Portable Light Laser Plane Cylindrical Lens Smoke Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable lights used in hazardous environments often struggle with reduced visibility due to smoke, mist, and particles, leading to increased hazard and danger, as they tend to reflect light back, causing blinding and reducing the ability to discern physical features.
Innovation Solution
A portable light design incorporating a light body with both an illumination light source and a laser light source, where the laser light source uses a cylindrical lens to provide a plane of laser light, and a TIR optical element forms a collimated beam with a selectable beam modification element to control peripheral light, allowing for improved visibility in reduced visibility environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a highly collimated beam of light is employed to reduce peripheral light reflection, then light reflection-induced blinding is reduced, but the ability to discern physical features of structures and objects is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The light beam is segmented into two distinct components: a highly collimated central beam for penetrating smoke and mist, and peripheral light for illuminating physical features. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light beam are given different optical properties. The central region maintains high collimation for cutting through particulate matter, while the peripheral regions provide diffuse illumination for discerning physical features. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing both functions to coexist in different spatial zones of the same light source.
2Illumination intensity
If an opaque cover or black opaque area is used to block peripheral light and increase central light intensity, then visibility through smoke and mist is improved, but peripheral light necessary for discerning physical features is eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a uniform opaque cover that blocks all peripheral light, the patent employs an optical element with spatially varying properties. The central region maintains high transmission for the collimated beam, while peripheral regions provide controlled diffusion. This local quality differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both central beam intensity and peripheral illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
A specially designed optical element acts as an intermediary between the light source and the environment. This optical element selectively manages light distribution, allowing the central collimated beam to maintain high intensity for penetrating smoke while simultaneously providing controlled peripheral light for illuminating physical features, thus mediating between the two conflicting requirements.
3Speed
If a parabolic reflector is used to collimate light from an LED source, then forward projecting collimated light beam is formed, but light distribution efficiency is reduced because LED does not emit light evenly over spherical volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters by using an optical element specifically designed for LED's hemispherical emission pattern rather than traditional parabolic reflectors designed for point sources. This parameter change optimizes light collection and collimation efficiency by matching the optical element's geometry to the LED's actual emission characteristics, reducing energy loss while maintaining collimation.
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 enhances visibility by minimizing peripheral light reflection and providing a focused laser plane, allowing users to better discern objects and structures in environments with smoke, mist, or particles, while maintaining the intensity of the central light beam.
Implementation Method 1
a laser light source, wherein the laser light source includes a cylindrical lens configured for transmitting a plane of laser light
Implementation Method 2
a TIR optical element may also be disposed in front of the white light source for receiving the light produced thereby, and form the white light into a collimated beam of light
Data Source
AI summary
A portable light may comprise: a light body having an illumination, e.g., white, light source and a laser light source supported thereby, each source being selectively energizable for producing light; and a switch for selectively energizing the illumination light source and/or laser light source. The laser light source is configured to provide a plane of laser light, so as to create a line of laser light on objects illuminated by the plane of laser light. The laser light source may include a cylindrical lens to create the plane of laser light. The plane of laser light may be rotatable relative to the light body. A TIR optical element may also be disposed in front of the illumination light source for receiving the light produced thereby.