| abstract |
A sensing apparatus and method for qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing small amounts of selected oxidizable gases in a carrier gas including the associated electronic circuitry is described. The apparatus preferably includes two semi-conductor type sensing elements in electrical parallel so that the difference in resistance of the two sensors can be detected, which can be of the N or P type and which decrease or increase in electrical resistance as a function of the concentration of an oxidizable gas. Also, a method for determining fruit maturity and ripeness by the detection of ethylene in the internal atmosphere of a fruit is described which preferably uses the apparatus with the semi-conductor type sensing elements, but can use other variable resistance type gas sensing means. |