Disposable Attachment Light Patterning for Dynamic 3D Illumination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personal care devices face challenges in providing optical feedback or output within disposable attachment portions, as integrating light sources and control components in these attachments is complex and inefficient due to disposal requirements.

Innovation Solution

A personal care device design featuring a main device body with light sources and a controller, coupled with a disposable attachment having a light patterning means that uses passive optical components to create dynamic 3D illumination patterns, allowing for dynamic optical visualization without active electronic components in the attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If light sources and control components are integrated in the attachment, then optical feedback can be provided within the attachment, but device complexity and disposal inefficiency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical feedbackVSAvoidelectrical components

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light sources and control electronics from the disposable attachment and relocates them to the reusable main device body. The attachment only contains passive optical components (light patterning means) that shape and direct light, while the active components remain in the main body that can be easily replaced with the attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is segmented into two functional parts: the main device body containing all active electronic components and light sources, and the disposable attachment containing only passive optical components. This segmentation allows the attachment to be discarded without wasting electronic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If active electronic optical components are integrated in the attachment, then dynamic optical visualization can be achieved, but energy efficiency decreases due to disposable nature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic optical visualizationVSAvoidelectrical components disposal

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the disposable principle to the attachment portion only, which contains the light patterning means and passive optical components. These disposable components are replaced with each new attachment, while the expensive, energy-consuming active components (light sources and controller) remain in the reusable main body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Loss of information

If light patterning means is used to create 3D illumination patterns, then optical feedback visualization is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical feedback visualizationVSAvoidlight patterning means integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses changes in optical parameters (light transmission, reflection, refraction) through passive optical components to create 3D illumination patterns. The light patterning means utilizes material properties and geometric configurations to shape light without requiring active electronic control within the attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables dynamic optical visualization in personal care devices, such as oral care devices, by creating a 3D illumination pattern that can mimic the flow of treatment light, providing visual feedback without the need for active electronic components in the disposable attachment.

Implementation Method 1

a light patterning means integral with the attachment body, comprising a plurality of light patterning portions, each light patterning portion arranged to receive light from at least one light input area of the attachment body, and to provide a respective 3D illumination pattern within the attachment body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight patterning:

Implementation Method 2

at least a portion of the attachment body is formed of a light transmissible material, to permit each 3D illumination pattern to be visible to an observer at an exterior surface of the attachment body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission:

Data Source

PatentUS20250049206A1Personal care device with illumination

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A personal care device is proposed with a main body and attachment and wherein the attachment comprises an optical arrangement or light patterning means which receives light supplied at a light input area and processes or guides the light in such a way as to generate an illumination pattern in the attachment body which defines a 3D geometric shape or structure. The light patterning means or optical arrangement has a plurality of portions, which are each arranged to be optically activated upon supply of light to a different respective light input area, or to the same light input area but at a different light input angle, and each, upon optical activation, generating a different portion of the overall 3D illumination pattern. A set of multiple light sources are provided in the main body for respectively supplying light into different of the portions of the optical arrangement or light patterning means, and are dynamically controlled by a controller to generate a dynamically varying overall 3D illumination pattern.