Gas Imaging With Multi-Band Infrared Detection Without Cryogenic Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spectral imaging systems are limited by high cost, mass, power consumption, and complexity due to cryogenic cooling requirements, and lack sensitivity, specificity, and resolution, especially in handheld or battery-operated devices, and are hindered by environmental conditions affecting single-spectral region measurements.
Innovation Solution
Spectral imaging systems that measure absorption signals in multiple infrared bands without cryogenic cooling, using optical filters to select spectral regions and combine measurements, with interchangeable filters and sensors for improved signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cryogenic cooling is used to increase sensitivity, then detection sensitivity is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the cryogenic cooling system from the spectral imaging device, eliminating the complex cooling infrastructure while maintaining detection capability through alternative means (ambient temperature operation with optimized sensors and spectral filtering)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating temperature parameter from cryogenic ranges to ambient temperature, fundamentally altering the system architecture to eliminate cooling requirements while preserving sensitivity through other design optimizations
2Measurement precision
If cryogenic cooling is used to increase sensitivity, then detection sensitivity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the power-intensive cryogenic cooling subsystem, eliminating the primary source of high power consumption while maintaining sensitivity through ambient-temperature optimized sensors and spectral filtering techniques
3Device complexity
If single spectral region measurement is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple spectral region measurements into a unified imaging system, combining information from different spectral bands to enhance measurement precision and gas detection capability while maintaining system integration
4Reliability
If cryogenic cooling is implemented, then detection reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the cryogenic cooling infrastructure, removing the operational burden of maintaining extreme temperatures and complex thermal management, thereby significantly improving ease of operation while preserving detection reliability through alternative design approaches
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
Achieves high-resolution imaging of gas distribution with enhanced sensitivity and specificity, enabling effective detection and quantification of gas leaks, suitable for portable and stationary use, with reduced complexity and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the absorption signal in more than one band of the infrared spectrum
Implementation Method 2
detect and visualize the distribution of volatile substances... in the infrared spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
A spectral imaging system configured to obtain spectral measurements in a plurality of spectral regions is described herein. The spectral imaging system comprises at least one optical detecting unit having a spectral response corresponding to a plurality of absorption peaks of a target chemical species. In an embodiment, the optical detecting unit may comprise an optical detector array, and one or more optical filters configured to selectively pass light in a spectral range, wherein a convolution of the responsivity of the optical detector array and the transmission spectrum of the one or more optical filters has a first peak in mid-wave infrared spectral region between 3-4 microns corresponding to a first absorption peak of methane and a second peak in a long-wave infrared spectral region between 6-8 microns corresponding to a second absorption peak of methane.