Gas Analyzer Doubly Modulated Laser Light High Concentration Accuracy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas analyzers using singly modulated laser light face challenges in maintaining measurement accuracy at high gas concentrations, as the intensity of the returned light signal decreases, making it difficult to distinguish between high gas concentrations and other factors that may reduce signal intensity.

Innovation Solution

The gas analyzer employs a doubly modulated laser light, which calculates the intensity of concentration signals based on multiple frequency components of the returned light, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy even at high gas concentrations. This approach suppresses the decrease in returned light intensity signal and improves the linearity of the calibration curve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If singly modulated laser light is used for gas concentration measurement, then the measurement setup is simple, but the returned light intensity signal decreases significantly at high gas concentrations, making it impossible to distinguish between high concentration and other signal degradation causes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement setup simplicityVSAvoidgas concentration measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the returned light signal into multiple frequency components through double modulation. By modulating the laser light at two different frequencies and analyzing the resulting spectral components separately, the system can distinguish between signal intensity changes caused by high gas concentration versus other degradation factors, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy without oversimplifying the setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-frequency modulation to dual-frequency modulation, adding an additional dimensional parameter (second modulation frequency) to the measurement system. This enables the differentiation of signal characteristics that cannot be distinguished in the single-frequency domain, allowing accurate measurement even when overall signal intensity decreases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If singly modulated laser light is used, then the calibration curve is easier to obtain, but the linearity of the calibration curve deteriorates at high gas concentrations, limiting the dynamic range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration curve acquisition easeVSAvoidcalibration curve linearity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration process is segmented into multiple frequency component analyses. By calibrating each frequency component separately and combining the results, the system maintains linear calibration characteristics across a wider dynamic range, including high gas concentrations, while preserving the practical ease of calibration through systematic procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the modulation parameters from single frequency to dual frequencies, which fundamentally alters the calibration curve characteristics. This parameter change enables the calibration curve to maintain linearity over a broader concentration range, expanding the measurable dynamic range while keeping the calibration process manageable through structured approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If singly modulated laser light is used, then the measurement process is faster, but the returned light signal is more susceptible to degradation at high gas concentrations, reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement speedVSAvoidsignal stability at high concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement process segments the signal analysis into multiple frequency components that can be processed in parallel. This segmentation allows the system to maintain fast measurement speeds by utilizing parallel processing of spectral components while simultaneously improving reliability through the robustness of multi-frequency signal characteristics that resist degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the multi-frequency component analysis provides information about signal quality and gas concentration simultaneously. This feedback enables real-time assessment of signal integrity, allowing the system to maintain reliable measurements even when overall signal intensity decreases at high concentrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 use of doubly modulated laser light in the gas analyzer enhances measurement accuracy across a wide range of gas concentrations, prevents signal degradation at high concentrations, and allows for the selection of concentration signals that avoid specific noise frequencies, thereby improving overall measurement precision.

Implementation Method 1

measuring gas concentration by means of laser light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption Spectroscopy: Absorption Spectroscopy

Implementation Method 2

multiply-modulated measurement light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectModulation: Phase Modulation

Implementation Method 3

an intensity of one frequency component of returned light yielded by multiply-modulated measurement light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption and frequency detection: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentEP4563977A1Gas analyzer and gas analysis method
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4563977A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4563977A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4563977A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A gas analyzer (10) includes a calculator (181). The calculator (181) calculates an intensity of one concentration signal based on an intensity of one frequency component of returned light (102) yielded by multiply-modulated measurement light (101) passing and coming back through a gas to be measured (103), or intensities of a plurality of concentration signals based on respective intensities of a plurality of frequency components of the returned light (102). The calculator (181) calculates a measured value of concentration of the gas to be measured (103), based on the intensity of the one concentration signal or the intensities of the plurality of concentration signals.