Arc-Shaped Light Guide for Uniform Illumination in Building Control Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building control devices with lighting assemblies face challenges in achieving improved performance and reduced manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an arc-shaped lighting assembly with an elongated arc-shaped light guide and optically coupled light sources, which provides a diffuse light output and can be integrated with a printed circuit board assembly and an LCD display in building control devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional lighting assemblies are used in building control devices, then manufacturing costs may be higher and performance is limited, but the patent does not provide specific details about conventional designs to establish clear technical contradictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide and lighting assembly into an integrated component that is directly mounted to the display device housing. This merging of components reduces the number of separate parts, simplifies assembly processes, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable lighting performance through optimized optical coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: providing status indication through different colors, offering uniform illumination across the display perimeter, and enabling flexible mounting configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and achieves cost-effective design.
2Illumination intensity
If lighting assemblies are designed to provide uniform illumination, then visual appeal and functionality are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an arc-shaped light guide that conforms to the curved perimeter of the display device. This curved geometry naturally distributes light uniformly across the arc-shaped illumination area, achieving uniform illumination without requiring complex multi-component assemblies or sophisticated optical control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide acts as an intermediary component between the light sources and the visible illumination area. It receives light from the sources and redistributes it uniformly across the arc-shaped front face, simplifying the overall structure by using a single optical component to achieve uniform illumination.
3Device complexity
If light sources are directly mounted to provide illumination, then device complexity is reduced, but light distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves as an intermediary optical component between the light sources and the visible illumination area. It receives light from the sources and redistributes it uniformly across the arc-shaped front face, simplifying the overall structure by using a single optical component to achieve uniform illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide modifies the light parameters by changing the spatial distribution pattern. It transforms the point-source illumination into a distributed arc-shaped illumination with uniform intensity across the front face, achieving uniform light distribution while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
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 solution enhances the visual appeal and functionality of building control devices by providing a uniform and diffuse light output, while also potentially reducing manufacturing costs through innovative design and integration.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated arc-shaped light guide with a first end, an opposing second end, a length along the arc-shaped light guide between the first end and the second end, an arc-shaped light emitting front face, an arc-shaped rear face, and a side edge. The elongated arc-shaped light guide is mounted adjacent to the front side of the arc-shaped substrate, with the one or more light sources optically coupled to the elongated arc-shaped light guide such that light provided by the one or more light sources enters the elongated arc-shaped light guide and is distributed to the arc-shaped light emitting front face of the elongated arc-shaped light guide to provide a diffuse light output.
Implementation Method 2
light provided by the one or more light sources enters the elongated arc-shaped light guide and is distributed to the arc-shaped light emitting front face of the elongated arc-shaped light guide to provide a diffuse light output
Data Source
AI summary
A building control device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly with a controller. A lighting assembly is operatively coupled to the PCB and is controlled by the controller. The lighting assembly includes a light guide that extends around a periphery of an interposing region. The light guide having a front face and one or more light sources optically coupled to the light guide such that light provided by the one or more light sources enters the light guide and is distributed to the front face of the light guide to provide a diffuse light output. A cover forms at least part of a front face of the building control device and includes a transparent region in registration with at least part of the front face of the light guide.