Particle Detection via Time Series Segmentation and Low-Pass Filtering

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing particle detection methods are prone to false-positive detections and require multiple adjustment parameters for calibration, making them inefficient in accurately identifying particles.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the capture of a time series of particle detection, followed by segmentation and classification of the time series. This includes transforming the time series into a feature space, low-pass filtering, and back-transforming to identify peaks or double peaks, which determine the presence or absence of particles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transformation to feature space and low-pass filtering are applied, then false-positive detections are reduced, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection process is segmented into distinct stages: transformation to feature space, low-pass filtering, peak detection, and classification. This segmentation allows each stage to focus on specific aspects of signal processing, improving overall detection reliability while making the complexity manageable through modular organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The feature space transformation acts as an intermediary between the raw time series data and the final particle detection. By introducing this intermediate representation, the method filters out noise and false positives while preserving meaningful particle signals, effectively mediating between raw data and reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple adjustment parameters are used for calibration, then detection precision can be improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle detection precisionVSAvoidcalibration ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-calibration by automatically determining optimal detection parameters from the data itself. The low-pass filtering and peak detection algorithms adaptively identify particle signals without requiring manual adjustment of multiple calibration parameters, making the system easy to operate while maintaining high detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The method transforms the detection problem from one requiring manual parameter adjustment to one where parameters are automatically optimized through mathematical transformation. The feature space transformation and filtering process automatically adjusts detection sensitivity based on the intrinsic properties of the signal, eliminating the need for manual calibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If peak detection is performed in transformed space, then false positives are reduced, but measurement precision may be affected by signal distortion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse positive reductionVSAvoidsignal accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The low-pass filtering is applied as a preliminary action before peak detection in the transformed space. This pre-processing step removes high-frequency noise and false signals before the actual particle detection occurs, ensuring that only genuine particle signals are detected while preserving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The method replaces direct time-domain peak detection with a transformed-space approach using mathematical operations (Fourier transformation and low-pass filtering). This substitution allows for more reliable false positive reduction while maintaining signal accuracy through the reversibility of the mathematical transformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4368966B1Method and device for detecting a particle
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 ENDRESSHAUSER SICK GMBHCO KG
  • EP4368966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4368966B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4368966B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for detecting a particle is described, comprising acquiring a time series of particle detection, segmenting the time series and classifying the segments of the time series, wherein the segmentation of the time series includes transforming the time series into a transformed space, low-pass filtering of the transformed space and back-transforming the transformed space into the time domain, and wherein the classification of the segments of the time series includes determining a peak in the time series based on the low-pass filtered back-transformed time domain.