Moisture Detector with Spongy Absorbing Material and Dissolving Membrane

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing moisture detectors using dry charged catalytic accumulators are susceptible to leakage currents when exposed to low humidity levels, which can prevent sufficient power generation for activating connected electronics.

Innovation Solution

Encapsulating the dry charged catalytic accumulator in an absorbing material with spongy absorption properties and adding an intermediate layer between electrodes, along with a thin membrane that dissolves at 75% RH, ensures controlled activation and avoids leakage currents by accumulating and releasing humidity only when saturated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the dry charged accumulator is exposed to small amounts of moisture, then the sensor can detect moisture presence, but the power generated is insufficient to power connected electronics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture detection capabilityVSAvoidpower generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbing material is placed in advance to accumulate moisture before the accumulator is activated. This preliminary moisture accumulation ensures that when the accumulator becomes wet, it receives sufficient moisture to generate adequate power for electronics, while still maintaining the ability to detect smaller moisture amounts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The absorbing material acts as an intermediary between the moisture source and the dry charged accumulator. It mediates the moisture transfer by absorbing and concentrating moisture, ensuring the accumulator receives enough moisture for reliable power generation while the sensor can still detect lower moisture levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If the dry charged accumulator is directly exposed to moisture, then power is generated, but leakage currents occur when only partially saturated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generationVSAvoidleakage currents

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbing material performs preliminary moisture accumulation and concentration before the accumulator is exposed to moisture. This ensures that when the accumulator becomes wet, it reaches a sufficient saturation level to generate power without experiencing leakage currents from partial saturation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The absorbing material serves as an intermediary that controls and regulates moisture delivery to the accumulator. It prevents direct contact with insufficient moisture that would cause leakage currents, while still enabling power generation when adequate moisture is accumulated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Power

If the dry charged accumulator is submerged in water, then maximum power is generated, but the sensor cannot distinguish between partial and full saturation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaximum power generationVSAvoidsaturation level detection

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbing material performs preliminary moisture accumulation, concentrating moisture before it reaches the accumulator. This creates a controlled transition from partial to full saturation, enabling the sensor to distinguish between different saturation levels while still achieving maximum power generation when fully saturated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution ensures reliable power generation and activation of connected electronics only when the moisture detector is sufficiently saturated, preventing leakage currents and ensuring consistent performance across varying humidity levels.

Implementation Method 1

a moisture detector comprising a dry charged catalytic electrode accumulator as means for generating energy when moisture is detected... an absorbing material encapsulating at least a part of the dry charged catalytic electrode accumulator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a thin membrane between the absorbing material and the dry charged catalytic electrode accumulator, where the thin membrane is made of a material dissolving when exposed to a humidity of at least 75% RH

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution:

Implementation Method 3

a dry charged catalytic electrode accumulator as means for generating energy when moisture is detected... a copper electrode and a zinc electrode with dry salt between them as an electrolyte

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical reaction:

Data Source

PatentEP3866740B1Constructional features of a moisture detector, and method for making such

Publication Date: 2022.04.20 FYSTER

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The invention is defined by a moisture detector (10) having optimized detection properties comprising a dry charged catalytic electrode accumulator (20) as means for generating energy when moisture is detected. The moisture detector (10) further comprises an absorbing material (30) encapsulating the dry charged catalytic electrode accumulator (20), where the absorbing material (30) has spongy absorption properties. The invention is further defined by a method for making said moisture detector (10)..