Dual Sensor Device for Smartphone Gas and Temperature Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smartphones lack the ability to measure temperature and gas composition due to self-heating issues and high power consumption, respectively, which prevents the integration of conventional temperature and gas sensors.
Innovation Solution
A dual-mode sensor device combining a gas sensor and an infrared sensor, where both sensor units can operate independently or together, with heater elements controlling temperature for gas detection and infrared radiation used for temperature measurement, allowing for simultaneous gas and temperature sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional temperature sensor is used in a smartphone, then temperature measurement is possible, but the measurement is inaccurate due to self-heating from the device's own heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is divided into two separate sensor units: a first sensor unit for gas detection and a second sensor unit for temperature measurement via infrared radiation. This segmentation allows each sensor to perform its specialized function without interference from the other, and both are positioned to measure environmental conditions rather than device internal temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sensor unit measures infrared radiation emitted by external objects as an intermediary method to determine environmental temperature. Instead of directly measuring the smartphone's internal temperature (which is contaminated by self-heating), the sensor measures infrared radiation from external objects to infer the surrounding environmental temperature.
2Measurement precision
If a conventional gas sensor is used in a smartphone, then gas composition detection is possible, but power consumption is excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a first sensor unit (gas sensor with heater element) and a second sensor unit (infrared temperature sensor) into a single integrated sensor device with shared substrate and common housing. This merging allows both gas detection and temperature measurement functionalities to coexist in a compact form factor suitable for smartphones, with shared structural components reducing overall device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If both gas sensing and temperature sensing functionalities are integrated, then comprehensive environmental monitoring is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is designed as a multi-functional unit where the first sensor unit detects gas composition and the second sensor unit measures temperature via infrared radiation. Both sensor units operate independently but are integrated into a single device with shared substrate and housing, providing comprehensive environmental monitoring capabilities (gas and temperature) without requiring separate discrete sensor modules.
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 gas composition and temperature in smartphones and similar devices, effectively canceling out environmental distortions and reducing power consumption by using a common housing and shared substrate with MEMS technology.
Implementation Method 1
the heater element of a sensor unit is preferably used in the first mode of operation. When operated, the heater of a sensor unit increases the temperature of that sensor unit or of at least a part of that sensor unit to a temperature that is required for the first mode of operation
Implementation Method 2
the second mode of operation can be used to gather information about the infrared radiation emitted by at least a part of an object facing the sensor device and thus about the temperature of the object
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device, a method for operating a sensor device and an electronic assembly comprising a sensor device are disclosed. In an embodiment a sensor device includes a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit in a common housing, wherein each of the first and second sensor units comprises a heater element and a temperature sensor element, wherein the housing comprises a cover element having an opening, the cover element covering the first sensor unit, and wherein the opening is arranged over the second sensor unit.