Electric Shaver Lighting Module for Dual-Phase Skin Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric shavers with infrared heating devices face safety and comfort issues due to the time required for the lighting elements to warm up to an optimal temperature, which can lead to skin burns if the power is increased to accelerate warming.
Innovation Solution
An electric shaver with a dual-phase control scheme for its lighting module, featuring an initial heat-up phase with a higher power setting to rapidly heat the skin-contacting surface, followed by an operational phase with a lower power setting to maintain a safe and comfortable temperature, using a thermally conductive pathway and optically transmissive materials to achieve both optical and conductive heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the power to the lighting elements is increased to accelerate warming, then the heating rate is improved, but skin burns may occur due to excessive temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting elements operate in periodic phases: an initial heat-up phase with higher power to rapidly warm the skin-contacting surface to 40-50°C, followed by an operational phase with reduced power to maintain safe temperature. This periodic power adjustment enables fast heating without causing burns during prolonged use
Solution Approach 2:
The power setting of the lighting elements is made dynamic rather than static, allowing the system to adapt power levels based on the heating stage. The controller adjusts power from a higher initial level to a lower maintenance level, enabling the system to achieve both rapid heating and safe operational temperature
2Loss of time
If the power to the lighting elements is increased to reduce warm-up time, then the duration to reach optimal temperature is improved, but safety and comfort issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting module operates in periodic phases: an initial heat-up phase with higher power to rapidly warm the skin-contacting surface to 40-50°C, followed by an operational phase with reduced power to maintain safe temperature. This periodic power adjustment enables fast heating without causing burns during prolonged use
Solution Approach 2:
The power setting of the lighting elements is made dynamic rather than static, allowing the system to adapt power levels based on the heating stage. The controller adjusts power from a higher initial level to a lower maintenance level, enabling the system to achieve both rapid heating and safe operational temperature
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 dual-phase control scheme effectively heats the skin to a comfortable temperature range (40-50°C) while ensuring safety by rapidly heating the skin-contacting surface during the initial phase and maintaining it at a safe temperature during prolonged use, avoiding skin burns.
Implementation Method 1
light generated by the lighting elements is exposed to skin during operation of the shaving unit... skin-facing light output surface via which light generated by the lighting elements is exposed to skin
Implementation Method 2
lighting elements are arranged in thermally conductive contact with the light output surface via a thermally conductive pathway in the lighting module
Data Source
AI summary
An electric shaver has a lighting module for providing an optical heating function at a skin-contacting surface of the shaving unit and controller for controlling a dual-phase heating for accelerated warming of a skin contacting surface by increasing an average optical power density for an initial time duration.