Gas Sensor with Dual Capacitance and Resistance Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensors for detecting gaseous agents used in sterilization, fumigation, and decontamination are limited by their ability to provide only single responses to environmental changes, requiring multiple sensors and complex arrays, which are costly and uneconomical to fabricate, and lack the capability for reversible detection without electrical contact.
Innovation Solution
A sensor with a transducer featuring an electrical resonant circuit and a semiconducting metal oxide sensing material coated with a polymer matrix, capable of exhibiting both capacitance and resistance responses to gaseous agents, allowing for simultaneous detection of multiple properties without the need for electrical contact and with reversible sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sensor array with multiple identical transducers coated with different sensing materials is used, then the capability to sense multiple properties is improved, but the fabrication complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single transducer that can detect multiple properties (capacitance and resistance) simultaneously. The sensing material is engineered to exhibit both capacitance and resistance responses when exposed to gaseous agents, eliminating the need for multiple specialized sensors and simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining versatile detection capabilities
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors with different responses are fabricated to sense multiple properties, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple sensors into a single integrated transducer. By combining both capacitance and resistance sensing capabilities in one device with a single sensing material layer, the invention achieves multi-property detection accuracy while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost compared to producing separate sensors for each property
3Device complexity
If a single sensor is designed to exhibit multiple responses, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sensing capability may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by engineering the sensing material to exhibit different electrical properties (capacitance and resistance) in response to gaseous agent exposure. By carefully selecting and designing the sensing material composition and structure, the single transducer can simultaneously provide multiple distinct electrical responses, achieving both structural simplicity and versatile sensing capability
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
Enables efficient, cost-effective, and reversible detection of gaseous agents, such as chlorine dioxide, by using a single sensor that can respond to multiple properties, simplifying fabrication and improving detection accuracy across various environments.
Implementation Method 1
the sensing material is configured to simultaneously exhibit a capacitance response and a resistance response when exposed to a gaseous agent
Implementation Method 2
the sensing material is configured to simultaneously exhibit a capacitance response and a resistance response when exposed to a gaseous agent
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3~5A
Figure 5B~5C
AI summary
A sensor 10 for detecting gaseous agents has a transducer, which includes an electrical resonant circuit that forms an antenna 14. The sensor 10 further includes a sensing material 12 that is disposed on at least a portion of the transducer. The sensing material 12 is configured to simultaneously exhibit a capacitance response and a resistance response in the presence of a gaseous agent. The sensor 10 may be reversible, battery free, and may require no electrical contact with a sensor reader.