Control Button Illumination via Embedded Optical Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical equipment with integrated light functions for dark room identification and operating state indication face difficulties in mounting and accessing the lighting means, leading to inefficient illumination of control keys.
Innovation Solution
The lighting means are fully embedded on the control button with mounting means, attached to the rear face, housed in the key's thickness, and utilize a molded plastic optical guide and light-emitting diodes connected to a printed circuit supplied by conductors, accumulators, or an induction system, allowing easy assembly and effective illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lighting means are mounted on a dedicated support inside the device box, then the light source can be electrically connected to the fitting mechanism, but the lighting means become complex to mount and cannot be accessed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lighting means directly with the control key by integrating the light source, optical guide, and mounting structure into a single assembly that attaches to the rear face of the control key. This eliminates the need for a separate dedicated support inside the device box, simplifying both mounting and access while maintaining electrical connection reliability through conductors that connect to terminals on the key.
2Reliability
If the light source is mounted on a dedicated support inside the device box, then electrical connection is achieved, but the light source becomes difficult to access for maintenance or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source from the internal device box mounting and relocates it to the control key assembly. The light source is now positioned on the rear face of the control key, outside the device box, making it easily accessible for maintenance or replacement while maintaining electrical connection through conductors that connect to terminals on the key.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lighting means are embedded in the control key, then the mounting is simplified and accessibility is improved, but the luminous flux recovery and guidance becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical guide as an intermediary element between the light source and the control key face. The optical guide efficiently channels and directs the luminous flux from the light source on the rear face through the thickness of the control key to the front face, minimizing energy loss and ensuring correct illumination while maintaining the simplified embedded mounting 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
This solution simplifies the mounting of lighting means and enhances the illumination of control keys by guiding the light flux through an optical guide, ensuring correct and efficient lighting, even in dark environments.
Implementation Method 1
an optical guide capable of guiding the luminous flux emitted by said light source towards an area to be illuminated of said control key
Implementation Method 2
said lighting means comprise a light source and an optical guide
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The appliance has a control button (130) accessible to a user for actuating a switchgear mechanism. An illumination unit (200) is completely embarked on the control button and adapted to illuminate a front zone of the control button. The illumination unit includes a light source and an optical guide (210) for guiding light flow emitted by the source to the front zone of control button to be illuminated. The control button has clamps, on its rear face, adapted to enclose the optical guide and the light source, where the clamps are formed with the control button by molding of a plastic material.