Lawn Mower Marker Housing for Sunlight-Resistant Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marking devices for lawn mowers are not easily recognizable, leading to potential misidentification of the working range due to external light interference, such as sunlight and reflections.

Innovation Solution

A marking device with a housing that includes a light-emitting unit and a roof to shield external light, along with side wall members that prevent light interference, allowing the lawn mower to accurately recognize the marking devices by emitting omnidirectional internal light.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a simple marking device is used, then the device complexity is low, but the lawn mower may not recognize it accurately due to external light interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecognition accuracyVSAvoidmarking device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple functional segments: a light-emitting unit for active signaling, a roof structure for shielding external light, and side wall members for additional light blocking. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, improving recognition accuracy without creating a monolithic complex structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The roof and side wall members act as intermediary elements that block external light (sunlight and reflections) from reaching the light-emitting unit. This intermediary structure filters out harmful external light while allowing the internal light to pass through, thereby improving the lawn mower's ability to accurately detect the marking device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If external light shielding structures are added, then recognition accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecognition reliabilityVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the light-emitting unit, shields from external light interference, and provides a mounting structure for the marking device. By combining these functions into a single integrated housing, the design improves reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The light-emitting unit emits light that can be detected by the lawn mower's sensors. The housing materials are selected to be transparent or translucent to the emitted light wavelength while opaque to external sunlight, creating an optical filtering effect that enhances recognition reliability without requiring complex active shielding mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Measurement precision

If a light-emitting unit with shielding structures is used, then external light interference is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight detection precisionVSAvoidmarking device assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light-emitting unit is nested within the housing structure, with the roof and side walls forming a protective cavity around it. This nested arrangement allows the components to be manufactured separately and then assembled in a straightforward sequence, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the light shielding functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 enhances the lawn mower's ability to accurately recognize marking devices, reducing misrecognition and ensuring accurate definition of the working range, even in varying light conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a light-emitting unit (20) that can emit internal light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a roof (11) that covers the light-emitting unit (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight shielding: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3226019B1Marking device for lawn mower
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3226019B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3226019B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3226019B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A marking device (10) includes a light-emitting unit configured to emit light, a housing (12) configured to accommodate the light-emitting unit, and a support (15) configured to support the housing. The housing can include a transmitting portion (17-2) configured to transmit the light from the light-emitting unit through a circumferential portion (17-1, 17-3) of the housing, and a roof (11) covering the light-emitting unit accommodated in the housing. The housing can include a side wall (13-1, 13-2) formed between every two adjacent windows of the plurality of windows.