Single Vapor Sensor Using Impedance and Capacitance Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vapor sensing technologies, particularly metal oxide sensors, face challenges such as non-specificity, high power consumption, size limitations, and inability to differentiate between multiple vapors, leading to inaccurate and costly detection of electrolyte vapors from batteries, which can result in catastrophic failures.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system utilizing a polymer support with ionic salt and electrodes measures impedance and capacitance changes to differentiate and quantify electrolyte and water vapors, employing sinusoidal excitation signals to accurately detect vapor quantities and trigger safety protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If metal oxide sensors are used for vapor detection, then detection capability is provided, but the sensors cannot differentiate between multiple vapors leading to inaccurate detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing element is divided into multiple sensing regions with different polymer materials, each region responding differently to specific vapors. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between multiple vapors by measuring the distinct impedance changes in each region, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and vapor differentiation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing element uses composite polymer materials with different properties embedded in the metal oxide sensor. These composite materials provide selective response to different vapors, enabling the sensor to differentiate between electrolyte vapor, water vapor, and other gases while maintaining accurate detection capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are used to differentiate vapors, then vapor differentiation capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing regions with different polymer materials are merged into a single integrated sensing element. This allows the system to achieve vapor differentiation capability equivalent to multiple separate sensors while reducing device complexity and cost by using one unified component instead of multiple independent sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sensing element is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting different vapor types, differentiating between them, and providing accurate quantification. By making the sensing element universal, the system achieves the capabilities of multiple specialized sensors without the associated complexity and cost.
3Measurement precision
If traditional sensors are used, then detection is provided, but power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor operates by measuring impedance changes rather than requiring continuous heating or high-power operations. By changing the detection parameter from thermal-based to electrical impedance-based, the system maintains accurate vapor detection capability while significantly reducing power consumption.
4Measurement precision
If traditional sensors are used, then detection is provided, but size limitations prevent compact design
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing element uses thin polymer films deposited on the sensor substrate, enabling compact and flexible design. This thin-film approach maintains detection precision while significantly reducing the volume and size of the sensor, allowing for compact integration in battery management systems.
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 provides precise detection of electrolyte vapors, reducing false alarms and enabling timely corrective actions to prevent battery failures, while being compact and energy-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
determining, by one or more processors, an impedance of a sensing element
Implementation Method 2
determining, by the one or more processors, a capacitance of the sensing element
Implementation Method 3
causing transmission of, by the one or more processors and to the sensing element, a sinusoidal excitation signal having a frequency that is based at least in part on one or more properties of the sensing element
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining quantities of multiple vapors using a single sensor. In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by one or more processors an impedance of a sensing element; determining, by the one or more processors, a capacitance of the sensing element; and determining, by the one or more processors and based at least in part on (i) the impedance of the sensing element and (ii) the capacitance of the sensing element, (a) a quantity of a first vapor that has reacted with the sensing element and (b) a quantity of a second vapor that has reacted with the sensing element.