Gas Sensor Drift Correction Using Reference Signal Comparison

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas sensors, such as those described in JP 2017-156293A, require multiple heating cycles to correct for drift, leading to increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A gas sensor with a control circuit that corrects the output signal based on a reference value when the gas detection signal falls below a normal level, using a series of calculations to adjust the output signal to reflect the actual gas concentration, thereby canceling drift without repeated heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If thermistors are heated multiple times to correct drift, then measurement accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas concentration measurement accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary correction of drift by comparing the gas detection signal to a reference value before the measurement is finalized. This preliminary action allows the system to compensate for drift effects without requiring repeated heating cycles, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit continuously monitors the gas detection signal and compares it to a reference value, using this feedback to determine when drift correction is needed. By using feedback from the signal level comparison, the system can correct drift in real-time without requiring multiple heating cycles, thus improving measurement accuracy while reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If thermistors are heated multiple times to cancel drift influence, then measurement stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement stabilityVSAvoidcontrol circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs self-correction of drift by automatically comparing the gas detection signal to a reference value and adjusting the output accordingly. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain measurement stability without requiring complex external correction mechanisms or multiple heating cycles, thereby reducing overall device complexity while improving stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If repeated heating is performed to correct drift, then measurement reliability is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal process of repeated heating with an electronic signal processing approach. The control circuit corrects drift by comparing signal levels and adjusting measurements electronically, eliminating the need for repeated physical heating cycles. This substitution maintains measurement reliability while significantly reducing the time required for drift correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 effectively cancels drift in real-time, reducing power consumption and maintaining accurate gas concentration measurements.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor part configured to generate a gas detection signal in accordance with a concentration of a gas to be measured

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas concentration detection:

Implementation Method 2

a control circuit configured to generate an output signal indicating the concentration of the gas to be measured based on the gas detection signal, and configured to correct the output signal so that the output signal indicates a concentration of the gas to be measured higher than that indicated by the gas detection signal when a level of the gas detection signal output from the sensor part is less than a reference value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal comparison and correction:

Data Source

PatentUS12631585B2Gas sensor

Publication Date: 2026.05.19 TDK CORP

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a gas sensor that includes a sensor part configured to generate a gas detection signal in accordance with a concentration of a gas to be measured, and a control circuit configured to generate an output signal indicating the concentration of the gas to be measured based on the gas detection signal. The control circuit is configured to correct the output signal so that the output signal indicates a concentration of the gas to be measured higher than that indicated by the gas detection signal when a level of the gas detection signal output from the sensor part is less than a reference value corresponding to a level of the gas detection signal which is normally obtained when a concentration of the gas to be measured is a concentration value in normal time.