Fluid Sensor Apparatus Dual-Sided Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid sensor systems fail to provide uniform illumination and fluid distribution across both sides of the sensor surface, leading to inaccurate measurements and contamination issues, especially in continuous or intermittent fluid measurements, and are not designed for easy replacement or cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A fluid sensor apparatus with a receiving slot for a removable sensor card, featuring a light source and camera or photodetector on opposite sides to ensure uniform backlighting and fluid contact on both sides of the sensor, along with a processor to determine pH and solute concentrations based on color changes, and a secure locking mechanism to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a sensor is accessed via an access port in a housing, then the sensor can be protected and integrated into the system, but the exposed sensor surface is limited to a single side and fluid distribution across the sensor surface is uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is segmented into a sensor card and a housing, allowing the sensor card to be accessed from both sides independently. The receiving slot allows fluid to contact both the front and back surfaces of the sensor card, effectively doubling the exposed sensor surface area while maintaining uniform fluid distribution across each surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from single-sided sensor access to dual-sided sensor access by utilizing the third dimension (depth of the receiving slot). This allows fluid to flow over both the top and bottom surfaces of the sensor card simultaneously, effectively utilizing both sides of the sensor for measurement.
2Reliability
If the sensor is fixed in a housing with an access port, then the system structure is stable, but replacing the sensor is difficult and may contaminate the sampled fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into a removable sensor card and a permanent housing. The sensor card can be easily inserted into and removed from the receiving slot without disturbing the housing structure or requiring disassembly of seals, enabling simple sensor replacement while maintaining system integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor card is nested within the housing's receiving slot, allowing the sensor to be contained and protected when in use, yet easily accessible for removal and replacement. The sensor card fits snugly in the slot during operation but can be quickly extracted when needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If a unitary housing structure is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the housing cannot be adapted for easy sensor replacement or cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with a distinct receiving slot that is integrated into the housing structure, providing a simple manufacturing process for the housing itself. The sensor card is a separate, removable component that fits into this slot, providing adaptability for easy sensor replacement without requiring complex housing designs.
4Device complexity
If light is directed onto the sensor from one side only, then the optical system is simple, but uniform illumination across the entire sensor surface cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into two independent light sources, one positioned to illuminate the front surface of the sensor card and another positioned to illuminate the back surface. This simple segmentation provides uniform illumination across the entire sensor surface without requiring complex optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination approach transitions from single-sided to dual-sided lighting by utilizing the third dimension (opposite sides of the sensor card). Two simple light sources positioned on opposite sides of the receiving slot provide uniform illumination across both surfaces of the sensor card.
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 apparatus achieves accurate and consistent measurements of pH and solute concentrations by ensuring uniform illumination and fluid distribution, reducing contamination risks and facilitating easy sensor replacement and cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a light source directing light to a first side of the receiving slot and a camera or a photo detector receiving light from a second side of the receiving slot opposing the first side of the receiving slot
Implementation Method 2
Sensors for quantitative sampling of solutes in a fluid are important in a variety of fields... an ammonia sensor used by known systems has a chemical substance that changes color or color intensity if exposed to ammonia
Implementation Method 3
The systems then direct a light source onto the sensor and measure the light reflected off the sensor using an optical detector
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a fluid sensor apparatus and a related sensor card for determining and/or monitoring a pH and/or solute concentration in a fluid. The fluid sensor apparatus can be used in any application requiring the detection of fluid components or concentrations of solutes, and in an exemplary embodiment, is used to detect ammonia concentration and/or pH in dialysis fluid. The fluid sensor apparatus has a camera, a light source positioned opposite to the camera, and a receiving slot for positioning a removable sensor card between the camera and the light source such that both sides of the sensor card are exposed to the sampled fluid.