Integrated Light Guide for Aerosol Device

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light collecting modules in aerosol generating devices have separate components for light guides, collectors, and reflectors, leading to space inefficiencies and potential cracks or gaps during assembly, which affect light guidance precision.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a light guide with a light collector and reflector into a single component, where the light collector is concave to effectively receive light and the reflector is curved to redirect it, preventing gaps and ensuring stable light emission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If light guide, light collector, and reflector are provided as separate components, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device space utilization deteriorates and manufacturing precision deteriorates due to assembly gaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddevice space utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the light guide, light collector, and reflector into a single molded component. The light guide includes an integrated light collector portion with a light incident surface and a light collection surface, and an integrated reflector portion with a light reflection surface, eliminating the need for separate assembly of these optical components while improving space utilization and preventing assembly gaps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If light guide, light collector, and reflector are provided as separate components, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to cracks or gaps in assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidlight guidance precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the light guide, light collector, and reflector into a single molded component. The light guide includes an integrated light collector portion with a light incident surface and a light collection surface, and an integrated reflector portion with a light reflection surface, eliminating the need for separate assembly of these optical components while improving space utilization and preventing assembly gaps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If light guide, light collector, and reflector are integrated into one component, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight guidance precisionVSAvoidcomponent integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated light guide is molded with distinct functional portions: a light guide portion, a light collector portion with incident and collection surfaces, and a reflector portion with a reflection surface. This segmentation of functions within a single integrated component maintains manufacturing precision while managing design complexity through clear functional zoning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of repair

If separate components are used for light collecting module, then ease of repair is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to cracks or gaps affecting light path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of repairVSAvoidlight path stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the light guide, light collector, and reflector into a single molded component. The light guide includes an integrated light collector portion with a light incident surface and a light collection surface, and an integrated reflector portion with a light reflection surface, eliminating the need for separate assembly of these optical components while improving space utilization and preventing assembly gaps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This integrated design enhances space utilization, prevents cracks, and stabilizes light guidance, resulting in a brighter and clearer light region with improved precision.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide which receives light emitted from a light source in a first direction and guides the received light to be emitted in a second direction crossing the first direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInternal reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3818300B1Aerosol generating device

Publication Date: 2023.10.11 KT&G CO LTD

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is a fixture including a base; and a light guide, which is positioned on the base and is configured to receive light emitted from a light source in a first direction and guide the received light to be emitted in a second direction crossing the first direction.