Ozone-Based Self-Cleaning for Environmental Sensor Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile electronic devices with environmental sensors face contamination from organic residues like skin oils, which interfere with sensor accuracy due to inadequate prevention methods such as physical meshes and active airflow, which are not effective or suitable for mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

Integration of an ozone source, such as a UV LED, to generate ozone gas that oxidizes and decomposes organic contaminants on the device housing and sensor packaging, maintaining a clean environment for accurate sensor readings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If physical mesh is used to prevent accumulation of dust or larger particles, then particle filtration is improved, but it is not effective against oily organic compounds such as skin oil

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle filtrationVSAvoideffectiveness against organic compounds

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the cleaning agent from physical filtration (mesh) to chemical oxidation (ozone). Ozone gas can penetrate and oxidize organic compounds like skin oil that physical meshes cannot remove, thereby resolving the contradiction between particle filtration and effectiveness against organic compounds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies strong oxidants (ozone) to accelerate the decomposition of organic contaminants. Ozone reacts with and breaks down oily organic compounds such as skin oil, providing effective cleaning where physical meshes fail, thus improving reliability against organic compounds while maintaining particle filtration capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #38Strong oxidants (Accelerated oxidation)

2Measurement precision

If active air flow is used to compensate for analyte depletion, then sensor response compensation is improved, but size, power and noise impacts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor response compensationVSAvoidsize, power and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical air flow system (pump or fan) with a chemical cleaning system (ozone generation). The ozone source chemically decomposes organic contaminants that would otherwise interfere with sensor measurements, eliminating the need for mechanical air flow compensation and thereby reducing size, power consumption, and noise while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a self-cleaning system where ozone continuously decomposes organic contaminants on the sensor housing, providing automatic maintenance without requiring external mechanical intervention. This self-service approach eliminates the need for active air flow systems while maintaining sensor accuracy, reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If ozone source is integrated to decompose organic contaminants, then sensor contamination prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor contamination preventionVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the ozone source into existing device structures, allowing it to serve multiple functions: generating ozone for contaminant decomposition, and potentially serving as part of the sensor housing or packaging structure. This multi-functionality approach minimizes the increase in device complexity while improving contamination prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the ozone generation function with existing device components such as the sensor housing or packaging structure. By combining functions and sharing structural elements, the patent reduces the overall complexity increase that would result from adding a separate ozone generation system, while maintaining effective contamination prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Effectively prevents sensor contamination by decomposing organic compounds, ensuring accurate environmental sensing capabilities in mobile devices without increasing size, power consumption, or noise.

Implementation Method 1

an ozone source, such as a UV LED, to generate ozone gas that oxidizes and decomposes organic contaminants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotodissociation: Photodissociation

Implementation Method 2

ozone gas that oxidizes and decomposes organic contaminants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS11351285B2Removal of organic contamination by ozone oxidation for environmental sensor integration

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 APPLE INC

AI summary

A portable communication device includes an apparatus for environmental sensing. The apparatus includes a housing, one or more environmental sensors and an ozone source. The housing includes one or more ports for allowing air flow between the surrounding environment and a cavity of the housing. The environmental sensors are coupled to the housing and can sense an environmental agent included in the air flow. The ozone source can generate ozone gas within the cavity of the housing to decompose unwanted organic compounds inside the port.