Pressure Sensor Monitoring via Photoconduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure sensors frequently experience disruptions and failures due to drift caused by deposits or aging, leading to erroneous pressure readings, necessitating effective monitoring during measurement operations.
Innovation Solution
The use of photoconduction effects, where semiconductor pressure sensors are irradiated to change their electrical conductivity, allowing for the detection of malfunctions such as resistance drift or membrane damage, with optical pulses and a control/evaluation unit to generate and compare electrical signals, and output a warning if deviations exceed tolerance ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure sensors are used for measurement operations, then pressure measurement capability is provided, but disruptions and failures occur due to drift from deposits or aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing optical excitation and resistance value measurements at predetermined intervals during operation. This proactive monitoring detects drift and malfunctions before they cause complete sensor failure, allowing for timely intervention and maintaining measurement accuracy throughout the sensor's operational life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring resistance values of the pressure sensor elements and comparing them against expected ranges. When deviations indicate drift or malfunction, the system generates signals to alert operators or initiate corrective actions, creating a closed-loop system that maintains reliability and precision.
2Reliability
If monitoring is implemented to detect malfunctions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the pressure sensor's own resistance elements as the measurement target for monitoring. The same resistive elements that detect pressure also serve as the objects of monitoring when optically excited, eliminating the need for separate monitoring sensors and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical or electrical contact-based monitoring methods with optical excitation. Light sources optically excite the resistance elements without physical contact, and resistance changes are detected through electrical measurements during the excitation period. This substitution simplifies the monitoring mechanism while improving reliability by avoiding additional mechanical components.
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
Enables reliable monitoring and detection of pressure sensor malfunctions, reducing errors and ensuring accurate pressure measurements by identifying issues like resistance drift or membrane damage through changes in electrical signals.
Implementation Method 1
The idea underlying the invention is based on the effect referred to as photoconduction. Photoconduction is understood as meaning an effect associated with the internal photoelectric effect, in which the increase in the electrical conductivity of semiconductor materials occurs due to the formation of unbound electron-hole pairs during irradiation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a pressure sensor (1) for determining a pressure measurement variable, comprising at least one housing (2), a pressure sensor element (3) which is arranged in the housing (2), a lighting means (4) which is likewise arranged in the housing (2), and a control/analysis unit (8). The pressure sensor element (3) has a semiconductor material and a measuring membrane, and a first pressure (P1) is applied on a first face of the measuring membrane (5) and a second pressure (p2) is applied on a second face of the measuring membrane (5) such that the measuring membrane (5) undergoes a pressure-dependent deflection. The measuring membrane (5) has at least one integrated resistance element (6), and the control/analysis unit (8) ascertains an electric signal (10) by means of the integrated resistance element (6) in order to determine pressure measurement variables. The lighting means (4) optically excites the pressure sensor element (3), in particular the at least one integrated resistance element (6), and the control/analysis unit (8) ascertains the presence of a malfunction of the pressure sensor (1) using a change in the electric signal (10) resulting from the optical excitation.