Odor Sensor Compensation for Humidity-Driven Measurement Drift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Chemical sensor devices experience variations in measurement accuracy due to differences in temperature and humidity between the surrounding areas and the object being measured.

Innovation Solution

An odor detection device that includes an odor sensor, environmental information measurement means, and correction means to account for differences in water vapor content between the sensor's environment and the source environment, using integrated or separate measurement units connected via wired or wireless communication, to correct odor information based on acquired difference information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the chemical sensor device is used to detect odor substances, then the detection function is achieved, but the measurement accuracy varies due to temperature and humidity differences between the sensor environment and the measured object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor detection accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces environmental information (temperature and humidity) as an intermediary parameter to bridge the gap between the sensor environment and the measured object environment. By measuring these environmental parameters and using them to correct the odor detection results, the system compensates for the effects of environmental differences, thereby improving measurement accuracy and consistency without requiring the sensor to be physically close to the measured object.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If environmental information measurement means is added to correct for temperature and humidity variations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the environmental information measurement means serve multiple functions: it not only provides environmental data for correction but also characterizes the sensor's operating conditions. This multi-functionality allows the same additional components to contribute to both environmental compensation and sensor performance characterization, thereby improving measurement accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4462115B1Odor detection device, odor detection method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 I PEX INC
  • EP4462115B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4462115B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4462115B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An odor detection device (1) comprises: an odor sensor (10) to detect information on an odor emitted from a source (2); environmental information measurement means (11) for measuring information on an environment, correlated with an amount of water vapor contained in surrounding gas; odor information collection means (20) for collecting the information on the odor, detected by the odor sensor (10); difference information acquisition means (21) for acquiring difference information indicating a difference between the information on the environment surrounding the odor sensor (10) and the information on the environment surrounding the source (2); and correction means (22) for correcting the information on the odor, collected by the odor information collection means (20), based on the difference information acquired by the difference information acquisition means (21).