Portable UV Fluorescence Detector for Hygiene Product Quality Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting fluorescence intensity in disposable hygiene products are subjective due to human eye sensitivity variations and require lengthy dissolution processes, making objective and quick assessments impractical for production settings.

Innovation Solution

A portable ultraviolet excited fluorescence intensity detector is designed to quantify fluorescence in both hot-melt and non-hot-melt adhesive-type base materials using a handheld device with integrated sensors and filters, converting fluorescence into digital signals for objective evaluation, allowing for rapid detection without human eye reliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If human eyes are used to evaluate fluorescence intensity, then the detection method is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to variations in human sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection method simplicityVSAvoidfluorescence intensity measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the human visual system (biological detection) with an electronic detection system comprising a sensor and signal processing circuitry. The detector converts fluorescence intensity into electrical signals that are processed and displayed numerically, eliminating subjective human sensitivity variations while maintaining operational simplicity through automated measurement and display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If dissolution process is used for fluorescence detection, then quantitative detection can be achieved, but the detection time increases making it unsuitable for quick assessment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantitative fluorescence detection capabilityVSAvoiddetection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the detection function from the complex dissolution process and implements it directly on the intact hygiene product using a portable detector. The device applies ultraviolet light to excite fluorescence in the original product structure, allowing quantitative measurement without time-consuming dissolution steps, thus achieving both accuracy and speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Illumination intensity

If ultraviolet light is used to excite fluorescence, then the fluorescence intensity can be excited, but the detection requires specialized equipment making it less portable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluorescence excitation capabilityVSAvoidequipment portability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the ultraviolet light source, fluorescence sensor, signal processing circuitry, and display components into a single integrated portable device. This consolidation allows the system to maintain full ultraviolet excitation capability and quantitative detection functionality while being compact enough for field use and rapid assessment scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables objective, rapid, and quantitative fluorescence detection of disposable hygiene products, facilitating production quality control by converting ultraviolet excited fluorescence into digital signals, thus overcoming human sensitivity limitations and time constraints.

Implementation Method 1

radiate the object to be tested by ultraviolet, and then view the intensity of fluorescence excited by the ultraviolet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

the activated sensor can convert excited fluorescence into electric signals proportional to its light intensity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3465160B1Portable ultraviolet excited fluorescence intensity detector
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 HENKEL KGAA
  • EP3465160B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3465160B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3465160B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Portable ultraviolet excited fluorescence intensity detector (100) and method of the same are provided. The detector for carrying out quantitative fluorescence detection for a disposable hygiene product's raw materials, comprising a housing (200), wherein a detection opening is formed in a planar sidewall of the housing (200), an ultraviolet emitting light path, a first receiving light path and a second receiving light path are defined within the housing (200) such that these light paths are coplanar, wherein after the portable ultraviolet excited fluorescence intensity detector is placed on a planar substrate to be tested, the ultraviolet emitting, first receiving and second receiving light paths converge at a point in a surface of the planar substrate, wherein an ultraviolet source (911) is arranged in the ultraviolet emitting light path and is adapted to emit ultraviolet light towards the point and excite fluorescence there, a first sensor (921) and a second sensor (931) are arranged within the first receiving light path and the second receiving light path respectively such that the sensors can be selectively operated, wherein the first sensor is designed to convert light, whose wavelength is between 420 and 480 nm, into electric signals proportional to the light intensity, the second sensor is designed to convert light, whose wavelength is between 480 and 760 nm, into electric signals proportional to the light intensity, and wherein a first filter device and a second filter device are allocated to the first and second sensors respectively such that the excited fluorescence can be received by the first and second sensors through the first and second filter devices respectively.