Actuating-Sensing Module With Guided Airflow for Faster Gas Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable electronic devices face challenges in accurately monitoring environmental gases due to unstable and non-uniform airflow, leading to low sensitivity and prolonged response times for sensors.

Innovation Solution

An actuating and sensing module integrating a piezoelectric pump as an actuating device to stabilize and uniformly deliver airflow to sensors, enhancing monitoring precision and reducing response time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If natural convection is used to transfer airflow to the sensor, then the device structure remains simple, but the monitoring precision and response time deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A guiding channel is introduced as an intermediary component to transfer fluid between the actuating device and sensor. This channel ensures uniform and stable fluid delivery to the sensor, improving measurement precision while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs fluid dynamic principles by using a guiding channel to direct fluid flow and an actuating device to generate controlled airflow. This pneumatic approach ensures stable and uniform fluid delivery to the sensor, significantly improving monitoring precision compared to natural convection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Loss of time

If natural convection is used for airflow transfer, then the device structure remains simple, but the response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding channel acts as a mediator that accelerates fluid delivery to the sensor through controlled flow paths, reducing the time required for the sensor to detect environmental changes while keeping the device structure integrated and compact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating device performs preliminary action by generating controlled airflow before the sensor needs to detect, ensuring that fluid is delivered quickly and uniformly to the sensor surface, thereby reducing response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If natural convection transfers fluid to the sensor, then no additional components are needed, but the fluid delivery becomes unstable and non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid delivery stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding channel serves as a stable intermediary that channels fluid flow in a controlled and uniform manner to the sensor, ensuring consistent delivery conditions that improve measurement stability while adding only one integrated component to the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating device changes the fluid delivery parameters by generating controlled airflow with specific velocity and direction, transforming the unstable natural convection into a stable, uniform flow that reliably delivers fluid to the sensor surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 module ensures stable and uniform fluid delivery to sensors, improving monitoring accuracy and response speed, making real-time environmental monitoring more effective.

Implementation Method 1

When the at least one actuating device is enabled, a fluid is transferred to the at least one sensor through the at least one guiding channel, so that the fluid is sensed by the at least one sensor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid transfer through guiding channel:

Implementation Method 2

the fluid is sensed by the at least one sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSensor detection:

Data Source

PatentEP3428640B1Actuating and sensing module
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 MICROJET TECH
  • EP3428640B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3428640B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3428640B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An actuating and sensing module (1) includes a substrate (11), at least one sensor (12) and at least one actuating device (13). The at least one sensor (12) is disposed on the substrate (11). The at least one actuating device (13) is disposed on the substrate (11), and has at least one guiding channel (14) between the actuating device (13) and the substrate (11). The at least one guiding channel (14) is disposed on one side of the at least one sensor (12). When the at least one actuating device (13) is enabled, a fluid is transferred to the at least one sensor (12) through the at least one guiding channel (14), so that the fluid is sensed by the at least one sensor (12).