Magnetic Chip Installation Device for SPR Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing SPR measurement devices face challenges in smoothly exchanging measuring chips due to difficulties in adhering and removing chips with matching films, leading to issues with air intrusion, parallelism maintenance, and incomplete removal of matching oils, which hinders efficient measurement and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A measuring chip installation/removal device utilizing a chip carrier with first and second magnets that generate a repulsive force to securely attach and detach the chip from the SPR measurement device's surface, ensuring easy exchange and maintaining chip parallelism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If matching oil is used to adhere the measuring chip to the prism, then refraction and reflection of light are suppressed, but the measuring chip cannot be easily removed and matching oil remains trapped between the chip and prism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the matching oil from the interface between the chip and prism by introducing a matching film that completely covers the chip surface. This allows the chip to be removed without leaving matching oil trapped, while still maintaining optical connection quality during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The matching film is designed as a disposable component that is applied to the chip surface and then removed along with the chip. This eliminates the need to clean residual matching oil from the prism surface, simplifying the operational process.
2Ease of operation
If matching film is used instead of matching oil, then chip removal becomes easier, but air intrusion occurs between the chip and matching film and parallelism cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adhesion of matching oil with a magnetic attachment system. Magnets are embedded in the chip carrier and interact with magnets in the prism to securely hold the chip in place, eliminating the need for mechanical pressing that causes air intrusion and parallelism issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary force between the chip carrier and prism, providing uniform pressure distribution that maintains chip parallelism while allowing easy removal. This mediates the interaction between the chip and prism without direct mechanical contact.
3Manufacturing precision
If the measuring chip is pressed down to maintain parallelism with the matching film, then chip parallelism is improved, but air intrusion increases and removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressing with magnetic attraction to hold the chip in place. The magnetic force distributes uniformly across the chip surface, maintaining parallelism without creating localized pressure points that trap air. The chip can be easily removed when the magnetic field is deactivated.
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 device allows for stable and efficient installation and removal of measuring chips, preventing air intrusion and ensuring complete removal of matching oils, thereby facilitating smooth chip exchange and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnet (33A, 33B) provided in the chip carrier (30), and a second magnet (42A, 42B) provided in the chip carrier guide (40). Orientation of a magnetic force received by the first magnet (33A, 33B) from the second magnet (42A, 42B) is reversed by displacing the chip carrier guide (40)
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring chip installation/removal device of the present invention secures and removes a measuring chip to and from the top surface of an SPR measurement device that measures a specimen in the measuring chip by surface plasmon resonance. The measuring chip installation/removal device includes: a chip carrier on which the measuring chip is mounted; a chip carrier guide that guides the chip carrier on the top surface; and a first magnet provided in the chip carrier, and a second magnet is provided in the chip carrier guide. Orientation of a magnetic force received by the first magnet from the second magnet is reversed by displacing the chip carrier guide, so that the chip carrier is secured to or removed from the top surface.