Circumferential Light Guide for Handheld Device Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld personal care devices face challenges in maintaining a visible light indicator during use, especially when the device is oriented differently, and achieving uniform light intensity with a limited number of light sources in a compact design.
Innovation Solution
A handheld personal care device with a closed-loop light emitting surface that uses an optically transparent light guide and strategically positioned light sources, where the light guide has a receiving surface further away from the operative unit and a guiding wall that spreads light radially, ensuring visibility from all sides and uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a light indicator is used to indicate operational conditions, then the user receives feedback on device status, but the light indicator may not remain visible when the device is oriented differently during use
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting surface is arranged to extend circumferentially around the main housing, transitioning from a planar arrangement to a three-dimensional circumferential arrangement. This allows the light indicator to be visible from multiple angles and orientations, solving the problem of visibility loss when the device is held in different positions during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential light emitting surface serves multiple functions: it provides visual feedback on operational conditions, remains visible regardless of device orientation, and can be integrated into the existing housing structure. This multi-functional design ensures the light indicator is universally visible across all device orientations.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to achieve uniform light intensity distribution, then the light indicator becomes more visible, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential light emitting surface is divided into multiple segments corresponding to different operational conditions (e.g., different colors for different shaving pressures or temperatures). Each segment can be independently controlled by individual light sources, achieving uniform light distribution while maintaining a compact design through efficient use of space.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple light sources are strategically positioned and integrated into the housing structure, merging their functions into a single circumferential light emitting surface. This combination approach achieves uniform light distribution across the entire circumference while minimizing the overall device volume by eliminating redundant structural elements.
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 ensures the light indicator remains visible regardless of device orientation and provides uniform light intensity across the emitting surface, allowing for immediate feedback on operational conditions like shaving pressure, while maintaining a compact design and minimizing additional volume.
Implementation Method 1
the light indicator further includes an optically transparent light guide and at least one light source; the light emitting surface is a closed-loop surface of the light guide which faces in a direction having a main component in an outward radial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A hand held personal care device 1 has a main housing 2 arranged to be held by hand, and an operative unit 3 connected to the main FIG. 1 housing 2 and adapted for carrying out a personal care operation to a body part of a user. The main housing 2 has a main axis of extension 36 and accommodates a light indicator 4 for indicating an operational condition of the personal care device 1. The light indicator 4 has a light emitting surface 6, that extends circumferentially around the main housing 2 as a closed-loop surface about the main axis of extension 36, and a light guiding wall 31 of which at least a portion, including the closed-loop surface, extends as a closed-loop wall portion 40 about the main axis of extension.