Handheld Laser Welding Beacon for Visible Safety Warnings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser welding systems pose hazards due to invisible laser beams and lack of visible warnings, leading to potential eye and skin damage without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) usage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a beacon system that emits visible light to alert operators and bystanders of imminent laser welding, with adjustable intensity and timing to encourage PPE use, and lenses that filter harmful wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser welding is performed using invisible laser beams, then welding precision and speed are improved, but safety hazards increase due to lack of visible warnings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the color changes principle by introducing visible light beacons that emit specific wavelengths (colors) to indicate laser welding status. The beacons change their light emission state based on laser operation status, providing visual warnings to operators and bystanders about the invisible laser beam activity, thus addressing the safety hazard while maintaining welding productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visible light beacons as an intermediary between the invisible laser beam and human observers. The beacons serve as a mediator that translates the invisible laser operation into visible signals, allowing people to perceive and respond to laser welding activity without being directly exposed to harmful laser radiation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If beacon intensity is increased to improve visibility warnings, then safety awareness is enhanced, but visual discomfort and distraction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by making the beacon light intensity adjustable rather than fixed. The system allows modification of emission intensity parameters to optimize the balance between visibility warning effectiveness and visual comfort, preventing excessive brightness from causing discomfort or distraction while maintaining adequate safety warnings
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon system implements dynamic intensity adjustment based on operational conditions. The light emission characteristics can change dynamically depending on laser power levels, welding phase, and environmental conditions, allowing the warning system to adapt its intensity to maintain effectiveness without causing unnecessary visual discomfort
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
Enhances safety by ensuring operators and bystanders wear appropriate PPE, reducing the risk of eye and skin damage from laser welding operations.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light sources configured to emit light energy from the one or more surfaces in multiple directions
Implementation Method 2
lenses that filter harmful wavelengths
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
Systems and methods for laser welding are disclosed. A laser welding system employs a beacon to indicate laser welding will or has commenced. The beacon emits an intense light in a visible spectrum, such that a filter or lens is needed to block the intensity of the light.