Mouse Scanner Barrier Prevents Ghost and Hot Spot Phenomena

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mice with scanning functions suffer from issues such as increased size and non-uniform luminance due to the positioning of the light source, leading to ghost and hot spot phenomena, which degrade scanning performance by causing brightness differences across the scan window.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a barrier with ribs to prevent ghost phenomena, obliquely installed light sources with diffusion lenses, and a larger mirror area than the field of view to ensure uniform light distribution and prevent dark edges in scanned images, along with a reflection layer on the glass module to disperse light evenly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the light source is positioned close to the scan window, then the scanning function can be implemented, but ghost and hot spot phenomena occur leading to non-uniform luminance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning functionVSAvoidluminance uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

A barrier member is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the scan window. This barrier includes a reflection surface that redirects light and a diffusion surface that scatters light to eliminate hot spots and ghost phenomena, thereby achieving uniform luminance across the scan window while maintaining the scanning function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier member has different surface properties at different locations: one surface has high reflectivity to redirect light away from the camera, while another surface has diffusion properties to scatter light evenly. This local differentiation of optical properties solves the luminance uniformity problem

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If the mirror area is increased to cover the entire scan window, then uniform light distribution is achieved, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution uniformityVSAvoidmouse size
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing the mirror area in the same plane, the solution uses a barrier member with specific surface properties that redirects and diffuses light in three-dimensional space. This approach achieves uniform light distribution without requiring a larger mirror or increasing the overall device volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Illumination intensity

If diffusion lenses are added to the light source, then light distribution is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distributionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier member combines multiple functions into a single component: it acts as both a light redirecting element (through its reflection surface) and a light diffusing element (through its diffusion surface). This merged structure improves light distribution without requiring separate diffusion lenses, thereby avoiding increased device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances scanning performance by maintaining uniform luminance across the scan region, preventing ghost and hot spot phenomena, and allowing for accurate image stitching and recognition, even when moving in curved paths.

Implementation Method 1

a mirror module installed in one sided portion of an upper side of the housing to reflect a scan image delivered from the glass module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a lighting module installed in an inner upper side of the housing spaced apart from the camera module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 3

a barrier disposed in an inner upper side of the housing corresponding to a front side of the lighting module to block light reflected from an inside of the housing and formed on the camera module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 4

obliquely installed light sources with diffusion lenses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 5

a reflection layer on the glass module to disperse light evenly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2830303B1Mouse having scanning function
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2830303B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2830303B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2830303B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mouse (10) having a scanning function is provided. The mouse (10) may include a base (16), a cover (11), a scan button (12), and a scanner (20). The scanner (20) may include a housing (21), a glass module (23), a mirror module (24), a camera module (22), a lighting module (25) provided in the housing (21), spaced apart from the camera module (22), and a barrier (26) provided in the housing (21), at a position corresponding to a front side of the lighting module (25), to block light reflected from an inside of the housing (21).