Objective: Provide a simple real time means of monitoring rooms for the growth of molds (fungi) that can cause health or product spoilage issues.
Technology: A glass plate coated with a mold growth medium (degraded cellulose, for example) is monitored with an led light source and solid state photo detector. As mold spores impinge upon the surface, they will grow under the right conditions of heat and humidity.. When the light beam is attenuated to a preset level, an alarm is sounded, or an RF signal is generated.
Advantages: Real time monitoring 24/7 of buildings for mold growth, a suspected source of toxic airborne agents, as well as a nuisance for the storage of foodstuffs and sensitive materials.
