Submersible Sensor Capacitive Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional submersible sensors face issues with size, cost, reliability, and fluid integrity due to mechanical switches and access ports, which can lead to user error and premature failure, and are often tethered to a fixed power source, limiting their ability to freely flow with fluid currents.
Innovation Solution
A submersible sensor design that eliminates mechanical switches and external power connections by using an integrated shell with capacitive touch sensors to automatically activate or deactivate based on medium changes, such as transitioning from air to water, allowing for a smaller, more robust, and cost-effective device with a longer shelf and usable life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical switches and access ports are used in submersible sensors, then user control and component access are enabled, but device size increases, reliability decreases, and fluid integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes mechanical switches and access ports from the submersible sensor design. The sensor uses capacitive touch sensors integrated into the shell surface to detect user interaction, eliminating the need for separate mechanical switch components and their associated housing structures, thereby reducing size and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical switches with capacitive touch sensors that detect user interaction through changes in electrical capacitance. This substitution eliminates mechanical moving parts and wear issues, significantly improving device reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical switches are used in submersible sensors, then activation control is enabled, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the activation control function directly into the shell structure by integrating capacitive touch sensors into the shell surface. This eliminates the need for separate mechanical switch assemblies, reducing device complexity and component count while maintaining activation control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive touch sensors serve multiple functions: they detect user interaction for activation control, provide a sealed interface with the fluid environment, and integrate directly into the shell structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Ease of repair
If access ports are provided for components in submersible sensors, then component access is enabled, but fluid may penetrate and ruin internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional access ports from the sensor design. Instead, it uses wireless communication capabilities and integrated electronics that can be accessed or reset through the sealed shell structure, eliminating the need for physical openings that would compromise fluid integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses wireless communication as an intermediary to enable component access and data transmission without physical openings in the shell. This allows interaction with internal components while maintaining the sealed integrity of the sensor housing against fluid penetration.
4Use of energy by moving object
If submersible sensors are tethered to fixed power sources, then power supply is ensured, but ability to flow with fluid currents is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tether connection to external power sources, enabling the sensor to be fully deployed in open water environments. It replaces external power connections with an integrated battery system that provides autonomous power supply without physical constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static tethered power connection to a dynamic self-contained battery system. This allows the sensor to move freely with fluid currents and adapt to dynamic water movement while maintaining continuous power supply through the integrated energy storage system.
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 smaller, more reliable, and cost-effective submersible sensor that can automatically activate or deactivate without mechanical switches, maintaining fluid integrity and allowing the sensor to freely flow with fluid currents, reducing the risk of user error and extending its operational life.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive touch sensors configured to generate an output indicative of an external medium
Data Source
AI summary
A submersible sensor comprising a fluid-tight shell, electrodes operatively coupled to the inner surface of the fluid-tight shell, and a processor disposed within the fluid-tight shell and operatively coupled to the electrodes. The processor is configured to detect capacitance changes at the electrodes, detect a first property of a first medium responsive to first detected capacitance changes of the detected capacitive changes, detect a second property of a second medium responsive to second detected capacitance changes of the detected capacitive changes, and activate one or more operational modes responsive to a difference between the first property and the second property.