Optical Particle Sensor with Adaptive Lens for Open-Environment Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical particle sensor apparatuses require a measurement cell with openings for air flow, limiting their ability to measure particles in open environments and necessitating complex adaptations for external optical windows, which complicates particle measurement in environments like vehicles or buildings.
Innovation Solution
An optical particle sensor apparatus utilizing a focused coherent measurement beam that leverages natural airflow and incorporates a controllable adaptation device to adjust optical properties of the lens, emitter, and detector based on input signals, allowing for particle measurement through an open or closed housing with minimal optical window influence, using a transparent window for protection and potentially a variable focal length liquid lens for precise adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a measurement cell with openings is used for air flow, then particle capturing is enabled, but the device complexity increases and the ability to measure in open environments is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the measurement cell with openings from the system entirely. Instead of using a complex measurement cell structure, the invention uses a simplified optical setup with a laser beam that can directly measure particles in the natural airflow of open environments, thereby extracting the unnecessary complex component while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor apparatus is designed to function both in enclosed spaces and open environments without requiring different configurations. The same simplified optical system can measure particles regardless of whether there is natural airflow or enclosed conditions, making the device universal and adaptable to various measurement scenarios
2Reliability
If external optical windows are added for protected measurement, then the device can operate in closed housings, but the optical properties are influenced and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary calibration to account for the optical window's influence on the measurement beam. By pre-determining the optical properties of the window and compensating for its effects before actual measurement, the system maintains accuracy without requiring complex real-time adaptation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts measurement parameters such as laser wavelength, beam focus, or detection sensitivity to compensate for the optical window's influence. By changing these parameters, the device maintains reliable particle measurement capability while operating through protected optical windows in closed housings
3Measurement precision
If optical properties are manually adapted, then measurement accuracy through windows is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically detect and compensate for optical window influences. The system continuously monitors measurement quality and adjusts optical parameters in real-time based on feedback signals, eliminating the need for manual adaptation while maintaining high measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor apparatus performs self-calibration and self-adjustment to account for optical window properties. The device automatically adapts its measurement parameters without requiring user intervention, making operation simple while maintaining accuracy through automated compensation for window-induced optical changes
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
Enables flexible and accurate particle measurement in various environments, including inside vehicles or buildings, by automatically or manually adapting optical properties to account for external windows, ensuring effective particle counting and velocity measurement without the need for airflow openings.
Implementation Method 1
a focused coherent measurement beam, in particular a laser beam
Implementation Method 2
The measurement beam 62 that is scattered by the particles is focused by the lens device 58
Implementation Method 3
The measurement beam 62 that is scattered by the particles
Implementation Method 4
the known optical particle sensor apparatus makes it possible to obtain information relating to a presence of particles, in particular the number of particles and the particle velocity
Data Source
AI summary
An optical particle sensor apparatus is equipped with a housing (MD) having an optical exit region (OF); an optical emitter device (LD) in the housing that is set up to emit an optical measurement beam (OB) for capturing particles; a focusing lens device (LE) in the housing for directing the optical measurement beam through the optical exit region to outside the housing in a focus region (FA), within which particle capturing is performable; an optical detector device (DD) arranged in the housing and set up to capture the measurement beam (OB′) scattered by particles (P) and to output information produced using an algorithm relating to the presence of the particles; and a controllable adaptation device (C, E), which is set up to adapt at least one optical property of the lens device and/or of the optical emitter device and/or of the optical detector device based on an input signal (ES; ES′) that provides information relating to a presence and to optical properties of an external optical window (EF) arranged between the optical exit region and the focus region, to capture a particle beyond the external optical window.