Acoustic Stirring Apparatus Reflected Power Abnormality Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stirring apparatuses using surface acoustic wave elements for non-contact stirring in analyzers face challenges in detecting abnormalities such as detachment from the vessel or absence of liquid, leading to overheating and inefficient stirring.
Innovation Solution
A stirring apparatus with an acoustic wave generating unit, a driving unit, a detecting unit, and a determining unit that compares the initial frequency characteristics of the reference reflected power to the in-operation reflected power at the same driving frequency to detect abnormalities, such as detachment or absence of liquid, by measuring changes in reflected power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a surface acoustic wave element is used for non-contact stirring, then sample carry-over is avoided and stirring efficiency is improved, but the ability to detect abnormalities such as detachment or absence of liquid is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by detecting the reflected power from the acoustic wave generating unit and comparing it with reference values. The determining unit uses this feedback information to detect abnormalities such as detachment or absence of liquid, thereby resolving the contradiction between stirring efficiency and abnormality detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reflected power as an intermediary parameter to detect abnormalities. By measuring the reflected power from the acoustic wave generating unit and comparing it with reference reflected power at the same driving frequency, the system can indirectly detect conditions such as detachment or absence of liquid without directly contacting the liquid, thus maintaining stirring efficiency while enabling reliable abnormality detection.
2Device complexity
If the acoustic wave generating unit operates without abnormality detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but overheating and inefficient stirring occur due to undetected abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic wave generating unit performs self-diagnosis by detecting its own reflected power characteristics. The determining unit compares the detected reflected power with reference values to identify abnormalities such as detachment or absence of liquid, enabling the system to detect and prevent overheating and inefficient stirring without requiring external monitoring equipment, thus adding minimal complexity while eliminating harmful effects.
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
Effectively determines the presence of abnormalities, preventing overheating and ensuring reliable operation by calculating the difference in reflected power and setting a threshold value to identify deviations, thereby ensuring accurate stirring and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic wave generating unit that is provided in a vessel keeping a liquid and generates an acoustic wave toward the liquid, the liquid being stirred by the acoustic wave
Implementation Method 2
a detecting unit that detects a reflected power reflected from the acoustic wave generating unit
Data Source
AI summary
A stirring apparatus includes an acoustic wave generating unit that is provided in a vessel keeping a liquid and generates an acoustic wave toward the liquid, the liquid being stirred by the acoustic wave; a driving unit that drives the acoustic wave generating unit; a detecting unit that detects a reflected power reflected from the acoustic wave generating unit; and a determining unit that determines a presence of an abnormality based on the reflected power detected by the detecting unit. The determining unit determines the presence of the abnormality when a difference between an in-operation reflected power which is reflected from, during an operation, the acoustic wave generating unit and a reference reflected power of the acoustic wave generating unit at a same driving frequency exceeds a predetermined value.