Bicycle Control Device Light Guide Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle control devices face challenges in effectively integrating luminous indicator means with control members, often resulting in impractical and inefficient lighting solutions.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle control device featuring a light source and light guide that utilizes total internal reflection to guide light from the source to a substantially transparent portion of the control member, allowing for improved lighting and easier electrical connections, with the light source housed in a support separate from the control member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light source is integrated directly into the control member, then the lighting effect is strong, but the electrical connections become complex and difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: the light source is housed in the support body while the control member remains separate. This segmentation allows the light source to be positioned for optimal lighting without complicating the electrical connections to the control member, as each component has its own connection path.
Solution Approach 2:
A light guide element acts as an intermediary between the light source in the support body and the control member. This intermediary transmits light from the separated components, enabling strong lighting effects while maintaining the simplicity of separate electrical connections for the light source and control member.
2Device complexity
If the light source is placed in a support separate from the control member, then the electrical connections are simplified, but the lighting effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide element extends the lighting path from the support body to the control member through spatial extension. This dimensional approach allows the light source to be positioned in the support body while still achieving effective illumination of the control member, resolving the trade-off between separation and lighting effectiveness.
3Volume of moving object
If the control device is made compact, then the overall size is reduced, but the accessibility for electrical connections becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a support body housing the light source and a separate control member. This segmentation allows the main body to remain compact while the control member can be positioned for optimal accessibility, enabling compact overall size without compromising connection accessibility.
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 configuration provides effective and practical lighting for the control member, enhancing visibility and simplifying electrical connections, while maintaining a compact and accessible design.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide (30) configured to guide the light, through the phenomenon of total internal reflection, from the light source (20)
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle control device that includes a control member with at least one transparent portion, and a luminous indicator. The luminous indicator includes a light source and a light guide that guides the light, through the phenomenon of total internal reflection, from the light source to the at least one transparent portion of the control member.