Gas Sensor Outgassing Compensation via Temperature Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with integrated gas sensors face measurement inaccuracies due to outgassing of target gases from device components, which complicates the determination of ambient gas concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A method and electronic device configuration that utilize a gas sensor with a heating mechanism and temperature control to distinguish between environmental and device-originating target gas concentrations, allowing for separate measurement and subtraction of device-originating gas contributions, using multiple measurements at varying temperatures to establish a temperature-dependent characteristic for device-originating gas concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a gas sensor is integrated into an electronic device for measuring ambient gas concentration, then the device can detect environmental gas levels, but the device components themselves outgas target gas which falsifies the measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing measurements at different temperatures before actual operation to establish a baseline of device-originating outgassing. The system conducts temperature-dependent measurements during a recharge process (when heating occurs) to characterize the device's own gas emissions, then uses this baseline to compensate for outgassing during normal operation, thereby eliminating the harmful effect on measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measurements at varying temperatures are conducted to establish temperature-dependent characteristics, then device-originating gas concentrations can be distinguished from environmental concentrations, but the measurement process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own recharge process (battery heating) to automatically perform the temperature-dependent measurements needed for calibration. Instead of requiring external calibration equipment or separate measurement phases, the device leverages its inherent thermal cycles during charging to self-characterize its outgassing behavior, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If a heating mechanism is used to control sensor temperature for distinguishing gas sources, then temperature-dependent gas concentration characteristics can be established, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs temperature-dependent measurements continuously during the recharge process without interrupting the charging operation. By utilizing the continuous thermal cycle that naturally occurs during battery charging, the system maintains continuous useful action for calibration purposes without requiring separate heating phases or additional energy input beyond what is already consumed during normal charging.
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
Accurately determines the environmental target gas concentration by isolating and subtracting device-originating gas contributions, improving measurement precision and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a gas sensor sensitive to a target gas and arranged in or at the electronic device to detect a concentration of the target gas
Implementation Method 2
A heater is activated for heating a sensitive layer of a chemical sensor contained in the portable electronic device
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device comprises a gas sensor sensitive to a target gas and arranged inside a housing of the electronic device or attached thereto, to detect a concentration of the target gas in an environment of the electronic device. A processing unit is provided and configured to determine a concentration of the target gas outgassed from one or more components of the housing or inside the housing dependent on one or more first measurement results supplied by the gas sensor in response to one or more first measurements, and to determine the environmental target gas concentration dependent on the determined outgassed target gas concentration and dependent on a second measurement result (ROM) supplied by the gas sensor in response to a second measurement (OM). Outgassing is understood as the release of chemical substances from the one or more components.