Optical Sensor with Neuromorphic Network for Compact Analyte Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical sensors for detecting chemical substances and particles are bulky, power-intensive, and not suitable for small-scale applications, such as those required in the Internet of Things, due to their reliance on large laser systems and mechanical components.
Innovation Solution
An optical sensor design featuring an interaction region illuminated by an optical input signal, with an optical coupling structure to collect transmitted signals and an optical neuromorphic network that processes these signals directly in the optical domain, enabling efficient analysis and detection with reduced power consumption and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional optical sensors use large laser systems and mechanical components, then detection capability is achieved, but device size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical components and large laser systems with an optical neuromorphic network that processes optical signals directly. This substitution eliminates the need for bulky mechanical scanning systems and large optical components, achieving compact sensor design while maintaining detection capability through optical-domain signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using optical neuromorphic networks that process signals in the optical domain rather than converting to electrical domain. This parameter change enables lower power consumption and smaller device size while preserving measurement precision through direct optical signal analysis.
2Measurement precision
If conventional optical sensors use large laser systems and mechanical components, then detection capability is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces power-intensive mechanical systems and large laser systems with an optical neuromorphic network. This substitution dramatically reduces power consumption by eliminating the need for high-power mechanical scanners and large optical components, while maintaining detection capability through efficient optical-domain processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical neuromorphic network performs self-service by processing optical signals directly in the optical domain without requiring conversion to electrical domain. This self-service capability eliminates the need for additional electrical processing components and reduces overall power consumption of the sensor system.
3Productivity
If optical sensors process signals in electrical domain, then signal processing is achieved, but processing speed and accuracy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electrical domain signal processing with optical domain processing using an optical neuromorphic network. This substitution enables faster processing speeds because optical signals can be processed at the speed of light, while maintaining or improving detection accuracy through the parallel processing capabilities of the neuromorphic network.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical neuromorphic network is pre-configured with trained weights and connections that enable it to perform detection tasks directly in the optical domain. This preliminary configuration allows the system to process signals rapidly without requiring complex electrical conversion and processing steps, achieving both high speed and high accuracy.
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
This design enhances the speed, accuracy, and compactness of detection systems, allowing for low-latency classification and forecasting of analytes, such as gases, with improved precision and reduced power usage.
Implementation Method 1
an optical coupling structure configured to collect transmitted parts of the optical input signal from the interaction region
Implementation Method 2
an optical neuromorphic network being directly optically coupled to the optical coupling structure and being configured to receive and process the transmitted parts of the optical input signal in the optical domain
Data Source
AI summary
An optical sensor includes an interaction region configured to comprise an analyte and an illumination source configured to illuminate the interaction region with an optical input signal. The optical sensor further includes an optical coupling structure configured to collect transmitted parts of the optical input signal from the interaction region and an optical neuromorphic network that is directly optically coupled to the optical coupling structure and is configured to receive and process the transmitted parts of the optical input signal in the optical domain. The invention further concerns a related method for analyzing an analyte by an optical sensor.