Sensor Patch Neutral Fiber Light Guide Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor patches with fiber optic sensors face challenges in accurately measuring mechanical and temperature changes on measurement objects due to external influences and sensitivity issues, requiring improved designs for better compensation and signal amplification.
Innovation Solution
A sensor patch design featuring a light guide with fiber optic sensor elements, a support structure with fastening elements, and an intermediate carrier that allows the light guide to run in the neutral fiber, providing passive temperature compensation and lever-free mechanical signal amplification, which minimizes tensile and compressive stresses and enhances measurement resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the light guide is fastened rigidly at two positions, then the sensor patch provides stable mechanical support, but the light guide experiences tensile and compressive stresses when bent, reducing measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate carrier as a mediator between the light guide and the measurement object. This intermediate carrier allows the light guide to run in the neutral fiber, decoupling the mechanical stresses from the optical path and enabling accurate measurements while maintaining structural stability.
2Device complexity
If the sensor patch is designed to be compact, then it is easier to attach to measurement objects, but the light guide may experience bending stresses that affect sensor performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the light guide in the neutral fiber of the sensor patch structure, utilizing the dimensional arrangement of the intermediate carrier to eliminate bending stresses while maintaining a compact overall design that can be easily attached to measurement objects.
3Ease of manufacture
If the light guide runs outside the neutral fiber, then the structure is simpler to manufacture, but temperature changes and mechanical stresses create signal noise
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate carrier serves as an intermediary structure that enables the light guide to be positioned in the neutral fiber during operation, compensating for the increased manufacturing complexity by providing passive temperature compensation and minimizing signal noise from environmental factors.
4Strength
If fastening elements are placed close together, then the light guide is securely held, but the measurement resolution is reduced due to lack of signal amplification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs prestressing elements that are pre-tensioned during assembly to securely hold the light guide between the fastening elements. This preliminary action ensures both secure fastening and creates the mechanical conditions for lever-free signal amplification, improving measurement resolution without compromising fastening strength.
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 effectively compensates for temperature changes and mechanical stresses, improving measurement accuracy and resolution by ensuring the light guide operates within the neutral fiber axis, reducing signal noise from bending and external influences, and allowing for easy attachment to uneven surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
the light guide runs in the neutral fiber of the sensor patch, which has no tensile and compressive stresses when bent
Implementation Method 2
An intrinsic fiber optic sensor is sensitive to mechanical structural changes such as stretching and/or compression as well as temperature changes
Implementation Method 3
the design of fiber optic sensors as intrinsic sensors, in which the sensor element such as a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is contained in the sensor fiber itself
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor patch (110) comprising a light guide (112) having a sensor element (111). The sensor patch (110) further comprises a carrier structure having a first fastening element (301) for fastening the light guide (112) at a first position (401), and a second fastening element (302) that is spaced apart from the first fastening element (301) for fastening the light guide (112) at a second position (402), wherein the sensor element (111) is arranged between the first position (401) and the second position (402). Said sensor patch further comprises an intermediate carrier (500) having a first surface (503), on which the first and second fastening elements (301, 302) are mounted at respective fastening positions (501, 502), and an opposite second surface (504) that can be mounted on a measuring object, and a covering element (303) arranged on the intermediate carrier (500) and connected thereto. Together with the intermediate carrier (500), the covering element (303) forms a cross-sectional dimension that is oriented approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the light guide (112) oriented in such a way that the light guide (112) extends in the neutral fiber (900) of the sensor patch (110).