Balance Ionizer Control for Electrostatic Neutral Weighing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balance systems with ionizers require separate electrostatic sensors to control the ionizer, making the weighing process time-consuming and costly, and the interpretation of electrostatic neutrality is unreliable without prior knowledge of the charge state.
Innovation Solution
The ionizer generates alternating positive and negative ion clouds during a detection phase, using changes in weighing values to determine the electrostatic charge state, and then generates only the opposing ion cloud during a neutralization phase to neutralize the charge, eliminating the need for additional sensors and reducing the weighing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate electrostatic sensor is used to control the ionizer, then the electrostatic charge state can be detected, but the weighing process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrostatic charge detection function with the existing weighing sensor. The weighing sensor simultaneously measures both the weight of the sample and the electrostatic charge state, eliminating the need for a separate electrostatic sensor. This merging of functions reduces system complexity, costs, and weighing process time while maintaining detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighing sensor is made multi-functional by enabling it to detect both mechanical weight and electrostatic charge state. This universal application of the weighing sensor allows it to serve dual purposes: traditional weighing and electrostatic charge detection, thereby eliminating the need for additional dedicated sensors and reducing overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If both positive and negative ion clouds are generated simultaneously, then neutralization is more efficient, but the weighing process becomes more complex and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of ionizer operation by alternating between positive and negative ion cloud generation based on real-time charge state detection. The system dynamically adjusts the ionizer polarity according to the detected charge state, enabling efficient neutralization while maintaining reliable and unambiguous interpretation of the electrostatic state throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The ionizer operates in periodic cycles, alternating between generating positive ion clouds and negative ion clouds. This periodic action allows the system to efficiently neutralize charges of either polarity while maintaining clear, unambiguous detection of the electrostatic state at each stage, thereby resolving the contradiction between neutralization efficiency and interpretation reliability.
3Reliability
If the ionizer remains active during weighing, then electrostatic charges are continuously neutralized, but ion wind interference distorts the weighing value
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary neutralization of electrostatic charges before the actual weighing measurement. The ionizer is activated to neutralize charges, and only after the charge state is confirmed to be stable and neutral does the system proceed to take the final weighing value. This preliminary action ensures reliable charge neutralization while preventing ion wind interference during the critical weighing measurement phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous monitoring of the electrostatic charge state throughout the weighing process. While the ionizer is deactivated during the final measurement to avoid ion wind interference, the continuous monitoring ensures that any re-accumulation of charges is immediately detected and corrected, maintaining continuous useful action of charge neutralization without compromising measurement precision.
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
This method ensures precise and efficient neutralization of electrostatic charges without additional sensors, shortening the weighing process and improving accuracy by calculating the final weighing value only after the ionizer is deactivated, thus minimizing ion wind interference.
Implementation Method 1
introducing, via the ionizer, an ion cloud into the weighing chamber in order to bring an actual electrostatic charge state of the weighing sample closer to an electrostatic neutral state of the weighing sample
Implementation Method 2
Due to the Coulomb force, differently charged particles attract each other, while equally charged particles repel each other. The vertical component of this force adds to the weight force acting in the vertical direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a balance includes: (a) introducing an ion cloud into a weighing chamber to bring an electrostatic charge state of a weighing sample towards an electrostatic neutral state, (b) detecting the neutral state, and (c) acquiring measured values of a weighing sensor, calculating therefrom a final weighing value representing the electrostatic neutral state, and outputting the final weighing value. When the ionizer is activated, the measured values of the weighing sensor are acquired, preliminary weighing values are calculated from the measured values and the final weighing value is calculated and output after a number of preliminary weighing values have been recognized as stable. During a recognition phase, positive and negative ion clouds are alternatingly generated, and during a neutralization phase, only ion clouds of that sign are generated that, in the recognition phase, had led to the larger changes within the preliminary weighing values.