Odor Detection System Using Machine Learning for Impaired Smell
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Solution Overview
Problem
The human sense of smell can decline due to aging, disease, or prolonged exposure to the same odor, making it difficult to detect and identify various types of odor gases effectively.
Innovation Solution
An odor detection system comprising a sensor module with a sensitive unit that changes its electrical characteristic value when exposed to odor gases, an acquirer to collect data from the sensor module, an identifier using a learned model generated by machine learning to identify the type of odor gas, and an outputter to notify the user of the identification result.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the human sense of smell is used to detect odor gases, then the detection function is simple and natural, but the detection capability deteriorates due to aging, disease, or prolonged exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor module as an intermediary device between the odor gas environment and the user. The sensor module includes a sensitive unit that chemically interacts with odor gases to produce electrical signals, which are then processed by a controller to identify and notify the user. This intermediary system compensates for the deteriorating human sense of smell by providing objective, reliable detection without requiring the user's olfactory function.
2Reliability
If a sensor module is added to assist odor detection, then the detection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor module is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall system complexity. The sensitive unit can detect multiple types of odor gases simultaneously, and the controller integrates multiple functions including signal processing, odor identification, and user notification. This universal design allows a single sensor module to replace what would otherwise require multiple separate detection systems, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
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
The system assists in identifying types of odor gases, even when the human sense of smell is impaired, providing accurate and timely notification to the user about the presence and type of odor gases.
Implementation Method 1
a sensitive unit (2) having an electrical characteristic value varying in response to that the sensitive unit (2) is exposed to an odor gas
Data Source
AI summary
An odor detection system includes a sensor module, an acquirer, an identifier and an outputter. The sensor module includes: a sensitive unit having an electrical characteristic value varying in response to that the sensitive unit is exposed to an odor gas; and a housing in which the sensitive unit is housed, the housing being attached to a user. The acquirer is configured to acquire, as an output signal of the sensitive unit, data about the electrical characteristic value of the sensitive unit from the sensor module. The identifier is configured to input, to a learned model, the output signal acquired by the acquirer to identify a type of the odor gas. The outputter is configured to output notification information representing an identification result obtained by the identifier.