Illuminated Apparatus Closure with Lightguide Status Indication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closures for electric or electronic systems lack additional functionality beyond providing access and do not offer a visually appealing appearance.
Innovation Solution
A closure system incorporating light sources, a lightguide, and a frame that supports selective movement, which provides an illuminated surface indicating the status of the apparatus and enhances visual appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closure is added to the apparatus, then access control and protection are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides physical protection and access control like a traditional closure, while also serving as a status indication interface through integrated light sources and lightguides. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by adding value beyond mere protection, justifying the increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the closure structure with illumination components (light sources, lightguides, diffusers) into a single integrated assembly. This merging allows the closure to simultaneously provide mechanical protection and optical status indication, reducing the need for separate components and mitigating the complexity increase.
2Ease of operation
If traditional doors or lids are used for closure, then access is provided, but additional functionality and visual appeal are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The closure maintains its primary function of providing access while simultaneously serving as a status indication interface through integrated illumination. This multi-functionality directly addresses the contradiction by adding versatility (status indication, user interaction interface) without compromising ease of operation (access control).
Solution Approach 2:
The lightguides and diffusers act as intermediaries that translate internal status information into visible optical signals for the user. This intermediary mechanism adds functionality by communicating apparatus status without interfering with the closure's access function, thereby increasing versatility while maintaining ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If traditional doors or lids are used for closure, then simple structure is maintained, but visual appeal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The closure incorporates light sources that can emit different colors or intensities to indicate various status conditions. This use of optical color changes enhances visual appeal and provides functional status indication, transforming a simple structural component into an engaging user interface element without significantly complicating the basic closure structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lightguides are designed with curved or contoured shapes that follow the closure geometry, creating aesthetically pleasing optical pathways and diffuser patterns. This application of curvature principles enhances the visual appearance of the closure while maintaining structural simplicity through standardized manufacturing approaches.
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 closure system offers functional enhancement by indicating the apparatus' status through illumination, while also providing a visually appealing design.
Implementation Method 1
a lightguide to distribute light from the plurality of light sources
Implementation Method 2
a diffuser to distribute light from the plurality of light sources
Data Source
AI summary
A closure for an apparatus comprises: a plurality of light sources; a lightguide to distribute light from the plurality of light sources, the lightguide having a first primary surface opposite a second primary surface, wherein the first primary surface has a first surface treatment, and wherein light emitted from the lightguide indicates a status of the apparatus; and a frame supporting the plurality of light sources and the lightguide for selective movement of the closure vertically or horizontally relative to the apparatus.