Smartphone Colorimeter Accessory with Interference Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate colorimeters are extremely costly, making them inaccessible for educational and cost-constrained applications, where precise chemical concentration measurements are needed.
Innovation Solution
A smartphone-based colorimeter accessory that includes a sample holder, light source, interference filter, and correction system, leveraging smartphone camera processing to provide accurate narrowband light transmission measurements and calculate solution concentrations, while being cost-effective and adaptable to various devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional accurate colorimeters are used, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a functional copy of a traditional colorimeter using a smartphone camera instead of a dedicated sensor. The smartphone's existing camera, combined with the added optical components (interference filter, light source, sample holder), replicates the measurement capabilities of expensive colorimeters at a fraction of the cost, directly addressing the contradiction between accuracy and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes the smartphone serve multiple functions - it acts as both a general-purpose mobile device and a specialized colorimeter. By leveraging the smartphone's existing processing capabilities, display, and camera, the system eliminates the need for dedicated hardware while maintaining measurement accuracy, thereby reducing cost without sacrificing precision
2Ease of manufacture
If smartphone camera is used for colorimeter readings, then cost is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to camera characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interference filter as an intermediary component between the light source and the smartphone camera. This filter compensates for the camera's broadband sensitivity by allowing only specific wavelengths to pass through, thereby correcting the camera's inherent spectral response characteristics and improving measurement accuracy without increasing device cost
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies the optical parameters of the measurement system by adding a light source with specific spectral characteristics and an interference filter with defined wavelength selection. These parameter changes compensate for the smartphone camera's limitations, enabling accurate colorimetric measurements while maintaining the cost advantages of using a standard smartphone
3Measurement precision
If light source and interference filter are added to smartphone, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source, interference filter, sample holder, and smartphone camera into a single integrated accessory assembly. This consolidation allows the system to achieve narrowband light transmission measurement capability while managing device complexity through unified design, where components work together as a cohesive unit rather than separate additions
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 enables reliable and accurate colorimeter readings on smartphones, reducing costs and making precise chemical concentration measurements accessible for educational and budget-limited situations without compromising accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
an interference filter received into the lens cover and positioned in front of the camera lens along the optical axis
Implementation Method 2
a light source positioned in front of the camera lens, transparent liquid holder and interference filter and providing light along the optical axis
Implementation Method 3
Colorimeters measure the absorbance of specific colors, for example, to determine concentrations of chemical solutions using Beer's law relating the absorbance of a color directly to concentration of the solution
Data Source
AI summary
A colorimeter accessory for a smartphone is provided that, by leveraging the high-volume development of sophisticated smart phone technology, substantially reduces the cost of a colorimeter. The invention provides a sample holder that adapts to a range of smart phone cameras and that provides a light source and interference filter necessary for making accurate narrowband measures of light transmission through the sample holder. A correction system operates to compensate for characteristics of the smart phone camera that can affect accuracy of the reading. The processing system of the smart phone may be enlisted for this correction system and for calculation of concentrations of solution through the measurements that are made.