Button Light Guide and Membrane for Leak-Resistant Aerosol Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol-generating devices face issues with liquid ingress through buttons, leading to potential damage to internal components, and existing lighting solutions are limited by the need to maintain button actuation capability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a membrane that separates the inside and outside of the device, allowing light to pass while preventing liquid ingress, and a button light guide embedded within the button to facilitate lighting without additional openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a button is provided in the housing to allow user interaction, then ease of operation is improved, but liquid ingress through the button can damage internal components (reliability deteriorates)
Solution Approach 1:
A membrane is introduced as an intermediary element between the button and the internal components. The membrane extends across the through-hole in the housing and is positioned downstream of the button, allowing the button to be actuated while preventing liquid from reaching internal components. The membrane acts as a barrier that mediates between the external environment and the internal device components.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is implemented as a thin, flexible film that spans the through-hole in the housing. This flexible film allows for button actuation while maintaining liquid ingress prevention, combining the mechanical flexibility needed for operation with the barrier properties needed for protection.
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are provided inside the housing to illuminate the button, then illumination intensity is improved, but additional openings or modifications to the button are needed (device complexity increases)
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane serves multiple functions: it prevents liquid ingress and simultaneously acts as a light transmission element for button illumination. By making the membrane transparent or translucent, it becomes a multi-functional component that combines protection with lighting, eliminating the need for separate lighting openings or modifications to the button 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
The membrane effectively prevents liquid ingress, protecting internal components while enabling effective lighting without compromising button functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The membrane may be transparent or translucent. The membrane may allow light from inside the housing to pass through the membrane.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The aerosol-generating device comprises a button and at least one light source. The button has an outer side facing towards an outside of the aerosol-generating device and an inner side facing towards an inside of the aerosol-generating device. The button is configured to be pressed in a pressing direction. The at least one light source is provided within the aerosol-generating device. The button comprises a button main body and a button light guide embedded in the button main body. The button light guide comprises at least one light entry surface on the inner side of the button and a light emission surface on the outer side of the button.