Light Guide Reflection Element for Compact Cooktop Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooktops with infrared sensors for temperature determination face challenges in achieving a compact design due to the need for extensive installation space for optical fibers and bending radii, which limits their space-saving and measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a light guide unit with an optical fiber and a light reflection element, including a metal coating or total reflection prism, allows for efficient light guidance and reflection, reducing the need for extensive installation space and enhancing measurement accuracy by minimizing scattered light and using a focusing element to image the measuring point onto the light sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical fibers are used to guide light from measuring point to sensor module, then light transmission is achieved, but installation space requirements increase due to minimum bending radii
Solution Approach 1:
A light reflection element is introduced as an intermediary component between the measuring point and the sensor module. This element redirects light paths using reflection rather than requiring long optical fiber runs with bending radii, thereby reducing installation space while maintaining reliable light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical bending of optical fibers with an optical reflection mechanism. Instead of physically routing fibers around corners with minimum bending radii, light is reflected off a surface element to achieve the same directional change, eliminating space constraints imposed by fiber bending requirements.
2Measurement precision
If optical fibers are routed extensively to achieve measurement, then light guidance is maintained, but device compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light reflection element utilizes angular/directional dimension to redirect light paths. Instead of extending optical fibers linearly across the device volume, light is reflected at specific angles to reach the sensor, effectively using spatial orientation rather than linear distance to achieve measurement functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If light is guided through extended paths, then measurement coverage is improved, but scattered light increases reducing measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The light reflection element is positioned and oriented to reflect light from specific measurement locations directly to the sensor module. This localized reflection approach maintains measurement coverage for different positions while ensuring that each reflected path minimizes scattered light exposure, preserving measurement accuracy.
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 configuration achieves a compact, space-saving design with improved measurement accuracy and high light intensity in the light sensor module, enabling precise temperature determination in cooking devices and other household appliances.
Implementation Method 1
which is intended to guide light from a measuring point to the light sensor module
Implementation Method 2
the light guide unit has at least one light reflection element
Data Source
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AI summary
The household appliance device (12) has a sensor unit (20), which has a light sensor module (22) and a light guide unit (24). The light guide unit comprises optical fibers (26) and is provided to guide light from a measurement point (30) to the light sensor module. The light guide unit comprises a light reflection element (32) with a metal coating, where the light reflection element is designed as a total reflection element. The optical fiber is optically arranged between the light reflection element and a light sensor.