Two-Channel Gas Sensor Filter Wheel for Simultaneous UV IR Calibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-channel gas concentration measuring devices face limitations in simultaneous calibration and control due to the need for separate spectral channels, which increases manufacturing costs and susceptibility to errors when trying to combine UV and IR paths on the same optical path.
Innovation Solution
A two-channel measuring device design where a single filter wheel arrangement is positioned between the light sources and the optical unit, allowing filters to be swiveled into both beam paths for calibration, with pairs of openings enabling simultaneous control of both channels without requiring separate control units for each spectral range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single filter wheel is installed where both spectral channels are combined on the same optical path, then manufacturing costs are reduced and availability is improved, but the IR path cannot be checked simultaneously with the UV path
Solution Approach 1:
The filter wheel is segmented with distinct pairs of openings: one pair for UV wavelength filters and another pair for IR wavelength filters. This segmentation allows the single filter wheel to accommodate different spectral ranges separately, enabling simultaneous calibration of both UV and IR channels without requiring separate filter wheels for each spectral range.
Solution Approach 2:
The single filter wheel is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating both UV and IR wavelength filters in separate pairs of openings. This multi-functional design allows one filter wheel to serve both spectral channels, reducing the total number of components while maintaining the ability to calibrate and control both UV and IR paths simultaneously.
2Productivity
If separate control filter wheels are installed for UV and IR channels, then simultaneous calibration is possible, but manufacturing costs increase and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functionality for both UV and IR channels into a single filter wheel assembly. By combining what would traditionally require two separate filter wheels into one unified structure with multiple pairs of openings, the design reduces device complexity while maintaining simultaneous calibration capability through the segmented opening arrangement.
3Volume of moving object
If filters are traversed at an angle to the beam path, then compactness is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter wheel structure utilizes angular/rotational positioning in addition to radial placement of filters. By arranging filters in pairs within openings at different angular positions on the wheel, the design achieves compact space utilization while maintaining precise alignment through the rotational dimension, reducing the need for extremely high manufacturing precision in static positioning.
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 design allows for separate control of optical channels on the same optical path, reducing manufacturing costs and increasing availability by using a single filter wheel for both UV and IR channels, while maintaining structural simplicity and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a filter wheel arrangement with which the filters can be swiveled into the two beam paths of the light sources for calibration or function control
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a measuring device with two spectral channels for determining gas concentrations, comprising a first and a second light source (12 and 14) whose light beams (20 and 22) are guided along the same optical path (26) and into a measuring section (16), a receiving arrangement (36) that receives the light from the light sources (12 and 14) after passing through the measuring section (16), and an evaluation unit (42) for evaluating the received signals and determining a gas concentration therefrom. To provide an improved two-channel measuring device that is as simple as possible in design and yet allows for simultaneous verification measurements, it is proposed that a filter wheel arrangement (50) be provided, with which filters (G1, G2, I1, I2, K1, K2) are inserted into the two beam paths (20, 22) of the light sources (12, 14) for calibration and/or verification.Functional control can be swivelled in, wherein the filter wheel arrangement (50) is arranged in the beam path (20, 22) between the two light sources (12, 14) and the optical unit (24), and that the filter wheel arrangement (50) has at least two pairs of apertures (52-1, 52-2; 52-3, 52-4; 52-5, 52-6; 52-7, 52-8) each with a first (52-1, 52-3, 52-5, 52-7) and second (52-2, 52-4, 52-6, 52-8) aperture, and the pairs of apertures (52-1, 52-2; 52-3, 52-4; 52-5, 52-6; 52-7, 52-8) are arranged such that when the filter wheel arrangement (50) is rotated about an axis of rotation (56) each of the pairs can be pivoted into the two beam paths (20, 22) so that one of the two beam paths (20 or 22) passes through the first opening (52-1, 52-3, 52-5, 52-7) and the other beam path (22 or 20) simultaneously passes through the corresponding second opening (52-2, 52-4, 52-6, 52-8).