Reversing Chemical Sensor Roles for Solid Material Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chemical sensors are limited in analyzing materials other than gaseous fluids, as they typically use a fluid as an analyte, restricting their application to distinguishing, identifying, and measuring the composition of materials used as receptors.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a chemical sensor to analyze materials by supplying fluids, such as gases or liquids, to induce changes in physical parameters, allowing for the analysis of materials as receptors through signal output, featuring techniques like machine learning, multivariate analysis, and pattern recognition to distinguish, identify, and quantify components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional chemical sensors are used to detect fluid analytes, then the sensor can effectively distinguish and identify gaseous molecules, but the sensor cannot analyze solid or liquid materials that are used as receptors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional sensor measurement paradigm by making the receptor material the analyte to be measured. Instead of using the sensor to detect fluid analytes interacting with a receptor, the invention supplies fluid analytes to interact with the receptor material that is supported on the sensor, thereby measuring the receptor material's properties through the interaction patterns. This inversion enables solid and liquid materials to become measurable analytes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent measures multiple physical parameters (mass, resonance frequency, electrical properties, optical properties) of the receptor material through its interactions with different fluid analytes. By monitoring changes in these parameters as different analytes interact with the receptor, the system characterizes the receptor material properties, enabling identification and analysis of solid and liquid materials.
2Measurement precision
If a chemical sensor array is used for pattern recognition, then multivariate analysis can distinguish various gaseous analytes, but the analysis remains limited to gaseous fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends pattern recognition capabilities to receptor materials by inverting the measurement approach. The chemical sensor array measures the interaction patterns between fluid analytes and the receptor material, creating unique spectral or response patterns for different solid and liquid materials. Multivariate analysis techniques are then applied to these patterns to identify and characterize the receptor materials, extending pattern recognition beyond gaseous analytes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the chemical sensor array system universal by enabling it to analyze both traditional gaseous analytes and new types of materials (solids and liquids) when used as receptors. The same sensor array and analysis methodology can be applied to different material states, making the system multi-functional and broadly applicable across diverse measurement scenarios.
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
Enables the analysis of materials previously difficult to measure with conventional sensors, achieving higher accuracy by reversing the role of the receptor and analyte, and allowing for the identification of materials with unique patterns from gas-solid interactions, enhancing the resolution of pattern recognition.
Implementation Method 1
This type of sensor generally detects a change in a physical parameter caused by adsorption of a molecule to be detected (an analyte molecule)
Implementation Method 2
analyzing the material to be measured based on a signal output from the chemical sensor based on a change in a physical parameter induced by the material to be measured by supplying one or more kinds of fluids
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a novel material analysis technique using a chemical sensor. By reversing the conventional approach, a material to be measured is provided as a receptor of the chemical sensor, and a response signal of the chemical sensor obtained by supplying a known gas or the like to the chemical sensor is obtained. From the response signal, it is possible to identify and distinguish the receptor material, and to obtain its composition and the like. By analyzing the response signal by means of a statistical or machine learning technique such as principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, or a support vector machine, the above-mentioned identification and the like can be performed with high accuracy.