Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Hydrogen Sensors
Q. How does AppliedSensor's core intellectual property differ from the competition?
A. Our micro-machining capabilities afford our metal oxide semiconductor technology
the advantages of low power consumption and highly flexible packaging. Having extremely low thermal
mass, our sensors require far less power to operate even in continuous mode. Additionally, the small,
localized heated area allows chips to be mounted directly onto the printed circuit board.
Our field effect technology for hydrogen gas detection is highly specific. Effectively, our catalytic
sensing layer separates hydrogen gas molecules into hydrogen atoms that align and create an electric field
which can be measured as a direct indicator of the presence of hydrogen gas. Other technologies are not
hydrogen-specific and are really just combustible gas sensors that sense methane, propane, and similar
combustible gases, in addition to hydrogen.
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Q. Has AppliedSensor entered into any strategic partnerships to develop specific sensors?
A. Yes. We have recently completed the development of a module to measure CO and NO2 in
automotive air intake systems. Our partner, Texas Instruments, is a major tier one supplier to the world's
automakers and has begun supplying the module to customers for their 2007 model year.
We are now developing hydrogen gas sensor applications to determine fuel-cell efficiency, hydrogen gas leak
and hydrogen exhausted out of the vehicle into the atmosphere. Non-automotive applications are also underway
for infrastructure safety, non-automotive vehicle safety and other applications.
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Q. Is AppliedSensor's technology suitable for mass market applications?
A. Yes. Our metal oxide and field effect sensors are made on silicon wafers
for high volume and efficient production, specially designed for mass market applications.
Moreover, we are able to test each sensor chip at the wafer level, thereby implementing quality
control at the earliest stages.
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Q. Does AppliedSensor only sell fully integrated modules seen here?
A. No. The modules that we offer are the results of years of sensor and electronics
know-how applied to specific commercial applications. These modules now serve as important platforms
for beginning new application developments. Market applications are unique and the final product may
be only a slight variation of an existing module — a different sensor chip or new algorithm, for
instance — or a standalone sensor component. Either way, AppliedSensor products are commercially available
and we are ready to work together to design the ideal final solution.
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Q. What impact will AppliedSensor’s products have on the development of commercially viable hydrogen for transportation?
A. Development of hydrogen for transportation will proceed as safety technology becomes commercially viable. As our sensors are accurate, fast, selective and reliable, they are the choice of manufacturers for the end products that will follow commercial development of this technology.
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Q. Will AppliedSensor’s technology accelerate the commercial viability of hydrogen-based products?
A. As our sensors provide critically fast leak detection, we believe they will help enable the safe use and transmission of hydrogen gas, as well as the safe operation of vehicles and other hydrogen-fueled products. In addition, because our technology is beyond the research stage and our sensors are manufactured on silicon wafers, we can quickly accelerate the manufacturers’ ramp-up to full production.
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