Miniaturized Wireless Gas Sensor Platform with Environmental Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas detection systems face challenges in accurately measuring target gases like ethylene due to interference from contaminants such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, as well as environmental conditions like humidity and temperature, which affect the resistive response of gas sensors.
Innovation Solution
An electronic sensing system with a system-on-a-chip configuration, including humidity and temperature sensors, a digital potentiometer, and a communication device for wireless signal transmission, which adjusts resistances to compensate for environmental factors and provides accurate target gas readings by using a reference sensor to eliminate contaminant influences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional gas detection systems are used, then basic gas detection function is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from contaminants and environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the sensing function into separate specialized sensors: a target gas sensor for detecting the target gas, a reference sensor for detecting contaminants, a humidity sensor, and a temperature sensor. Each sensor focuses on a specific aspect, allowing independent measurement and compensation of different interfering factors, thereby improving overall measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference sensor acts as an intermediary that specifically detects contaminant gases (CO2, CO) that interfere with target gas measurement. By measuring the contaminant levels separately, the system can compensate for their interfering effects on the target gas sensor readings, eliminating the harmful influence of contaminants on measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If environmental compensation is implemented, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and compensation circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple sensing functions (target gas detection, reference sensing, humidity sensing, temperature sensing) and signal processing capabilities into a single system-on-chip (SoC) device. This consolidation combines what would otherwise be separate discrete components into one integrated unit, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the measurement precision benefits of environmental compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system-on-chip is designed as a multi-functional integrated device that performs target gas sensing, reference sensing, humidity sensing, temperature sensing, signal processing, and wireless communication all within a single component. This universal device replaces multiple separate components, simplifying the overall system structure while providing comprehensive environmental compensation capabilities.
3Volume of moving object
If miniaturization is achieved through system-on-chip integration, then device portability improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a reference sensor that is structurally identical or highly similar to the target gas sensor, serving as a copy or replica. This reference copy allows the system to characterize and compensate for environmental effects through comparison, achieving accurate environmental compensation through replicated sensor responses while maintaining miniaturization through integration.
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 system effectively calibrates out environmental contaminants, ensuring precise detection of target gases by compensating for humidity and temperature, thereby improving the accuracy of gas concentration measurements.
Implementation Method 1
the resistive response of a printed chemo-resistive gas sensor may be influenced by contaminants
Implementation Method 2
controlling a heating resistor at two different temperatures
Implementation Method 3
a humidity sensor configured to detect an on-board humidity of the electronic sensing system
Implementation Method 4
a temperature sensor configured to detect an on-board temperature of the electronic sensing system
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic sensing system (100) located on a printed circuit board (110) is provided. The electronic sensing system including: a target gas sensor (192) configured to detect a resistance of the target gas sensor; a reference sensor (194) configured to detect a resistance of the reference sensor; a resistance comparator (400) including a digital potentiometer (160), the resistance comparator being electrically connected to the target gas sensor and the reference sensor, wherein the digital potentiometer is configured to be adjusted to determine a first resistance in response to the resistance of the target gas sensor and a second resistance in response to the resistance of the reference sensor; and a system on a chip (130) in electronic communication with the resistance comparator, the system on a chip being configured to determine a target gas concentration in response to the first resistance and the second resistance.