Ferroelectric Multi-Effect Sensor for Unified Environmental Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of multiple sensor types with different physical effects in machines is costly, complex, and requires separate drive and evaluation electronics, increasing system size and complexity, while providing an incomplete environmental overview.
Innovation Solution
A sensor combining capacitive, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric effects using a ferroelectric layer between electrodes, allowing for a single device to detect temperature changes, proximity, and deformation through voltage changes, reducing the need for multiple sensors and simplifying electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor types with different physical effects are installed in machines, then the environmental detection capability is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (capacitive, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric sensors) into a single integrated sensor device. This merging approach allows the sensor to detect various environmental parameters (proximity, touch, temperature) simultaneously while reducing system complexity, eliminating the need for separate drive and evaluation electronics for each sensor type
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor serves multiple functions by incorporating different sensing mechanisms within a single device. The capacitive effect enables proximity and touch detection, the piezoelectric effect provides touch detection with higher signal strength, and the pyroelectric effect enables temperature detection, making the sensor universally applicable for various environmental monitoring tasks
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor types with different physical effects are installed in machines, then the environmental detection capability is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (capacitive, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric sensors) into a single integrated sensor device. This merging approach allows the sensor to detect various environmental parameters (proximity, touch, temperature) simultaneously while reducing system complexity, eliminating the need for separate drive and evaluation electronics for each sensor type
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor serves multiple functions by incorporating different sensing mechanisms within a single device. The capacitive effect enables proximity and touch detection, the piezoelectric effect provides touch detection with higher signal strength, and the pyroelectric effect enables temperature detection, making the sensor universally applicable for various environmental monitoring tasks
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor types with different physical effects are installed in machines, then the environmental detection capability is improved, but the system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (capacitive, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric sensors) into a single integrated sensor device. This merging approach allows the sensor to detect various environmental parameters (proximity, touch, temperature) simultaneously while reducing system complexity, eliminating the need for separate drive and evaluation electronics for each sensor type
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor types with different physical effects are installed in machines, then the environmental detection capability is improved, but the number of drive and evaluation electronics increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (capacitive, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric sensors) into a single integrated sensor device. This merging approach allows the sensor to detect various environmental parameters (proximity, touch, temperature) simultaneously while reducing system complexity, eliminating the need for separate drive and evaluation electronics for each sensor type
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor serves multiple functions by incorporating different sensing mechanisms within a single device. The capacitive effect enables proximity and touch detection, the piezoelectric effect provides touch detection with higher signal strength, and the pyroelectric effect enables temperature detection, making the sensor universally applicable for various environmental monitoring tasks
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
The combined sensor provides a more accurate and comprehensive environmental overview with reduced complexity and cost, enhancing sensitivity and accuracy by leveraging multiple detection mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The layer may preferably consist of a ferroelectric material with piezoelectric properties, particularly preferably a ferroelectric material with pyroelectric properties... With the pyroelectric effect, temperature changes which originate from the environment can be registered
Implementation Method 2
the functional layer between the electrodes is sensitive not only in relation to temperature changes but also because of the piezoelectric effect in relation to any deformation of the sensor
Implementation Method 3
Since one of the electrodes is grounded, a close approach or touching of the electrode can change the capacitance between the electrode and the approaching object, and can likewise lead to a voltage change between the electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor (1) which consists of a first electrode (3a), a ferroelectric layer (2) and a second electrode (3b) is described. The second electrode (3b) is connected to ground and the ferroelectric layer (2) is arranged between the first and second electrodes (3a, 3b).