Light-Guide Member With Common Deflecting Portion for Symmetrical Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatus illumination devices with light-guide members require complex metal mold configurations and high processing precision to achieve efficient illumination from two symmetrical directions, leading to increased complexity and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A light-guide member with a simple configuration featuring a common deflecting portion and protruding portions on either side, which deflects light from a single light-incident surface to emit light in two directions, reducing the complexity of the metal mold configuration and enhancing optical efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If separate deflecting portions are provided for first and second light-emitting regions to achieve symmetrical illumination from two directions, then illumination efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the deflecting functions for the first and second light-emitting regions into a single common deflecting portion. This common deflecting portion is configured to deflect light toward both light-emitting regions simultaneously, thereby reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall light-guide member structure while maintaining the capability to provide symmetrical illumination from two directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The common deflecting portion is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the deflecting structure for both the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region. By making this single component universal, the patent eliminates the need for separate deflecting portions, thus reducing device complexity while preserving illumination efficiency.
2Illumination intensity
If separate deflecting portions are provided for first and second light-emitting regions, then illumination from two symmetrical directions is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements and mold complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the manufacturing of two separate deflecting portions into a single common deflecting portion. This integration reduces the total number of precision-critical features that must be manufactured, thereby lowering the cumulative manufacturing precision requirements and simplifying the metal mold configuration needed for production.
3Device complexity
If a common deflecting portion is used for both light-emitting regions, then device complexity is reduced, but it may be difficult to achieve precise light deflection for symmetrical illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The common deflecting portion is designed with different local regions that have optimized properties for deflecting light to the first and second light-emitting regions respectively. By applying local quality variations within the single component, the patent achieves precise light deflection for symmetrical illumination while maintaining the simplicity of a unified structure.
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
The solution results in a highly efficient illumination device with reduced manufacturing complexity and improved optical efficiency, allowing for effective illumination of a document from two symmetrical directions with enhanced light distribution and reduced waste.
Implementation Method 1
a deflecting portion that deflects light from the light-incident surface and causes the light to be emitted from the first and second light-emitting regions to the outside
Implementation Method 2
first and second protruding portions each of which is located on one of two sides of the deflecting portion in the first cross section, the first and second protruding portions protruding in a direction away from the light-emitting surface with respect to the deflecting portion
Data Source
AI summary
A light-guide member includes a light-incident surface formed at an end portion of the light-guide member in a first direction, a light-emitting surface that is elongated in the first direction and that includes first and second light-emitting regions, which cause light to be emitted in different directions in a first cross section that is perpendicular to the first direction, a common deflecting portion that deflects light from the light-incident surface and causes the light to be emitted from the first and second light-emitting regions to the outside, and first and second protruding portions each of which is located on one of two sides of the deflecting portion in the first cross section, the first and second protruding portions protruding in a direction away from the light-emitting surface with respect to the deflecting portion.