Semiconductor Gas Sensor with Optical Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas sensors face challenges in accurately detecting hazardous gases due to limitations in quantitatively determining gas concentration and distinguishing gas types, and they often require heaters which increase size, power consumption, and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a light emitting unit that irradiates ultraviolet light and a sensor unit disposed on the light emitting unit, where the sensor unit detects changes in resistance caused by the light, allowing for gas detection without a heater, reducing size and power consumption, and improving sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heater is used to activate the sensor unit, then the sensor can detect gas, but the device size increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal activation system (heater) with an optical activation system (light emitting unit). The light emitting unit emits light to activate the sensing material, substituting the mechanical/thermal approach with an optical approach, thereby reducing power consumption and device complexity while maintaining gas detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the activation parameter from thermal (temperature) to optical (light). By using a light emitting unit instead of a heater, the sensing material is activated through light exposure rather than heating, fundamentally changing the activation mechanism and reducing energy requirements
2Reliability
If a heater is used to activate the sensor unit, then the sensor can detect gas, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light emitting unit and sensor unit into a single integrated device structure. The sensor unit is disposed on the light emitting unit, creating a compact integrated system that eliminates the need for separate heater components and reduces overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitting unit serves multiple functions: it acts as both the light source for activating the sensing material and as part of the integrated sensor structure. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby simplifying the overall device structure
3Ease of manufacture
If the sensor unit is disposed away from the light emitting unit, then manufacturing is easier, but light activation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where the sensor unit is disposed on the light emitting unit. This nesting arrangement ensures that the sensing material is in close proximity to the light source, maximizing light activation efficiency and sensing sensitivity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized mounting processes
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 semiconductor device enhances gas sensing reliability, reduces size and power consumption, and improves sensitivity by using light from the light emitting unit to activate the sensor, eliminating the need for a heater and simplifying the gas detection process.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting unit for irradiating ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
a sensing material of which resistance is changed by light emitted from the light emitting unit
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device disclosed in an embodiment comprises: a light emitting unit comprising a light emitting structure layer which has a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first conductivity type semiconductor layer and the second conductivity type semiconductor layer; and a sensor unit disposed on the light emitting unit, wherein the sensor unit comprises: a sensing material changing in resistance with light emitted by the light emitting unit; a first sensor electrode comprising a first pad portion and a first extension part extending from the first pad portion and contacting the sensing material; and a second sensor electrode comprising a first pad portion and a second extension part extending toward the first extension part from the second pad portion and contacting the sensing material. The sensor unit senses an external gas in response to the light generated from the light emitting unit.