Liquid Membrane Sensor Control for Dryness and Impurity Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor technologies face challenges in maintaining a stable liquid membrane, leading to performance degradation and reduced accuracy in detecting target substances, especially due to dryness issues and interference from impurities.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a liquid supply unit and a liquid discharge unit forms and maintains a liquid membrane on sensor elements, utilizing capillary phenomena to control the flow and absorption of liquids, ensuring consistent membrane formation and preventing dryness, while using graphene field effect transistors and a receptor to detect target substances with high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a liquid membrane is formed on sensor elements for detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but the liquid membrane dries out over time causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid discharge unit is configured to automatically discharge excess liquid from the liquid membrane without requiring external control or intervention. The system uses the weight of the liquid itself and capillary forces to drive the discharge process, enabling the liquid membrane to self-regulate its volume and maintain stability over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid discharge unit operates based on feedback from the liquid membrane's state. When liquid accumulates beyond the optimal level, the discharge unit activates to remove excess liquid, and when the liquid level is sufficient, discharge stops. This feedback mechanism maintains the liquid membrane within the optimal detection range.
2Reliability
If liquid is continuously supplied to maintain the liquid membrane, then dryness is prevented, but impurities accumulate and interfere with detection
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid discharge unit periodically removes excess liquid from the liquid membrane, discarding the portion that contains accumulated impurities. This selective discarding prevents impurity buildup while maintaining the essential liquid membrane structure needed for detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid supply unit continuously supplies fresh liquid to the liquid membrane, ensuring uninterrupted detection capability. This continuous supply maintains the liquid membrane's stability and prevents dryness, while the coordinated discharge unit removes impurity-laden excess liquid.
3Measurement precision
If the liquid membrane volume is increased to improve detection, then detection capability is enhanced, but liquid loss and impurity accumulation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid discharge unit removes only the excessive portion of liquid from the liquid membrane, not the entire volume. This partial discharge maintains the optimal liquid volume needed for detection while eliminating the harmful excess that leads to impurity accumulation and unnecessary liquid loss.
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 apparatus enables precise and repeated detection of target substances with high accuracy, minimizing interference from impurities and maintaining sensor performance over time by maintaining a stable liquid membrane, even with low water-soluble substances and varying gas sample compositions.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing capillary phenomena to control the flow and absorption of liquids
Implementation Method 2
utilizing capillary phenomena to control the flow and absorption of liquids
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an apparatus for maintaining liquid membrane includes a liquid supply unit which supplies a liquid onto a sensor element and forms a liquid membrane, and a liquid discharge unit which discharges the liquid in the liquid membrane.