Cordless Drill Lighting Control for Shadow-Free Work Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld power tools with lighting devices face issues of suboptimal illumination due to shadows and changing light intensity as the tool moves closer to the work region, leading to inconvenient shadows and glare, especially when the lighting device is positioned at the base of the tool.
Innovation Solution
A handheld power tool equipped with a light sensor that detects light intensity and generates control signals to adjust the lighting device's parameters, ensuring the main emission direction aligns with the machining axis, maintaining constant light intensity and avoiding glare by adjusting the beam angle and number of activated lamps based on sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lighting device is arranged at the base of the handheld power tool, then the tool structure is compact, but the distance between the tool and work region changes during machining causing changing shadows and suboptimal illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the lighting device adjustable rather than fixed. The lighting device can be positioned at different locations along the tool axis and its emission direction can be adjusted dynamically during machining to maintain optimal illumination as the tool moves relative to the workpiece.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the lighting device including its position along the tool axis, its emission direction angle, and its intensity. These parameters can be adjusted to compensate for changes in distance between the tool and work region, maintaining consistent illumination quality throughout the machining process.
2Ease of operation
If the main emission direction of the work light does not extend along the machining axis, then the lighting device can be positioned at the base, but the position and size of the illuminated work region changes as distance changes causing irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the emission direction parameter of the lighting device to extend along the machining axis. This alignment ensures that as the tool moves closer to or farther from the work region, the illuminated area remains stable in position and size, eliminating changing shadows and glare that would otherwise irritate the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an asymmetric arrangement where the lighting device is positioned and oriented specifically to align its emission direction with the machining axis, rather than using a symmetric or default positioning. This asymmetric configuration optimizes illumination stability during machining operations.
3Illumination intensity
If a lamp on a flexible arm is provided at the base, then lighting can be positioned, but the arm takes up large installation space and gets in the way
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flexible arm from the system by integrating the lighting device directly into the tool housing structure. The lighting device is mounted within the tool body and oriented to emit light along the machining axis, eliminating the need for external flexible arms that would occupy installation space and potentially interfere with operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the lighting device with the tool housing, combining two previously separate components (lighting device and tool body) into a single integrated unit. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting structures like flexible arms, reducing installation space requirements and avoiding interference with machining operations.
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 provides consistent and optimal lighting conditions for the user, preventing shadows and glare by dynamically adjusting the lighting to match the machining process, even as the tool's distance from the work region changes, and conserves battery power by adapting to ambient light levels.
Implementation Method 1
the light sensor detects the light intensity of the work light reflected onto the work region during operation
Data Source
AI summary
Handheld power tool having a housing with a machining axis along which a tool is or can be arranged, and having a lighting device that has at least one activatable lamp, the lighting device generating work light within a beam angle with an increased or maximum light intensity in a main emission direction in order to illuminate a work region, and having at least one light sensor for measuring the light intensity, characterized in that the light sensor detects the light intensity of the work light reflected on the work region during operation and generates control signals representing the light intensity, in that an adjustment unit is provided for setting and/or adjusting the work light generated by the lighting device, and in that a control unit is provided which controls the adjustment unit on the basis of the sensor signals during operation.