Extendable Light Sensor Alignment for Compact IHS Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for coupling light sensors in information handling systems (IHS) result in a large light sensor lens or aperture, which can be impractical due to industrial design concerns, and lead to issues with cabling damage during installation and removal of the LCD bezel.
Innovation Solution
A light sensor apparatus with a support surface and an extendable member that adjusts the distance between the support surface and a light aperture, allowing the light sensor to be precisely aligned with the aperture, eliminating the need for a large lens or aperture and reducing cabling damage risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the light sensor is mounted to the inverter board with multiple intermediate couplings (inverter board extends from LCD panel, LCD panel coupled to LCD bracket, LCD bracket coupled to LCD cover, LCD cover coupled to LCD bezel, LCD bezel coupled to light sensor lens), then the light sensor can be integrated into the IHS, but the tolerance stack results in a relatively large light sensor lens or aperture which is not acceptable due to industrial design concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The light sensor assembly is separated from the multi-stage coupling chain and directly integrated into the inverter board, segmenting the alignment problem into a single-stage mounting process that eliminates cumulative tolerance errors from multiple intermediate couplings
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated light sensor aperture is introduced as an intermediary element on the inverter board that directly receives light through a small opening, mediating the light path without requiring large lenses or apertures in the display assembly
2Manufacturing precision
If the light sensor is mounted directly to the LCD bezel immediately adjacent the lens or aperture and cabled to the inverter board, then the alignment issue is resolved, but the cabling is vulnerable to damage during installation and removal of the LCD bezel
Solution Approach 1:
The light sensor is merged with the inverter board assembly, combining two previously separate components (light sensor and inverter board) into a single integrated unit that is installed as one piece, eliminating the need for separate cabling that connects disparate components
Solution Approach 2:
The vulnerable cabling connection is extracted from the system by integrating the light sensor directly onto the inverter board, removing the need for flexible cables that connect the light sensor to the inverter board through the LCD bezel interface
Data Source
AI summary
A light sensor apparatus includes a support surface. A wall is located adjacent to and spaced apart from the support surface. A light aperture is defined by the wall. A light sensor is coupled to the support surface by an extendable member, whereby the extendable member is operable to adjust the distance between the support surface and the light aperture such that the light sensor is located adjacent the light aperture. The light sensor apparatus may be used to align an ambient light sensor on an information handling system with a light aperture defined by a cover wall on the information handling system chassis such that the light aperture can remain relatively small while still allowing the required amount of light to reach the light sensor in order for the light sensor to function.