Gas Sensor Closed Loop Heater for Power and Size
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas sensors face challenges in efficiently detecting target gases due to limitations in heating mechanisms, which affect sensitivity and accuracy, particularly in environments with varying humidity and temperature, leading to sensor degeneration and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A gas sensor design incorporating a piezoelectric substrate with a resonator and a heater having a symmetric, closed conduction loop structure integrated on its surface, which efficiently heats the sensing material while minimizing size and power consumption, and includes a sensing film that interacts with target gases, allowing for precise detection and reduced degeneration through localized heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional heater structure is used to heat the sensing material, then the sensing material can be heated, but the power consumption increases and the sensor is prone to degeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is designed with a closed conduction loop structure that concentrates heating action specifically at the sensing material region. The heater electrodes form a continuous loop that encircles the sensing material, creating localized high-temperature zones exactly where needed for gas detection while minimizing heat dissipation to surrounding areas, thus reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater structure employs asymmetric electrode arrangement where the heater electrodes are positioned closer to the sensing material on one side while maintaining electrical continuity through the closed loop. This asymmetric configuration optimizes heat distribution to the sensing material while preventing excessive heating in other regions, balancing effective heating with power efficiency.
2Temperature
If the heater structure is expanded to improve heating efficiency, then the sensing material heating is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater electrodes are arranged in a nested closed loop configuration where inner electrode loops are positioned within outer electrode loops. This nested structure maximizes the heating effect on the sensing material by creating multiple concentric heat zones within a compact footprint, improving heating efficiency without proportionally increasing the device area.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater design transitions from a planar electrode arrangement to a three-dimensional closed conduction loop structure that wraps around the sensing material. This dimensional change allows the heater to deliver effective heating from multiple directions simultaneously, achieving superior heating efficiency within a minimal planar footprint.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the heater is designed to provide uniform heating, then the temperature distribution is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closed conduction loop heater structure creates localized heating zones that are strategically positioned to achieve uniform temperature distribution across the sensing material. By concentrating heating action at specific points along the closed loop, the design achieves overall uniformity without requiring continuous heating across the entire heater structure, thus reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The closed conduction loop provides continuous electrical path for current flow, ensuring uninterrupted heating action around the entire sensing material perimeter. This continuous heating action maintains uniform temperature distribution more effectively than segmented heater designs, while the closed loop efficiency reduces energy losses and overall power consumption.
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 solution enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of gas detection by efficiently heating the sensing material, preventing sensor degeneration, and reducing power consumption, thereby improving the overall performance of the gas sensor and related devices.
Implementation Method 1
the IDT electrodes configured to generate a surface acoustic wave in a center region of the electrode region, the surface acoustic wave propagating in a first horizontal direction
Implementation Method 2
a piezoelectric substrate; a resonator in an electrode region on an upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate
Implementation Method 3
a heater in an edge region surrounding the electrode region on the upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, the heater including heater electrodes configured to heat the sensing film
Data Source
AI summary
A gas sensor includes a piezoelectric substrate; a resonator in an electrode region on an upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, the resonator including interdigital transducer (IDT) electrodes and IDT pads connected to the IDT electrodes, the IDT electrodes configured to generate a surface acoustic wave in a center region of the electrode region, the surface acoustic wave propagating in a first horizontal direction; a sensing film in the center region of the electrode region on the upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, the sensing film including a sensing material that interacts with a target gas; and a heater in an edge region surrounding the electrode region on the upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, the heater including heater electrodes configured to heat the sensing film and heater pads connected to the heater electrodes, the heater electrodes and the heater pads forming a closed conduction loop.