Integrated Gas Sensor with Discontinuous Membrane

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gas measurement systems are bulky and heavy, requiring multiple devices to perform pressure, flow, and gas analysis, which limits their compactness and efficiency in clinical and home care settings.

Innovation Solution

A gas sensor with a membrane and heating element, featuring temperature sensor structures on either side of the membrane, allowing for precise heat transfer analysis through the gas, reducing system size and weight while enabling simultaneous measurement of gas properties like composition, pressure, and flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate devices are used for pressure measurement, flow measurement, and gas analysis, then measurement functionality is comprehensive, but system weight and installation space increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement functionalityVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple measurement functions (pressure measurement, flow measurement, and gas analysis) into a single integrated gas sensor device. The sensor integrates a membrane structure with heating elements and temperature sensor structures, allowing simultaneous measurement of different gas properties in one compact unit rather than requiring separate bulk devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas sensor is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform pressure measurement, flow measurement, and gas composition analysis simultaneously. The membrane structure serves multiple purposes: it acts as a pressure-sensitive element, a flow channel, and a support for thermal measurement components, enabling one device to replace multiple specialized instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate devices are used for pressure measurement, flow measurement, and gas analysis, then measurement functionality is comprehensive, but installation space increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement functionalityVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas sensor employs a nested structure where temperature sensor structures are arranged on both sides of the membrane, with heating elements positioned on the membrane surface. This nested arrangement allows multiple measurement components to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, maximizing functional integration within a minimal footprint suitable for compact medical ventilation systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Use of energy by moving object

If heat is conducted primarily via the membrane, then thermal transfer is efficient, but measurement accuracy decreases due to parasitic heat conduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating discontinuation areas in the membrane where the membrane material is interrupted or thinned. These localized modifications redirect heat conduction pathways away from the membrane and toward the gas phase, ensuring that thermal measurement occurs primarily through the gas being measured rather than through parasitic conduction via the membrane structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The gas itself acts as an intermediary medium for heat transfer. By creating discontinuation areas in the membrane, the patent ensures that heat must transfer through the gas to reach the temperature sensor structures, making the gas the dominant thermal pathway. This eliminates the membrane as a parasitic heat conduction route and uses the gas as the intended thermal mediator for accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 gas sensor achieves a compact design with precise flow measurement and quick gas analysis, reducing inaccuracies and system weight by utilizing the heat transfer mechanism through the gas to detect properties, thus improving measurement efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

conducting heat via a gas mixture, wherein more heat is conducted from the heating element to a temperature sensor structure via the gas mixture surrounding the gas sensor than via a membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11454622B2Gas sensor, and method for operating the gas sensor

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 HAHN SCHICKARD GESELLSCHAFT FUR ANGEWANDTE FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

Gas sensor, including a membrane and a heating element arranged on the membrane between a first discontinuation area of the membrane and a second discontinuation area of the membrane. The first discontinuation area of the membrane includes at least one discontinuation of the membrane and the second discontinuation area of the membrane includes at least one discontinuation of the membrane. The gas sensor further includes a first temperature sensor structure arranged at least partially on the membrane on a side of the first discontinuation area of the membrane opposite to the heating element, and a second temperature sensor structure arranged at least partially on the membrane on a side of the second discontinuation area of the membrane opposite to the heating element.