Humidity Sensor Heating and Abnormality Detection Under Condensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing physical quantity measurement systems face issues with condensation in hygrometers under high-humidity environments and the inability to detect abnormalities in measuring environments for humidity sensors.

Innovation Solution

A physical quantity measurement system equipped with a temperature and humidity sensor, a heat generator, and a detector that uses heat generation to prevent condensation and detects abnormalities by monitoring humidity standard deviations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a hygrometer is used to measure water vapor concentration in high-humidity environments, then humidity measurement capability is provided, but condensation occurs in the hygrometer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater vapor concentration measurementVSAvoidcondensation in hygrometer
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heat generator performs a heat generating operation before humidity measurement to warm the hygrometer and prevent condensation from occurring during the measurement process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature of the hygrometer is changed by heating it to a temperature higher than the dew point temperature, thereby changing the physical state conditions to prevent condensation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If humidity measurement is performed in high-humidity environments, then water vapor concentration data is obtained, but abnormality detection capability is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidity measurementVSAvoidabnormality detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detector uses feedback from the heat generator's operation state and humidity measured values to determine whether condensation has occurred, enabling abnormality detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own measurement data and operational parameters to self-diagnose condensation abnormalities without requiring external monitoring systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 system effectively prevents condensation and detects environmental abnormalities, ensuring accurate humidity measurements in high-humidity conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The heat generator performs a heat generating operation that generates heat to warm the temperature and humidity sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat generation: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4682525A1Physical quantity measurement system
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4682525A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4682525A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4682525A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The problem to be overcome by the present disclosure is to detect the presence or absence of any abnormality in a measuring environment. A physical quantity measurement system (1) includes a temperature and humidity sensor (16), a heat generator (17), a heat generation controller (203), and a detector (such as a first detector 208). The temperature and humidity sensor (16) measures a humidity and temperature of gas mixtures flowing through a flow channel (101). The heat generator (17) performs a heat generating operation that generates heat to warm the temperature and humidity sensor (16). The heat generation controller (203) controls the heat generating operation by the heat generator (17) based on a result of comparison between a humidity measured value of the gas mixtures that has been measured by the temperature and humidity sensor (16) and a threshold value. The detector detects any abnormality in a measuring environment for the temperature and humidity sensor (16). The detector detects the occurrence of the abnormality when a standard deviation based on the humidity measured value measured by the temperature and humidity sensor (16) is greater than a reference value while heat generator (17) is in an ON state where the heat generator (17) is performing the heat generating operation.