Anti-biofouling Light Source Surface Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anti-biofouling systems for devices with complex surface arrangements, such as box coolers, often fail to provide complete coverage due to shadows created by the device's geometry, limiting the effectiveness of anti-biofouling light sources in reaching all surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The configuration of surfaces relative to each other and the anti-biofouling light sources is adjusted to ensure that at least a majority of the surfaces are free from shadows, allowing anti-biofouling light to impact or skim along the surfaces, thereby preventing biofouling without increasing the number of light sources or incorporating them into the surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional anti-biofouling systems are used with standard surface arrangements, then the system structure is simple, but shadow areas are created that limit anti-biofouling coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the surfaces movable or adjustable relative to the anti-biofouling light source. The surfaces can be positioned or oriented dynamically to ensure that no shadow areas are created, allowing the light to reach all surfaces effectively. This resolves the contradiction by enabling complete coverage (improving reliability) without requiring a fixed complex structure (managing device complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by adjusting the spatial arrangement and orientation of surfaces in three-dimensional space relative to the light source. By configuring surfaces at different angles and positions, the system eliminates shadow areas and ensures complete light coverage across all surfaces, thereby improving anti-biofouling effectiveness without adding more light sources.
2Reliability
If the number of anti-biofouling light sources is increased to cover all surfaces, then complete anti-biofouling coverage is achieved, but the cost and complexity of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding more light sources, the patent makes the surfaces dynamic or adjustable in their positioning and orientation. This allows a single light source to illuminate all surfaces effectively by eliminating shadow areas through proper geometric configuration, thereby achieving complete coverage without increasing the number of light sources or system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters of the surfaces (such as angles, positions, and orientations) relative to the anti-biofouling light source. By optimizing these parameters, the system ensures that all surfaces are exposed to the light without creating shadow areas, achieving complete coverage with the existing number of light sources.
3Reliability
If anti-biofouling light sources are incorporated into the surfaces, then complete coverage is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making surfaces adjustable or reconfigurable in their spatial arrangement relative to external anti-biofouling light sources. This eliminates the need to embed light sources within the surfaces, thereby achieving complete coverage while maintaining ease of manufacture and avoiding the complexity of integrated light source installation.
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
This approach enables total or near-total anti-biofouling coverage of surfaces, maintaining device performance by preventing biofouling without the need for additional light sources or complex surface modifications.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one anti-biofouling light source being adapted to emit rays of anti-biofouling light
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (100) has surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24) and an anti-biofouling system (10) comprising at least one light source (11, 12) for performing an anti-biofouling action on at least a majority of the surfaces, the at least one light source (11, 12) being adapted to emit rays of anti-biofouling light. The surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24) are configured relative to each other and to the at least one light source (11, 12) such that during operation of the at least one light source, at least a majority of the surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24) is free from shadow with respect to the rays of anti-biofouling light from the at least one light source (11, 12), wherein it may be possible for the rays of anti- biofouling light to reach the surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24) by skimming along the surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24).