Bistable Display Lighter Customization Without Continuous Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame producing assemblies, such as lighters, lack cost-effective customization options beyond limited manufacturer-selected designs, and adapting existing structures for unlimited consumer preferences is complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held flame producing assembly with an electronic bistable display device and a personalization station that allows users to customize designs wirelessly or through a wired connection, using a communication module to update images on the display without requiring continuous power, reducing the assembly's size and cost by providing power and control systems externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an electronic display device is integrated into the flame producing assembly, then customization capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply, drive system, and computing system from the flame producing assembly and places them in an external personalization station. Only the electronic bistable display and communication module remain in the lighter, significantly reducing its complexity while maintaining customization capability through wireless or wired connections to the external station.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into two separate components: a simple flame producing assembly with display and communication module, and a separate personalization station containing the power supply, drive system, and computing system. This segmentation allows the lighter to remain simple and affordable while providing advanced customization features through the external station.
2Adaptability or versatility
If continuous power is supplied to the display device, then image updating capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic bistable display requires power only periodically to update the image, not continuously. The display maintains its image without power consumption between updates, significantly reducing overall energy usage while still enabling image changes when needed through connection to the personalization station.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic bistable display is self-sustaining in its ability to hold images without continuous power input. The display serves itself by maintaining its state without requiring continuous energy supply, only needing power when image updates are required.
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
Enables cost-effective, customizable designs for flame producing assemblies by allowing users to change images on the display efficiently, reducing waste and maintaining a stable image without continuous power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The electronic bistable display is configured to display an image representing the user-configured content according to image data. The electronic bistable display may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) display, also called e-paper display and allows the LCD glass to show an image without the need of any power.
Data Source
AI summary
A flame producing assembly display device for displaying user-configured content is provided. The flame producing assembly display device comprises an electronic bistable display and a communication module. The electronic bistable display is configured to display an image representing the user-configured content according to image data. The communication module is in electrical communication with the electronic bistable display. The communication module is connectable to a personalization station for providing image data and power to the electronic bistable display. The electronic bistable display is suppliable with power and updating image data only when a connection between the communication module and the personalization station is established.