Oil Contamination Sensor Calibration Using Pseudo Optical Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measurement devices require time-consuming and labor-intensive oil flow processes for adjustment, necessitating cleaning and preparation of known contamination levels to calibrate the light receiving unit.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that allow adjustment of measurement devices without using oil, by employing pseudo signals and light-blocking slits to simulate oil contamination levels, enabling calibration based on electric signals obtained with and without oil flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If oil flow process is used for adjustment, then measurement device can be calibrated, but adjustment time and labor are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a rod-shaped member with light-blocking slits as a physical copy/representation of oil particles. This artificial object replicates the light-blocking effect of actual oil contamination without requiring real oil flow, enabling calibration to proceed with simulated conditions that save time while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The rod-shaped member acts as an intermediary between the light source and light receiving unit during adjustment. It mediates the calibration process by providing a controllable, repeatable light-blocking pattern that simulates oil particle effects, eliminating the need for actual oil flow while achieving accurate calibration
2Measurement precision
If oil flow process is used for adjustment, then light receiving unit can be calibrated, but cleaning and preparation effort are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The rod-shaped member with light-blocking slits serves as a simplified copy of oil contamination, eliminating the need for complex oil preparation and cleaning procedures. The artificial object can be easily positioned and removed without requiring specialized handling or cleanup that real oil would demand
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential functional characteristic of oil particles (light-blocking ability) from the actual oil substance. By isolating and replicating only this critical property through the rod-shaped member, the system eliminates the cumbersome aspects of using real oil while preserving the calibration functionality
3Productivity
If pseudo signal with rod-shaped member is used, then adjustment time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rod-shaped member is a simple geometric copy that replicates oil particle effects without complex mechanisms. Its straightforward design with light-blocking slits provides rapid, repeatable calibration signals that increase adjustment speed while adding minimal structural complexity to the system
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables rapid adjustment by changing the position and orientation parameters of the rod-shaped member rather than requiring complex mechanical or chemical processes. These simple parameter adjustments provide controllable calibration conditions that speed up the process without significantly increasing device 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
Facilitates rapid and accurate calibration of measurement devices, reducing adjustment time and improving precision by simulating oil contamination levels without actual oil flow.
Implementation Method 1
a light receiving unit configured to continuously receive the light emitted from the light irradiation unit and having passed through the measurement flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement device includes a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate a measurement flow path with light, and a light receiving unit configured to continuously receive the light emitted from the light irradiation unit and having passed through the measurement flow path, and to obtain a continuous electric signal. The measurement device is configured to measure a contamination level of oil based on an electric signal obtained by the light receiving unit in a state in which the oil flows through the measurement flow path. The light irradiation unit emits light in a state in which no oil flows through the measurement flow path, using a first pseudo signal for emitting light equivalent to light input to the light receiving unit when oil having a first contamination level as a given contamination level flows through the measurement flow path.