Stove guard utilizing different wavelengths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stove guards face challenges in reliably detecting temperature due to variations in emissivity of different materials and objects, leading to false alarms and unreliable temperature calculations, which can result in improper operation and user frustration.

Innovation Solution

A stove guard with a temperature sensor arrangement using multiple detector elements with different technologies and sensitivity bands across various wavelength ranges, allowing for more comprehensive and reliable signal interpretation, including the use of infrared and visible light sensors, to accurately determine object temperatures and distinguish between temperature changes and other factors affecting radiation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single infrared sensor is used to detect thermal radiation, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient due to emissivity variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement precisionVSAvoidsensor arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor arrangement is segmented into multiple detector elements (first detector element and second detector element) with different sensitivity bands. This segmentation allows each element to detect thermal radiation in a specific wavelength range, enabling more precise temperature measurement by comparing signals from multiple elements while compensating for emissivity variations of different materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple detector elements with different wavelength sensitivities are used, then the reliability of temperature detection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature detection reliabilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data processing unit implements feedback by continuously comparing the detector signals from multiple detector elements and using this comparison to determine object temperature. The system uses the ratio or difference of signals from detector elements with different sensitivity bands to compensate for emissivity variations, providing reliable temperature detection through iterative signal analysis and threshold comparisons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the stove guard operates with high sensitivity to thermal radiation, then it can detect dangerous situations reliably, but it generates false alarms due to emissivity variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety detection reliabilityVSAvoidfalse alarms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of wavelength sensitivity by using detector elements with different sensitivity bands. By measuring thermal radiation at multiple wavelength ranges and analyzing the relative signals, the system can distinguish between actual temperature increases indicating dangerous situations and apparent radiation changes caused by emissivity variations of different dish materials, thereby reducing false alarms while maintaining reliable safety detection.

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

This solution enables the stove guard to reliably detect exceptional situations and prevent false alarms by accurately measuring temperatures, improving operational safety and user trust through enhanced data processing capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

an infrared, i.e. thermal radiation sensor that has a specific field of view and that receives thermal radiation emitted by objects in the field of view

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

The stove guard comprises a temperature sensor arrangement and a data processing unit. The temperature sensor arrangement includes a first detector element and a second detector element. The first detector element has a sensitivity band located at a first position along a thermal radiation wavelength axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3572777B1Stove guard utilizing different wavelengths
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 SAFERA
  • EP3572777B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3572777B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3572777B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A stove guard comprises a data processing unit (101) and a temperature sensor arrangement (102) for receiving thermal radiation from objects in a specific field of view and for supplying detector signals representative of the received thermal radiation to the data processing unit (101). The temperature sensor arrangement (102) includes at least three detector elements (201, 202, 203), their sensitivity bands located at different positions along an optical radiation wavelength axis. The sensitivity band of one of said detector elements is limited to a wavelength range of less than 1.2 micrometres.