Dental Light Curing Device Actuating Member Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light curing devices for dental purposes are difficult to operate securely and efficiently, especially when trying to activate the release button with the thumb, as the existing button design requires focused attention away from the dental restoration, leading to poor operability even with larger buttons.
Innovation Solution
A large actuating member that extends between two electric control elements, allowing for easy operation without tilting and providing a clear, haptic feedback surface, which can be actuated blindly and supports multiple control functions, including exposure time selection through LED indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the release button is enlarged to improve operability, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of activation deteriorates due to tilting and unstable contact
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating member is divided into two separate control elements (first control element and second control element) that are spaced apart from each other. This segmentation prevents tilting by distributing the actuation force across multiple contact points, ensuring reliable activation while maintaining ease of operation with the enlarged button surface.
2Ease of operation
If the release button is positioned at the top of the device to enable thumb operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of activation deteriorates because the operator must aim at the button
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating member is segmented into two control elements spaced apart, creating a distributed contact surface. This allows the operator to press anywhere on the enlarged top surface with their thumb, and the distributed geometry ensures reliable activation without requiring precise aiming, as the force is distributed across multiple contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating member is designed with asymmetric geometry where the two control elements are spaced apart rather than centered. This asymmetric arrangement allows the operator to press from various positions on the top surface with their thumb, maintaining reliability while enabling easy operation without precise aiming.
3Device complexity
If a single control element is used for the release button, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of activation deteriorates due to tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The single control element is segmented into two separate control elements (first and second control elements) that are spaced apart. This segmentation increases reliability by preventing tilting through distributed contact points, while the overall structure remains relatively simple and does not significantly increase device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A light curing device (10) for dental purposes which is provided with a housing (12), at least one control element for controlling the operation of the light curing device and an actuating member (26) which is mounted moveably relative to the housing for the actuation of the control element. The light curing device is provided with at least two control elements (44, 46) spaced apart from each other which are electrically connected in parallel. Furthermore, at least one of the control elements (44, 46) can be actuated by actuation of the actuating member (26).