Stove guard utilizing different wavelengths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stove guards face challenges in accurately detecting temperature due to variations in emissivity of different materials and objects, leading to false alarms and unreliable operation, which can be frustrating and safety-concerning for users.
Innovation Solution
A stove guard equipped with multiple temperature sensors having sensitivity bands at different wavelengths, allowing for comprehensive detection of thermal radiation across various wavelength ranges, enabling more reliable temperature estimation and differentiation from other factors like emissivity and distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single infrared sensor is used to detect thermal radiation, then the device structure is simple, but the temperature detection accuracy is poor due to emissivity variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the thermal radiation detection into multiple wavelength bands by using two or more detector elements with different sensitivity bands. Each detector measures thermal radiation in a specific wavelength range, and the data processing unit combines these measurements to calculate temperature, thereby improving accuracy while managing complexity through functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-wavelength detection to multi-wavelength detection by adding the wavelength dimension to the measurement process. This dimensional expansion allows the system to distinguish between temperature effects and emissivity effects, as different materials exhibit characteristic radiation patterns across multiple wavelengths.
2Reliability
If multiple detector elements with different sensitivity bands are used, then temperature detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the detector arrangement to serve multiple functions: each detector element not only measures thermal radiation in its specific wavelength band but also contributes to compensating for emissivity variations, distance effects, and other interfering factors. The data processing unit integrates information from all detectors to perform comprehensive temperature analysis, making the system universally applicable to various cooking scenarios.
3Measurement precision
If total thermal radiation amount is used for temperature calculation, then the detection method is simple, but false alarms occur due to emissivity variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from total thermal radiation amount to spectral distribution characteristics across multiple wavelength bands. By analyzing how radiation intensity varies across different wavelengths rather than just the total amount, the system can distinguish between temperature changes and emissivity variations, significantly reducing false alarms.
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 enhances the stove guard's ability to accurately detect exceptional and dangerous situations, reducing false alarms and ensuring reliable operation by distinguishing temperature changes across different wavelengths, thus improving user safety and trust in the device.
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
Implementation Method 2
The different detector elements are arranged to detect, at different wavelength ranges, thermal radiation emitted by objects in the field of view
Data Source
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 micrometers.