Optical Cuvette Identification with Thermally Isolated Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for measuring light scattering in cuvettes face challenges such as withstanding extreme temperatures, surviving accidental condensation, ensuring accurate cuvette positioning, preventing stray light interference, and handling potential spills, while maintaining reliability and affordability.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with non-contact optical sensors and insulating blocks maintains sensor temperature within operating ranges, uses leak channels for spills, and employs a computer system to detect cuvette shape features based on sensor thresholds, ensuring accurate measurements without mechanical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If non-contact optical sensors are used to detect cuvette shape features, then measurement accuracy and reliability are improved, but sensor temperature control becomes more challenging in extreme temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating block is introduced as an intermediary between the sensor and the extreme temperature environment. The insulating block maintains the sensor temperature within operating ranges by providing thermal isolation, allowing the sensor to accurately detect cuvette shape features even when the surrounding environment experiences extreme temperatures.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are placed close to the receptacle for accurate detection, then detection sensitivity increases, but vulnerability to condensation and spills increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle serves as an intermediary structure that positions the sensor at an optimal distance from the cuvette. This intermediate positioning allows the sensor to detect cuvette shape features with sufficient accuracy while being shielded from direct exposure to condensation and spills that occur at the receptacle level.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the receptacle, detecting cuvette features through optical fields rather than direct contact. This dimensional separation allows the sensor to maintain detection sensitivity while avoiding physical exposure to harmful factors like condensation and spills.
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical positioning systems are used for cuvette alignment, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and risk of mechanical interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical positioning systems with an optical detection system. The sensor detects cuvette shape features optically to determine cuvette presence and orientation, eliminating the need for complex mechanical positioning mechanisms. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy through non-contact optical measurement.
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 solution provides reliable, accurate, and cost-effective light scattering measurements by maintaining sensor integrity, preventing stray light, and handling spills, while ensuring precise cuvette identification and positioning.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating block configured to maintain a temperature of the at least one sensor within an operating temperature range of the at least one sensor
Implementation Method 2
at least one sensor configured to detect at least one shape feature of a cuvette... receiving a first set of signals from a first sensor directed to a cuvette, receiving a second set of signals from a second sensor directed to the cuvette
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes an apparatus, method, system, and computer program product of identifying a cuvette for measuring light scattering of a sample. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one sensor configured to detect at least one shape feature of a cuvette, and an insulating block configured to maintain a temperature of the at least one sensor within an operating temperature range of the at least one sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the method, system, and computer program product include receiving a first set of signals from a first sensor directed to a cuvette, receiving a second set of signals from a second sensor directed to the cuvette, and executing a set of logical operations detecting a shape feature of the cuvette.