Liquid Guide Lighting for Clear Droplet Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid discharge characteristic detection apparatuses face difficulties in obtaining clear images due to light scattering and diffraction from external light sources, making it complex to adjust positions, light intensity, and number of sources.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a liquid guide unit and a lighting unit inside the guide unit, where the lighting unit projects light along the flow path within the guide unit, ensuring the liquid is illuminated without external scattering, allowing for effective detection of discharge characteristics using a camera.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is arranged outside the nozzle to illuminate the nozzle and surrounding area, then the entire nozzle and peripheral devices are illuminated, but light scattering, diffraction, and diffused reflection occur making it difficult to obtain clear images
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the light source (causing scattering and diffraction) is separated from the detection system by placing it inside the liquid guide unit rather than outside. This extracts the light source from the environment that causes scattering, allowing illumination without the harmful side effects that degrade image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The light source is nested inside the liquid guide unit, which itself is part of the nozzle assembly. This nested configuration allows the light to illuminate the liquid from within the confined space, preventing external light scattering while maintaining effective illumination of the liquid discharge region
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are arranged to provide sufficient illumination, then illumination coverage is improved, but the device complexity and adjustment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is segmented into multiple light sources arranged along the flow path within the liquid guide unit. This segmentation allows each light source to illuminate a specific section of the liquid flow, providing comprehensive coverage while maintaining a compact, integrated structure that reduces overall adjustment complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The light sources within the liquid guide unit serve multiple functions: they illuminate the liquid for imaging, define the measurement volume, and can be configured to illuminate different sections of the flow path. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate illumination systems and simplifies the overall device 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
Enables clear image capture of liquid discharge without external light interference, effectively detecting discharge characteristics such as shape, size, and distribution of droplets or atomization patterns.
Implementation Method 1
a lighting unit projecting light onto the liquid passing through the flow path of the liquid guide unit
Implementation Method 2
An inner surface of the main body constituting the internal space may be composed of a light reflecting surface
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting liquid discharge characteristics according to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus including: a liquid supply unit supplying a liquid; a liquid guide unit including a flow path through which the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit passes and a nozzle mounting portion communicating with the flow path and on which the nozzle is mounted and guiding the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit to the nozzle mounted on the nozzle mounting portion; a lighting unit projecting light onto the liquid passing through the flow path inside the liquid guide unit; and a camera obtaining an image of the liquid discharged from the nozzle by being arranged toward the nozzle.