Miniature optical particulate matter sensor module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021018421-A1
Application number	US-202017065209-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 7, 2020
Priority date	Dec 11, 2017
Publication date	Jan 21, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include a miniature optical PM sensor module. A miniature optical particulate matter sensor module may comprise a housing; a micro airflow generator positioned within the housing; an actuator positioned adjacent to the micro airflow generator and configured to drive the micro airflow generator; a miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly in fluid communication with the micro airflow generator; and a flex cable assembly configured to attach to at least one of the housing and the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A miniature optical particulate matter sensor module comprising:
a housing; a micro airflow generator positioned within the housing; an actuator positioned adjacent to the micro airflow generator and configured to drive the micro airflow generator; a miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly in fluid communication with the micro airflow generator; and a connection assembly configured to attach to at least one of the housing and the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly.

22 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 21 , wherein the connection assembly comprises a flex cable assembly.

23 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 21 , wherein the micro airflow generator comprises a micro membrane pump.

24 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 23 , wherein the micro membrane pump comprises a deformable membrane plate, an air outlet check valve, an air inlet check valve, and a fixed air inlet plate.

25 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 21 , wherein the actuator is a MEMS actuator.

26 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 25 , wherein the MEMS actuator comprises a cover, a MEMS vertical motion comb drive actuator, a MEMS substrate, and a base plate.

27 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 25 , wherein the MEMS actuator is 6 mm in diameter and 1 mm in height.

28 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 21 , wherein the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly comprises a PM2.5 sensor.

29 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 21 , further comprising a membrane, wherein the actuator drives the membrane, which is configured to generate airflow toward the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly.

30 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 21 , wherein the connection assembly is configured to provide flexible integration of the miniature optical particulate matter sensor module into space limited mobile assemblies.

31 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 21 , wherein the connection assembly is configured to communicate information from the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly to a user.

32 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 30 , wherein the connection assembly is configured to attach the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly to a mobile device.

33 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 31 , wherein the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly comprises:
a printed circuit board; a laser diode die assembled onto the printed circuit board; a photodiode positioned offset and apart from a beam produced by the laser diode die, with a line of sight of a sensing face of the photodiode approximately perpendicular to a beam path of the beam; a laser heatsink configured to provide thermal management for the laser diode die; a laser beam trap configured to dump the beam to minimize stray light into a detection area; a preamplifier configured to interact with the photodiode; and a processor.

34 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 33 , wherein the photodiode captures light emitted from the laser diode die that is scattered by particulate matter in the airflow passing through the beam produced by the laser diode die.

35 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 34 , wherein the laser beam trap captures light emitted from the laser diode die scattered in any other direction.

36 . The miniature optical particulate matter sensor module of claim 34 , wherein the processor comprises a driver for the laser diode die, a driver for the actuator, and a signal processor for a scattered particle signal.

37 . A method for generating airflow via a micro airflow generator within a compact optical scattering particulate matter sensor, the method comprising:
providing a miniature optical particulate matter sensor module comprising: a housing; a micro airflow generator positioned within the housing; and an actuator positioned adjacent to the micro airflow generator and configured to drive the micro airflow generator; generating airflow into the housing via the actuator; directing the airflow into a miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly in fluid communication with the micro airflow generator; detecting, by the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly, particulate matter within the airflow; and communicating detected information from the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly via a connection assembly attached to the miniature optical particulate matter sensor module.

38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein directing the airflow into the miniature particulate matter sensor board assembly comprises passing the airflow between a light source and a light detector.

39 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising producing a laser beam by a laser diode die of the compact optical scattering particulate matter sensor; and detecting, by a photodiode, light that is scattered by particulate matter passing through the laser beam.

40 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising applying a force to the actuator, causing movement of the micro airflow generator.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Feng Chen
• Chen Tao
• Liu Jennifer
• Shang Tong

Classifications

• G01N15/06

  Investigating concentration of particle suspensions (by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10) · CPC title

• G01N1/2273

  Atmospheric sampling · CPC title

• F04C21/00

  Oscillating-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids · CPC title

• G01N2015/0046

  in gas, e.g. smoke · CPC title

• F04B45/047 Primary

  Pumps having electric drive · CPC title