MOX Sensor Multi-Temperature Operation for Food Freshness Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current food storage systems lack accurate methods to monitor the freshness state of food, leading to premature spoilage and significant waste, as existing sensors are often insensitive to multiple molecular compounds and provide only rudimentary freshness determination.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a MOX sensor with a temperature-varying operating mode to capture and analyze gas mixtures at multiple temperatures, generating precise electronic information on food freshness, which is then used to provide users with actionable insights for consumption planning, storage suggestions, and reminders through a computer-implemented food keep-fresh system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a MOX sensor operates at a specific fixed temperature, then it achieves high sensitivity to a specific molecular compound, but it cannot detect multiple different molecular compounds in the gas mixture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning the MOX sensor from a static fixed-temperature operation mode to a dynamic multi-temperature operation mode. The sensor operates at multiple different temperatures sequentially, allowing it to detect different molecular compounds at different temperatures, thereby achieving both high sensitivity for each compound and broad detection range for multiple compounds in the gas mixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the operating temperature parameter of the MOX sensor. By changing the temperature parameter to multiple different values, the sensor's sensitivity profile changes, enabling it to detect different molecular compounds. This parameter variation resolves the contradiction between fixed-temperature sensitivity and multi-compound detection capability.
2Device complexity
If rudimentary sensor systems are used to monitor food freshness, then the system complexity is low, but the measurement precision and accuracy of freshness determination is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing multiple operating temperature parameters for the MOX sensor. This enables the sensor to detect multiple molecular compounds in the gas mixture, significantly improving the accuracy of freshness determination. The increased measurement precision is achieved through parameter variation rather than through complex system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by making a single MOX sensor perform multiple detection functions by operating it at different temperatures. Instead of using multiple specialized sensors or complex sensor arrays, one sensor is made multi-functional through temperature variation, achieving high measurement precision while keeping the system relatively simple.
3Reliability
If food freshness is monitored with insufficient accuracy, then early spoilage can be detected, but food waste increases due to premature disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using multiple temperature operating modes of the MOX sensor to achieve reliable and accurate freshness monitoring. This reliable detection allows for precise determination of food freshness state, preventing both premature disposal and consumption of spoiled food, thereby reducing food waste while maintaining high monitoring reliability.
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 approach allows for accurate and precise monitoring of food freshness, reducing waste by enabling informed decision-making on food usage and storage conditions, and improving the detection of freshness changes over time.
Implementation Method 1
metal-oxide (MOX) sensors are employed for the analysis of gas
Data Source
AI summary
A method in which on a basis of sensor information of a MOX sensor captured at different operating temperatures in different freshness state determination cycles a freshness state of a food is determined. A further aspect relates to a method in which additional information relating to a food is determined. A storage container, a computer program product, and a household cooling appliance implement the above noted methods.