Light Source Housing With Conductive Diffuser Detection Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with light sources, such as proximity sensors, face the risk of eye harm due to high-intensity light beams when the diffuser is dismounted or removed, as the light source's intensity increases without the diffuser to reduce it.
Innovation Solution
A housing for the light source with conducting pins traversing a molded body, where the diffuser is fixed, and a conductive coating connects the pins, allowing for a circuit to detect detachment and deactivate the light source if the diffuser is removed, ensuring safety by maintaining the light beam's intensity within a safe range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the diffuser is removed to simplify the device structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the light intensity becomes harmful to the user's eyes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a detection circuit that proactively monitors the presence of the diffuser before harmful light exposure can occur. The conducting pins and conductive coating establish an electrical connection that is broken when the diffuser is removed, triggering a safety mechanism that deactivates the light source in advance, preventing eye harm before it can happen.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the detection circuit continuously monitors the electrical connection between the conducting pins through the conductive coating. When the diffuser is removed, the circuit detects the broken connection and provides feedback to deactivate the light source, creating a closed-loop safety system that responds to the diffuser's presence or absence.
2Reliability
If a detection circuit is added to monitor diffuser presence, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the diffuser serve multiple functions: it acts as both an optical diffuser element and an electrical indicator of safety. The conducting pins and conductive coating integrate the detection function into the existing diffuser structure, allowing the diffuser to simultaneously perform its optical function and provide safety monitoring through electrical connection, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the detection circuit with the diffuser assembly by using the diffuser as part of the electrical circuit path. The conducting pins traverse the molded body and connect through the conductive coating on the diffuser, combining the mechanical mounting function with the electrical detection function into a single integrated assembly, reducing the need for separate detection components.
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 effectively reduces the risk of eye harm by ensuring the light source is deactivated when the diffuser is detached, maintaining the light beam's intensity within safe limits and providing a secure, low-cost solution for detecting diffuser detachment.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive coating comprises one or more conductive tracks electrically connecting the first and second pins
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure concerns a housing for a light source mounted on a substrate, the housing comprising: a molded body having an opening permitting the passage of a light beam generated by the light source; one or more surfaces for receiving a diffuser; and first and second conducting pins traversing the molded body.