Guide Light Irradiation Device with Multi-Irradiator Array

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fan-shaped guide lights extending in the up-down direction, created by expanding the irradiation range using a cylindrical lens, result in a shortened reach distance due to diffusion, making it difficult for survey operators to recognize the guide light from a distance, especially on sites with level differences.

Innovation Solution

A guide light irradiation device with multiple irradiators arranged in the up-down direction, each emitting guide light of differing patterns, forming synthetic light that extends the reach distance and irradiation range by aligning their irradiation directions in the horizontal plane and making a predetermined angle in the vertical direction, ensuring overlapping coverage without gaps, and potentially sharing optical components to reduce size and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a cylindrical lens is used to expand the guide light irradiation range in the up-down direction, then the guide light irradiation range is extended, but the guide light reach distance is shortened due to diffusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide light irradiation rangeVSAvoidguide light reach distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the guide light irradiation system into multiple independent irradiators arranged in the up-down direction. Each irradiator emits guide light in a specific direction, and the synthetic light is formed by combining these segmented light sources. This segmentation allows the irradiation range to be extended without excessive diffusion, as each segment maintains its directional integrity while contributing to the overall coverage area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple guide lights from different irradiators into synthetic guide light. By combining the light from multiple sources arranged in the up-down direction, the system achieves both extended irradiation range and maintained reach distance. The synthetic light preserves the directional characteristics of individual sources while providing broader coverage through superposition of multiple beams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If multiple irradiators are arranged in the up-down direction to extend irradiation range, then the guide light irradiation range is extended, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide light irradiation rangeVSAvoidnumber of irradiators
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a shared optical member that serves multiple functions: it acts as a collimating lens for each irradiator and as a combining element for synthetic light formation. This universal component reduces the overall number of parts needed, as the same optical element performs both directional control and light synthesis functions across all irradiators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared optical member acts as an intermediary between the multiple irradiators and the final synthetic guide light. It mediates the light from different sources, combining them into a unified synthetic beam while maintaining the directional characteristics of each individual irradiator. This intermediary component simplifies the system architecture by providing a common interface for multiple light sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 extends the guide light reach distance and irradiation range in the up-down direction, allowing easy recognition even on sites with level differences, and reduces the number of components and size of the device.

Implementation Method 1

each of the irradiators includes a pair of light sources configured to respectively emit lights for left and right patterns of the guide light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from light sources: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

an optical member configured to form lights emitted from the pair of light sources as light differing in pattern between the left and the right, and a condenser lens configured to make the guide light exit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical focusing and shaping: Lens

Data Source

PatentEP3722748B1Guide light irradiation device
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP3722748B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3722748B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3722748B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

[Object] The present invention relates to a guide light irradiation device that irradiates guide light to guide a survey operator. [Solution Means] A guide light irradiation device to irradiate guide light to indicate a direction to a survey operator, includes a plurality of irradiators configured to each irradiate guide light differing in pattern between the left and the right of an irradiation direction as a center, the plurality of irradiators are juxtaposed in the up-down direction, and are disposed so that irradiation directions of the respective irradiators match in the horizontal direction, and make a predetermined angle with each other in the vertical direction. Synthetic light of guide lights irradiated from the respective irradiators has brightness as a sum of brightnesses of light sources of the respective irradiators, and has a fan shape extending in the vertical direction. A distance from which light is visually recognized is long, and guide light is easily found even at a location with level differences.