Compact Insect Bite Heater With Independent Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect bite heaters lack versatility in application, particularly in low-light conditions, and are not designed for compactness and efficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional device with a heating plate and independently activatable light source, allowing separate use of heating and lighting functions, and a compact design with optimized component placement to maximize energy storage and reduce thermal coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is added to illuminate the treatment area, then visibility in dark environments is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light source and heating plate into a single integrated device housing. The control unit merges the control functions for both heating and lighting into one system, allowing simultaneous or independent operation. This integration reduces the number of separate devices needed and simplifies the overall system architecture while providing both thermal treatment and illumination capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a heat treatment device for insect bites and as a flashlight for illumination. The control unit enables the device to switch between heating mode, lighting mode, or both simultaneously, making it a universal tool that addresses multiple needs (treatment and visibility) in a single device, thereby reducing device complexity compared to carrying separate devices.
2Device complexity
If the light source is directly connected to the heating plate, then device complexity is reduced, but the light source cannot be activated independently
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit introduces dynamic control capabilities, allowing the heating plate and light source to operate independently or simultaneously based on user needs. The system can switch between different operational states: heating only, lighting only, or both together. This dynamic control architecture maintains relatively simple device structure while achieving high versatility through software-controlled flexibility.
3Illumination intensity
If the light source has high luminosity to illuminate a larger area, then illumination coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit enables periodic or intermittent operation of the light source, allowing it to be activated only when needed for illumination rather than continuously. This periodic action pattern reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining high illumination coverage capability when the light is active. The system can switch between lighting and heating modes or operate them alternately to optimize energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides excessive illumination capability (high luminosity) when needed, but uses it partially rather than continuously. The control unit allows the user to activate the high-power light source only for the specific duration and intensity required for the task, rather than operating at full capacity constantly. This partial usage of the excessive capability reduces energy consumption while maintaining the ability to provide broad illumination coverage when necessary.
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 versatile use as both a heat treatment device and flashlight, providing effective skin treatment in dark environments and efficient energy utilization in a compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
heat treatment devices that allow the itchy area to be briefly heated to a temperature high enough to thermally decompose the histamine
Implementation Method 2
a light source arranged in a light source area of the housing, which also draws its energy from the power source
Data Source
Figure 1A~1E
Figure 1F~2B
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
The present invention relates to a multifunctional device which can be used, among other things, for the treatment of insect stings and bites and comprises: a housing (2), a heating plate in a treatment area (23) at the front end of the housing, one or more light sources (4, 4a, 4b) which are arranged in one or more light source areas (24, 24a, 24b), an electrical energy source (5) by means of which the heating plate (3) and the light source (4) can be supplied with electrical energy, and control electronics which are prepared to supply the heating plate (3) with electrical energy taken from the energy source (5) and to heat the heating plate (3) to a desired treatment temperature for a desired treatment duration, wherein the light source (4) can be operated independently of the heating plate (3), in particular the light source (4) and the heating plate (3) can be activated independently of each other via separate operating means (31, 41).and/or the control electronics are housed on a circuit board (6) which is arranged in a central plane of the housing,