Miniaturized Gas Sensor With High Refractive Index Optical Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas sensors that utilize infrared light absorption characteristics for detection face challenges in miniaturization while maintaining accurate measurement capabilities, as simply miniaturizing optical filters does not ensure sufficient optical performance.
Innovation Solution
A gas sensor configuration that includes a light emitter, a detector, a light guide with a mirror, and an optical filter with a refractive index of 1.5 or more, where the optical filter is designed to limit the transmission wavelength band and has specific dimensions and positioning to optimize light path and reflection, allowing for effective miniaturization and accurate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the gas sensor is miniaturized, then the size is reduced, but the optical performance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter of the optical filter base material to 1.5 or more, which fundamentally alters the optical properties and enables effective light wavelength selection in a miniaturized configuration. This parameter change allows the small sensor to maintain sufficient optical performance by utilizing the enhanced light-bending capability of high-refractive-index materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the optical system: the optical filter uses a base material with refractive index of 1.5 or more for wavelength selection, while the light guide uses a material with refractive index of 1.35 or more for light transmission. This local differentiation of material properties optimizes each component's function within the miniaturized sensor.
2Volume of moving object
If the optical filter size is reduced, then the sensor can be miniaturized, but the light transmission control becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the refractive index parameter of the optical filter base material to 1.5 or more, which enables the small-sized filter to effectively control light wavelength transmission. This parameter change compensates for the reduced size by enhancing the material's ability to bend and filter light, maintaining measurement precision despite miniaturization.
3Reliability
If the refractive index of the optical filter base material is increased to 1.5 or more, then the light path control is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a refractive index of 1.5 or more for the optical filter base material, which balances optical performance and manufacturability. This parameter threshold enables effective light path control in miniaturized sensors while remaining achievable with conventional optical materials and manufacturing processes.
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 configuration enables miniaturization of gas sensors while ensuring accurate measurement by optimizing the optical filter's shape, refractive index, and positioning, thereby improving the amount of light reaching the intended path and enhancing measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a base material of the optical filter has a refractive index of 1.5 or more in the transmission wavelength band
Implementation Method 2
an optical filter that is disposed in the optical path to limit a transmission wavelength band of the light
Implementation Method 3
a light guide that at least includes a mirror and reflects the light to form an optical path in which the light emitted from the light emitter passes through an introduced gas
Implementation Method 4
utilizing the infrared light absorption characteristics of a gas to be detected to detect a concentration of a gas to be detected
Implementation Method 5
a light emitter that emits light as infrared light
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a miniaturized gas sensor and optical device enabling accurate measurement. A gas sensor (10) includes a light emitter (11) emitting light as infrared light, a detector (12) detecting a signal based on light from the light emitter, a light guide (17) at least including a mirror and reflects the light to form an optical path in which the light from the light emitter passes through an introduced gas and an optical filter (16) disposed in an optical path to limit a transmission wavelength band of the light, in which a base material of the optical filter has a refractive index of 1.5 or more in the transmission wavelength band and the optical filter satisfies 0.3<(T/Lf)<1.3 where T [mm] is a thickness of the optical filter and Lf [mm] is a maximum length of the optical filter in a longitudinal direction in a planar view.