Praseodymium Calibration Attachment for Optical Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorescence sensor calibration standards are prone to rapid aging, degradation under UV excitation, and lack temperature stability, making them unsuitable for long-term calibration and functional checks.
Innovation Solution
A calibration attachment using a praseodymium-doped body, which emits a stable fluorescence signal in the 250-500 nm range, resistant to aging, environmental influences, and UV excitation, is introduced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If organic material standards (e.g., PMMA-based) are used for fluorescence calibration, then the calibration can be performed with solid standards, but the fluorescence signal degrades strongly under UV excitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameter by using inorganic materials (glass, ceramics, crystals) instead of organic materials (PMMA, plastics). This fundamental material parameter change makes the standard resistant to UV degradation while maintaining solid-state stability, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures, such as glass matrices doped with fluorescent inorganic compounds or ceramics with embedded fluorescent phases. These composite structures combine the mechanical stability of inorganic materials with controlled fluorescence properties, achieving both handling ease and signal stability.
2Measurement precision
If liquid standards are used for fluorescence calibration, then the fluorescence intensity can be defined, but aging causes rapid change in fluorescence intensity after a few days
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from liquid to solid, and the compositional parameter from organic to inorganic materials. This transformation eliminates the aging problem inherent in liquid organic standards while preserving the ability to define and maintain precise fluorescence intensity values through controlled material composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates long-lasting calibration standards that replace short-lived liquid standards. The inorganic solid standards have dramatically extended service lives (years instead of days), eliminating the need for frequent replacement and recalibration, thus improving duration of action.
3Ease of operation
If conventional solid standards are used, then handling is simplified, but temperature stability is not fulfilled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inorganic composite materials (glass-ceramics, doped ceramics, crystalline materials) that inherently possess both mechanical stability for easy handling and thermal stability for temperature independence. The inorganic matrix structure provides resistance to thermal expansion and phase changes, maintaining fluorescence properties across temperature variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameter to inorganic substances with high melting points and low thermal expansion coefficients. This parameter change confers temperature stability while maintaining the solid-state form factor for ease of handling, resolving the contradiction between operational convenience and compositional stability.
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 praseodymium-based calibration attachment provides a stable fluorescence signal that remains consistent under multi-day irradiation, temperature changes, humidity variations, and long-term storage, enabling universal and complete calibration of optical sensors.
Implementation Method 1
the body, after excitation with the transmitted light, in particular by absorption of the transmitted light, emits light of a different, in particular longer, wavelength
Implementation Method 2
after excitation with the transmitted light, in particular by absorption of the transmitted light
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a calibration attachment for adjustment, calibration and/or for carrying out a functional check of an optical sensor, which is configured for measuring at least one measurement variable in a medium using light. The sensor is configured for emitting emission light of at least a wavelength in the range of 200-450 nm, comprising a housing and a body arranged in the housing wherein the body comprises praseodymium, and after excitation with the emission light, the body emits light with a longer wavelength. The invention also discloses a sensor arrangement comprising such a calibration attachment, and a use of same.