Intermittent Blue Light Control for Eye Strain Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The prolonged use of smart mobile devices and tablet computers emitting blue light poses hazards to human eyes, including age-related macular degeneration and eye fatigue due to its strong energy and short wavelength, leading to potential vision loss and increased risk of myopia.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method utilizing a blue light source with a control module to emit blue intermittent illumination at a fixed frequency, combined with red and green intermittent illuminations in a cycle, and a rotatable polarizer or phase adjusting device to reduce blue light hazards by creating a visual persistence effect and adjusting the light's phase and polarization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If blue light is emitted continuously from 3C products, then the screen visibility and color display are maintained, but the blue light causes macular damage and eye fatigue due to its strong energy and short wavelength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen visibilityVSAvoidblue light hazard to eyes
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by emitting blue light intermittently at a fixed frequency (1/30 to 1/15 seconds) rather than continuously. The control module regulates the blue light source to turn on and off periodically, creating a flickering effect that generates visual persistence in the human eye, thereby maintaining perceived screen visibility while reducing cumulative blue light exposure and macular damage risk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the blue light emission state changeable between on and off states at controlled frequencies. The control module dynamically adjusts the light emission timing, and the rotatable polarizer dynamically changes the polarization angle, transforming the static continuous light into a dynamic intermittent light that adapts to reduce eye strain while maintaining visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Illumination intensity

If blue light with short wavelength is used, then the screen color display is enhanced, but the short wavelength causes light scattering and ciliary muscle tension leading to eye fatigue and pseudomyopia

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor display qualityVSAvoideye comfort and focus ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing periodic blue light emission at 1/30 to 1/15 seconds frequency, the patent allows the eye's visual system to persist the image between flickers, maintaining color display quality while providing periodic relief to the ciliary muscle, preventing continuous tension and reducing eye fatigue and pseudomyopia risk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a rotatable polarizer as an intermediary component that modifies the blue light before it reaches the eye. The polarizer changes the polarization angle of the blue light, acting as a mediator that maintains the light's color display function while altering its physical properties to reduce scattering and ease the eye's focusing burden

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

Effectively reduces the harmful effects of blue light on human eyes by minimizing eye irritation and fatigue, potentially preventing conditions like age-related macular degeneration and myopia, while maintaining the perceived intensity of the light.

Implementation Method 1

The control module regulates the blue light source to emit a blue intermittent illumination in a fixed frequency, and a user who looks into the blue light source may perceive visual persistence effect via the blue intermittent illumination

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVisual persistence effect:

Implementation Method 2

a rotatable polarizer. The control module controls the polarizer to rotate in a fixed frequency, and an angle of a blue light beam in the white light is adjusted by the polarizer that is being rotated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization of light: Polarisation

Implementation Method 3

a white light source having a phase and a phase adjusting device. The phase adjusting device expands the phase of the white light source, so a blue light phase in the white light source is also expanded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase of light:

Data Source

PatentUS10394039B2Apparatus and methods for reducing blue light hazards
Publication Date: 2019.08.27 LIN PO KANG
  • US10394039B2 patent drawing
  • US10394039B2 patent drawing
  • US10394039B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention provides an apparatus for reducing blue light hazard, including: a blue light source and a control module. The control module regulates the blue light source to emit a blue intermittent illumination in a fixed frequency, and a user who looks into the blue light source may perceive visual persistence effect via the blue intermittent illumination. On the other hand, the present invention also provides apparatus for reducing blue light hazard that utilizes a polarizer or a phase adjusting device. Further, various methods for reducing blue light hazard are also provided.