Optical Sensor Reactive Surface Low Power Fluid Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensors for detecting substances in fluid samples are often inefficient, costly, and require significant power, making them unsuitable for mobile or remote applications where power sources are limited.
Innovation Solution
An optical sensor system comprising an optical emitter, detector, and a reactive surface that changes optical properties upon exposure to target materials, using low power consumption and capable of detecting changes in optical characteristics to indicate the presence of substances, with features like multiple reactive materials and differential detection to enhance accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional sensors are used for detecting substances in fluid samples, then detection capability is achieved, but power consumption is high and device cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electronic sensing mechanisms with an optical detection system. A light source emits light through a fluid sample, and a photodetector measures light absorption or transmission changes. This optical substitution eliminates the need for complex electronic amplification and signal processing circuits, dramatically reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable detection capability through direct optical measurement of substance presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential detection function from complex conventional sensors. By using a simple light source, fluid chamber, and photodetector arrangement, it isolates the core measurement principle (light absorption by target substances) from unnecessary electronic complexity, achieving reliable detection with minimal power consumption and reduced device cost.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional sensors are used for detecting substances in fluid samples, then detection capability is achieved, but device cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive, readily available components: standard light-emitting diodes or lasers, simple photodetectors, and basic fluid chambers. These components can be mass-produced using conventional manufacturing techniques, significantly reducing device cost. The system achieves reliable detection by focusing on the fundamental optical interaction between light and target substances, eliminating the need for expensive specialized sensors or complex signal processing hardware.
3Productivity
If fast detection is implemented, then analysis speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic or pulsed light emission from the light source rather than continuous illumination. The photodetector measures light transmission during these periodic pulses, enabling rapid sequential measurements of different fluid samples or different wavelengths. This periodic action achieves fast analysis speed by quickly cycling through measurements while consuming power only during active measurement intervals, not continuously.
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 optical sensor system provides efficient, reliable, and rapid detection of substances in fluid samples with low power usage, suitable for mobile or remote applications, and can detect multiple parameters by utilizing changes in light intensity, refraction, polarization, and geometric changes.
Implementation Method 1
the optical detector receives reflected light from the reactive surface and detects the change in said optical property
Implementation Method 2
an optical property of the reactive surface changes upon exposure to a target material when the target material is present in the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An improved optical sensor and methods for measuring the presence of various materials or constituents in a fluid sample uses reactive material(s) in a fluid environment. The reactive materials have optical properties that change in the presence of a target material that may be present in the environment. An optical emitter generates light that is directed to the reactive materials, and one or more optical detectors receive reflected light from one or more interfaces in the optical path between the emitter and the detector(s), one or more of the interfaces having a reactive material. The reactive material(s), emitter(s), and detector(s) are selected based on the desired target material to be sensed.