Adhesive Particulate Capture with Optical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an efficient and inexpensive system to analyze air quality, particularly for capturing and evaluating particulates in indoor and enclosed spaces, as people spend more time indoors and are increasingly concerned about air pollutants.
Innovation Solution
A portable air sampling and analysis apparatus that includes a housing with an air inlet and outlet, a particulate collection device with an adhesive surface, and an optical sensor for capturing images of particulates, which can transmit data to a remote location for analysis, allowing for both local and remote evaluation of air quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If air samples are collected and analyzed locally with sophisticated equipment, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of particulate collection from complex analysis systems. By using a simple adhesive surface to capture particulates and transmitting only images/data rather than physical samples, it eliminates the need for sophisticated on-site analysis equipment while maintaining measurement capability through remote analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies (images) of particulates on the adhesive surface and transmits these copies for analysis instead of transporting physical samples. This copying approach enables remote analysis with simple equipment while maintaining the ability to identify and quantify particulates effectively.
2Device complexity
If air samples are collected and transported to remote locations for analysis, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time occurs during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous air sampling with immediate image capture and transmission. The adhesive surface continuously collects particulates while the optical sensor continuously images them, and data is transmitted in real-time, eliminating interruptions caused by sample transport and enabling continuous monitoring without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of physical sample transport with optical and electronic transmission. Instead of mechanically moving physical samples to remote locations, the system uses optical sensors to capture images and electronic systems to transmit data, eliminating transport time while maintaining remote analysis capability.
3Measurement precision
If expensive sophisticated equipment is used for air quality analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture and accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive, disposable adhesive surfaces for particulate collection instead of expensive, complex sampling equipment. The adhesive surfaces can be easily manufactured and replaced, making the system accessible and cost-effective while maintaining effective particulate capture capability for accurate analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical analysis equipment with simpler optical sensing and digital imaging systems. This substitution uses readily available technology (cameras, image processing) instead of sophisticated analytical instruments, significantly improving ease of manufacture and accessibility while maintaining measurement precision through remote image analysis.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective air quality analysis, allowing for continuous sampling and remote evaluation of particulates, reducing the need for physical transport of samples and providing comprehensive data on air quality, including particulate types and quantities.
Implementation Method 1
a particulate collection device with an adhesive surface
Implementation Method 2
an optical sensor for capturing images of particulates
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying particulates in the air, including drawing a predetermined volume of air into a housing defining an airway, flowing the predetermined volume of air over a first adhesive capture member positioned in the airway to yield a first test sample, generating a first optical image of the first test sample with a camera, storing the first optical image in a memory, analyzing the first optical image with the microprocessor to identify captured particulates, automatically counting the identified particulates, storing the first adhesive capture member to preserve the first test sample, and positioning a second adhesive capture member in the airway.