A perspective view of another example of a portion of an example of a sensing unit is shown. The sensing unit 204 may include or use an electrochemical transducer 230 that includes at least one sensor 215. Here, at least one sensor 215 (e.g., an array of sensors 215, as shown) may be positioned facing an opposing imaging unit 260 and arranged to allow ambient gas from the environment to enter the space between the sensor 215 and the imaging unit 260. The imaging unit 260 may include or use at least one camera 265 or other similar type of imager, such as a charge coupled device (CCD) imager or a CMOS imager. For example, the camera 265 may include an RGB or other multi-spectral imaging camera (i.e., an imaging unit having at least two different wavelength selective cameras or sensors), and may include or use a spectrometer to achieve spectral detection.

[0058] Figure 5 A model diagram including exemplary profiles associated with different kinds of infectious agents is depicted. Figure 5 The exemplary model diagram shown in includes hypothetical data for explanation purposes only and is not meant to represent actual data. As shown, several different types of infectious agents aa-dd can display distinguishable gas sensor data profiles. In addition, when exposed to several different functionalized materials 212a-212d, infectious agents aa-dd can display distinguishable gas sensor data profiles. Therefore, by analyzing the received data including multiple parameters using the first functionalized material 212a, it can be determined whether any infectious pathogens aa, bb, cc or dd are present in a given biological sample. This analysis can be expanded when repeated at different functionalized materials 212b, 212c, 212d, etc.

[0059] The individual distribution of the infectious agent aa at a particular functionalized material 212a may include several parameters (e.g. Figure 5 Drain current (ID), source-drain voltage (VD), and gate voltage (VG) as shown are used to create a three-dimensional distribution (i.e., an XYZ plot). In addition, at least one optical parameter such as absorption, reflection, fluorescence, elastic scattering, inelastic (Raman) scattering can be included in addition to or as an alternative to any electrical parameter to create a three-dimensional profile or other multi-dimensional profile. For example, VG can be replaced with at least one optical parameter on the Z axis of the shown graph to help distinguish different infectious agents through combined electrical and optical analysis.

[0060] In one example, data received from the sensing unit can be analyzed by comparing one or more measured electrical parameters, optical parameters, or both with at least one of a library template or training model to determine the presence or other characteristics of a particular infectious source or other pathogen of interest. In one example, the library template or training model can be created by first statistically analyzing a database of at least one electrical parameter of a known infectious source, and then combining the electrical parameter with at least one of the optical parameters of the same known infectious source. For example, the library can include or use archives of multiple known infectious sources, such as Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Moraxella catarrhalis, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Burkholderia, Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Xanthomonas), Aspergillus niger, Neisseria lactis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, or Haemophilus influenzae. The combined electrical and optical parameters of each known infectious source can be compared with at least one of the library template and training model to determine the presence of an unknown infectious source. In addition, in one example, data received from the sensing unit can be analyzed, such as using a neural network, to identify at least one infectious source. For example, a neural network can be trained using a data set containing information about at least one known infectious source and then applied to received data to determine whether an unknown infectious source is present. The neural network can provide statistical evidence of the presence of an unknown infectious source. In some embodiments, an unknown infectious source can be identified based on a confidence level of the neural network. The neural network can be trained by providing the neural network with training data containing information about the presence or absence of known infectious sources. The training data can be provided by a database in which a set of known infectious sources is stored.

[0061] Figure 6 6 is a block diagram of an example of a gas chemistry detector device. The gas chemistry detector device 600 may include or use an electrochemical transducer 630, which includes a functionalized area 610, a detector circuit 620, a signal processing circuit 640, and an illuminator 615. The illuminator 615 may include or use at least one of a broadband or tunable wavelength light source, which is arranged to illuminate the functionalized area 410 with electromagnetic energy when the functionalized area 610 is exposed to the surrounding gas. The detector circuit 620 may be included to generate at least a portion of an optical response signal using the functionalized area 610 in response to illumination from the illuminator 615. The optical response signal may indicate a target gas component within the surrounding gas in the environment. In one example, the functionalized area 610 may be arranged to provide optical response data in response to illumination.

[0062] The gas chemistry detector device 600 may also include an illumination controller circuit 660. In one example, the illumination controller circuit 660 may be configured to change the illumination between a plurality of different illuminations, such as changing the illumination wavelength between each of the plurality of different illuminations. Other changes in illumination may include, for example, changing the intensity, pulse duration, frequency, and / or amplitude of the illumination. Other examples of illumination include visible light, invisible light (e.g., infrared, ultraviolet, microwave, etc.), polarized light, unpolarized light, etc.

[0063] The functionalized area 610 or the detector circuit 620 can be configured to generate at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment in response to different illuminations. The signal processing circuit 640 can be configured to process the optical response signal under different illuminations to determine the presence or other characteristics of the target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment.

[0064] In one example, the signal processing circuit 620 may include a conductivity measurement circuit electrically coupled to the functionalized area 610 to measure the conductivity of the functionalized area 410. The signal processing circuit 620 may also include a spectral response measurement circuit for measuring the spectral response, and an evaluation circuit for generating an indication of a concentration of a target gas component of the ambient gas in the environment based on the measured conductivity and the measured spectral response.

[0065] Figure 7 700 is a block diagram of another example of a gas chemistry detection device. The gas chemistry detector device 700 may include or use an electrochemical transducer 730, which includes a functionalized area 710, a detector circuit 720, a signal processing circuit 740, and a camera 750. In one example, the camera 750 is arranged to image the functionalized area 710 to produce image-readable features indicative of target gas components within the ambient gas in the environment. Here, the signal processing circuit 740 may include or use an image processing circuit to process the image of the functionalized area 710 to detect the image-readable features. The signal processing circuit 740 may include or use one or more circuits and / or algorithms, such as digital signal processing (DSP) circuits or algorithms, capable of analyzing signals from the electrochemical transducer 730 and / or a processor according to one or more parameters related to the gas chemistry detector device 700 to generate an output signal based on such analysis. For example, the signal processing circuit 740 may include or use one or more algorithms capable of extracting data from the sample image, such as data compression, filtering, edge detection, corner detection, blob detection, ridge detection, Hough transform, image segmentation, optical flow, genetic algorithm (GA), or other techniques for algorithmically analyzing images. The one or more algorithms are capable of performing digital image processing, such as extracting relevant data from the sample image to identify one or more relevant optical parameters.

[0066] Figure 8 800 is a block diagram of another example of a gas chemical detection device. The gas chemical detector device 800 may include or use an electrochemical transducer 830, which includes a functionalized region 810, a detector circuit 820, and a signal processing circuit 840. In one example, a field effect transistor (FET) 822 may be included in the functionalized region 810 or may be coupled to the functionalized region 820. For example, the FET 822 may be arranged to convert an electrical response signal using an electrical characteristic of the functionalized region. In one example, the functionalized region 810 may change an electrical characteristic of the FET 822, such as at least one of an effective gate voltage of the FET 822, an actual channel resistance of the FET 822, an effective channel conductance of the FET 822, a transconductance of the FET 822, or a gate-body, gate-drain, or gate-source interface parameter of the FET 822.

[0067] In addition, the gas chemical detector device 800 may include or use a bias circuit 850 coupled to the FET 822. The bias circuit 850 may bias or pre-bias the FET 822. For example, the bias circuit 850 may be configured to scan the gate bias of the FET 822. That is, in response to scanning the gate bias of the FET 822 over a bias range or operating range, the gas chemical detector device 800 may detect the FET drain current and its switching point during the scan. The detection of the FET drain current switching point may provide a measurement of the threshold voltage of the FET 822. In other embodiments, the bias circuit 850 may be configured to change the gate voltage of the FET 822. The bias circuit 850 may include multiple stages that change the bias of the FET 822.

[0068] The signal processing circuit 840 may include processing or conditioning circuits (e.g., amplifiers or gain stages) for buffering, amplifying, and / or filtering the electrical response signal. In addition, the signal processing circuit 840 may include or use other electronic circuits 850 to condition the electrical response signal. For example, the other electronic circuits 850 may include a preamplifier, a filter circuit, a discriminator, an analog-to-digital converter, and a microprocessor or controller for configuring or providing one or more user interfaces. In one example, the gas chemistry detector device 800 may provide an analog or digital output signal.

[0069] Fig. 9 is a flow chart describing a method for detecting a target gas component. In one example, at 910, the method can include exposing a functionalized region of the gas chemistry detector to the ambient gas.

[0070] At 920, the method may include receiving electromagnetic energy at the functionalized area. For example, the method may include illuminating the functionalized area with the electromagnetic energy using at least one of a broadband or tunable wavelength light source. For example, the illumination may be varied between a plurality of different illuminations. In one example, varying the illumination between the plurality of different illuminations includes varying the illumination wavelength between respective illuminations in the plurality of different illuminations.

[0071] At 930, the method may include generating an optical response signal based on the optical property and indicating a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment using the functionalized area. The optical response signal may be analyzed to determine the presence or other characteristics of the target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment. This may include comparing or analyzing spectral response data from the optical response signal using at least one of a library template or a training model. In one example, at least one of a library template or a training model may be included to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component in the ambient gas in the environment of a volatile organic compound (VOC) corresponding to one or more bacteria. In one instance, at least a portion of generating the optical response signal may include generating spectral response data in response to illumination, including at least one of absorption, reflection, fluorescence, elastic scattering, and inelastic (Raman) scattering of the functionalized area.

[0072] At 940, the method may include electrochemically converting an electrical property indicative of a target gas component into an electrical response signal. For example, both the optical response signal and the electrical response signal may be processed separately or together, such as simultaneously or otherwise, to determine the presence or other characteristics of the target gas component in the ambient gas in the environment. In one example, the electrical characteristic may be electrochemically converted into the electrical response signal using the same or different functionalized regions of the gas chemistry detector. In one example, the functionalized region may change an electrical property of a field effect transistor (FET) in response to exposure of the functionalized region to the ambient gas including the target gas component. In one example, the electrical bias applied to the FET is applied using a plurality of different electrical bias values.

[0073] In addition, the method may include imaging the functionalized area using the functionalized area to produce an image readable feature indicative of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment. The method may include using the image readable feature from image processing of the image of the functionalized area to generate at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of the presence or other feature of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment. For example, image processing of the image of the functionalized area may use colorimetry or spectral image analysis to detect the image readable feature.

[0074] Fig.10is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 1000 that is capable of reading instructions 1024 from a machine storage medium 1022 (e.g., a non-transitory machine storage medium, a machine storage medium, or a computer storage medium, or any suitable combination thereof) and performing, in whole or in part, any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, according to some example embodiments. Specifically, Fig.10 The machine 1000 is shown in the example form of a computer system (e.g., a computer) in which instructions 1024 (e.g., software, programs, applications, applet, applications, or other executable code) for causing the machine 1000 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed in whole or in part. For example, the instructions 1024 may be processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of the machine 1000, cause the machine 1000 to perform the operations described above.

[0075] In alternative embodiments, the machine 1000 operates as a standalone device or may be communicatively coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 1000 may operate as a server machine or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a distributed (e.g., peer-to-peer) network environment. The machine 1000 may be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a network appliance, a network router, a network switch, a bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions 1024 sequentially or otherwise, which specify actions to be taken by the machine. In addition, although only a single machine is shown, the term "machine" should also be construed to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute instructions 1024 to perform all or part of any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

[0076] The machine 1000 includes a processor 1002 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), or any suitable combination thereof), a main memory 1004, and a static memory 1006, which are configured to communicate with each other via a bus 1008. The processor 1002 may contain microcircuits that may be temporarily or permanently configured by some or all of the instructions 1024, so that the processor 1002 may be configured to perform, in whole or in part, any one or more of the methods described herein. For example, a set of one or more microcircuits of the processor 1002 may be configured to execute one or more modules (e.g., software modules) described herein.

[0077] The machine 1000 may also include a graphics display 1010 (e.g., a plasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, a cathode ray tube (CRT), or any other display capable of displaying graphics or video). The machine 1000 may also include an alphanumeric input device 1012 (e.g., a keyboard or keypad), a cursor control device 1014 (e.g., a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, an eye tracking device, or other pointing instrument), a storage unit 1016, an audio generating device 1018 (e.g., a sound card, an amplifier, a speaker, a headphone jack, any suitable combination thereof, or any other suitable signal generating device), and a network interface device 1020.

[0078] The storage unit 1016 includes a machine storage medium 1022 (e.g., a tangible and non-transitory machine storage medium) on which instructions 1024 are stored, embodying any one or more of the methods or functions described herein. The instructions 1024 may also reside completely or at least partially in the main memory 1004, in the processor 1002 (e.g., in the processor's cache memory), or both before or during the execution of the instructions 1024 by the machine 1000. Therefore, the main memory 1004 and the processor 1002 may be considered as machine storage media (e.g., a tangible and non-transitory machine storage medium). The instructions 1024 may be sent or received over the network 1026 via the network interface device 1020. For example, the network interface device 1020 may transmit the instructions 1024 using any one or more transmission protocols (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)).

[0079] In some example embodiments, the machine 1000 may be a portable computing device, such as a smartphone or tablet, and have one or more additional input components (e.g., sensors 1028 or meters). Examples of additional input components include image input components (e.g., one or more cameras), audio input components (e.g., microphones), direction input components (e.g., compasses), position input components (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) receivers), orientation components (e.g., gyroscopes), motion detection components (e.g., one or more accelerometers), altitude detection components (e.g., altimeters), and gas detection components (e.g., gas sensors). Input collected by any one or more of these input components may be accessed and used by any of the modules described herein.

[0081] Executable instructions and machine storage media

[0082] Various memories (i.e., 1004, 1006 and / or the memory of the processor 1002) and / or the storage unit 1016 may store one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., software) 1024 that embody or are used by any one or more of the methods or functions described herein. These instructions, when executed by the processor 1002, cause various operations to implement the disclosed embodiments.

[0083] As used herein, the terms "machine storage medium," "device storage medium," and "computer storage medium" (collectively, "machine storage medium 1022") mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this disclosure. These terms refer to a single or multiple storage devices and / or media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database and / or associated caches and servers) that store executable instructions and / or data, as well as a cloud-based storage system or storage network that includes multiple storage devices or devices. Thus, these terms should be considered to include, but are not limited to, solid-state memory, optical and magnetic media, including memory internal or external to the processor. Specific examples of machine storage medium, computer storage medium, and / or device storage medium 1022 include nonvolatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices, such as erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), FPGAs, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM optical disks. The terms machine storage medium, computer storage medium, and device storage medium 1022 specifically exclude carrier waves, modulated data signals, and other such media, at least some of which are covered under the term "signal media" discussed below. In this case, the machine storage media is non-transitory.

[0085] Signal medium

[0086] The term "signal medium" or "transmission medium" should be construed to include any form of modulated data signal, carrier wave, etc. The term "modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a way as to encode information in the signal.

[0087] Computer readable medium

[0088] The terms "machine-readable medium", "computer-readable medium" and "device-readable medium" have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably in this disclosure. These terms are defined to include machine storage media and signal media. Therefore, these terms include storage devices / media and carrier / modulated data signals.

[0089] The above detailed description may include references to the accompanying drawings that constitute a part of the detailed description. The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced by way of illustration. These embodiments are also referred to herein as "examples". These examples may include elements other than those shown or described. However, the inventors also contemplate examples that only provide the shown or described elements. In addition, the inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described, whether with respect to a specific example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.

[0090] In the event of an inconsistency in usage between this document and any document incorporated by reference, the usage in this document controls. In this document, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as the plain English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising" and "wherein." Furthermore, in the following claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are open-ended, that is, a system, apparatus, article, composition, formulation, or method that may include elements other than those listed after the term in a claim is deemed to be within the scope of the claim.

[0091] In this document, the terms "a" or "an" are used to include one or more, as is common in patent documents, independent of any other instances or uses of "at least one" or "one or more". In this document, the term "or" is used to refer to non-exclusivity, or "A or B" may include "A but not B", "B but not A", and "A and B", unless otherwise noted. In this document, the terms "including" and "wherein" are used as the plain English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising" and "wherein". In addition, in the following claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are open-ended, that is, systems, devices, articles, compositions, preparations, or methods that may include additional elements in addition to the elements listed after the term in the claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of the claim. In addition, in the following claims, the terms "first", "second", and "third", etc. are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

[0092] The above description is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting. For example, the above examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments may be used, such as those available to a person of ordinary skill in the art after reading the above description. The abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly determine the nature of the technical disclosure. The present document is submitted with the understanding that it shall not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the above detailed description, various features may be grouped together to simplify the present disclosure. This should not be interpreted as meaning that unclaimed disclosed features are essential to any claim. On the contrary, the subject matter of the present invention may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the following claims are incorporated into the detailed description as examples or embodiments, each claim stands alone as a separate embodiment, and it is conceivable that these embodiments may be combined with each other in various combinations or arrangements. The scope of the present invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims and the full scope of equivalents to which these claims are entitled.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a target gas component in an ambient gas in an environment using a gas chemical detector, the method comprising: exposing a functionalized region of the gas chemistry detector to the ambient gas, wherein the functionalized region is configured to include an optical property indicative of a composition of the target gas; receiving electromagnetic energy at the functionalized area; generating an optical response signal based on the optical property and using the functionalized region to indicate a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment; electrochemically converting an electrical property indicative of a target gas component into an electrical response signal; and The optical response signal and the electrical response signal are processed to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising: imaging the functionalized region using the functionalized region to produce image-readable features indicative of target gas composition within ambient gas in the environment; performing image processing on the image of the functionalized area to detect the image readable characteristic; and At least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment is generated using image readable characteristics of image processing from an image of the functionalized area.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, comprising: irradiating the functionalized area with the electromagnetic energy using at least one of a broadband or tunable wavelength light source; and In response to the illumination, the functionalized region is used to generate at least a portion of the optical response signal based on the optical property and indicative of a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: At least a portion of generating the optical response signal includes generating spectral response data in response to the illumination, the spectral response data including at least one of absorption, reflection, fluorescence, elastic scattering, inelastic (Raman) scattering of the functionalized area, indicating the presence of a target gas component within an ambient gas in an environment at the functionalized area, or other characteristics.

5. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 4, comprising: Change lighting between multiple different lightings; generating, in response to the different illuminations, using the functionalized region at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of a target gas composition within an ambient gas in the environment; and The optical response signals under different illumination are used for processing to determine the presence or other characteristics of target gas components within the surrounding gas in the environment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein varying the illumination between the plurality of different illuminations comprises varying the illumination wavelength between respective ones of the plurality of different illuminations.

7. The method of any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein varying the illumination between a plurality of different illuminations comprises varying illumination intensity between respective ones of the plurality of different illuminations.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electrical property is electrochemically converted into the electrical response signal using the same or different functionalized areas of the gas chemistry detector.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein using the functionalized region to generate an optical response signal indicative of a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment comprises using a field effect transistor (FET) associated with the functionalized region.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising biasing the FET at a specified bias level to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising: irradiating the functionalized area with electromagnetic energy; Change: an electrical bias applied to the FET between a plurality of different electrical bias values; and Lighting between multiple different lighting; and generating, in response to the different illuminations, using the functionalized region at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of a target gas composition within an ambient gas in the environment; and The functionalized region is used to generate at least a portion of an electrical response signal indicative of a target gas composition within an ambient gas in the environment in response to different electrical bias voltage values.

12. The method of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the functionalized region is configured to change an electrical property of the FET when the functionalized region is exposed to an ambient gas comprising the target gas component.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical property of the FET that is changed comprises at least one of an effective gate voltage, an effective channel resistance, an effective channel conductance, an effective transconductance of the FET, or at least one of a gate-body, gate-drain or gate-source interface property.

14. The method of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the functionalized region is configured to change the gate voltage of the FET based on the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within an ambient gas in an environment.

15. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the processing of using the optical response signal to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment includes using at least one of a library template or a training model to compare or analyze spectral response data from the optical reaction signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the library templates or the training model is configured to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) corresponding to one or more bacteria in ambient gas in an environment, the bacteria comprising at least one of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Moraxella catarrhalis, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Burkholderia hepatophila, Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Xanthomonas), Aspergillus niger, Neisseria lactis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, or Haemophilus influenzae.

17. A gas chemical detector device for detecting the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component in an ambient gas in an environment, the device comprising: a functionalized region configured to be exposed to the ambient gas, wherein the functionalized region is configured to include at least one of an electrical or optical property indicative of a target gas composition; a detector circuit configured to generate an optical response signal indicative of a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment using the functionalized region; an electrochemical transducer for converting an electrical characteristic indicative of a target gas composition into an electrical response signal; and Signal processing circuitry uses the optical response signal and the electrical response signal to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment.

18. The device of claim 17, comprising a sensor comprising the functionalized region, the sensor comprising at least one of an electrochemical transducer, a photodetector, or a colorimetric imaging sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensor is positioned facing an opposing illuminator and is arranged to allow ambient gas from the environment to enter a space between the sensor and the illuminator.

20. The device of any one of claims 18 to 19, wherein the sensor comprises a carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNFET).

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein: The sensor comprises a CNFET array; and Individual CNFETs in the CNFET array correspond to different functionalized regions corresponding to different target gas components.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein individual ones of the CNFETs include respective gate regions coated with different functionalized region material coatings to include at least one different electrical or optical property indicative of a particular target gas composition.

23. The device of any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the functionalized region comprises at least one of an oligonucleotide, a metal coordination complex, a porphyrin, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM), a polymer, a pyrrole derivative, a phthalocyanine, or a nanomaterial decoration.

24. The device of any one of claims 17 to 23, comprising: a camera or other imager arranged to image said functionalized area using said functionalized area to produce image readable features indicative of target gas composition within ambient gas in said environment; wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to perform image processing on the image of the functionalized area to detect the image readable characteristic, and to generate at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment using the image readable characteristic from the image processing of the image of the functionalized area.

25. The device according to any one of claims 17 to 24, comprising: an illuminator, including at least one of a broadband or tunable wavelength light source, arranged to illuminate the functionalized area exposed to the surrounding gas with electromagnetic energy; Wherein the detector circuit is configured to generate, in response to the illumination, using the functionalized region, at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein: The functionalized area is arranged to provide optical response data in response to the illumination, the optical response data including spectral response data representing spectral characteristics of the functionalized area exposed to the surrounding gas, the spectral characteristics including at least one of absorption, reflection, fluorescence, elastic scattering, inelastic (Raman) scattering, indicating the presence of a target gas component in the surrounding gas in the environment under illumination or other characteristics.

27. The device according to any one of claims 25 to 26, comprising: a lighting controller circuit configured to change the lighting between a plurality of different lightings; wherein the functionalized region is configured to generate at least a portion of an optical response signal indicative of a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment in response to different illumination; and The signal processing circuit is configured to process the optical response signal under different illuminations to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component in the ambient gas in the environment.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the illumination controller circuit is configured to vary illumination between a plurality of different illuminations, including varying illumination wavelengths between respective ones of the plurality of different illuminations.

29. An apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 28, wherein the lighting controller circuit is configured to vary the lighting between a plurality of different lightings, including varying the lighting intensity between respective ones of the plurality of different lightings.

30. The device of any one of claims 17 to 29, wherein the electrochemical transducer comprises or is coupled to the same or a different functionalized region of the device to convert the electrical response signal using the electrical properties of the functionalized region.

31. The apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 30, wherein the detector circuit comprises a field effect transistor (FET) comprising or coupled to the functionalized region, wherein the FET is configured to generate an optical response signal indicative of a target gas component within an ambient gas in the environment.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, comprising a bias circuit arranged to bias the FET at a specified bias level corresponding to the target gas component to determine the presence or other characteristics of the target gas phase component within the ambient gas in the environment.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the bias circuit is configured to vary an electrical bias applied to the FET, and a lighting controller operably coupled to the luminaire is configured to vary the lighting between a plurality of different lightings.

34. The apparatus of any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the functionalized region is configured to change an electrical property of the FET in response to exposure of the functionalized region to an ambient gas comprising the target gas component.

35. A device according to claim 34, wherein the functionalized region is configured to change the electrical properties of the FET, the electrical properties including at least one of the effective gate voltage of the FET, the effective channel resistance of the FET, the actual channel conductance of the FET, the transconductance of the FET, or at least one of the gate-body, gate-drain or gate-source interface parameters of the FET.

36. The apparatus of any one of claims 31 to 35, wherein the functionalized region is configured to change the gate voltage of the FET based on the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within an ambient gas in an environment.

37. An apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 36, wherein the signal processing circuit includes at least one of a library template or a training model, or is coupled to at least one of the library template or the training model, wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to use the optical response signal for processing to determine the presence or other characteristics of a target gas component within the ambient gas in the environment using at least one of the library template or the training model.

38. A gas chemical sensing device comprising: an illumination source arranged to provide electromagnetic energy illumination; A gas chemistry detector comprising one or more functionalized gas chemistry detector regions arranged to receive illumination from the illumination source and to be exposed to ambient gas from an environment to be sensed, the one or more regions being functionalized to adjust at least one of conductivity or spectral optical response characteristics, the gas chemistry detector comprising: a functionalized semiconductor gas chemistry detector first region comprising a first functionalized material selected to modulate conductivity of the first region in response to a concentration of a first specific gas composition; and a second region of a functionalized semiconductor gas chemistry detector, comprising a second functionalized material, selected to provide optical response data, the optical response data comprising spectral response data representative of a spectral characteristic of the functionalized region in response to exposure to an ambient gas, the spectral characteristic comprising at least one of absorption, reflection, fluorescence, elastic scattering, inelastic (Raman) scattering indicative of the presence of a target gas component in the ambient gas in the environment under illumination, or other characteristic; and Signal processing circuitry includes conductivity measurement circuitry electrically coupled to a first region to measure conductivity of the first region, spectral response measurement circuitry electrically coupled to a second region to measure a spectral response characteristic of the second region, and evaluation circuitry that generates an indication of a concentration of a target gas component of an ambient gas in an environment based on the measured conductivity and the measured spectral response.

39. The gas chemical sensing apparatus of claim 38, wherein the signal processing circuit is optically coupled to the second region via a multi-spectral imaging camera.

40. The gas chemical sensing device according to any one of claims 38 to 39, wherein the illumination source comprises at least one of a spectrally prescribable or tunable illumination source.

41. A gas chemical sensing device according to any one of claims 38 to 40, wherein the illumination source is located on a first integrated circuit die, and the first and second regions are located on an opposing second integrated circuit die, facing the first integrated circuit die, and the area therebetween is exposed to ambient gas from an environment to be sensed.

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