Medical Lighting Device with Honeycomb LED Array and Variable Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical lighting devices face challenges with mechanical complexity, power loss when increasing illumination diameter, and limited adjustability of the lighting spot, which complicates design, manufacture, and use.
Innovation Solution
A medical lighting device with individually controlled light sources and an optical element featuring two diopters, allowing for variable focusing diameter without power loss, using selective control of light sources and beam redirection to maintain constant light output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical means are used to vary the distance between light sources and the illuminated area, then the diameter of the lighting spot can be adjusted, but the device complexity increases and wear occurs requiring periodic adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an electronic control system that individually controls the intensity of multiple light sources arranged in a honeycomb pattern. By electronically adjusting which light sources are active and their intensity levels, the lighting spot diameter can be varied without any moving parts, eliminating mechanical complexity and wear issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting device is divided into multiple independent light source modules arranged in a honeycomb structure. Each light source can be controlled independently, allowing the system to create different lighting spot diameters by selectively activating specific segments (light sources) rather than using mechanical adjustment of the entire assembly.
2Area of stationary object
If the distance between light sources and the illuminated area is increased to increase the diameter of the lighting spot, then the lighting area expands, but power loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the physical distance between light sources and the illuminated area, the patent changes the parameter of light source intensity individually. By adjusting the intensity of each light source in the honeycomb arrangement, the system can expand the lighting spot diameter while maintaining constant total light output, thereby avoiding power loss associated with increasing distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the intensity of individual light sources based on the desired lighting spot diameter. When expanding the lighting area, specific light sources are dimmed or turned off while others maintain or increase intensity, creating a dynamic balance that maintains constant power output while varying the illuminated area size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple articulated modules are used to adjust lighting spot diameter, then the focusing capability improves, but the mechanical system becomes more complex and sophisticated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates articulated mechanical modules entirely, replacing them with a fixed honeycomb arrangement of light sources combined with electronic intensity control. The focusing capability previously achieved through mechanical articulation is now achieved through electronic adjustment of light source intensities, maintaining adaptability while dramatically reducing mechanical complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If several modules arranged in a honeycomb pattern are used with electronic control, then the lighting zone can be adjusted, but the arrangement generates mechanical and assembly problems
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device is segmented into multiple independent light source units arranged in a honeycomb pattern. Each unit is a standardized module that can be independently manufactured and then assembled into the final device, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity compared to traditional articulated module designs.
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 continuous adjustment of the lighting spot diameter with reduced mechanical complexity and constant light intensity, simplifying design, manufacture, and use while maintaining uniform illumination.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element arranged between the light sources and the area to be illuminated. This optical element comprises a first and a second diopter
Implementation Method 2
The second interface is oriented towards the light sources and has at least two facets inclined relative to each other
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The device has a lighting module (1) in which light sources (2) e.g. LEDs are arranged. Control units (3) individually controls intensity of the light sources. The control units are configured so that a lighted field (4) takes a full circular form, whose focalization diameter varies by selective control of the sources at constant luminous power. An optical element is arranged between the sources and a zone to be lighted, where the element includes a diopter (5a) that is plane and oriented towards the zone to be lighted.