Sensor Device for Selective Detection of Functional Hydrocarbons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor devices are inadequate for detecting low concentrations of toxic and chemically reactive functional hydrocarbons due to their lack of specificity and sensitivity, particularly in complex environments with other air pollutants, requiring highly complex and costly instruments.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device combining a heatable resistive sensor with a heatable surface ionization sensor, utilizing metal oxide or semiconductor materials, allows for charge transfer reactions that enable the detection of nitrogen-containing functional groups and other toxic substances by measuring resistance and ionization current changes, with adjustable sensor surface materials and temperatures for improved selectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple semiconductor gas sensors are used, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the measurement precision and selectivity for detecting low concentrations of functional hydrocarbons deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing function into two separate sensor types: a resistive sensor for general gas detection and a surface ionization sensor for selective detection of functional hydrocarbons. This segmentation allows each sensor to be optimized for its specific function, maintaining high measurement precision while avoiding the complexity of a single highly sophisticated sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device combines multiple sensing mechanisms (resistive and surface ionization) into a single integrated system that can detect multiple types of gases with different selectivities. The resistive sensor provides broad gas detection capability while the surface ionization sensor adds specific detection of functional hydrocarbons, creating a multi-functional device that addresses both general monitoring and specific detection needs.
2Measurement precision
If complex spectrometric instruments are used, then the measurement precision for detecting low concentrations of functional hydrocarbons is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex spectrometric instrument, the patent segments the detection function across two simpler sensor types. The surface ionization sensor provides selective detection of functional hydrocarbons at low concentrations without requiring the full complexity of spectrometric analysis, thereby achieving high measurement precision with reduced device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface ionization sensor acts as an intermediary between simple resistive sensors and complex spectrometric instruments. It provides the selective detection capability needed for functional hydrocarbon identification without requiring the elaborate optical systems and complex data analysis of full spectrometric instruments, thus serving as a simpler intermediate solution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensor arrays with multiple sensors are used, then the gas discrimination capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensing array into two distinct sensor types with complementary detection capabilities. The resistive sensor detects general gas presence while the surface ionization sensor specifically detects functional hydrocarbons. This segmentation provides effective gas discrimination for toxic functionalized hydrocarbons without requiring large arrays of identical sensors, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor device (10) for selectively detecting low concentrations of functional hydrocarbons in the gas phase using at least one resistive sensor (11) that can be heated, wherein the sensor device comprises at least one surface ionization sensor (11, 20) that can be heated and that is located in an electric field. Said sensor device is structurally simple and can detect small concentrations of toxic hydrocarbons, for example dimethylaniline, dibutylamine or drugs on the basis of amphetamine, in the atmosphere.