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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control

Signal processing technique for air quality

control using Figaro air quality sensors

(Tentative)

Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control

Introduction:
This brochure offers important technical advice for designing microprocessor signal processing for air quality
control application such as air purifier and ventilator using Figaro air quality sensors. Microprocessor design
should be carried out with these points in mind.
Applied sensor: TGS800, TGS2100, TGS2600, TGS2602
1. Basic circuit structure
2. Signal processing techniques
2-1. Basic operation of microprocessor after power on
2-2. Conversion of input signals
2-3. Setting/ renewing benchmark for clean air
2-4. Setting thresholds for ON/OFF signal for each pollutant
2-4-1. Normal operation mode
2-4-2. High sensitivity operation mode
2-5. Saturation operation
2-5-1.Saturation operation
2-5-2. Saturation timer reset
2-6. Additional operation
2-6-1. Additional operation
2-6-2. Additional operation timer reset
2-7. Conditions to avoid wind influence
2-8. Temperature compensation
2-8-1.Input thermistor signal Vth
2-8-2.Conversion of input signal
3. Appendix
Important Note
This brochure includes technical advice for automatic operation where gas sensor knowledge is required.
Information in this brochure refers to appliances indicating four air pollution levels as follows.
Pollutant Level 0: Clean
Pollutant Level 1: Pollution -low
Pollutant Level 2: Pollution-medium
Pollutant Level 3: Pollution-high
On/ Off signal for each Pollutant Level is decided by comparison result between sensor resistance change (Rs/
Ro) value and threshold for pollutant level.
Actual Pollutant Level Indication in this brochure means the indication level of appliances.
Patents of Figaro Engineering Inc. for air quality control using Figaro gas sensors are included in this brochure.
Usage to other gas sensors/ applications should be notified to Figaro Engineering Inc.

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control

1. Basic circuit
Figure 1 shows basic circuit for air quality control using Figaro air quality sensors. Table 1 shows recommended
microprocessor features.

+5V

C5

6
1

KO

D0

K1

D1

RESET

D2
D3

C2

R15

C3

R6

C1

R3

D4
D5

2
8
9

JP3

JP4

D6

S0

D7

S1

D8

S2

CNTR
S3
F3

JP7

JP1

JP2

10

INT

CNVSS
VSS
AVSS
Xin
28

R13

R11

R9

R10

LED5

LED4

LED3

JP5

12

LED2

IC2
5

25
F2
4
Vref
7
AVDD
30
VDD

13

16

17

18
19

20
21
22
29
11
26
14
15
3

Xout
27

C4

Q1

F1

JP6

24

F0

LED1

Sensor
23

ZD1

R8

SW1

R2

R7

R12

R5

R1

R4

RA1

+5V

X1

GND

Figure-1. Basic circuit for air quality control

CPU core

"4 or 8 bit microcomputer

(with 2-4kHz clock)"

Memory size

"2-4k byte ROM

256 byte RAM"

Pin size

28-32 pins

Option

"8-bit A/D converter

(more than 2 channels)"
"high current direct drive
(more than 5 ports)"

Table-1. Recommendable microprocessor

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control
2. Signal processing techniques
2-1. Basic operation of microprocessor after power on
There are three steps for basic operation of a microprocessor as shown in figure 2.
Step1:
During the first two minutes after power on, sensor output signal is not input into the microprocessor, since the
output changes drastically in this period.
Step2:
Up to five minutes after step 1, sensor resistance gradually increases to be stable. High Sensitivity Operation
Mode should be operated in this period so that the threshold for pollutant level will be higher, since sensor
resistance change from base level (Rs/Ro) in this period is smaller than that in Normal Operation Mode. Refer
to 2-3. Setting Thresholds for pollutant levels about High Sensitivity Operation Mode and Normal Operation
Mode. Measuring sensor output signal starts from this period.
Step3:
Normal Operation Mode should be operated after step 2 in this period.

Step 1

Step 2
High sensitivity
operation mode

Step 3
Normal operation mode

Sensor signal is input into microprocessor.

R0 '
R0
Rs

R1/R0'

R1/R0

R1

Sensor resistance change

when pollutant gas existance.
R1/R0 R1/R0'

Power ON

Elapsed time after power on/ min.

Figure-2. Basic operation

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control
2-2. Conversion of Input Signals
Input signal, gas sensor output voltage (VRL) should be converted to resistances as follows, since logarithmically
linear relationship can be obtained only between gas sensor resistance and gas concentration.
Another input signal (VK) is used to caliculate a value to decide a threshold for pollutant levels.
Input signals:
Input of 0-5 V analogue signals, VRL, VK should be started 2 minutes after power on. The signals should be
measured every 250msec., and average value should be calculated every 2 seconds.
Conversion of signals:
The average voltage values shall be converted by using the following equations.
Rs=(5/VRL)-1, K=Vk/5
2-3. Setting/ renewing Benchmark for clean air
Sensor resistance change from resistance value in clean air is measured to detect low concentration of air pollutant. While the resistance change value is stable, resistance value in clean air changes gradually due to the gradual
ambient temperature & humidity change and small quantities of gases except pollutant in the atmosphere. Sensor
resistance in clean air should be renewed periodically for compensation of the change as shown in figure 3. In
this brochure, set or renewed sensor resistance value in clean air is called Benchmark for clean air, MAXR.
Sensor resistance (Rs) measurement is started 2 minutes after power on. Rs is measured every 2 seconds and
maximum Rs value is calculated every 20 minutes. This 20 minutes period is called Benchmark renewal period.
To decide start point of benchmark (MAXR) for next benchmark renewal period, the maximum Rs value in the
current benchmark renewal period (MAXC) is compared to the maximum Rs value in the previous period (MAXP).
When MAXC is larger than MAXP, MAXC is to be used as a starting point of MAXR.
When MAXP is larger than MAXC, MAXP is to be used as a starting point of MAXR.
The starting point of MAXR is renewed at the same time when sensor resistance gets higher than MAXR.
When Pollutant level is higher than Level 1, benchmark MAXR will not be renewed. After Pollutant level
recovers to Level 0, the resistance value will be used as maximum sensor resistance in current and previous
benchmark renewal period, MAXC and MAXP.
Rs value 2 minutes after power on will be used as a starting point of benchmark MAXR for the first benchmark
renewal period.
Starting point of MAXR for the second benchmark renewal period should be decided by comparing the maximum value in the first benchmark renewal period (MAX2) to the Rs value after 2 minutes after power on (MAX1).
When MAX2 is larger than MAX1, MAX2 is to be used as a starting point of MAXR for the second benchmark
renewal period.
When MAX1 is larger than MAX2, MAX1 is to be used as a starting point of MAXR for the second benchmark
renewal period.
*1: 20 minutes for benchmark renewal period is considered for applications where the base level gradually changes.
We recommend shorter time for applications such as air purifiers for automobile where the base level changes
faster. Eg. About 8 minutes for automobile air purifiers.

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control

Benchmark MAXR
Sensor resistance Rs
20min

20min

20min

20min

20min
MAXR

Rs

Rs/MAXR

Sensor resistance(Rs)

Benchmark
renewal period

Threshold for OFF signal

from Level 1 to 0
Threshold for ON signal
from Level 0 to 1

Threshold for ON signal

from Level 1 to 2

Power on

Actual Pollutant 2
Level Indication 1
0

Time/ min.

Figure-3. Benchmark renewal

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control

2-4. Setting thresholds for ON/ OFF signal for each pollutant level
2-4-1. Normal operation mode
Sensor resistance changes from benchmark (Rs/ Ro) should be compared to threshold for ON/ OFF signal
for each pollutant level, (K-Gn) shown in table 3 and figure 4. ON signal is decided when Rs/ Ro is more
than K-Gn (n=1,2,3), while OFF signal is decided when Rs/ Ro is less than K-Gn (n=4,5,6). Threshold for
OFF signal should be set higher than that for ON signal for anti chattering.
2-4-2. High sensitivity operation mode
This mode is operated in the situation when sensor resistance change from benchmark (Rs/MAXR) will be
higher than normal operation mode. For the compensation, thresholds for pollutant level should be set
higher than normal sensitivity mode by adding G7 to threshold K-Gn for normal operation mode as follows.
Rs/MAXRK-Gn+G7(n=1-6)
See Appendix about G1 to G7.

Pollutant level
Normal operation
mode

High sensitivity
operation mode

ON signal for Pollutant

level from 0 to 1

Rs/MAXR < K-G1

Rs/MAXR < K-G1+G7

ON signal for Pollutant

level from 1 to 2

Rs/MAXR < K-G2

Rs/MAXR < K-G2+G7

ON signal for Pollutant

level from 2 to 3

Rs/MAXR < K-G3

Rs/MAXR < K-G3+G7

OFF signal for Pollutant

level from 3 to 2

Rs/MAXR > K-G6

Rs/MAXR > K-G6+G7

OFF signal for Pollutant

level from 2 to 1

Rs/MAXR > K-G5

Rs/MAXR > K-G5+G7

OFF signal for Pollutant

level from 1 to 0

Rs/MAXR > K-G4

Rs/MAXR > K-G4+G7

Table-3. Threshold for ON/ OFF signal

Threshold for ON/OFF signal *1

1

Rs/MAXR

ON
1
Level 0
Level 1
Level 2

K-G1
K-G2
K-G3

OFF
K-G6
K-G5
K-G4

Level 3
*1: For high sensitivity operation mode, G7 is added to the threshold as follows.
K-Gn+G7 (n=1-6)

Figure-4. Threshold for ON/ OFF signal

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control

2-5. Saturation Operation

2-5-1. Saturation operation
There are mainly two methods to clean ambient air as follows. One is by ventilating inside air with outside air,
another is by circulating inside pollutant air through a filter.
In case of the latter method, even after air pollutant is removed by a filter, gases such as hydrogen, which cannot
be filtered by a filter, will be kept in the ambient atmosphere, which changes the gas sensor resistance. To avoid
mismatching the existence of actual air pollutant and sensor performance, Pollutant Level should be reset when
sensor output is saturated at a certain level, assuming that the air pollutant was filtered by a filter after circulating
for a certain period. See figure 5.
The followings are the procedures for saturation mode.
2 seconds after Pollutant Level increases, measurement for saturation mode is started once every 2 seconds.
When resistance ratio between current and previous (Rs/ R1) is more than G8 as follows, timer starts to count for
saturation mode.
Saturation mode: Rs/R1G8
Rs: current sensor resistance
R1: sensor resistance before 2 seconds
R8: See appendix 1
When the saturation mode continues for 30 minutes, pollutant level should lower to Level 0.
Sensor resistance at that point should be used as MAXC and MAXP to decide benchmark MAXR. After the 0
reset of pollutant level, High sensitivity operation mode should be operated for 30 minutes, since resistance
change from benchmark (Rs/MAXR) in saturation mode will be smaller than Normal operation mode.

Rs/R1G8

Threshold for pollutant

level signal
Level 0
Level 1
Level 2

Rs/MAXR

Level 3
30min

Reset pollutant level

Timer start
3

Actual Pollutant 2
Level Indication 1
0

Time/ min.

Figure-5. Saturation operation

Revised 04/01

Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control
Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control
2-5-2. Saturation timer reset
There are two cases for resetting saturation timer.
(1) In case that Rs/R2 G9 as shown in figure 6.
Rs: current sensor resistance
R2: Sensor resistance three minutes before current Rs
(2) In case Rs/MAXR is either lower or higher than threshold for pollutant level as shown in
figure 7.
After the timer is reset, the timer will start again when Rs/R1G8 in both cases.

Threshold for pollutant

level signal

Rs/R2 G9

Rs/R1 G8

Rs/R1 G8

Level 0
Level 1

Rs/ MAXR

30min
Level 2
30min
Level 3
Timer start

Timer start

Timer reset
3
Actual Pollutant 2
Level Indication 1
0

Time/ min.

Figure-6. Saturation timer reset: case 1

Rs/R1G8

Pollutant level change

from Level 1 to level 2
Rs/R1G8

Threshold for pollutant

level signal
Level 0
Level 1

Level 2

Rs/MAXR

30min

30min
Level 3

Timer start

Timer start
Timer stop

Air Pollutant
Level Indication

3
2
1
0

Time/ min.

Figure-7. Saturation timer reset: case 2

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control

2-6. Additional operation

2-6-1. Additional operation
In actual operation, air pollutant might decrease quickly within one minute. However, more gradual level change
would be natural for human sense. Therefore when sensor resistance increases quickly, Pollutant Level reduction
should be delayed and operated additionally for one minute at each level as shown in fugure 8.
Threshold for pollutant
level signal
Level 0
Level 1
Rs/MAXR

Level 2
Level 3
1min 1min 1min

Actual Pollutant
Level Indication

3
2
1
0

Time/ min.

Figure-8. Additional operation

2-6-2. Additional operation timer reset

In case Pollutant level increases, timer for additional operation is reset as shown in figure 9.

ON
signal

ON
signal

ON
signal

Threshold for pollutant

level signal
Level 0

ON
signal

Level 1

Rs/ MAXR

Level 2
Level 3
1min

1min

1min

1min 1min 1min

3
Actual Pollutant
Level Indication

2
1
0

Time/ min.

Figure-9. Additional operation timer reset

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control
2-7. Conditions to avoid wind influence
Sensor signal should not be input into microprocessor for 16 seconds and 4 seconds when wind starts/ stops and
when wind flow rate is changed, respectively, since gas sensor resistance is influenced by wind. The conditions
should be included in manual mode as well.
2-8.Temperature compensation
Sensor output change caused by gradual ambient temperature change can be compensated by base level renewal
technique. However, we recommend temperature compensation by using a thermistor for the application, which
drastically changes the ambient temperature for air conditionors and ventilators. The followings are the signal
processing procedures.
2-8-1.Input thermistor signal Vth
Input of Vth signal will be started 2 minutes after power on. The signal should be measured every 250msec, and
average value should be calculated every 2 seconds.
2-8-2.Conversion of input signal
According to the conversion table shown in table 3, temperature compensation value (AT) will be decided. Temperature compensated Rs value (RS*) will be obtained by the following equation.
RS*={(5/VRL)-1} x AT

Temp./ C
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

Vth/ V AT value
0.33 0.68
0.44 0.73
0.57 0.78
0.73 0.84
0.91 0.89
0.95 0.9
0.99 0.91
1.03 0.91
1.08 0.92
1.12 0.92
1.17 0.93
1.21 0.93
1.26 0.93
1.31 0.94
1.36 0.94
1.4
0.95
1.46 0.95
1.5
0.96
1.56 0.97
1.61 0.97
1.66 0.98
1.71 0.98
1.76 0.99
1.82 0.99
1.87 1
1.93 1.01
1.98 1.02
2.03 1.03
2.09 1.03
2.14 1.04

Temp./ C
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
55
60

Vth/ V AT value
2.2
1.05
2.25 1.06
2.31 1.07
2.36 1.08
2.41 1.09
2.47 1.1
2.52 1.11
2.57 1.12
2.63 1.13
2.68 1.14
2.73 1.15
2.78 1.16
2.83 1.17
2.88 1.18
2.93 1.19
2.98 1.19
3.03 1.2
3.07 1.21
3.12 1.22
3.16 1.23
3.21 1.24
3.25 1.25
3.3
1.26
3.34 1.27
3.38 1.28
3.53 1.33
3.76 1.39

Table-3. Conversion table

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Technical information for signal processiing technique for air quality control

3. Appendix
Table 4 shows K and G values for TGS800, 2100 and TGS2600 to make a control signal when one cigarette is
smoked in an area about 20m3. Please note that the table value is for customers consideration. Evaluation at
customers side is recommended.
G1

G2

0.08

G3

0.16

G4

-0.03

G5

0.05

G6

0.13

G7

0.03

G8

0.95

G9

0.87

K=Vk/ 5

0.85

Table-4. K and G values

HEAD OFFICE
Figaro Engineering Inc.
1-5-11 Senba-nishi
Mino, Osaka 562 JAPAN
Tel.: (81) 727-28-2561
Fax: (81) 727-28-0467
email: figaro@figaro.co.jp

Revised 04/01

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