Coupled Oscillator Signal Quantization for Instant Environmental Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing environmental sensing technologies face inefficiencies, unreliability, and complexity in detecting multiple environmental conditions simultaneously, often requiring time for data processing and lacking precision.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising electromagnetically coupled oscillator circuits with multiple negative resistance regions, providing multiple stable equilibriums, generates output signals with unique amplitude and frequency patterns that change with environmental conditions, allowing for instantaneous detection without separate reference sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If digital sensors with processors are used to detect environmental conditions, then measurement capability is improved, but time delay and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental condition detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the processing function from separate digital sensors and integrates it into the sensing elements themselves. Each sensing element directly generates a digital output signal corresponding to its detected environmental condition, eliminating the need for external processors and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing elements perform self-processing by directly converting detected environmental conditions into digital output signals without requiring external processing components. This self-service capability eliminates time delays associated with data transmission and processing, while also reducing device complexity by removing separate processor components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple digital sensors with processors are used to detect multiple environmental conditions, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-environmental condition detectionVSAvoidsensor assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sensing functions into a single integrated sensor assembly where multiple sensing elements work together. Each sensing element detects a specific environmental condition and directly outputs a digital signal, allowing the system to monitor multiple conditions simultaneously without requiring separate complex processing components for each sensor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor assembly is designed with multi-functionality, where a single integrated structure can detect multiple different environmental conditions through its various sensing elements. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple separate sensor assemblies, reducing overall device complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to monitor multiple parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If sensors process data over time to generate environmental condition calculations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but response time decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental condition calculation accuracyVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing elements are pre-configured with specific functional relationships between detected environmental conditions and their corresponding digital output signals. This preliminary configuration allows the sensors to directly generate accurate digital outputs without requiring time-consuming processing calculations, achieving both high measurement precision and fast response times simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach enables efficient, reliable, and precise detection of environmental conditions such as altitude, attitude, and temperature, providing instantaneous and accurate readings through unique pattern recognition without cumbersome computations.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of oscillator circuits that are electromagnetically coupled together, wherein the coupling of the plurality of oscillator circuits generates an output signal that includes a voltage and a current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

at least one nonlinear resistor having multiple negative resistance regions such that the oscillator circuits provide multiple stable equilibriums

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative resistance:

Data Source

PatentEP3045872B1Systems and methods for signal quantization
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 INSITU INC
  • EP3045872B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3045872B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3045872B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system for detecting and precisely measuring information content of one or more environmental conditions. The system may include a plurality of oscillator circuits (102, 104) that are coupled together. The coupling of the oscillator circuits (102, 104) generates an output signal having a pattern (200, 202, 204, 206, 208) of amplitude and frequency. The pattern of amplitude and frequency (200, 202, 204, 206, 208) changes as one or more values of the environmental condition(s) change.