Particle Discrimination Using Multivariate Light Intensity Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current particle detecting technologies face challenges in accurately discriminating between biologic and non-biologic particles in clean rooms and fluids, as the intensity of fluorescence and scattered light can vary significantly depending on the type of particle, leading to misclassification.
Innovation Solution
A particle detecting device and method utilizing a light measuring instrument to capture intensities of first, second, and third lights with varying wavelengths, coupled with a boundary information storage system that employs a multivariate function, such as a support vector machine, to define a non-linear discriminating boundary in a three-dimensional coordinate system, enabling accurate classification of particles into biologic or non-biologic classes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a linear discriminating boundary is used for particle classification, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to misclassification of particles with varying light intensities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional classification (using only scattered light intensity) to a three-dimensional classification by incorporating fluorescence intensity as an additional dimension. This dimensional expansion enables the use of a non-linear discriminating boundary that can accurately separate biologic and non-biologic particles despite variations in scattered light intensity, thereby improving measurement precision without excessively increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the classification parameter from a single parameter (scattered light intensity) to multiple parameters by combining scattered light intensity and fluorescence intensity. This parameter change allows the system to account for variations in particle properties and achieve more accurate classification through a non-linear boundary defined in the three-dimensional space of scattered light, fluorescence, and particle size.
2Measurement precision
If multiple light intensities with varying wavelengths are measured, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional measuring instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement functions by using a single light measuring instrument that can detect both scattered light and fluorescence across multiple wavelengths. This consolidation approach allows the system to measure multiple light intensities (improving measurement precision) while avoiding the need for separate measuring instruments for each wavelength, thereby controlling device complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The light measuring instrument is designed with multi-functionality to detect different types of light (scattered light and fluorescence) at various wavelengths using a single device. This universal measuring capability enables accurate particle discrimination through multiple parameters while maintaining reasonable device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple specialized instruments.
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 approach significantly improves the accuracy of particle classification by reducing misclassification errors, allowing for precise differentiation between biologic and non-biologic particles based on measured light intensities, even in complex scenarios where conventional linear boundaries fail.
Implementation Method 1
If a microorganism particle or non-microorganism particle is included in the air, then the particle that is illuminated by the light will produce fluorescence
Implementation Method 2
the intensity of scattered light produced by a particle may also differ depending on the type of particle
Data Source
AI summary
A particle detecting device includes: a light measuring instrument that measures measured values for intensities of first, second, and third lights of mutually differing wavelengths, produced by particles to be measured; a boundary information storing portion that stores a non-linear discriminating boundary for separating a class of a first classification of particles and a class of a second classification of particles; and a particle classifying portion that classifies the particle being measured into either of the classifications for the first and second classifications of particles, based on measured values for the intensities of the first through third lights and on the discriminating boundary.