Solid Electrolyte Gas Sensor Eliminates Heater Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas sensors that detect gases based on changes in electrical resistance or ion conductivity require constant current power supplies and heating, leading to high power consumption and energy inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A gas sensor design featuring a solid electrolyte layer with positive charge carriers, where electrodes are arranged to facilitate movement of charge carriers without the need for a constant current power supply or heating, utilizing a unit to accelerate charge carrier movement and detect potential differences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional gas sensors use constant-current power supply to measure electrical resistance changes, then gas detection is achieved, but power consumption of the detection circuit becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas detectionVSAvoidpower consumption of detection circuit

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical resistance measurement system (which requires constant current power supply) with a potential difference measurement system based on ion conductivity. The solid electrolyte layer generates potential difference directly in response to gas adsorption, eliminating the need for constant current power supply and reducing detection circuit power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from electrical resistance to potential difference. By measuring potential difference generated by ion conductivity changes in the solid electrolyte layer rather than electrical resistance changes in semiconductor, the system avoids requiring constant current power supply while maintaining gas detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If semiconductor is heated to high temperature for excellent detection properties, then gas detection sensitivity is improved, but large quantity of power is needed for heater

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidpower consumption of heater

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating temperature parameter from high temperature (400°C for semiconductor) to room temperature for the solid electrolyte-based sensor. The solid electrolyte layer maintains excellent ion conductivity at room temperature, eliminating the need for high-temperature heating while preserving detection sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal field-based detection mechanism (heating semiconductor to high temperature) with an electrical field-based mechanism (measuring potential difference in solid electrolyte at room temperature). This substitution eliminates the heater component and its associated power consumption while maintaining detection performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If solid electrolyte is heated to high temperature for excellent ion conductivity, then ion conductivity is improved, but large quantity of power is needed for heater

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion conductivityVSAvoidpower consumption of heater

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter from high temperature (300°C or higher for conventional solid electrolytes like zirconia) to room temperature by selecting solid electrolyte materials (such as metal halides) that exhibit excellent ion conductivity at room temperature, thereby eliminating the need for heating while maintaining reliable ion conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Measurement precision

If chemical reaction is used to induce potential difference change in solid electrolyte, then gas detection is achieved, but high temperature is needed for chemical reaction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepotential difference detectionVSAvoidoperating temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter from high temperature to room temperature by selecting solid electrolyte materials (metal halides) that enable gas detection through ion conductivity changes at room temperature without requiring chemical reactions that need high temperature activation.

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 solution enables a gas sensor that operates without the need for electric current supply or heating, achieving energy-saving efficiency while maintaining sensitivity and selectivity in detecting target gases.

Implementation Method 1

a solid electrolyte layer including positive charge carriers to which detection-target gas is to coordinate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

detect a change in a potential difference of the gas sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPotential difference generation: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS12105046B2Gas sensor and sensor device

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

A gas sensor which includes a solid electrolyte layer including positive charge carriers to which detection-target gas coordinates, an electrode arranged on part of a plane of the solid electrolyte layer, and a unit configured to accelerate movements of the positive charge carriers.