Odor Detection System Using Environmental Feedback for Sensor Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The chemical sensor device for odor detection experiences variations in detection results for gases with identical composition ratios due to changes in environmental conditions such as humidity and the number of measurements, affecting the sensitivity of the sensitive membranes.

Innovation Solution

An odor detection system that includes a substance sensor with sensitive membranes and an information-processing device. The system processes reaction values from the sensitive membranes to reduce variations in detection results by correcting for environmental conditions, such as humidity, using coefficients specific to each sensitive membrane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the chemical sensor device uses sensitive membranes to detect substances, then odor detection capability is enabled, but detection results vary due to environmental conditions such as humidity and number of measurements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection result consistencyVSAvoiddetection stability under environmental changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system measures environmental conditions (humidity, temperature) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust correction coefficients, ensuring consistent detection results despite environmental variations. The correction coefficient calculation unit continuously adapts based on measured environmental parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters used for odor identification from raw sensor values alone to a combination of sensor values and environmental parameters. By incorporating humidity and temperature as additional parameters and using them to adjust correction coefficients, the system achieves more stable and reliable detection results across different environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If correction coefficients are determined for each sensitive membrane to account for environmental conditions, then detection accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The correction coefficient calculation unit serves multiple functions: it calculates correction coefficients for different sensitive membranes, adapts to various environmental conditions (humidity, temperature), and works with different odor substances. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines and updates correction coefficients based on measured environmental conditions without requiring manual intervention or external calibration. The correction coefficient calculation unit self-adjusts the coefficients by processing environmental data and sensor outputs, making the system self-calibrating.

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

The system effectively reduces variations in odor detection results regardless of environmental changes or the number of measurements, ensuring accurate and consistent detection of odors.

Implementation Method 1

Each vibrator, including a piezoelectric substrate, is vibrated by applying an alternating voltage to the piezoelectric substrate to deform the piezoelectric substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

when any of sensitive membranes adsorbs or desorbs the substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

when any of sensitive membranes adsorbs or desorbs the substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Data Source

PatentEP4123288B1Odor detection system, odor detection method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 I PEX INC
  • EP4123288B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4123288B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4123288B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A substance sensor (10) includes sensitive membranes (11 (a to j)) to react with substances (a to j) included in the odors of a gas in correspondence with the substances (a to j), and is configured to detect the reaction values of the sensitive membranes (11 (a to j)). An odor specifier (22) specifies the odors of the gas on the basis of the reaction values of the sensitive membranes (11 (a to j)), detected by the substance sensor (10). A reaction value calculator (23) calculates reaction values corresponding to the odors specified by the odor specifier (22) on the basis of the reaction values of the sensitive membranes (11 (a to j)), detected by the substance sensor (10). A percentage calculator (24) calculates the percentages of the reaction values corresponding to the odors specified by the odor specifier (22) to the total of the reaction values corresponding to the odors, calculated by the reaction value calculator (23). A display (25) displays the percentages of the reaction values corresponding to the odors, calculated by the percentage calculator (24), so that comparison of the percentages is enabled between the odors specified by the odor specifier (22).