Photosensitive Element Comb Structure for Perishable Goods Light Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RFID sensors with integrated light sensors are costly due to the need for a memory and power supply to store light dose data, which increases the complexity and price, making them economically unviable for monitoring perishable products.
Innovation Solution
A light sensor using a photosensitive element that alters a material property in response to light exposure, allowing the element to act as a permanent memory by detecting changes in electrical properties between electrodes, eliminating the need for a conventional memory or power supply, and utilizing standard CMOS processes with polymers like photoresist materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a conventional memory and power supply are integrated into the RFID sensor to store light dose data, then the light dose can be stored and read out, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the memory function from the conventional RFID sensor architecture and replaces it with a photosensitive element that inherently stores light dose information through permanent material property changes. This eliminates the need for separate memory components and power supply, directly resolving the contradiction between data storage capability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The photosensitive element serves dual functions: it acts as both the light detection mechanism and the memory storage medium. The element's permanent material property changes automatically record the light dose without requiring external memory or power, allowing the sensor to serve itself and eliminate complex supporting components
2Loss of information
If a conventional memory and power supply are integrated into the RFID sensor to store light dose data, then the light dose can be stored and read out, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting and eliminating the memory and power supply components from the sensor design, the patent dramatically reduces the bill of materials and assembly requirements, directly lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining data storage functionality through the photosensitive element's inherent properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple photosensitive element that can be manufactured using standard CMOS processes, replacing expensive memory chips and power management circuits. This approach uses a cost-effective, simple component that achieves the storage function without requiring complex, expensive electronics
3Device complexity
If a photosensitive element is used to act as permanent memory without conventional memory or power supply, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the measurement of light dose must rely on detecting material property changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic measurement systems with a direct electrical property measurement approach. Instead of using complex memory readout circuits, the system simply measures electrical properties (such as resistance or capacitance) of the photosensitive element, which change permanently in response to light exposure, thereby simplifying the measurement mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the permanent changes in electrical parameters (resistance, capacitance, or other electrical properties) of the photosensitive element as a direct result of light exposure. By measuring these parameter changes, the system accurately determines the light dose without requiring complex measurement equipment, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and measurement difficulty
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 solution provides a cost-effective light sensor that can accurately measure light doses without additional memory or power requirements, enabling efficient monitoring of perishable products and reducing waste in supply chains.
Implementation Method 1
a photosensitive element configured to react to exposure to light... the polymer is a photoresist
Implementation Method 2
first and second electrodes for measuring a value indicating a material property of the photosensitive element
Data Source
AI summary
The light dose received by perishable goods is an important parameter in determining the lifetime of those goods. A light sensor is described having a photosensitive element which changes its material property according to the light dose received. This change can be detected electrically by electrodes in the light sensor. Because the change in material property is permanent, this removes the need for a memory to store a value representing the light dose received by the light sensor.