External Ionizer Sensor Housing for Stable Ion Mobility Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ion mobility systems face stability and repeatability issues due to humidity and other environmental factors, which affect the accuracy of gas composition sensing and detection.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system with an external ionizer and detector, where the ionizer and detector do not contact the fluid sample, and a housing made from dielectric and potentially transparent materials, including glass, with an ion mobility filter within the housing that applies compensation and dispersion fields to separate ions, allowing for effective ion detection without contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ionizer and detector are placed within the housing and in contact with the fluid sample, then the detection function is achieved, but contamination risks increase and manufacturing costs rise due to special material requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The ionizer and detector are extracted from the housing and placed in the external environment, eliminating their contact with the fluid sample. This extraction resolves the contradiction by preventing contamination (improving reliability) while allowing the use of ordinary materials in the housing (improving ease of manufacture). The ionizer and detector remain functional through external positioning, achieving the detection purpose without the need for special anti-contamination materials.
2Reliability
If components are placed within the housing and in contact with the fluid sample, then the detection function is achieved, but the components require special materials to avoid contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The ionizer and detector are extracted from the housing and placed in the external environment, eliminating their contact with the fluid sample. This extraction resolves the contradiction by preventing contamination (improving reliability) while allowing the use of ordinary materials in the housing (improving ease of manufacture). The ionizer and detector remain functional through external positioning, achieving the detection purpose without the need for special anti-contamination materials.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the housing is made from transparent materials like glass, then the housing provides dielectric properties and transparency, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed to simultaneously provide multiple functions: it serves as the structural enclosure, the dielectric barrier for the ionizer, and the transparent window for light-based detection. By making the housing multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate components for each function, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining the benefits of transparency and dielectric properties.
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 configuration enhances the stability and repeatability of ion mobility spectra by minimizing humidity effects and reducing manufacturing costs, while maintaining accurate chemical detection and identification.
Implementation Method 1
an ionizer which is external to the housing and which is for ionizing the fluid sample at a first location on the fluid sample path to generate sample ions
Implementation Method 2
an ion mobility filter which is at least partially located within the housing and which is for filtering the generated sample ions at a second location on the fluid sample path
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to sensor systems and methods for analysing fluid samples. The sensor system comprises a housing (220) having an inlet for a fluid sample to enter the housing, an outlet for the fluid sample to exit the housing, and a fluid sample path within the housing for the fluid sample to flow between the inlet and the outlet. The sensor system also comprises an ionizer (210) which is external to the housing and which is for ionizing the fluid sample at a first location on the fluid sample path to generate sample ions, an ion mobility filter (212) which is at least partially located within the housing and which is for filtering the generated sample ions at a second location on the fluid sample path, and a detector (214) which is external to the housing and which is for detecting the sample ions which pass through the ion mobility filter at a third location on the fluid sample path.