Light Emitter Module Cover Sensing for Crack and Moisture Hazards
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Solution Overview
Problem
High power laser illuminators in portable devices, such as smartphones, pose eye and skin safety hazards due to potential damage from compromised optical components or moisture contamination, which existing safety features fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of electrically conductive structures on transmissive covers within the light emitter modules to detect mechanical defects like cracks and moisture, allowing for immediate power regulation or shutdown of the light source to prevent safety hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high power VCSEL devices are used for illumination, then electro-optic conversion efficiency is improved, but eye and skin safety is compromised due to high optical output power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the safety monitoring function into separate conductive structures for different hazard types (cracks and moisture), allowing independent detection and response for each threat, thereby maintaining high power operation while addressing safety concerns through segmented monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the electrical characteristics of conductive structures and using this information to regulate or shut down the light source when safety thresholds are exceeded, enabling high power operation with automatic safety intervention
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical components are added to modify beam properties, then illumination functionality is improved, but safety is compromised due to potential damage or contamination of these components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places conductive structures on the transmissive cover before operation to detect potential hazards (cracks, moisture) in advance, allowing the system to prevent unsafe operation before damage can occur to optical components or users
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces conductive structures as intermediary sensing elements between the light source and the external environment, which detect hazards without being directly in the optical path, thus protecting optical components while maintaining functionality
3Object-affected harmful factors
If monitoring of optical component integrity is implemented, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs conductive structures that serve multiple functions: they detect both cracks and moisture contamination, and can trigger both warning signals and power shutdown, thereby improving safety without proportionally increasing device complexity through multi-functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the system to self-monitor and self-regulate by using the conductive structures to automatically detect hazards and trigger appropriate responses without requiring external monitoring equipment, reducing overall system complexity
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 decoupling crack and moisture detection, enabling optimized configurations for each type of hazard and allowing for immediate power regulation or shutdown to prevent eye or skin damage.
Implementation Method 1
the controller is operable to monitor signals from the first electrically conductive structure for a change in resistance
Implementation Method 2
the controller is operable to monitor signals from the second electrically conductive structure for a change in capacitance
Data Source
AI summary
Packaged light emitter module can provide improved safety features to facilitate sensing the presence of moisture or a mechanical defect such as a crack in a transmissive cover (22) that may result in a safety hazard caused by the emitted light (24) if the defect or other situation is not addressed in a timely manner. Different electrically conductive structures, such as different electrically conductive traces (20, 22), allow monitoring and detection of mechanical defects to be decoupled from monitoring and detection of problems arising from the presence of moisture. The decoupling can allow the respective configuration for each of the electrically conductive structures to be optimized for detection of particular situations that may lead to a safety hazard.