Refractory Plasmonic Metamaterial Sensor for Harsh Environment Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ambient condition sensors fail in harsh environments due to electronic component failures at high temperatures, requiring complex and costly cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A plasmonic sensor system utilizing continuous and nanostructured refractory plasmonic transition metal nitrides with refractory dielectric layers as spacer and oxidation-resistant coatings, along with an electromagnetic radiation source and detector to measure reflectance changes, enabling remote sensing of temperature, strain, corrosion, creep, or fatigue without direct exposure to harsh conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electronic sensors are deployed in high temperature environments, then temperature measurement capability is improved, but electronic component reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic sensing components with an optical sensing system that uses a light source, optical path, and detector to measure temperature through optical property changes of the target object. This substitution eliminates electronic components from the harsh environment, solving the reliability problem while maintaining temperature measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical measurement system that indirectly measures temperature by detecting changes in optical properties (reflectance, absorption, emission) of the target object rather than directly measuring with electronic sensors in the harsh environment. This intermediary approach protects against electronic component failure.
2Reliability
If cooling systems are added to protect electronic components, then component failure is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes electronic sensing components from the harsh high-temperature environment entirely, replacing them with an optical measurement system. This elimination of electronic components from the environment eliminates the need for cooling systems, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If cooling systems are implemented, then electronic component stability is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electronic temperature sensing with an optical measurement system that uses light interaction with the target object to determine temperature. This replacement eliminates the need for expensive cooling infrastructure while maintaining component stability, thereby reducing system cost.
4Reliability
If optical properties of refractory plasmonic materials are utilized, then sensing durability in harsh environments is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes materials with specific optical parameters (refractory plasmonic materials, metamaterials) that exhibit stable optical properties at high temperatures. By selecting materials with appropriate optical constants and thermal stability parameters, the system achieves durability in harsh environments while the manufacturing complexity is managed through standard optical coating and material deposition techniques.
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 provides durable and cost-effective monitoring of physical parameters in extreme environments by leveraging the optical properties of refractory plasmonic materials, maintaining stability and sensitivity across elevated temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
refractory plasmonic transition metal nitrides that exhibit plasmonic resonances in the visible, infrared and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum
Implementation Method 2
a detector that measures the reflected signal from the metamaterial/metasurface
Implementation Method 3
refractory dielectric layers that can be utilized as spacer layers and oxidation resistant coatings
Data Source
AI summary
An optical sensor system, comprising refractory plasmonic elements that can withstand temperatures exceeding 2500° C. in chemically aggressive and harsh environments that impose stress, strain and vibrations. A plasmonic metamaterial or metasurface, engineered to have a specific spectral and angular response, exhibits optical reflection characteristics that are altered by varying physical environmental conditions including but not limited to temperature, surface chemistry or elastic stress, strain and other types of mechanical load. The metamaterial or metasurface comprises a set of ultra-thin structured layers with a total thickness of less than tens of microns that can be deployed onto surfaces of devices operating in harsh environmental conditions. The top interface of the metamaterial or metasurface is illuminated with a light source, either through free space or via an optical fiber, and the reflected signal is detected employing remote detectors.