Wireless Light Dosimeter Using Phosphor Charge Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light dosimeters are bulky, prone to mechanical and water damage, require continuous power, and have limited operating ranges due to their reliance on electronic components and wired connections.
Innovation Solution
A wireless light dosimeter comprising a light sensing device with a phosphor-based light sensitive layer incorporating two types of dopant ions, which undergo reverse and forward charge transfers in response to different light energies, allowing for offline measurement of light intensities over a large dynamic and spectral range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If electronic components and wired connections are used in light dosimeters, then continuous power supply and real-time monitoring are achieved, but device size increases and reliability decreases due to vulnerability to mechanical and water damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic components with a phosphor-based optical system. The phosphor layer absorbs light energy and stores it in trapped charge carriers, eliminating the need for electronic sensors, power supplies, and wired connections. This substitution of mechanical/electronic systems with an optical-chemical system directly resolves the contradiction by removing vulnerable electronic parts while maintaining continuous monitoring capability through the persistent phosphor state.
Solution Approach 2:
The phosphor material performs multiple functions autonomously: it detects light intensity, stores the measurement data in its trapped charge carriers, and provides long-term memory without external power. The system serves itself by using the phosphor's inherent photophysical properties to achieve both sensing and data storage, eliminating dependence on external electronic systems and thereby improving reliability while maintaining continuous operation.
2Productivity
If electronic components are integrated in a single dosimeter, then real-time data transmission is enabled, but device complexity increases and operating range is limited by physical connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the measurement function by using the phosphor layer as a standalone memory medium. The phosphor absorbs light, stores charge carriers, and maintains the measurement data independently of any read-out device. This separation allows the dosimeter to be simplified while enabling wireless data transmission, as the phosphor can be read by external devices without requiring integrated electronic transmission components.
3Device complexity
If conventional phosphors with single dopant ions are used, then simple structure is maintained, but spectral response range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite phosphor material containing multiple dopant ions (e.g., Eu2+ and Sm3+) within the same host lattice. Each dopant ion contributes to absorbing different portions of the spectrum, and their combined effect enables broad spectral response from ultraviolet to infrared regions. This composite approach maintains a simple single-phase material structure while achieving versatile spectral coverage, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
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 provides a reliable, wireless, and offline method for measuring light intensities, offering a broad spectral response and extended operational range without the need for external power or electronic components, thus enhancing durability and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensitive layer comprising a phosphor into which two different types of dopant ions are incorporated
Implementation Method 2
a charge transfer of the dopant ions from the first state to the second state happens when the light sensitive layer is exposed to a second light energy
Implementation Method 3
When illuminated with stimulation light emitted by a stimulation light source, the dosimeter releases the trapped energy in the form of light
Data Source
AI summary
A light sensing device includes: a light sensitive layer having a phosphor with two different types of lanthanides dopant ions, switching between a first state and a second state; one or more optical filters on top of the light sensitive layer. When the dopant ions are in the second state after exposure of the light sensitive layer to the second light energy, the light sensitive layer measures a first light intensity of light of the first light energy. When the dopant ions are in the first state after exposure of the light sensitive layer to the first light energy, the light sensitive layer measures a second light intensity of light of the second light energy.