Planar Antenna Fluid Sensing With Embedded Absorbent Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid sensing systems face challenges related to the size of circuits and antennas, accuracy of measurements, and performance loss due to the use of porous solid materials when exposed to certain liquids or fluids.
Innovation Solution
A fluid sensing system that utilizes a planar antenna with a non-fluid-absorbing substrate and a fluid-absorbing element embedded in a seat on the substrate, allowing the antenna to vary its resonant frequency based on the absorbed fluid, thereby sensing the presence or properties of the fluid wirelessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If porous solid materials are used to absorb fluids for sensing, then fluid absorption capability is improved, but performance loss and measurement accuracy deteriorate when exposed to certain liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid interaction function into two separate components: a non-porous substrate that maintains structural stability and electromagnetic performance, and a porous fluid-absorbing element that provides fluid absorption capability. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between fluid absorption and performance reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-porous substrate acts as an intermediary between the fluid-absorbing element and the microwave circuit/antenna. It provides a stable platform that isolates the microwave components from direct contact with fluids while allowing the porous element to absorb fluids and transfer dielectric information to the substrate, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy without performance loss.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If porous solid materials are used for fluid sensing, then fluid detection capability is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the fluid absorption function (performed by the porous element) from the measurement function (performed by the microwave circuit on the non-porous substrate). This segmentation allows the porous element to effectively detect fluid presence through absorption while the stable substrate ensures accurate and consistent measurements by preventing performance degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-porous substrate serves as an intermediary that transfers the dielectric information from the fluid-absorbing element to the microwave circuit without introducing measurement errors. It maintains electrical stability and prevents direct fluid contact with the sensing circuit, thereby preserving measurement precision while enabling effective fluid detection.
3Volume of moving object
If the size of circuits and antennas is reduced for compactness, then device compactness is improved, but measurement accuracy and performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operating parameters of the microwave circuit to optimize performance at smaller sizes. By adjusting frequency, impedance, and geometric parameters of the antenna and circuit elements, the system achieves accurate fluid measurements in a compact form factor, resolving the contradiction between size reduction and measurement precision.
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 system effectively characterizes fluids by shifting the resonant frequency of the planar antenna, allowing for accurate measurement of fluid presence and properties, while minimizing performance loss and maintaining radiation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
fluid-absorbing elements absorb the fluids changing the values of their dielectric properties
Implementation Method 2
The fluid-absorbing element may comprise a porous material such as a paper, sponge, textile
Implementation Method 3
the planar antenna having a resonant frequency. The planar antenna is configured to resonate at a resonant frequency. The resonant frequency may be comprised in a range of 800-1000 MHz, or 1-3 GHZ, or 3-10 GHZ, 10-30 GHZ, 30-100 GHz
Implementation Method 4
Variations in the values of the dielectric properties of microwave circuits and antennas substrates modify the resonant frequency and the electromagnetic losses of such devices
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid sensing system including a planar antenna, the antenna having a non-fluid-absorbing substrate, the non-fluid-absorbing substrate including a seat configured to embed a fluid-absorbing element; and a conductor layer on the non-fluid-absorbing substrate. The planar antenna has a resonant frequency, and is configured to vary the resonant frequency based on fluid absorbed by the fluid-absorbing element. A method for determining fluid properties, the method by providing the fluid sensing system; embedding a fluid-absorbing element in the seat of the non-fluid-absorbing substrate; and determining fluid properties or fluid dielectric properties, of a fluid absorbed by the fluid-absorbing element based at least on a frequency of maximum signal reception power, the signal reception power being at least a part of the signal power of the transmitted signal, received by a reception antenna.