Biodegradable Sensor Nodes for Wireless Environmental Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless sensor nodes used in agriculture and natural resource management often result in environmental damage due to non-biodegradable materials like lead solder and environmentally unfriendly chemicals, making retrieval after battery depletion economically infeasible.
Innovation Solution
Development of sensor nodes with biodegradable plastic housings, non-toxic biodegradable substrates, lead-free solder elements, and encapsulation using durable, environmentally friendly materials, along with non-toxic batteries and conductive ink for wireless communication, allowing for potential magnetic retrieval of non-biodegradable components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional sensor nodes with lead solder and traditional batteries are used, then wireless communication functionality is achieved, but environmental damage occurs due to hazardous waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes hazardous materials (lead solder, toxic battery chemicals) from the sensor node composition. The circuit board uses lead-free solder and batteries use non-toxic chemistries, directly eliminating the harmful substances while preserving the functional components needed for wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameters of the sensor node. The circuit board substrate transitions from conventional materials to biodegradable materials, solder transitions from lead-based to lead-free, and batteries transition to non-toxic chemistries. These parameter changes maintain electrical functionality while eliminating environmental harm.
2Ease of manufacture
If sensor nodes are left in the field after battery depletion, then no retrieval cost is incurred, but environmental damage accumulates from hazardous waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sensor node as a disposable unit with biodegradable housing and circuit board. After battery depletion, the entire node can be left in the field to biodegrade naturally, eliminating retrieval costs while preventing hazardous waste accumulation. The biodegradable materials ensure environmental safety even when disposed of in situ.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables discarding of the sensor node after use through biodegradation. The biodegradable housing and circuit board materials break down naturally in the environment, converting the disposal action from harmful waste accumulation to beneficial organic matter decomposition, thus recovering nutrients while eliminating hazards.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable materials are used for housing and circuit board, then environmental friendliness is improved, but structural durability and protection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures where biodegradable materials (housing, circuit board substrate) are combined with protective coatings and encapsulants. This composite approach allows the base materials to provide biodegradability while the protective layers contribute structural strength and environmental resistance, resolving the contradiction between softness and protection.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If lead-free solder is used instead of lead solder, then toxicity is reduced, but soldering reliability and electrical connection strength may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solder composition from lead-based to lead-free alloys, altering the material parameters to eliminate toxicity. Advanced lead-free solder formulations and controlled soldering processes are used to maintain or improve connection reliability, ensuring that electrical connection strength is not compromised by the removal of lead.
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 solution enables environmentally friendly deployment and potential retrieval of sensor nodes, reducing environmental impact while maintaining effective wireless communication and data collection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A conductive non-toxic ink is printed on said housing and connected to at least one of said electronic components, said conductive non-toxic ink having conductive particles and being configured for use as an antenna for wireless communications
Implementation Method 2
The sensor node has a biodegradable plastic housing, an electronic circuit board within the housing... The circuit board has a non-toxic, biodegradable substrate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A sensor node (12) for deployment in association with an earth surface (14) has a biodegradable plastic housing (18), an electronic circuit board (20) within the housing (18), and at least one battery (22) for providing electrical energy to the circuit board (20). The circuit board (20) has a non-toxic substrate (24) and at least one lead-free solder element (26). Each battery (22) is a non-toxic battery.