Smart Mask Sensor System for Pollutant Absorption Calculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current masks lack the ability to accurately quantify pollutant absorption, which is crucial for understanding air quality and filter efficiency, especially in environments with increasing pollution levels.

Innovation Solution

A smart mask equipped with a filter, sensor, processor, and connecting module that records wearing time and local air quality index to calculate pollutant absorption quantity based on respiratory volume and filtration efficiency, using Bluetooth, NFC, or infrared connections to transmit data for processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional masks are used without sensors and calculation functions, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to quantify pollutant absorption is missing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant absorption quantityVSAvoidmask structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A terminal device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) serves as an intermediary between the simple mask and the calculation system. The mask only collects basic data (wearing time, air quality index) while the terminal performs complex calculations involving respiratory volume and filtration efficiency to determine pollutant absorption quantity, thus avoiding embedding complex computation in the mask itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mask integrates multiple functions including pollutant filtration, wearing time recording, air quality monitoring, and data transmission, while the terminal device provides additional calculation and display functions. This distributed multi-functionality allows accurate quantification without making the mask itself overly complex

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the mask calculates pollutant absorption quantity using multiple parameters (wearing time, air quality index, respiratory volume, filtration efficiency), then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant absorption quantityVSAvoidprocessing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device acts as an intermediary that receives basic data from the mask and performs complex multi-parameter calculations. This separates the data collection function (simple mask) from the calculation function (terminal), reducing the complexity burden on the mask while maintaining high measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into two parts: the mask handles data collection (wearing time, air quality index), while the terminal handles data processing and calculation. This segmentation allows the complex calculation logic to be distributed to the terminal rather than embedded in the mask, reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If the mask includes a sensor to record wearing time and connect to terminal for calculations, then the pollutant absorption quantity can be calculated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant absorption dataVSAvoidmask structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device serves as an intermediary that receives minimal data from the mask and performs complex calculations to recover complete pollutant absorption information. This approach minimizes data loss while avoiding the need for complex sensors and processing units within the mask itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables intuitive display of air quality and filter performance, providing users with accurate pollutant absorption data and ranking lists, enhancing health protection and awareness.

Implementation Method 1

the filter is configured to absorb a pollutant in air entering the front mask body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3124083B1Smart mask, method, smart mask and apparatus for calculating pollutant absorption quantity
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3124083B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(A)
  • EP3124083B1 patent drawingFigure 2(B)~2(C)
  • EP3124083B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a smart mask, a method, smart mask and apparatus for calculating a pollutant absorption quantity, and belongs to a field of terminal technology. The smart mask includes a front mask body (101), a main mask body (102) and fixing straps (103). The front mask body (101) is disposed at a first opening end (1021) of the main mask body (102) and the fixing straps (103) are disposed at a second opening end (1022) of the main mask body (102). The front mask body (101) is internally provided with a filter (1011) and a sensor (1012) in sequence, the filter (1011) is configured to absorb a pollutant and the sensor (1012) is configured to record a wearing time of the smart mask. The fixing straps (103) are configured to fix the smart mask over the nose and mouth via the second opening end (1022).