Breathing Apparatus Sensor Relocation for Contamination Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The breathing apparatus of existing technologies suffers from accuracy deterioration due to contamination of micro particulates and water in the exhaled air, which foul the photo sensor used for breath monitoring, making it less reliable over time.
Innovation Solution
A breathing apparatus design that positions the breath monitoring sensor away from inhale and exhale passages, utilizing a diaphragm with a magnet and Hall element to detect internal pressure changes, allowing for accurate breath monitoring without sensor contamination and automatic motor fan operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the photo sensor is located in the exhale passage to monitor breath, then the breath monitoring function is achieved, but micro particulates and water in exhaled air foul the sensor causing accuracy deterioration with age
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from the exhale passage and relocated to a position outside the breath passages. The breath monitoring function is maintained by detecting pressure changes in the face piece chamber, while the sensor is protected from direct exposure to contaminating exhaled air, preventing fouling and maintaining reliability over time.
2Reliability
If the sensor is positioned away from breath passages to avoid contamination, then sensor fouling is reduced, but the complexity of the breath monitoring system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor serves multiple functions: it monitors breath patterns by detecting pressure changes in the face piece chamber, controls the motor fan operation, and can detect when the filter becomes clogged. This multi-functionality is achieved without adding significant complexity, as the same sensor and basic control circuitry handle all these tasks.
3Extent of automation
If a pressure responsive means is used to control the motor fan, then the fan operation is automatically synchronized with breath, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor provides continuous feedback on the pressure changes in the face piece chamber during breathing. The control unit processes this feedback signal and automatically adjusts the motor fan operation accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that synchronizes fan operation with the user's breath without requiring complex mechanical linkages.
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 design enhances the reliability and convenience of breath monitoring by reducing sensor contamination, automatically controlling the motor fan, and alerting users to filter replacement needs, thereby maintaining accurate monitoring and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor which comprises a diaphragm (20), a pressure receiving plate (24) on which a permanent magnet (25) is mounted and a Hall element (35) which detects displacement of the permanent magnet (25), namely displacement of the diaphragm (20)
Implementation Method 2
the pressure responsive means which responds to the difference in pressure between the pressure in the interior of the orinasal mask 2 and the pressure in the space 20 within the outer mask 1
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to provide a breathing apparatus comprising a face piece for covering the whole face or part of the face, an inhale valve and an exhale valve provided on the face piece, a motor fan for supplying external air into the face piece through the inhale valve, a filter for cleaning the external air sucked into the motor fan, a breath monitoring apparatus, and a controller for controlling the operation of the motor fan synchronously with the breath based on the detection signal from the breath monitoring apparatus, wherein deterioration with age of the accuracy of the breath monitoring occurs less readily than in the breathing apparatus of the prior art. [Disclosure of the Invention] A breathing apparatus comprises a face piece for covering the whole face or part of the face, an inhale valve and an exhale valve provided on the face piece, a motor fan for supplying external air into the face piece through the inhale valve, a filter for cleaning the external air sucked into the motor fan, a breath monitoring apparatus provided on the face piece and not comprising the inhale valve and the exhale valve, and a controller for controlling the operation of the motor fan synchronously with the breath based on the detection signal from the breath monitoring apparatus.