Portable Light Battery Compartment With Venting and Mode Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable lighting devices with pivoting light heads lack improvements in battery compartment configurations for different battery types, electromagnetic position sensing for mode selection, and venting mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The lighting device features a battery compartment that accommodates multiple battery types with ribbed slots, contact extenders for secure electrical connection, and a rotatable selector with electromagnetic sensing for mode selection, along with a gas release port for venting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the battery compartment is designed to accommodate multiple battery types with different configurations, then the adaptability of the lighting device is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery compartment is designed with universal features including ribbed slots that can accommodate different battery types (AA, AAA, CR123, etc.), contact extenders that adapt to various battery configurations, and a unified sealing mechanism. This allows a single compartment design to serve multiple battery types without requiring separate compartments for each battery type, thereby improving adaptability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery compartment is divided into functional segments: ribbed slots for battery insertion, contact extenders for electrical connection, and sealing portions for protection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Reliability
If contact extenders are used to ensure secure electrical connection, then the reliability of electrical connection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact extenders are pre-configured within the battery compartment structure, positioned to automatically engage with battery terminals when batteries are inserted. This preliminary positioning ensures reliable electrical connection without requiring additional adjustment or complex connection mechanisms, as the extenders are already in place to make contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact extenders are designed to automatically make and break electrical connections based on battery insertion and removal. The spring-loaded or flexible nature of the extenders allows them to self-adjust to different battery types and maintain reliable contact without external control, simplifying the overall system while ensuring connection reliability.
3Reliability
If a gas release port is added for venting the battery compartment, then the safety is improved, but the liquid resistance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure incorporates localized features around the gas release port, such as hydrophobic coatings, surface tension barriers, or directional valve mechanisms. These local modifications allow the port to selectively permit gas escape while blocking liquid ingress, maintaining both safety and liquid resistance through differentiated local properties rather than uniform sealing.
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
Enables flexible power options, reliable electrical connections, and effective venting while maintaining liquid resistance, enhancing user convenience and device performance.
Implementation Method 1
improvements relating to electromagnetic position sensing for a mode selection or other type of switch, selector, or dial
Data Source
AI summary
Improvements in portable lighting devices are shown and described. These improvements include new arrangements for the configuration of battery compartments to allow for different types of battery sources to be used therein, use of electromagnetic position sensing for a mode selection or other type of switch, selector, or dial, and improvements relating to venting of a battery compartment.