Lubricant Deterioration Sensing by Multi-Color Light Ratio
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid deterioration determination devices require complex configurations to continuously record brightness or maximum color differences, making them cumbersome for determining lubricant deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A liquid deterioration determination device with a simple configuration that uses a light emitter and receiver integrated within a casing to emit and detect light components of different colors, allowing for the determination of lubricant deterioration without continuous detection, utilizing a ratio of detection values to assess the degree of deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If brightness or maximum color difference is used to determine liquid deterioration, then deterioration can be detected, but the determination unit configuration becomes complicated due to continuous recording requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for deterioration determination by using multiple light receivers to detect specific wavelength components (red, green, blue) simultaneously. Instead of continuously recording all brightness data and processing it later, the system extracts the key color ratio information directly at the detection stage, simplifying the determination unit while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of color ratios (such as R/G, G/B, or R/B) within the light receiver or control unit before deterioration determination. By pre-processing the optical signals to compute the relevant ratios directly, the system eliminates the need for complex continuous recording and post-processing, reducing the determination unit complexity while preserving measurement precision.
2Reliability
If continuous recording of detection values is implemented to determine deterioration, then accurate temporal changes can be captured, but the device configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of continuous physical recording with an optical-mathematical approach. By using multiple light receivers to simultaneously detect different wavelength components and calculating color ratios in real-time, the system achieves reliable deterioration determination without the need for continuous temporal recording infrastructure, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple light receivers detecting different wavelength components are used, then color ratio calculation becomes possible, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each light receiver unit multi-functional by designing them to detect specific wavelength bands (red, green, blue) that are universally applicable for color ratio calculations. This standardized multi-functional design allows the same type of light receiver to serve multiple purposes in the color determination process, reducing overall device complexity compared to using specialized single-function detectors for each wavelength.
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
Enables accurate and straightforward determination of lubricant deterioration using a simple setup, improving the reliability and ease of use compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter configured to emit the light into the liquid and a light receiver configured to receive detection light transmitted through the liquid or detection light reflected by the liquid
Implementation Method 2
the light receiver being configured to output a first detection value representing an amount of a light component of a first color included in the detection light transmitted through the liquid or the detection light reflected by the liquid and a second detection value representing an amount of a light component of a second color different from the first color
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A liquid deterioration determination device (30) includes a light receiver (33) that receives detection light transmitted through a liquid and a determination unit (37a) that determines a degree of deterioration of the liquid. The light receiver (33) outputs a first detection value (R) representing the amount of light of a first color included in the detection light transmitted through the liquid and a second detection value (B) representing an amount of light of a second color different from the first color and included in the detection light transmitted through the liquid. The determination unit (37a) uses a ratio of the second detection value (B) to the first detection value (R) to determine the degree of deterioration of the liquid.