Humidity Sensor Preheating for Condensation-Free Vapor Pressure Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing physical quantity measurement systems face accuracy issues in measuring water vapor pressure due to condensation in high-humidity environments, which affects the precision of humidity measurement.

Innovation Solution

A physical quantity measurement system incorporating a temperature and humidity sensor, a heat generator, and a heat generation controller that adjusts the heat generator's ON/OFF states based on humidity thresholds to prevent condensation, allowing accurate measurement of water vapor pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a hygrometer is used to measure water vapor concentration in high-humidity environments, then humidity measurement is obtained, but condensation is produced in the hygrometer causing measurement accuracy to decline

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater vapor pressure measurement accuracyVSAvoidcondensation in sensor
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heat generator performs preliminary heating of the temperature and humidity sensor before humidity measurement to raise the sensor temperature above the dew point, preventing condensation formation in advance and ensuring accurate water vapor pressure measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter of the sensor by controlling the heat generator to switch between ON and OFF states, dynamically adjusting the sensor temperature to prevent condensation while maintaining measurement accuracy in high-humidity environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system effectively prevents condensation in the sensor, enabling precise measurement of water vapor pressure even in high-humidity conditions, thereby improving measurement accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

The heat generator performs a heat generating operation that generates heat to warm the temperature and humidity sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat generation: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The temperature and humidity sensor measures a humidity and temperature of gas mixtures flowing through a flow channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHumidity measurement: Hygrometer

Implementation Method 3

The water vapor pressure measurer measures, irrespective of a state of the heat generator, the water vapor pressure of the water vapor included in the gas mixtures based on the humidity measured value and a temperature measured value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater vapor pressure measurement: Vapour Pressure

Data Source

PatentEP4682522A1Physical quantity measurement system
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4682522A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4682522A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4682522A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The problem to be overcome by the present disclosure is to more accurately measure the water vapor pressure of gas mixtures even when the gas mixtures flow through a flow channel under a high-humidity environment. A physical quantity measurement system (1) includes a temperature and humidity sensor (16), a heat generator (17), a heat generation controller (203), and a water vapor pressure measurer (204). The heat generator (17) performs a heat generating operation that generates heat to warm the temperature and humidity sensor (16). The water vapor pressure measurer (204) measures a water vapor pressure of water vapor included in the gas mixtures. The heat generation controller (203) controls ON/OFF states of the heat generator (17) based on a result of comparison between a humidity measured value measured by the temperature and humidity sensor (16) and a threshold value. The water vapor pressure measurer (204) measures, irrespective of the state of the heat generator (17), the water vapor pressure of the water vapor based on the humidity measured value and a temperature measured value measured by the temperature and humidity sensor (16).