Droplet Volume Measurement via Adaptive Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drip infusion systems struggle to accurately measure flow rates regardless of liquid type due to the need for expensive high-speed image processing equipment, making them costly and prone to operational errors.
Innovation Solution
A dropping rate measuring device that uses an imaging unit to capture images of growing liquid droplets at multiple time points, analyzing the image data to calculate flow rates, and includes a count unit to detect droplet departure, allowing for accurate measurement of droplet volume and flow rate using inexpensive cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-speed image processing equipment (camera at 120 sheets/sec) is used to capture droplet images, then measurement precision of droplet volume is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the camera shutter speed adjustable and adaptive. Instead of using a fixed high-speed camera, the system dynamically adjusts the shutter speed based on droplet formation characteristics. The camera captures images at variable intervals, slowing down capture during critical droplet formation phases and speeding up during stable phases, thereby achieving accurate measurement with lower overall processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameter of image capture by using variable shutter speeds and capture intervals. This allows the measurement system to adapt to different droplet formation rates and viscosities, achieving precise volume measurement without requiring consistently high-speed processing for all conditions.
2Measurement precision
If high-speed image processing (120 sheets/sec) is used to capture droplet images, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By making the image capture rate dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed at high speed, the system reduces overall processing requirements. The camera operates at variable speeds matched to actual droplet formation rates, allowing use of less expensive equipment while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a standard, inexpensive camera rather than specialized high-speed imaging equipment. The system compensates for the camera's lower inherent speed through intelligent software control that captures images selectively at variable intervals, achieving accurate measurement with cost-effective hardware.
3Ease of operation
If droplet count is used to measure flow rate, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to variations in droplet size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple droplet counting with image-based volumetric analysis. Instead of merely counting droplets, the system captures images of each droplet, processes the image data to calculate actual volume, and uses this volume information for flow rate measurement. This substitution of mechanical counting with optical measurement and computational analysis maintains operational simplicity while dramatically improving precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces image processing as an intermediary between droplet detection and flow rate calculation. The image data serves as a mediator that provides detailed volumetric information about each droplet, enabling accurate flow rate measurement that accounts for variations in droplet size, shape, and formation conditions.
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 accurate measurement of flow rates across different liquid types without the need for expensive equipment, reducing costs and operational complexity while minimizing errors.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit that images a growing liquid droplet which is growing on a lower end of the nozzle at a plurality of time points
Implementation Method 2
images a growing liquid droplet which is growing on a lower end of the nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A dropping rate measuring device for measuring a flow rate of liquid droplets which grow on a lower end of a nozzle and intermittently drop from the lower end of the nozzle includes an imaging unit that images a growing liquid droplet which is growing on the lower end of the nozzle at a plurality of time points and acquires a plurality of pieces of image data of the growing liquid droplet, and a data processor that calculates the flow rate by analyzing the plurality of pieces of image data acquired by the imaging unit.