Gemstone Viewer Rotating Illumination for Light Display
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current gemstone viewers fail to effectively display both the play of light and inscribed marks on gemstones without requiring the gemstone to be moved, as they often struggle with providing adequate lighting conditions and alignment for symmetrical lighting patterns, which can hide the brilliance and fire of gemstones.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a rotatable support structure and illumination system featuring directional light sources and a diffuse light source, allowing for the gemstone to be rotated while maintaining optimal lighting conditions, ensuring that the play of light and inscribed marks can be displayed simultaneously without precise alignment, using a combination of directional LEDs and a diffuser for attractive illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a highly symmetrical lighting pattern is used to display the play of light, then the brilliance and fire of symmetrical gemstones are enhanced, but stones with lesser symmetry cannot be properly evaluated and the marks become difficult to view
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into multiple independent directional light sources (at least three) arranged in a non-symmetrical pattern, allowing each light source to be independently controlled and positioned to illuminate different facets of gemstones with varying symmetry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent deliberately uses a non-symmetrical arrangement of directional light sources to match the diverse symmetry characteristics of real gemstones, replacing the overly symmetrical prior art lighting pattern that could not properly evaluate stones with lesser symmetry
2Illumination intensity
If varied lighting conditions are provided using movable annular lighting, then the play of light properties can be measured, but the device complexity increases and the marks cannot be viewed simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a rotatable support structure that allows the gemstone to be rotated to different angular positions, dynamically changing the lighting conditions and facet orientation without requiring complex movable lighting mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination structure and support structure are merged into a single integrated system where rotation of the support structure simultaneously changes both the gemstone orientation and the effective lighting angle, eliminating the need for separate movable lighting components
3Adaptability or versatility
If the gemstone is moved from one part of the viewer to another to view different attributes, then both play of light and marks can be displayed, but the ease of operation decreases and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The single illumination structure with multiple directional light sources serves multiple functions: it can display the play of light on different facets by rotating the support structure, and it can also illuminate specific facets to make inscribed marks visible, eliminating the need to move the gemstone between separate viewing stations
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable support structure enables periodic rotation of the gemstone through different angular positions, allowing systematic viewing of different facets and attributes without manual handling or relocation of the stone
4Measurement precision
If precise alignment is required to view inscribed marks, then the mark visibility is improved, but the ease of operation decreases and alignment precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable support structure allows the gemstone to be easily rotated to positions where inscribed marks on different facets become visible under the directional lighting, enabling mark viewing without requiring precise manual alignment or adjustment by the operator
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
Enables the simultaneous display of the play of light and inscribed marks on gemstones, improving visual appreciation by ensuring that the gemstone's brilliance, fire, and scintillation are showcased attractively, regardless of the gemstone's symmetry, and allowing for accurate viewing of marks without precise alignment.
Implementation Method 1
The arrangement of directional light sources is such that, for any tilt angle within the range, at least one of the directional light sources will be specularly reflected from the selected facet into the imaging device for at least one rotational position of the support structure
Implementation Method 2
using a combination of directional LEDs and a diffuser for attractive illumination
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for viewing images of a gemstone is described. The apparatus comprises a support structure for supporting the gemstone at an observation position. An illumination structure comprises a plurality of directional light sources directed towards the observation position so as to illuminate the gemstone. The support structure and illumination structure are relatively rotatable relative to one another about a rotation axis. An imaging device is arranged to obtain images of the gemstone at the observation position at a variety of relative rotational positions between the illumination structure and support structure: the imaging device has an imaging axis passing through the observation position. The support structure is arranged so that the gemstone can be placed at the observation position in such a way that the normal to a selected facet of the gemstone is within a range of tilt angles from the rotation axis. The arrangement of directional light sources is such that, for any tilt angle within the range, at least one of the directional light sources will be specularly reflected from the selected facet into the imaging device for at least one rotational position of the support structure.