Medical Lamp Control Unit with Visual Light Cone Display
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of medical lamps face difficulties in quickly and intuitively adjusting the light field size due to the need to focus attention on numerical displays, which can be distracting and inefficient, especially under stressful conditions.
Innovation Solution
A control unit that displays a model representation of the lamp body and light cone on a screen, allowing for real-time graphical adjustments of the light field size, brightness, and color temperature, with a touchscreen interface for intuitive control and improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a numerical display is used to show the light field size, then the information is precise, but the operator cannot quickly and intuitively assess the current setting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy (graphic representation) of the actual light cone and light field on the display screen. This graphic model replicates the physical light distribution, allowing operators to intuitively understand the light field size and position without needing to interpret numerical values. The visual copy directly mirrors the real-world light cone geometry, making assessment immediate and intuitive while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the one-dimensional numerical representation of light field size into a two-dimensional visual representation. By displaying the light cone as a graphical element with visible dimensions and spatial relationships, the system adds a visual dimension to the information presentation, enabling faster and more intuitive operator assessment while preserving measurement precision.
2Reliability
If the operator focuses attention on the display to check light field size, then the setting can be accurately monitored, but the operator becomes distracted from the actual surgical task
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded visual representations to convey light field size and status information. Different colors or shading intensities represent different light field dimensions and settings, allowing operators to quickly assess the current configuration at a glance without needing to study numerical displays. This color-based visual coding enables reliable monitoring while minimizing the time and attention required, thereby reducing distraction from the surgical task.
3Loss of information
If a detailed numerical display is provided, then complete information is available, but the display becomes complex and difficult to quickly interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex numerical displays with a simplified visual copy of the light cone and light field. This graphic representation inherently contains all necessary dimensional and positional information in an immediately comprehensible format. The visual model conveys complete information about light field size, shape, and position through its geometric properties, eliminating the need for multiple numerical parameters and reducing display complexity while maintaining information completeness.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A control unit for a medical light comprises a control element for adjusting the size of a light field produced by the light, a screen for displaying the currently set size of the light field, and an electronic interface for outputting control signals for the size of the light field to a control unit of the light. The control unit is designed to display a representation of at least one light element of the light, including a light cone emanating from the light element, on the screen during operation of the light, and to change the shape of the light cone in the display accordingly when the size of the light field is adjusted using the control element.