Photochromic Optical Waveguide UV Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV sensors face challenges in accurately measuring UV light exposure due to measurement deviations with incident angle and difficulty in miniaturization, which limits their integration into portable devices and precise calculation of UV indexes across different wavelength bands.
Innovation Solution
An optical sensor utilizing a photochromic material in an optical waveguide that changes transmittance in response to UV light exposure, allowing for miniaturization and reduced measurement deviations, enabling the calculation of UV indexes across various wavelength bands and integration into electronic devices like mobile communication terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a semiconductor type UV sensor is used, then UV light detection is achieved, but measurement deviation occurs according to incident angle and miniaturization is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the semiconductor-based detection mechanism with an optical waveguide system that uses total internal reflection and photochromic materials. This substitution eliminates the need for complex semiconductor structures, enabling miniaturization while maintaining measurement accuracy across different incident angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical waveguide structure serves multiple functions: it guides light, detects UV exposure through photochromic material transmittance changes, and provides angle-insensitive measurement. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, reducing overall device complexity.
2Device complexity
If photochromic material is used in optical waveguide, then miniaturization is enabled and measurement deviation is reduced, but calculation of UV indexes across different wavelength bands becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection system into multiple optical waveguides, each containing photochromic materials with different characteristics sensitive to specific UV wavelength bands. This segmentation allows simultaneous measurement of different UV bands (UV-A, UV-B, UV-C) while maintaining the compact optical waveguide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite photochromic materials with different molecular structures and transmittance characteristics in separate waveguides. Each material is selected to respond to specific wavelength ranges, creating a composite detection system that covers the full UV spectrum while maintaining miniaturization benefits.
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 effectively calculates UV indexes with reduced measurement errors and miniaturization, enabling accurate UV light exposure monitoring in portable devices, thereby aiding in public health by preventing excessive UV exposure and reducing social medical costs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical waveguide (13), which contains a photochromic material and changes transmittance depending on an exposure amount to UV light
Data Source
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AI summary
An optical sensor and an electronic device having an optical sensor. The optical sensor includes: an optical waveguide containing a photochromic material; a light emitter that emits visible light to be incident on the optical waveguide; and a light receiver that detects the visible light emitted from the light emitter and progressing through the optical waveguide. A transmittance of the optical waveguide in relation to the visible light may be changed by the photochromic material as the optical waveguide is exposed to UV light. The optical sensor and the electronic device having the same may be variously implemented according to exemplary embodiments.