Can you say "crapper clapper"? Bob Ammerman RAm Systems ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dal Wheeler" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 1:18 PM Subject: Re: [EE:] Fart Detector (electronic nose) > There's a lot of work being done with IMS -Ion Mobility > Spectroscopy --making it less expensive to produce. Maybe you can use one > of these in your app. Just find a trace element in the gas that doesn't > need a dopant material (just a corona wire charge) and the IMS should be > pretty hearty in that kind of environment. The problem with the resistive > film elements is that they are easily contaminated and would need to be > replaced periodically. > > I think it would probably be cheaper/easier just to use a motion sensor or a > pressure transducer on the commode. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "M. Adam Davis" > > > I've given the problem some though (turning on the bathroom fan, not > > detecting farts) and since I can't seem to come up with a reliable way > > to detect farts, I figured it's simply easier/better to detect the use > > of the toilet and turn on the fan during and shortly after its use. > > > > Even better would be a vented toilet which would actually take the air > > from the toilet bowl and vent it outside. It wouldn't have to take as > > much as a regular bathroom fan does, but it would take some getting used > to. > > > > I'm sure, however, that sensors currently exist which could detect some > > of the components of a fart (methane or similar, I suspect). It would > > likely need to be very sensitive, and close to the affected area. But I > > doubt many of these sensors are up to handling the rigors of the > > bathroom. Might be easier (and cheaper to maintain) to train a small > > dog with a switch. > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu