Modular Sensor Cassette Segmentation for Flexible Parameter Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor cassettes face challenges with different sensory elements requiring varying operating conditions and lack flexibility in expanding or reducing parameter panels, leading to the entire cassette being discarded if a single element is defective and limited adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A modular sensor cassette design with firmly connected sensor modules, each with a housing and measuring channel section, connected via fluidic coupling, and a memory element storing specific information about the cassette's structure, allowing for automated or manual transmission of module configurations to the analyzer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single integrated sensor cassette is used to determine multiple parameters, then all parameters can be measured simultaneously, but the entire cassette must be discarded if a single sensory element is defective
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cassette is divided into multiple independently functional sensor modules, each capable of determining specific parameters. This segmentation allows individual modules to be replaced without discarding the entire cassette, reducing waste while maintaining the ability to measure multiple parameters simultaneously through the combined functionality of remaining modules.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed sensor cassette design is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different parameter panels is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cassette is segmented into standardized sensor modules that can be independently selected and combined. This modular approach maintains manufacturing simplicity through standardized module designs while enabling adaptability to different parameter panels by configuring different module combinations based on specific measurement requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor modules are designed with universal interfaces and standardized configurations that allow them to function across different parameter panel requirements. The same basic module design can be used for various parameters by adjusting which modules are included in the cassette, achieving both manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
3Productivity
If all sensory elements are manufactured on a single carrier, then production is streamlined, but flexibility in selecting specific elements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The production process is segmented into manufacturing individual sensor modules separately, then assembling them into cassettes. This maintains production efficiency by allowing specialized manufacturing of each module type while providing flexibility in element selection through modular assembly configurations that can be tailored to specific parameter requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor cassette (1) which is usable in an analyser and has a continuous measuring channel (2) for receiving fluid media and has sensory elements (3, 4) for determining chemical and/or physical parameters of the fluid media. According to the invention, the sensor cassette (1) consists of at least two modules (5, 5', 6, 6') which are firmly connected to one another but produced separately, each of which has a housing (7, 8) and a measuring channel section (9, 10), wherein the measuring channel sections (9, 10) of adjacent modules are connected by a fluid coupling (11) to the continuous measuring channel (2) and wherein at least one of the modules (5, 6) which are connected to one another is constructed as a sensor module and has a sensor array with at least two sensory elements (3, 4). In addition, a storage element (19) is assigned to the sensor cassette, on which storage element information specific to the sensor cassette (1), in particular with respect to its assembly from the respective modules (5, 5', 6, 6'), is stored.