Light-Activated Gas Sensor in Mobile Device Backlight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas-sensing technologies for mobile devices are unable to effectively sense gases at room temperature, limiting their portability and functionality for health and environmental monitoring applications.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a gas sensor with a gas-sensing material layer activated by visible light from a backlight module, utilizing metal oxides or graphene oxide, and a filter membrane, allowing for resistance value measurement to detect volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide, within a mobile device casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gas sensor is integrated into a mobile device for portable gas sensing, then the portability and convenience are improved, but the ability to sense gas at room temperature deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameter of the gas sensor from high temperature to room temperature by introducing a light-activated gas-sensing material layer. This material layer can be activated by visible light from the backlight module, enabling gas sensing at room temperature without requiring high-temperature heating elements, thus resolving the contradiction between portability and operating temperature requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional thermal-based gas sensing mechanism with a light-based activation mechanism. Instead of using heating elements to activate the gas-sensing material, the invention uses visible light from the backlight module to activate the light-activated gas-sensing material layer, substituting a mechanical/thermal system with an optical system to achieve room temperature operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a light-activated gas-sensing material layer is used to enable room temperature gas sensing, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the backlight module, which is already a necessary component for mobile device display, to serve an additional function of activating the gas-sensing material layer. This eliminates the need for separate light sources or heating elements, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining energy efficiency for gas sensing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the backlight module's light emission function with the gas sensing activation function. By positioning the light-activated gas-sensing material layer to receive visible light from the backlight module, the invention combines two functions into one system, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall device structure despite the innovative sensing mechanism.
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 portable gas sensing at room temperature with low energy consumption, flexibility in manufacturing, and cost-effectiveness, while maintaining device functionality and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The gas-sensing material layer receives a visible light emitted from the backlight module and is activated by the visible light
Implementation Method 2
An existence of the gas is determined by measuring a change of a resistance value of the activated gas-sensing material layer
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device having a gas-sensing function including a case body, a backlight module and a gas sensor is provided. The case body has at least one through hole. The backlight module is disposed in the case body. The gas sensor is disposed in the case body. The gas sensor includes a gas-sensing material layer for sensing a gas. The gas-sensing material layer receives a visible light emitted from the backlight module and is activated by the visible light.