Thermochromic Temperature Sensor With Color Memory Threshold Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature-sensitive products lack a reliable and direct method to indicate the exposure to a specific temperature threshold, which can compromise their quality and safety, such as vaccines and food products, the existing temperature-sensitive products lack a reliable method to indicate exposure to a specific temperature threshold, which can affect their quality and safety.
Innovation Solution
A temperature sensor that includes a color-changing system comprising a dye, a developer, and a solvent, where the interaction between the dye and the developer results in a visible color change upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, with a color-memory property to retain the color change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is designed to provide direct visual indication of temperature threshold exposure, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for multiple chemical components (dye, developer, solvent)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes thermochromic color changes in a dye-developer system to provide direct visual indication of temperature threshold exposure. The dye and developer interact at specific temperatures to produce visible color changes, eliminating the need for electronic displays or complex sensing mechanisms while maintaining high measurement precision for temperature threshold detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor employs a composite chemical system consisting of multiple components (dye, developer, and solvent) that work together to achieve the desired thermochromic effect. This composite material approach allows the sensor to provide reliable temperature indication through the synergistic interaction of its constituent chemicals, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Loss of information
If the color-changing system is designed to retain color change for recording thermal history, then loss of information is reduced, but stability of the object's composition deteriorates due to the color-memory property
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by designing a system where the color change is retained not through inherent stability, but through the formation of a stable colored complex that resists reversing. The dye-developer interaction creates a colored product that maintains its state even when temperature conditions change, effectively recording thermal history while managing composition stability through the stability of the colored complex itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The color-memory property is achieved by exploiting parameter changes in the dye-developer system at specific temperature thresholds. The system undergoes a chemical transformation at the threshold temperature that results in a stable colored state, allowing thermal history to be recorded. This parameter change approach resolves the contradiction by using controlled chemical transformation to retain information while managing overall system stability.
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 temperature sensor effectively indicates exposure to a specific temperature threshold, providing a direct visual indication of thermal history, ensuring the quality and safety of temperature-sensitive products.
Implementation Method 1
Upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of the dye and the developer results in a visible color change
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
A temperature sensor, and methods of making and using such a temperature sensor, whereby the temperature sensor includes a reversible thermochromic color-changing system having a dye, a developer, and a solvent. Upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of the dye and the developer results in a visible color change. Further, the color-changing system includes a color-memory property which facilitates retention of the color change to effectively record exposure to the temperature threshold.