Multi-Range UV Dose Indicator for Parallel Wavelength Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic dosimeters for measuring actinic radiation are large and unsuitable for monitoring radiation exposure in closed production lines or on web-shaped materials, leading to inaccurate dose determination, especially when detecting UV radiation for photochemical reactions, as they cannot differentiate between UVA, UVB, and UVC ranges effectively.

Innovation Solution

A multi-area indicator system comprising a first indicator system with a photolatent Lewis acid or base and a second indicator system with a triphenylmethane dye, allowing for simultaneous and independent dose determination of actinic radiation across different wavelength ranges, such as UVA, UVB, and UVC, without interference, using a combination of photolatent acids and acid-sensitive dyes that provide stable and quantifiable color changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional electronic dosimeters are used to measure actinic radiation, then dose determination is possible, but the devices are large and unsuitable for monitoring in closed production lines or on web-shaped materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose determination accuracyVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electronic dosimeters with a chemical indicator system that uses photolatent Lewis acids/bases and acid-sensitive dyes. The measurement is performed through color change detection rather than electronic sensing, enabling miniaturization and integration directly onto web-shaped materials or closed production line surfaces without requiring bulky electronic devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs acid-sensitive dyes that undergo color changes in response to protonation by photolatent Lewis acids/bases generated upon UV irradiation. This colorimetric detection method allows for compact measurement systems that can be integrated directly onto the material surface, eliminating the need for large electronic dosimeters while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Measurement precision

If conventional electronic dosimeters are used, then dose measurement is possible, but they cannot effectively differentiate between UVA, UVB, and UVC ranges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewavelength range differentiationVSAvoidspectral resolution capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the UV spectrum into multiple wavelength ranges (UVA, UVB, UVC) and uses separate photolatent Lewis acid/base indicator systems for each range. Each indicator system is specifically sensitive to a particular wavelength range, allowing independent measurement and differentiation of UV components without requiring complex spectral resolution electronics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different indicator systems with specific spectral sensitivities are applied to different areas or layers of the measurement system. Each indicator system has locally optimized properties for detecting its specific wavelength range, enabling wavelength differentiation through spatial or compositional separation rather than complex optical filtering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a single indicator system is used for UV radiation measurement, then the system is simple, but it cannot provide parallel determination of doses in different wavelength ranges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindicator system structureVSAvoidparallel dose determination capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple photolatent Lewis acid/base indicator systems with different spectral sensitivities into a single integrated measurement system. These indicator systems are applied in close proximity to each other on the same substrate, allowing simultaneous measurement of different wavelength ranges through a unified structure that maintains simplicity while enabling parallel dose determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional indicator system that can simultaneously detect multiple wavelength ranges of UV radiation. The single integrated system performs multiple measurement functions by incorporating different indicator systems, eliminating the need for separate measurement devices for each wavelength range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Measurement precision

If electronic dosimeters are used for dose measurement, then measurement is possible, but extensive calibration is required for accurate results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose measurement accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs indicator systems that inherently provide their own calibration through their photochemical response. The color change intensity of the acid-sensitive dyes is directly proportional to the amount of photolatent Lewis acid/base reacted, which in turn is proportional to the UV dose. This self-calibrating behavior eliminates the need for extensive external calibration procedures while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 reliable and accurate parallel determination of radiation doses in different wavelength ranges, ensuring precise monitoring of photochemical reactions without the need for extensive calibration, even in complex geometries like web-shaped materials, by using a multi-area indicator that absorbs UV radiation independently and provides stable color changes proportional to the irradiated dose.

Implementation Method 1

In a photochemical reaction, the molecular nature of the agent is changed as a result of the interaction of an agent (one of the reactants) with electromagnetic radiation, provided that the electromagnetic radiation is chosen in terms of wavelength and intensity such that the radiation is absorbed by the agent.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotochemical reaction: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 2

a second indicator system which comprises a second indicator dye and which leads to a change in the light absorption of the second indicator dye in a second reaction when exposed to electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths from a second radiation wavelength range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotochromism: Photochromism

Data Source

PatentEP2172752B1Use of a multiple range indicator for determining the dose of UV-radiation in at least two wavelength-ranges and method for the determination of a dose of UV radiation
Publication Date: 2014.06.04 TESA SE

AI summary

A multi-range indicator is presented that enables the quantitative determination of the dose of high-energy actinic radiation, allowing the dose to be determined simultaneously for different wavelength ranges. The multi-range indicator comprises two indicator systems whose properties are mutually corresponding, thus preventing any interference in the dose measurements. The first indicator system is based on a photolatent Lewis acid or base, and the second is based on a multiply substituted triphenylmethane dye. The use of the multi-range indicator for the fabrication of various dose measuring devices is also described.Finally, for measuring UV radiation and/or electron beams as a dose measuring device, a dose measuring lacquer and a dose measuring surface element, each based on the above multi-range indicator, as well as the measurement method that can be carried out with these dose measuring devices, are presented.