Multichannel IR Gas Sensor Layout for Mechanical Disturbance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infrared gas sensors are susceptible to mechanical disturbances, leading to inaccuracies in gas fraction determination due to differential effects on the useful and reference signal sensors.
Innovation Solution
The infrared beam is split into at least four partial beams, with sensors oriented symmetrically to compensate for mechanical loads by using symmetrical orientation and signal processing, such as forming geometric or arithmetic mean values, to cancel or reduce the effects of mechanical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single infrared beam is split into two partial beams with useful signal and reference signal sensors, then the gas component can be detected, but mechanical disturbances cause differential effects on the sensors leading to measurement inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The single infrared beam is divided into at least four partial beams using a beam splitter arrangement, with each beam directed to a separate sensor. This segmentation allows symmetric arrangement of sensors to compensate for mechanical disturbances while maintaining gas detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric beam splitting into at least four partial beams with different directions, followed by symmetric orientation of sensors relative to the irradiation axis. This combination allows differential signal processing that cancels mechanical disturbance effects while preserving gas component measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are oriented symmetrically to compensate for mechanical loads, then measurement accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to multiple beam paths and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple infrared partial beams are combined through a common beam splitter arrangement that directs them to symmetrically oriented sensors. The evaluation device then combines signals from these sensors, merging the detection functions while maintaining mechanical disturbance compensation through symmetric geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The symmetric sensor arrangement serves dual purposes: detecting gas components through infrared absorption and compensating for mechanical disturbances through differential signal processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate compensation mechanisms, managing complexity while improving precision.
3Reliability
If at least four infrared partial beams are used with symmetric sensor orientation, then mechanical disturbance compensation is achieved, but the beam splitter arrangement and optical path complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam splitter arrangement divides the incident infrared beam into at least four partial beams with different directions. This segmentation enables symmetric sensor placement that compensates for mechanical disturbances while distributing the optical complexity across multiple manageable paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the beam splitting from two dimensions (two beams) to at least four dimensions (four beams with different directions). This dimensional expansion creates geometric symmetry that provides robust compensation for mechanical disturbances from various directions while managing optical complexity through systematic arrangement.
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 gas sensor achieves higher accuracy by compensating for mechanical loads, ensuring precise gas component detection despite mechanical disturbances.
Implementation Method 1
a beam splitter arrangement adapted to split an infrared beam incident on the beam splitter arrangement along a predetermined irradiation axis into a plurality of infrared partial beams
Implementation Method 2
a first band filter arranged in a first beam path of a first infrared partial beam and having a predetermined first bandwidth and having a transmission maximum at a predetermined first useful signal wavelength
Implementation Method 3
a first infrared useful signal sensor arranged in the first beam path of the first infrared partial beam behind the first band filter
Implementation Method 4
the first band filter has a transmission maximum at the infrared absorption wavelength of CO2 as the useful signal wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-channel infrared gas sensor including a beam splitter arrangement, which splits an infrared beam into four infrared partial beams, four bandpass filters and four infrared sensors, respectively one for each infrared partial beam at a first used signal wavelength. The directions of propagation of the four infrared partial beams differ from one another in pairwise fashion. A first and second infrared used signal sensor are arranged so that respective used signal sensor detection areas have a symmetric orientation with respect to a used signal sensor plane of symmetry situated between the detection areas. A first and second infrared reference signal sensor are arranged so that respective reference signal sensor detection areas have a symmetric orientation with respect to a reference signal sensor plane of symmetry situated between the reference signal sensor detection areas. No signal sensor detection area is orthogonal to its respective signal sensor plane of symmetry.