Fluid Sensor Thermal Radiation Emitter Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for cost-effective fluid sensors that provide high reliability and sensitivity for detecting target fluids in environmental monitoring, particularly in mobile devices, home automation, and the automotive sector, with existing sensors facing challenges in fabrication complexity and cross-sensitivity issues.
Innovation Solution
A fluid sensor design incorporating thermal radiation emitters with adjustable operating temperatures between 400 to 1300 K, a waveguide structure with evanescent field components, and optical filter structures to filter broadband thermal radiation, allowing for precise detection of target fluids by aligning absorption bands with peak radiation intensity, reducing unwanted cross-sensitivities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the operating temperature of thermal radiation emitters is increased to improve detection sensitivity, then the peak radiation intensity increases and aligns better with absorption bands, but the energy consumption and risk of unwanted cross-sensitivities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the operating temperature of thermal radiation emitters to optimize the balance between detection sensitivity and energy consumption. By controlling the temperature parameter within a specific range (400-1300 K) and tuning it to align peak radiation intensity with target fluid absorption bands, the system achieves high measurement precision while avoiding excessive energy consumption and cross-sensitivity issues that would occur at higher temperatures
2Measurement precision
If the operating temperature of thermal radiation emitters is increased to align absorption bands with peak radiation intensity, then detection accuracy improves, but unwanted cross-sensitivities to other fluids increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using optical filter structures that are specifically tailored to each target fluid's absorption characteristics. Each filter is designed with local optimization for its designated target wavelength range, allowing the system to achieve high detection accuracy for specific fluids while blocking radiation at wavelengths that would cause cross-sensitivities to other fluids. This localized filtering approach enables selective detection without unwanted interference
3Reliability
If complex sensor structures are used to improve detection reliability and reduce cross-sensitivities, then measurement accuracy improves, but fabrication complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a modular sensor architecture where a single platform can detect multiple different target fluids by simply changing the optical filter structure. The waveguide structure, thermal radiation emitters, and detector can serve multiple detection purposes, reducing fabrication complexity compared to building separate dedicated sensors for each fluid. This multi-functional design maintains high reliability through consistent performance across different detection targets while simplifying manufacturing
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 sensor achieves enhanced sensitivity and reduced cross-sensitivities by optimizing the operating temperature of thermal radiation emitters to align absorption bands with peak radiation intensity, ensuring accurate and efficient detection of target fluids like CO2 and O3, while maintaining low fabrication requirements.
Implementation Method 1
an actuation device for connecting the plurality of thermal radiation emitters with a power source for providing the thermal radiation emitters in an actuated condition with electric energy so that the plurality of thermal radiation emitters has an operating temperature between 400 to 1300 K
Implementation Method 2
a waveguide structure configured to guide the emitted thermal radiation emitted from the plurality of thermal radiation emitters, where the guided thermal radiation comprises an evanescent field component for interacting with the surrounding atmosphere comprising the target fluid
Implementation Method 3
an optical filter structure coupled to the waveguide structure, where the optical filter structure is configured to filter the broadband thermal radiation emitted by the thermal radiation emitter and to provide a filtered thermal radiation having a center wavelength (λo)
Implementation Method 4
The operating temperature of the plurality of thermal radiation emitters may be adjusted so that an absorption band or spectral line of the target fluid is within a (tolerance) range of ±10% at a peak intensity value of the IR emission spectrum of the plurality of thermal radiation emitters
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid sensor detects a target fluid and comprises thermal radiation emitters emitting a broadband thermal radiation, a waveguide structure guiding the thermal radiation comprising an evanescent field component, an optical filter structure coupled to the waveguide structure to provide a filtered thermal radiation having a center wavelength, a thermal radiation detector configured to provide a detector output signal based on a radiation strength of the filtered thermal radiation, and an actuation device for connecting the plurality of thermal radiation emitters with a power source such that the plurality of thermal radiation emitters has an operating temperature between 400 to 1300 K.