Ear Thermometer Backlight Control for Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ear thermometers require increased battery capacity to power backlights for displaying body temperature in dark environments, leading to larger size, weight, and higher costs due to high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An ear thermometer with a driving-controlling part that gradually reduces backlight emission from a maximum level to zero, using a light emitting diode for backlighting, and implementing intermittent power supply to minimize power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If backlight is irradiated to make liquid crystal display visible in dark places, then visibility of body temperature display is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The backlight is controlled to emit light periodically rather than continuously. The driving-controlling part activates the backlight during specific time periods when temperature display is needed, then turns it off during idle periods, achieving periodic illumination that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining visibility when required
Solution Approach 2:
The backlight intensity is dynamically adjusted based on operational requirements. The driving-controlling part varies the backlight emission from maximum level during active display periods to lower or zero levels during idle periods, creating dynamic illumination control that optimizes both visibility and power consumption
2Duration of action of stationary object
If battery capacity is increased to support continuous backlight operation, then duration of backlight operation is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic backlight operation rather than continuous operation, the system extends the effective usage duration without requiring increased battery capacity. The backlight operates only during necessary time periods, maintaining adequate operation duration while avoiding the need for larger batteries that would increase weight
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameters of backlight operation by controlling the timing and duration of illumination based on actual usage requirements. This parameter control allows the backlight to operate long enough for temperature display without requiring increased battery capacity, thereby avoiding weight increase
3Illumination intensity
If backlight operates at maximum level continuously, then illumination intensity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backlight intensity is dynamically controlled rather than maintained at constant maximum level. The driving-controlling part adjusts illumination intensity based on operational state, using maximum brightness only when temperature display is active and reducing or stopping illumination during idle periods, thereby reducing overall energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial illumination rather than excessive continuous illumination. The backlight operates at maximum level only for the necessary duration to display temperature, then is turned off or reduced to minimum level, avoiding excessive energy consumption while providing adequate illumination when needed
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
The solution allows for clear display of body temperature in dark places while significantly reducing power consumption, preventing the need for increased battery capacity and maintaining device usability.
Implementation Method 1
using a light emitting diode for backlighting
Implementation Method 2
a body temperature measuring part to sense infrared rays radiated from an ear hole depth and thereby measure a body temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an ear thermometer that irradiates liquid crystal with backlight without increasing a battery capacity, to make a body temperature displayed with the liquid crystal easily visible even in a dark place. An MCU 1 displays a body temperature measured by a body temperature measuring part (3) on a liquid crystal display part (5), controls, through input/output ports (P1, P2), a backlight emitting part (7) in such a way that the light quantity of the backlight irradiating the liquid crystal display part (5) from the backlight emitting part (7) is maximized for a first predetermined time, controls the backlight emitting part (7) in such a way that the quantity of the backlight keeps, for a second predetermined time that follows the first predetermined time, a predetermined level that is lower than the maximum, and controls the backlight emitting part (7) in such a way that the quantity of the backlight is zeroed after the second predetermined time elapses.