Pivotable Optical System for Gas Concentration Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reproducibility and accuracy of gas concentration measurements in containers are compromised due to variations in glass quality and container geometry, leading to systematic deviations and random errors, especially when using recycled glass containers.
Innovation Solution
The optical system is pivotally mounted about a transverse pivot axis, allowing for multiple measurements of a transmission spectrum without changing the container's position, reducing the influence of vibrations and ensuring consistent optical paths, thereby improving reproducibility and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the container is rotated between measurements to determine geometry, then the geometry can be determined, but the sample is influenced and measurement results become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is segmented into two independent stages: first determining container geometry using external imaging methods, then performing gas concentration measurements with the optical system positioned to avoid disturbing the sample. This segmentation allows geometry determination without compromising measurement consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary imaging system is used to determine container geometry without the optical measurement system needing to interact with or disturb the container. The imaging system captures geometric information while the optical system remains stationary for consistent gas concentration measurements.
2Reliability
If vibration motor is connected to modulate optical path length, then interference influence is reduced, but wavelength-dependent vibration causes different optical paths for same wavelength
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful vibration effect is extracted and eliminated from the system. Instead of using vibration to modulate the optical path, the patent maintains a stable optical path and uses alternative methods (multiple measurements with position changes) to achieve the desired measurement objectives without introducing vibration-related errors.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modulating the optical path through vibration to reduce interference, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the optical path stable and changing the measurement geometry (optical axis position) to achieve diverse measurement data for calculating gas concentration.
3Manufacturing precision
If local inclusions and inhomogeneities in container material are present, then measurement result depends on relative position of container with optical axis, but reproducibility is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters by performing multiple measurements at different optical axis positions relative to the container. By varying the position parameters and using these multiple measurements to calculate the gas concentration, the method compensates for the effect of local inclusions and inhomogeneities in the container material, thereby improving reproducibility.
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 enhances the reproducibility and accuracy of gas concentration measurements by minimizing the impact of container geometry and glass quality variations, allowing for precise statistical evaluation and compensation of systematic deviations.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially monochromatic light source for emitting light into a container received in the holder along an optical axis and a light sensor for measuring the intensity of the light emerging from the container
Implementation Method 2
the optical system comprises a substantially monochromatic light source for emitting light into a container received in the holder along an optical axis and a light sensor for measuring the intensity of the light emerging from the container
Data Source
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AI summary
Device (1) for determining the concentration of a gas in a container (2), comprising a holder (7) for receiving a container (2) and an optical system (8), wherein the optical system (8) comprises a substantially monochromatic light source (9) for emitting light into a container (2) received in the holder (7) along an optical axis (10) and a light sensor (11) for measuring the intensity of the light exiting the container (2), wherein the optical system (8) is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis (12) arranged transversely to the optical axis (10).