Absolute Pressure Sensor for Breastmilk Expression System Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breastmilk expression systems relying on differential pressure sensors are limited in providing operational information and require additional components to account for varying environmental conditions, such as elevation and weather, which can affect system performance.
Innovation Solution
An improved pressure system that utilizes atmospheric pressure data from an absolute pressure sensor to set and adjust operating parameters, allowing it to adapt to changing environmental conditions without additional components, and provides feedback on discrepancies for user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If differential pressure sensors are used to sense pressure information, then the system can provide basic pressure sensing, but the system cannot account for varying environmental conditions such as elevation and weather
Solution Approach 1:
The absolute pressure sensor performs multiple functions: it measures atmospheric pressure to determine environmental conditions (elevation, weather) and also provides pressure sensing for system operation. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to environmental conditions without adding separate dedicated sensors for each function, thereby improving adaptability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the absolute pressure sensor to detect changes in atmospheric pressure parameters that indicate varying environmental conditions. By monitoring these pressure parameter changes, the system can infer environmental variations and adjust operation accordingly, enabling adaptability through parameter monitoring rather than adding complex environmental sensing infrastructure.
2Reliability
If additional absolute pressure sensors are added to obtain environmental information, then the system can account for environmental conditions, but the cost and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The absolute pressure sensor serves dual purposes: providing atmospheric pressure data for environmental condition assessment and serving as the primary pressure sensing element for system operation. This eliminates the need for separate environmental sensors, maintaining system reliability across varying conditions while avoiding the complexity and cost of additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the environmental sensing function and pressure sensing function into a single absolute pressure sensor. By merging these functions, the system achieves reliable environmental awareness and pressure monitoring without the complexity of multiple separate components, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If solenoid valves are used to open to ambient air for pressure adjustment, then pressure control is possible, but power must be supplied to the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the absolute pressure sensor to autonomously detect atmospheric pressure and determine when pressure adjustments are needed. The controller then automatically controls the solenoid valve operation based on this environmental data, enabling the system to self-regulate pressure control timing and duration, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The absolute pressure sensor provides continuous feedback on atmospheric pressure conditions to the controller. This feedback loop enables intelligent control of the solenoid valve, allowing it to operate only when and where needed based on real-time environmental conditions, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining effective pressure control capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively adjusts pressure settings based on real-time atmospheric data, ensuring optimal performance across different environmental conditions and alerting users to potential issues, thus enhancing reliability and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
an absolute pressure sensor in, or connectable to, the system
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure system in a communication loop with an atmospheric pressure data source is set forth. Atmospheric pressure data from the atmospheric pressure data source can be received by a processor to set one or more operating parameters for the pressure system based on environmental data provided in the atmospheric pressure data from an absolute pressure sensor or other atmospheric data source.