Bidirectional Differential Pressure Sensor with Color-Coded Adaptors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The small size of pressure sensors in environment control systems makes it difficult for technicians to visually identify fluid ports, often resulting in improper connections of fluid pipes, leading to incorrect pressure differential measurements.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional differential pressure sensor system with adaptors and a processing unit that determines and adjusts pressure differentials between fluids from two locations, using a pressure sensing element and executing an algorithm to correct for reversed pipe connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If pressure sensors are made small to reduce size, then the sensor compactness is improved, but the ease of visually identifying fluid ports deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color coding to the adapter components to enable easy visual identification of fluid ports. Specifically, the first adapter and second adapter are configured with different colors or color patterns, allowing technicians to quickly distinguish between different fluid connections without requiring large sensor dimensions. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining small sensor size while improving port identification through optical differentiation.
2Volume of moving object
If pressure sensors are made small to reduce size, then the sensor compactness is improved, but the reliability of correct connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric design in the adapter configuration where the first adapter and second adapter have different physical characteristics (such as color, shape, or connection interface orientation). This asymmetry ensures that pipes can only be connected in the correct orientation, preventing improper connections. The asymmetric design maintains small sensor size while significantly improving connection reliability through physical and visual differentiation of connection points.
3Ease of operation
If adaptors with visual identifiers are added to help identification, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a simple color-coding system on the adapters to improve ease of operation. By applying different colors or color patterns to the first and second adapters, the system enables quick visual identification without adding complex mechanical or electronic identification mechanisms. This approach improves operational ease while minimizing increases in device complexity, as color coding is a low-complexity solution that can be applied during manufacturing.
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 identifies and corrects for reversed pipe connections, ensuring accurate pressure differential measurements and improving connection reliability in environment control systems.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure sensing element determines a pressure differential between fluid received via the first adaptor with respect to fluid received via the second adaptor
Data Source
AI summary
The present relates to a system and a bidirectional differential pressure sensor. The system and bidirectional differential pressure sensor comprise a first adaptor comprising an end configured to receive a first pipe, and a second adaptor comprising an end configured to receive a second pipe. The system and bidirectional differential pressure sensor further comprise a pressure sensing element determining a pressure differential between fluid received via the first adaptor with respect to fluid received via the second adaptor. The system or bidirectional differential pressure sensor further comprise a processing unit executing an algorithm for generating an adjusted pressure differential based on the pressure differential determined by the pressure sensing element.