pH Sensor Using Volume-Change Material for Electrode-Free Precision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sensors face challenges such as sensitivity to environmental conditions, high cost, energy consumption, and precision issues, particularly in extreme environments, and pH and temperature sensors require precise electrodes and are costly and prone to degradation.

Innovation Solution

A sensor device with a chamber containing a sensitive material that changes volume based on ambient conditions, a marker for displacement measurement, and a sub-sensor to collect data, coupled with a processor for analysis and wireless transmission, allowing for accurate and cost-effective pH and/or temperature measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional pH sensors use precise electrodes and potentiometers, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovepH measurement precisionVSAvoidelectrode and potentiometer complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional electrochemical measurement system (electrodes and potentiometers) with a mechanical displacement measurement system. A pH-sensitive material changes volume in response to pH changes, moving a marker that is detected by a displacement sensor. This substitution eliminates complex electrochemical components while achieving comparable measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from electrical potential (conventional pH measurement) to physical displacement. The pH-sensitive material converts chemical pH changes into volumetric changes, which are then converted into positional changes of a marker. This parameter transformation simplifies the measurement system by using mechanical displacement instead of electrical measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If conventional temperature sensors use precision parts, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs thermal expansion of a temperature-sensitive material to convert temperature changes into volumetric changes. The material expands or contracts with temperature, moving a marker that is detected by a displacement sensor. This approach achieves precise temperature measurement using simple mechanical components rather than expensive precision temperature sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional precision temperature sensing components with a mechanical displacement measurement system. The temperature-induced volumetric expansion of the sensitive material is converted into marker displacement, which is measured by a simple displacement sensor, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Volume of moving object

If sensors are miniaturized, then device size is reduced, but maintaining accuracy and reliability becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor sizeVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent places the marker inside the pH-sensitive or temperature-sensitive material, creating a nested structure. The marker is embedded within the material that changes volume in response to environmental changes. This nested arrangement ensures that the marker's displacement directly reflects the material's volumetric change, maintaining measurement accuracy while enabling miniaturization of the entire sensor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 sensor provides precise, user-friendly, and cost-effective measurement of pH and/or temperature, with the ability to be implanted in humans for continuous monitoring and data transmission to computing devices for further analysis.

Implementation Method 1

a material sensitive to a particular substance or environmental attribute located within the chamber, wherein said material changes volume according to an ambient level of said particular substance or environmental attribute

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVolume change response to environmental stimuli: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS12546739B2Sensor for measuring pH and/or temperature

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 PELEOS TECH LLC

AI summary

A sensor includes an enclosure comprising a chamber having an interior volume, a sensitive material located within the chamber, wherein said material changes volume according to an ambient level of a substance or environmental attribute, a marker located within the material, and a sub-sensor configured to measure displacement of the marker within the chamber. The sensor further comprises a processor located within the enclosure, the processor communicably coupled with the sub-sensor and configured for collecting data from the sub-sensor, and a power supply communicably coupled with the processor.