Wireless Oxygen Monitoring With Remote Alarms and Data Logging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable oxygen monitors for inert gas welding lack features that enhance usability in the field, such as reliable alarms for remote operation and sufficient data storage for forensic analysis, leading to disruptions and potential loss of data during welding operations.

Innovation Solution

A distributed oxygen monitor system featuring a wireless oxygen monitor that can communicate with a remote device, allowing for real-time data transmission and logging, and providing an audiovisual alarm that can be heard from a distance, thus improving usability and data management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If portable hand-held oxygen monitors are used, then portability and ease of use are improved, but alarm reliability and data storage capacity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoidalarm reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the oxygen monitoring functionality into two separate components: a portable hand-held oxygen monitor for现场 monitoring and a fixed base station for data storage and alarm management. The portable monitor handles portability requirements while the base station provides reliable alarm and storage functions, resolving the contradiction between portability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless communication link serves as an intermediary between the portable oxygen monitor and the fixed base station. This allows the portable device to maintain its portability while relaying data to the base station for reliable alarm generation and long-term data storage, effectively bridging the gap between mobile convenience and stationary reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If personnel periodically check the monitor display during initial purging, then oxygen level monitoring is maintained, but productivity and workflow efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen level monitoringVSAvoidworkflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic feedback through the audiovisual alarm that continuously monitors oxygen levels and provides immediate warning when safe welding conditions are achieved. This eliminates the need for personnel to periodically check the display, as the system autonomously tracks and communicates oxygen level status, maintaining monitoring precision while freeing personnel for other tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The oxygen monitor performs self-monitoring and self-alarming functions without requiring continuous human intervention. The device automatically tracks oxygen levels, compares them against safety thresholds, and triggers alarms when conditions change, enabling the system to serve itself and eliminating the need for personnel to disrupt their workflow for periodic checks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If gas sample data points are stored at short time intervals, then forensic analysis accuracy is improved, but memory capacity is exceeded and data loss occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforensic analysis accuracyVSAvoiddata loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the data storage function from the portable oxygen monitor to the fixed base station. The portable monitor collects and transmits gas sample data at high frequency intervals, while the base station with its larger storage capacity receives and archives the data. This separation allows high-resolution data collection without overwhelming the portable device's limited memory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves data storage from the temporal dimension (time-based storage in portable device memory) to a spatial dimension (expanded storage capacity at the fixed base station). By transferring data to the base station's larger storage repository, the system effectively increases available storage space without compromising the high sampling rate needed for accurate forensic analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If the audiovisual alarm is activated, then welding safety is improved, but false alarms and user desensitization may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding safetyVSAvoidfalse alarms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the oxygen level trajectory and welding phase. During initial purging, the alarm monitors for the achievement of safe oxygen levels. During welding, it provides continuous monitoring with alarm capability. The alarm's sensitivity and activation criteria adapt to the operational context, reducing false alarms while maintaining safety coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3538311B1Wireless oxygen monitoring system
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 AQUASOL CORP LLC
  • EP3538311B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3538311B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3538311B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A wireless oxygen monitor for monitoring oxygen in a weld zone. The oxygen monitor receives weld zone gas samples and an oxygen sensor detects oxygen levels. A controller generates gas sample oxygen level data and wirelessly transmits gas sample data via an oxygen monitor wireless communication interface to a remote device that displays the gas sample data and logs it in a remote device storage.