Biodegradable Radiosonde Housing with Insulating Air Pockets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radiosondes have a low recovery rate due to lack of recovery efforts, resulting in environmental pollution from non-biodegradable components.

Innovation Solution

A radiosonde design featuring a 'housing-in-housing' structure with biodegradable materials for the housings and components, including a printed circuit board protected by a second housing with protrusions forming air pockets for thermal insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If non-biodegradable materials are used for housing and components, then structural strength and durability are improved, but environmental pollution increases and recovery rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from non-biodegradable to biodegradable materials for the housing and components. This parameter change allows the radiosonde to maintain sufficient structural strength during operation while enabling natural decomposition after use, thereby eliminating long-term environmental pollution and improving recovery rate through biodegradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures where biodegradable materials are combined with protective features such as protrusions forming air pockets. This composite approach maintains structural integrity and provides thermal insulation while using environmentally friendly materials that can decompose naturally, resolving the contradiction between strength and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If biodegradable materials are used for housings, then environmental impact is reduced, but thermal insulation and water protection are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidthermal insulation and water protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the housing structure by adding protrusions that create discrete air pockets between the biodegradable housing layers. This segmentation provides thermal insulation and water protection barriers while maintaining the biodegradable material composition, thus protecting against environmental factors without compromising the eco-friendly material choice.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air pockets formed by the protrusions act as intermediary elements between the biodegradable housing and the external environment. These air pockets provide thermal insulation and water protection, mediating the interaction between the biodegradable materials and harsh environmental conditions, thereby enabling the use of biodegradable materials while maintaining protection against thermal and water hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a housing-in-housing structure with protrusions is added, then thermal insulation and water protection are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulation and water protectionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested housing structure where a second housing is placed within the first housing, with protrusions on the inner surface of the first housing or outer surface of the second housing forming air pockets. This nesting approach provides thermal insulation and water protection in a compact configuration, minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired protective functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 biodegradable materials reduce environmental impact by allowing the radiosonde components to decompose naturally, while the air pockets provide effective thermal insulation and water protection, enhancing the radiosonde's functionality and longevity.

Implementation Method 1

the air pockets provide effective thermal insulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

the air pockets provide effective thermal insulation and water protection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater protection:

Implementation Method 3

the biodegradable materials reduce environmental impact by allowing the radiosonde components to decompose naturally

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP4113175B1Radiosonde and method of manufacturing a radiosonde
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 VAISALA
  • EP4113175B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4113175B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4113175B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radiosonde (1) comprising a first housing (2), a second housing (3) arranged within the first housing (2), wherein the second housing (3) comprises a plurality of protrusions (4) arranged on an outer surface (5) of the second housing (3) or wherein the first housing (2) comprises a plurality of protrusions (4) arranged on an inner surface of the first housing (2), a printed circuit board (6) arranged within the second housing (3), and a measurement boom (7) coupled to the printed circuit board (6) and partially extending through a part of the first housing (2) and through a part of the second housing (3).