Carrier Illumination System with Fiber Optic Lining and Capacitor Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carriers such as handbags and backpacks make it difficult to locate items within them, especially in low-light conditions due to the lack of ambient light reaching the interior.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an illumination system with light-transmitting fibers in the inner lining, a light source, a switch for control, a power source, and a capacitor to manage illumination duration, allowing the carrier to emit light when opened, thus facilitating item location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional carriers are used without illumination systems, then the structure remains simple and cost-effective, but the ability to locate items in low-light conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is nested within the carrier structure, with light-transmitting fibers integrated into the lining material. The light source, capacitor, and control circuitry are embedded within the carrier body, allowing the illumination function to be contained within the existing carrier form factor without requiring external attachments or complex external wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor charges the power source in advance during the closed state, so that when the carrier is opened and illumination is needed, the light source is already powered and ready to illuminate immediately. This preliminary charging action ensures that the illumination function is available on-demand without requiring external power connections at the moment of use.
2Ease of operation
If a light source is continuously powered, then the cavity is always illuminated for easy item location, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system operates periodically rather than continuously - it activates only when the carrier is opened (detected by the switch) and automatically deactivates when closed. The capacitor charges during the closed period and discharges to power the light during the open period, creating a periodic on-demand illumination cycle that conserves energy while maintaining usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects when the carrier is opened or closed through the switch mechanism and self-regulates the illumination and charging cycles without user intervention. The capacitor autonomously manages power storage and release, and the light source activates only when needed, making the energy management fully automatic and eliminating the need for manual power control.
3Loss of energy
If the carrier interior is illuminated only when opened, then energy is conserved, but the transition between charged and discharged states requires complex timing control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes complex timing chips, relays, and microcontrollers from the control circuitry, replacing them with a simple passive capacitor-based timing mechanism. The capacitor's natural charge and discharge characteristics provide the timing function without requiring active electronic control components, thereby extracting the complexity while maintaining the energy-efficient periodic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic timing control systems with a passive electrical timing mechanism based on capacitor charge-discharge cycles. The natural time constant of the RC circuit provides the necessary timing delay for illumination duration without requiring mechanical switches, relays, or programmable microcontrollers, simplifying the overall control architecture.
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 solution provides effective illumination of the carrier's interior when needed, enhancing the ability to visually find items without relying on external light, thereby simplifying the retrieval process in dark environments.
Implementation Method 1
the light source may be in the form of a LED light source
Implementation Method 2
light transmitting fibers in or at the lining for illumination of the cavity
Implementation Method 3
a capacitor for controlling duration of illumination of the light source
Implementation Method 4
The locking means may include a first member arranged on one side of the rim and a second member arranged on an opposite side of the rim, and may be configured to be magnetically attracted together for closing the access
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a carrier. The carrier comprises an inner lining arranged in the carrier, the lining providing a cavity in which items are carried in the carrier. The carrier includes an illumination system having light transmitting fibers in or at the lining for illumination of the cavity, a light source for feeding lighting to said fibers or otherwise providing illumination in the cavity, a switch for controlling operation of light source, a power source for providing power to illumination system, and a capacitor for controlling duration of illumination of light source.