LED Shroud Ribs for Compact Enclosure Light Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light pipes are unsuitable for navigating awkward angles and twists in compact electronic device enclosures, often resulting in insufficient brightness or high costs.
Innovation Solution
A shroud with a PCBA mount and shock mount design that positions LED units closer to the enclosure cover, using ribs and lenses to transmit light signals effectively and absorb impacts, reducing the need for light pipes and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light pipe is used to transport light from light bulbs to the enclosure cover, then light can be delivered to locations that are difficult to reach, but the light pipe may not be able to traverse awkward angles and twists effectively, resulting in insufficient brightness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source (LED) from its traditional position near the enclosure cover and relocates it to the PCBA, eliminating the need for complex light pipe configurations to navigate awkward angles. The LED is positioned close to the cover without requiring intermediate light transport components.
Solution Approach 2:
The shroud acts as an intermediary structure that directly positions the LED near the enclosure cover, replacing the light pipe's function of mediating light transport through complex geometric paths. The shroud's ribs and positioning features enable direct light emission to visible locations.
2Ease of manufacture
If a light pipe is used to navigate awkward angles and twists, then light can reach difficult locations, but the light pipe becomes prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the light pipe component entirely from the design, extracting the light transport function and replacing it with direct LED positioning near the enclosure cover through the shroud structure, thereby eliminating the high cost associated with complex light pipe manufacturing and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shroud structure provides a simple, low-cost alternative to expensive light pipes by using basic structural elements (ribs, positioning features) made from conventional materials to achieve LED positioning, replacing costly optical components with economical structural solutions.
3Illumination intensity
If LED units are placed closer to the enclosure cover, then light signal visibility is enhanced, but the LED units are more vulnerable to impacts and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud incorporates shock-absorbing features and positioning structures that protect the LED units before impacts occur, cushioning them against vibrations and shocks during device operation while maintaining their close positioning to the enclosure cover for optimal light visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The shroud structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it positions the LED near the cover for visibility, provides mechanical protection against impacts, absorbs vibrations, and maintains structural integrity, replacing the need for separate protection components.
4Volume of moving object
If the enclosure is made compact to reduce device size, then space is saved, but there is limited space available for positioning light bulbs and light pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the light pipe routing complexity by extracting the light transport function and replacing it with direct LED positioning near the enclosure cover, allowing compact enclosure design without sacrificing light visibility or requiring complex internal light path configurations.
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 light signal visibility and reduces the risk of damage by allowing more flexible LED placement, absorbing impacts, and maintaining alignment, while minimizing the use of expensive light pipes and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
LED units can be mounted on a PCBA unit and positioned close to the enclosure cover
Implementation Method 2
using ribs and lenses to transmit light signals effectively
Implementation Method 3
A shroud with a PCBA mount and shock mount design that positions LED units closer to the enclosure cover, using ribs and lenses to transmit light signals effectively and absorb impacts
Data Source
AI summary
A shroud including a body comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a printed circuit board assembly (“PCBA”) reception unit configured to receive a PCBA unit of an electronic device, wherein the PCBA unit comprises multiple light emitting diode (“LED”) units which emit multiple light emitting diode (“LED”) signals. The shroud can also include a plurality of ribs located on the body and configured to contact a cover for the electronic device, wherein the plurality of ribs are configured to substantially isolate each of the multiple LED signals, and wherein the body and the plurality of ribs comprise a resilient material.