Illumination Device Thermal Management for Value Document Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for illuminating valuable documents, such as banknotes, face challenges due to positionally dependent differences in light sources, including spectral composition and service life, which are exacerbated by heat-related issues.
Innovation Solution
A device with a carrier element featuring a cutout spaced apart from the radiation sources, which reduces heat transfer in specific regions, thereby minimizing temperature differences and maintaining consistent operation of the radiation sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If radiation sources are arranged in a row on a carrier element, then illumination of valuable documents is achieved, but positionally dependent differences in spectral composition and service life occur due to heat dissipation variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform thermal environment across the carrier element. A first region is designed with reduced heat transfer capability (lower thermal conductivity) compared to a second region with normal heat transfer capability. This localized modification allows different portions of the radiation source row to operate at different temperatures, compensating for positionally dependent spectral composition variations and service life differences.
2Temperature
If heat transfer is uniform across the carrier element, then cooling is efficient, but temperature differences between radiation sources in different positions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local quality differences in the carrier element by defining a first region with reduced heat transfer capability and a second region with normal heat transfer capability. This allows the system to maintain overall heat dissipation efficiency while creating localized thermal conditions that equalize temperatures across radiation sources positioned in different regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively counteracting positionally dependent temperature differences before they cause spectral composition variations or service life degradation. By designing the carrier element with differentiated heat transfer regions, the system pre-compensates for thermal gradients that would otherwise develop during operation.
3Reliability
If correction of individual radiation sources is implemented, then spectral composition differences are reduced, but additional heat is generated and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of heat generation into a beneficial thermal management strategy. Instead of using active correction mechanisms that generate additional heat, the system uses passive thermal design with regions of different heat transfer capability to naturally equalize temperatures. This approach eliminates the need for complex correction mechanisms while avoiding additional heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier element performs self-service by inherently managing thermal distribution through its differentiated heat transfer regions. The structure automatically compensates for positionally dependent temperature variations without requiring external control systems or active correction mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity.
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 effectively prevents or reduces positionally dependent differences in the spectral composition and service life of the radiation sources, ensuring consistent performance and reducing the need for corrective measures.
Implementation Method 1
the carrier element has a heat transfer capability in a region of the carrier element located in the first portion of the row which is reduced in relation to that in a region of the carrier element located in another portion of the row
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided for illuminating value documents to a sensor for testing value documents, and to a value document-processing system. The device has a support element and multiple radiation sources which are arranged in a row on the support element, and which are designed to emit electromagnetic radiation in order to illuminate a value document. The support element is equipped with a recess which is arranged at a distance to the radiation sources arranged in the row and which ex-tends over a first section of the row, wherein the support element has a heat-transfer capability in a support element region lying on the first section of the row, said heat-transfer capability being reduced in comparison to a support element region lying on another section of the row.