Sensor Array Calibration for Parasitic Loss Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Analytical apparatus using sensor arrays, particularly those with piezo-electric and acoustic transducers, face challenges in maintaining high frequency stability and accuracy due to temperature dependence and parasitic losses, which affect the reliability of measurements over practical timescales.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating calibration elements connected to the drive and receiver systems to determine and compensate for parasitic losses, allowing for precise correction of sensor signals and improving system stability by using a common driver and interface for sensors and calibration elements, and employing a cascade bus topology to manage a large number of sensors effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sensor arrays with piezo-electric and acoustic transducers are used for high-throughput analysis, then productivity and measurement capability are improved, but parasitic losses and temperature-induced drift increase, reducing measurement precision and stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces calibration elements as intermediary components that mediate between the sensors and the measurement system. These calibration elements are specifically designed to exhibit parasitic losses similar to the sensors, allowing the system to measure and compensate for these losses indirectly through calibration measurements, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining high-throughput capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where calibration measurements are continuously taken using calibration elements, and the measured parasitic losses are used to adjust and compensate for sensor readings in real-time. This closed-loop feedback system dynamically corrects for temperature-induced drift and parasitic effects, maintaining measurement accuracy during high-throughput operations
2Productivity
If the number of sensors in the array is increased to improve screening capacity, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and parasitic losses increase, affecting system stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large sensor array into multiple groups or subsets, each with its own dedicated calibration elements. This segmentation allows for localized calibration and compensation, reducing the overall system complexity by breaking down the large-scale parasitic loss compensation problem into smaller, more manageable segments while maintaining high screening capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses calibration elements that are simplified copies or models of the actual sensors, designed to replicate the parasitic loss characteristics without the full complexity of the sensor structure. These copied elements serve as proxies for measuring and compensating parasitic effects, reducing system complexity while enabling high-throughput operation of multiple sensors
3Speed
If operating frequency is increased to improve measurement speed, then productivity is improved, but parasitic losses and their temperature dependence become more problematic, reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by using calibration elements to measure parasitic losses at different operating frequencies and temperature conditions. The system dynamically adjusts compensation parameters based on these measurements, allowing accurate compensation for frequency-dependent and temperature-dependent parasitic effects even at high operating frequencies, thus maintaining measurement precision while achieving fast measurement speeds
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 solution enhances the stability and accuracy of sensor array measurements by effectively compensating for parasitic losses and temperature-induced drift, enabling reliable high-throughput analysis and reducing noise, thus overcoming limitations in existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to apparatus the sensors of which include piezo-electric and acoustic transducers, for example quartz crystal resonators
Implementation Method 2
Acoustic transducers include surface acoustic wave devices, bulk acoustic wave devices, surface transverse wave devices
Implementation Method 3
The driver and receiver may, with the sensor, form part of an oscillator circuit with positive feedback so that the sensor is made to oscillate at the resonant frequency of that circuit
Data Source
AI summary
Analytical apparatus for analysing at least one substance has an array of sensors (1) driven by an electronic driver (14) for operating each sensor. The signals produced by the sensors are received by a receiver (82), and the apparatus includes one or more calibration elements connected to the driver and the receiver for enabling changes in parasitic losses in the apparatus to be determined. The invention is particularly applicable to apparatus in which the sensors are electrical-mechanical transducers, individually connectable (in sequence) to the driver and receiver by a corresponding array of switches forming part of an interface (4).