Gas Sensor Module Power Load Reduction via Capacitor Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
NDIR gas sensors have a high drive current, leading to an excessive load on the power source, which is not efficiently managed in existing gas sensor modules using incandescent lamps or MEMS heaters.
Innovation Solution
A gas sensor module incorporating an infrared light emitting diode, a quantum infrared sensor, a drive circuit, a charging circuit, and a capacitor, where the charging circuit supplies a smaller charge current to the capacitor, which then discharges to provide the drive current to the infrared light emitting diode, reducing the power source load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If an incandescent lamp or MEMS heater is used as a light source, then the gas sensor can detect gas concentration, but an excessive load is placed on the power source due to high drive current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling the incandescent lamp to operate in pulsed cycles rather than continuously. The control unit activates the lamp only during necessary detection intervals, allowing the system to maintain gas detection functionality while dramatically reducing average power consumption and load on the power source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-heating the incandescent lamp before actual gas detection begins. This preliminary heating phase ensures the lamp reaches optimal operating temperature and emits sufficient infrared radiation, enabling accurate gas concentration measurements without requiring continuous high-power operation during the detection process.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the drive current is reduced to lower power consumption, then the power source load decreases, but the light emission amount may become insufficient for accurate gas detection
Solution Approach 1:
By using periodic pulsed operation, the system delivers high current in short bursts to generate sufficient light emission intensity during active detection periods, while maintaining low average power consumption. The lamp receives full power during brief intervals when needed for detection, then rests during intervals between measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameters of current delivery by switching from continuous DC operation to pulsed AC operation. This parameter change allows the system to maintain high peak light emission intensity during active periods while reducing the time-averaged power consumption, effectively decoupling instantaneous intensity from average energy usage.
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
This configuration significantly reduces the power source load while maintaining the necessary light emission amount, achieving a shorter drive time and lower power consumption, with the infrared light emitting diode offering better responsiveness and sensitivity compared to traditional light sources.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared light emitting diode configured to emit infrared light in accordance with a drive current
Implementation Method 2
a quantum infrared sensor configured to detect infrared light that passes through a detection target gas
Implementation Method 3
a capacitor configured to charge by the charge current being supplied from the charging circuit and discharge by supplying the drive current to the drive circuit
Implementation Method 4
The gas sensor uses the absorption characteristics of the infrared light in the gas to detect the concentration of the gas
Data Source
AI summary
A gas sensor module (100) includes an infrared light emitting diode (10) configured to emit infrared light in accordance with a drive current, a quantum infrared sensor (20) configured to detect infrared light that passes through a detection target gas, a drive circuit (30) configured to output the drive current to the infrared light emitting diode (10), a charging circuit (50) to be connected to a power source and configured to output a charge current having a smaller current amount than the drive current, and a capacitor (40) configured to charge by the charge current being supplied from the charging circuit (50) and discharge by supplying the drive current to the drive circuit (30).