Dual Light Guide Illumination Device for Uniform Document Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional illumination devices using a single light guide body and LED light source for image forming apparatuses require high light emission from LEDs, leading to increased costs and heat dissipation issues, while struggling to efficiently radiate light to a document sheet from a point source.
Innovation Solution
The illumination device employs a dual light guide body configuration with two bar-like light guide bodies and two LEDs, where each light guide body has an incident and exit surface, allowing light to be emitted in perpendicular directions, reducing the required light emission intensity per LED and minimizing heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single LED light source is used with a light guide body, then the device structure is simple, but the light emission intensity required from the LED becomes too high causing heat dissipation issues and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the illumination system into multiple independent units, each consisting of a light guide body and an LED light source. Instead of using a single high-power LED, the system employs multiple lower-power LEDs distributed across several light guide bodies, thereby reducing heat generation and cost while maintaining adequate illumination intensity through cumulative effect
2Device complexity
If a single LED light source is used, then the device structure is simple, but the required light emission intensity from the LED becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is segmented across multiple light guide bodies and LED pairs. Each LED operates at lower power levels, and the collective light output from all units achieves the required illumination intensity. This distribution eliminates the need for a single high-power LED, reducing both cost and heat dissipation requirements
3Stability of the object's composition
If light is emitted from multiple directions using a single light guide body with reflection plate, then uniform illumination is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single light guide body with complex reflection arrangements, the patent segments the illumination into multiple independent light guide bodies, each emitting light in specific directions. This modular approach achieves uniform illumination through the combined effect of multiple simple units, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining illumination quality
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 configuration enables more efficient light distribution to the document sheet, reducing heat generation and costs by utilizing lower intensity LEDs, while maintaining uniform illumination and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide body for guiding illumination light emitted from a light source
Data Source
AI summary
In an illumination device that radiates light to an object to be irradiated placed on a predetermined placement surface, a first light guide body has a first incident surface located at an end thereof in a first direction, which receives light along the first direction, and a first exit surface extending along the first direction, which emits the light in a second direction crossing the first direction, thereby radiating light to the object to be irradiated, from the second direction, and a second light guide body has a second incident surface located at an end thereof in the first direction, which receives light along the first direction, and a second exit surface extending along the first direction, which emits the light in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction, thereby radiating light to the object to be irradiated, from the third direction.