NIR Measuring System for Tablet Quality

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current measuring systems for monitoring the quality of test specimens, such as tablets, lack precision in determining both the quality and active substance content due to limitations in transmission and reflection measurements, often resulting in poor quality measurements from scattering losses.

Innovation Solution

A measuring system incorporating a transparent recording device and both transmission and reflection NIR (near-infrared) measurement optics, which allows for precise determination of quality and active substance content by recording transmitted and reflected NIR radiation using a single detector and NIR radiation source, with the option for multi-point scanning to stabilize measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single measurement mode (transmission or reflection) is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to scattering losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality determination precisionVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines transmission and reflection measurement modes into a single integrated system. The measuring system includes both a transmission measuring optic and a reflection measuring optic that can be positioned close to the test specimen simultaneously, allowing both measurement modes to operate together to compensate for scattering losses and improve measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal measuring system that can perform both transmission and reflection measurements using a single detector. The system is designed to handle multiple measurement functions (transmission, reflection, and multi-point scanning) with one integrated apparatus, reducing the need for separate measurement devices while maintaining high precision.

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

2Measurement precision

If the measuring optics are positioned close to the test specimen, then the measurement precision is improved by reducing scattering losses, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidoptical system arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the measuring optics in a configuration that utilizes spatial arrangement to minimize scattering. By placing both transmission and reflection measuring optics in close proximity to the test specimen from different angular dimensions, the system captures radiation before it scatters significantly, improving precision while managing complexity through optimized spatial design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If multi-point scanning is implemented, then the measurement reliability is improved by stabilizing measurements, but the measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement stabilityVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-point scanning that continuously moves the measuring optics across different positions on the test specimen. This continuous scanning approach collects data from multiple points in a streamlined manner, stabilizing measurements through averaging while minimizing idle time between measurements, thus improving reliability without excessive time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful 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 system enables precise determination of test specimen quality and active substance content by combining transmission and reflection data, allowing for accurate analysis and distribution assessment, while being compact, fast, and capable of measuring various tablet shapes and thicknesses.

Implementation Method 1

at least one NIR radiation source and at least one detector for transmission and/or reflection, wherein a first measuring optic is provided with which the NIR radiation transmitted by a test specimen can be received

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNear-infrared radiation transmission: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a second measuring optic is provided with which the NIR radiation reflected by a test specimen can be received and forwarded to the at least one detector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNear-infrared radiation reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3104164B1Measuring system for monitoring the quality of tablets
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 KRAEMER THILO
  • EP3104164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3104164B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3104164B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

The invention relates to a measuring system (33) for quality control and active ingredient determination of test specimens (43, 44), comprising at least one translucent receiving device (42) for receiving at least one test specimen (43, 44), a NIR radiation source (36), and a detector (41) for transmission and/or reflection. The measuring system (33) further comprises a first measuring optic (38) with which the NIR radiation (35) transmitted by the test specimen (43) can be received and transmitted to the detector (41), and a second measuring optic (39) with which the NIR radiation (35) reflected by the test specimen (43) can be received and transmitted to the detector (41). Furthermore, the measuring system (33) has an optical multiplexer (37) which is connected to the first measuring optics (38) and the second measuring optics (39) and is arranged between the first measuring optics (38) and the second measuring optics (39) and the detector (41).