Wearable Device Holder With Concealed UV Eartip Sterilization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices, such as earphones, cause otitis externa due to blocked earholes leading to humidity and bacterial growth, and existing solutions either require separate cases or increase device size and cost with multiple UV units.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a holder for wearable devices, incorporating a light emitting unit that emits UV light through a lens to sterilize both the inside and outside of the eartips, while maintaining a compact design and concealed sterilization components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple UV light emitting units are used to sterilize both inside and outside of eartips, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into multiple holder units (first holder and second holder), each capable of mounting a wearable device. Each holder unit has its own light emitting unit positioned to sterilize the eartip insertion portion. This segmentation allows effective sterilization coverage without requiring a single large centralized UV source, thus maintaining compact device size while achieving comprehensive sterilization.
Solution Approach 2:
A reflective surface is introduced as an intermediary element within each holder unit to redirect and distribute UV light from the light emitting unit onto the eartip insertion portion. This mediator enables the light to reach areas that would otherwise be difficult to illuminate directly, improving sterilization effectiveness without adding multiple separate light sources.
2Reliability
If multiple UV light emitting units are used to sterilize both inside and outside of eartips, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each holder unit is designed as a universal module that combines the light emitting unit, reflective surface, and holder structure into a single integrated component. This multi-functional design allows for standardized mass production of identical modules, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost compared to custom-assembled configurations with separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitting unit and holder unit are merged into an integrated structure where the light emitting unit is positioned within and protected by the holder unit. This combining reduces the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering overall manufacturing cost while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
3Reliability
If light emitting units are exposed externally for sterilization function, then sterilization capability is maintained, but appearance quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting unit is nested within the holder unit structure, which itself is integrated into the electronic device housing. This nested arrangement allows the sterilization components to be concealed within the device's internal structure, maintaining a clean and attractive external appearance while preserving full sterilization functionality when the device is in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder unit acts as a protective shell that encloses the light emitting unit. This shell structure allows the sterilization components to be hidden from external view while still enabling light emission toward the wearable device eartips when needed, thus maintaining both appearance quality and sterilization capability.
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
Effectively sterilizes both the inside and outside of wearable device eartips, preventing bacterial growth without increasing device size or cost, and improving appearance quality by concealing sterilization components.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting unit configured to emit light toward the head holder
Implementation Method 2
a lens configured to surround the light source and formed on the wiring substrate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
An electronic device includes a holder, a light emitting unit, and a housing. The holder includes a head holder in which a head of a wearable device is mounted, and a body holder in which a body of the wearable device is disposed. The light emitting unit emits light toward the head holder. The housing surrounds the holder and the light emitting unit.