LED Control for Image Scanning Heat Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image scanning apparatuses using LEDs face challenges with heat dissipation, leading to increased manufacturing costs and space requirements for high-performance LEDs, while using low-performance LEDs results in uneven light emission and higher costs.

Innovation Solution

An image scanning apparatus with a control unit that alternately turns on and off multiple LEDs, controlling their turn-on duty to be at least 50% and frequency within 50 kHz to 200 kHz, using a light guide unit to diffuse light and sense image data, reducing heat generation and the need for large heat dissipation plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If high-performance LEDs are used as light sources, then light emission performance is improved, but heat dissipation requirements increase leading to larger heat dissipation plates and higher manufacturing costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by alternately turning on and off multiple LEDs in a cyclic manner. The control unit controls a plurality of LEDs to be turned on or off alternately, with each LED being turned on for a duty cycle of at least 50%. This periodic operation allows each LED to rest and cool down during the intervals when other LEDs are active, effectively managing heat dissipation without requiring large heat dissipation plates or incurring higher manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Illumination intensity

If high-performance LEDs are used as light sources, then light emission performance is improved, but the apparatus requires larger space for heat dissipation plates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission performanceVSAvoidspace for heat dissipation plate
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by alternately turning on and off multiple LEDs in a cyclic manner. The control unit controls a plurality of LEDs to be turned on or off alternately, with each LED being turned on for a duty cycle of at least 50%. This periodic operation allows each LED to rest and cool down during the intervals when other LEDs are active, effectively managing heat dissipation without requiring large heat dissipation plates or incurring higher manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of manufacture

If low-performance LEDs are used as light sources, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but light emission uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidlight emission uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the light source system into multiple independent LEDs that are controlled separately. Instead of using a single low-performance LED or treating all LEDs uniformly, the control unit individually manages the turning on and off of each LED, allowing for optimized control of each segment to achieve uniform light emission while using cost-effective LEDs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies periodic action by alternately turning on and off multiple LEDs in a cyclic manner. The control unit controls a plurality of LEDs to be turned on or off alternately, with each LED being turned on for a duty cycle of at least 50%. This periodic operation allows each LED to rest and cool down during the intervals when other LEDs are active, effectively managing heat dissipation without requiring large heat dissipation plates or incurring higher manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Stability of the object's composition

If LEDs are continuously turned on to maintain high turn-on duty, then light emission consistency is improved, but heat generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission consistencyVSAvoidLED temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by alternately turning on and off multiple LEDs in a cyclic manner. The control unit controls a plurality of LEDs to be turned on or off alternately, with each LED being turned on for a duty cycle of at least 50%. This periodic operation allows each LED to rest and cool down during the intervals when other LEDs are active, effectively managing heat dissipation without requiring large heat dissipation plates or incurring higher manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies merging by combining multiple LEDs into a coordinated system where they operate in alternation. Instead of treating each LED independently, the control unit synchronizes their operation so that when one LED is off and cooling down, another LED is active, effectively merging their operational cycles to maintain continuous light emission while managing heat generation.

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 approach effectively manages LED temperature, reduces manufacturing costs, and ensures uniform light emission, preventing flickering and improving image quality while making large heat dissipation plates optional.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide unit that diffuses the light emitted by the light sources

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

a sensor unit that senses image data from the document by recognizing light reflected from the document by being diffused by the light guide unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2595371B1Image scanning apparatus and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 HP PRINTING KOREA CO LTD
  • EP2595371B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2595371B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2595371B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image scanning apparatus and method are provided. The image scanning apparatus scans an image of a document and converts the scanned image into digital data, and includes light sources that emit light. The apparatus includes a light guide unit that diffuses the light emitted by the light sources and a sensor unit that senses image data from the document by recognizing light reflected from the document by being diffused by the light guide unit. The apparatus includes a control unit that controls the turning on of the light sources. The control unit alternately turns on or off the light sources such that at least one of the light sources is turned on when at least one other light source is turned off.