Laser Nightlight Shatterproof Lens Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nightlights using incandescent bulbs or LED lights lack aesthetic effects and do not provide a safe, coherent light source, as they can break and cause eye injuries due to their fragile lenses.
Innovation Solution
A nightlight utilizing a low-power laser as the illumination source, with a shatterproof lens made of glass or quartz, sealed to the base to prevent breakage, and capable of producing a red or green laser beam with adjustable light patterns through an opaque, faceted, or diffuser portion of the lens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional incandescent bulb or LED light is used as the illumination source, then the device provides general illumination, but the light is incoherent and does not form visible beams or aesthetic effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of light coherence by using a laser source instead of conventional incoherent light sources. This produces coherent light that forms visible beams with aesthetic effects while maintaining safety through low power operation and protective design features.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional lens is used in the nightlight, then it can focus or diffuse light, but the lens is fragile and can break or fall off causing eye injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fragile conventional lens with a protective cover made from durable materials such as acrylic, polycarbonate, or glass that cannot easily break or cause injury. This protective cover serves both as a safety feature and as the optical element for light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a protective cover as an intermediary element between the laser source and the environment. This cover protects users from potential eye injuries while still allowing light to pass through for illumination and aesthetic effects.
3Illumination intensity
If a laser is used to produce coherent light beams with aesthetic effects, then visual appeal is enhanced, but the risk of eye injury from lens breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a protective cover made from durable, shatter-resistant materials that replace the vulnerable lens, eliminating the risk of breakage while maintaining the laser's coherent light beam capabilities for visual appeal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of laser light by using it at low power levels for aesthetic purposes only, and by enclosing it in a protective cover that prevents direct exposure, thus transforming a potentially dangerous light source into a safe decorative device.
4Strength
If the lens is made from shatterproof glass, clear glass or quartz, then durability against breakage is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex-to-manufacture shatterproof glass lens with a protective cover made from easier-to-manufacture materials like acrylic or polycarbonate that achieve the same shatter resistance and optical functionality at lower manufacturing 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 laser nightlight offers a coherent and aesthetically pleasing illumination while ensuring safety with a shatterproof lens, providing a durable and visually engaging light source that prevents eye injuries from lens breakage.
Implementation Method 1
A laser mounted within the base and coupled to the power supply circuit is adapted to produce a laser beam through an output
Implementation Method 2
A lens is secured to the base and is positioned to cover the output of the laser. The output of the laser is pointed at a spot on the lens
Implementation Method 3
A portion of the lens at the spot may be opaque, faceted or cloudy, or may comprise a diffuser
Data Source
AI summary
A laser nightlight is disclosed. A laser nightlight includes a base, an electrical prong adapted to be inserted into an electrical outlet wherein the electrical prong is secured to and projects from the base; and a power supply circuit coupled to the electrical prong and contained within the base. A laser mounted within the base and coupled to the power supply circuit is adapted to produce a laser beam through an output. A lens is secured to the base and is positioned to cover the output of the laser. The output of the laser is pointed at a spot on the lens, and a portion of the lens at the spot may be opaque, faceted or cloudy, or may comprise a diffuser. A portion of the lens where the output of the laser points may contain an image and a light pattern corresponding to the image may be produced when the laser beam illuminates the image. The lens may be formed from shatterproof glass, clear glass or quartz. The lens may be sealed to the base. The lens may have a cylindrical length and the output of the laser may be aligned with the lens to produce the laser beam down a central axis of the lens. The laser may produce a red or green laser beam.