Dual-Phase Chemical Sensing for Fast and Selective Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemical sensors face challenges in achieving both high accuracy and responsiveness in gas and liquid phase detection, with gas phase sensors being fast but lacking selectivity and liquid phase sensors being slow.
Innovation Solution
A chemical sensor system that integrates a gas phase sensor and a liquid phase sensor, where the gas phase sensor screens samples and the liquid phase sensor continues sensing only for samples that elicit a response from the gas phase sensor, allowing for simultaneous and efficient detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a gas phase sensor is used for detection, then responsiveness is improved, but selectivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into two independent sensor types: gas phase sensor for rapid screening and liquid phase sensor for selective confirmation. Each sensor handles a specific aspect of detection, allowing the system to achieve both fast responsiveness and high selectivity by combining their respective strengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines gas phase sensor and liquid phase sensor into a unified detection system that processes samples through both sensors. The gas phase sensor provides rapid initial detection while the liquid phase sensor provides selective confirmation, merging their capabilities to overcome the limitations of using either sensor alone.
2Measurement precision
If a liquid phase sensor is used for detection, then selectivity is improved, but responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gas phase sensor performs preliminary screening of samples before the liquid phase sensor conducts detailed analysis. This preliminary action filters out negative samples early, allowing the liquid phase sensor to focus only on promising candidates, thereby improving overall system responsiveness while maintaining high selectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection process is segmented into two stages: rapid gas phase screening followed by selective liquid phase analysis. This segmentation allows each sensor type to operate in its optimal performance range, with the gas phase sensor handling speed-critical initial detection and the liquid phase sensor handling precision-critical confirmation.
3Productivity
If both gas phase sensor and liquid phase sensor are directly connected for simultaneous sensing, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sample introduction system acts as an intermediary between the gas phase sensor and liquid phase sensor, coordinating sample delivery to both sensors. This intermediary component manages the complexity of simultaneous sensing by providing a unified interface for sample introduction while enabling parallel detection, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal sample introduction mechanism that serves both the gas phase sensor and liquid phase sensor simultaneously. This multi-functional component handles sample delivery to both sensors through a single integrated interface, reducing the need for separate sample handling systems and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved processing capacity.
4Productivity
If gas phase sensor performs screening and liquid phase sensor continues sensing only for positive samples, then productivity is improved, but loss of time occurs during sample transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The gas phase sensor performs preliminary screening of samples before the liquid phase sensor conducts detailed analysis. This preliminary action identifies positive samples that require further investigation, allowing the system to skip liquid phase sensing for negative samples and thereby reduce overall sensing time while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic sensing cycles where the gas phase sensor continuously screens samples and the liquid phase sensor periodically analyzes positive samples. This periodic action pattern allows the system to maintain high throughput by continuously processing samples through the fast gas phase sensor while intermittently engaging the slower liquid phase sensor only when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A chemical sensor system includes a first chemical sensor, a second chemical sensor unit, and a first sample atmosphere tank located between the first chemical sensor and the second chemical sensor unit, and includes an air supply mechanism that executes a first operation of supplying a sample atmosphere from the first chemical sensor to the first sample atmosphere tank, a second operation of supplying the sample atmosphere from the first sample atmosphere tank to the second chemical sensor unit, and a third operation of discharging the sample atmosphere in the first sample atmosphere tank.