Doorbell Indicator Light Pipe for Uniform Ring Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional doorbell indicators often lack uniform and efficient illumination, leading to increased design complexity and costs, as well as difficulties in manufacturing and assembly, particularly in providing clear visual cues for visitors in low-light conditions.
Innovation Solution
The use of light pipes and light dispersion techniques that direct light radially outward from multiple light reflecting surfaces or emitting devices, allowing for a more uniform and bright illumination with fewer light emitting devices, and enabling rough positioning of elements, thus reducing design complexity and costs while maintaining a desirable light output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional doorbell indicators use multiple light emitting devices to achieve uniform illumination, then the illumination uniformity improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light pipe as an intermediary component between the light emitting device and the button. The light pipe receives light from a single LED and guides it to illuminate the button uniformly, eliminating the need for multiple light emitting devices while maintaining illumination uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the light guiding and distribution function from the light emitting devices themselves and transfers it to a dedicated light pipe component. This separation allows a single light emitting device to achieve uniform illumination across multiple areas through the light pipe's optical guidance
2Illumination intensity
If conventional doorbell indicators use precise alignment of light emitting devices to achieve proper light distribution, then the illumination quality improves, but the manufacturing precision and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light pipe serves as a tolerant intermediary that can accommodate variations in the positioning of the light emitting device. Its optical design ensures that even with rough positioning, the light is properly guided and distributed to illuminate the button uniformly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the light pipe (such as its geometry and refractive properties) to make the system less sensitive to positioning variations. This allows the light pipe to effectively guide light from a single LED even when the LED is not precisely positioned
3Illumination intensity
If conventional doorbell indicators use multiple light emitting devices to provide sufficient illumination, then the illumination coverage improves, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light pipe acts as an optical mediator that takes light from a single light emitting device and distributes it across multiple areas (including the button and surrounding regions). This multiplication of light distribution from a single source eliminates the need for multiple light emitting devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of multiple light emitting devices into a single light emitting device plus a light pipe system. The light pipe performs the additional work of distributing light to multiple areas, effectively merging the roles of multiple LEDs into one integrated solution
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 approach results in a more uniform and efficient illumination for doorbell indicators, easing manufacturing and assembly while providing clear visual cues, even in low-light conditions, and reducing the need for precise alignment of light emitting devices.
Implementation Method 1
The light pipe can have an output portion configured to emit the light received at the input portion and can have one or more light reflecting portions optically between the input portion and the output portion. The one or more light reflecting portions can be configured to receive light from the input portion in the direction along the optical axis and reflect the light to travel along a radially outward and divergent path that is transverse to the optical axis.
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated indicator for a doorbell can be arranged to receive light along an optical axis (e.g., that is perpendicular to a front face of the doorbell housing) and emit the light from an output portion that defines a closed loop (e.g., that extends around the optical axis) and in a direction that is parallel to the optical axis. The illuminated indicator can include a light pipe that receives light along the optical axis and reflects the light to follow a radially outward and divergent path, e.g., that is perpendicular to the optical axis. The radially outward and divergent light can be reflected to follow a path that is parallel to the optical axis for emission at an output portion of the light pipe. The light pipe can be configured to transmit a doorbell switch activation force to other parts of the doorbell to cause actuation of the switch.