Night Light with Color-Coded Temperature Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
In children's nurseries, carers face challenges in monitoring room temperature safely without disturbing the baby, as existing thermometers require ambient light for reading and are hard to interpret in low light conditions, and the cluttered environment makes it difficult to get a clear indication of the baby's safety.
Innovation Solution
A night-light with a built-in temperature sensor and control circuitry that emits different colors to indicate whether the room temperature is within a safe range for SIDS prevention, accompanied by secondary indicators like symbols or alarms to provide clear and immediate feedback, allowing carers to take corrective action without disturbing the baby.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional thermometer is used to monitor room temperature, then temperature measurement is achieved, but the device is hard to read in low ambient light and requires turning on light which may wake the baby
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the thermometer function with a night-light function into a single device. The temperature sensor, display, and light source are integrated so that the device provides both temperature measurement and ambient lighting, eliminating the need to separate these functions and their associated drawbacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color-coded LED indicators to represent temperature status: green for safe temperature range, yellow for approaching limits, and red for dangerous temperatures. This color-coding system provides intuitive, immediate feedback that is easily distinguishable in low light without requiring the user to turn on additional lights.
2Loss of information
If ambient light is turned on to read the thermometer, then temperature information becomes visible, but the baby may be disturbed or woken
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides its own illumination through the night-light function, allowing the temperature display to be read without requiring external ambient light. The integrated light source illuminates the display panel automatically, making the temperature information accessible in dark conditions without external light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary illumination of the display area through its night-light function before the user needs to read the temperature. The light source is activated in advance or automatically when the display needs to be viewed, ensuring the information is already visible and accessible.
3Device complexity
If the temperature sensor is placed inside the night-light housing, then the device structure is simplified, but the sensor may be affected by heat from the light source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the housing into separate thermal zones: the light source is positioned in one area while the temperature sensor is positioned in a different area that is thermally isolated from the light source. This spatial segmentation allows both components to coexist in the same housing without the sensor being overheated by the light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal insulation materials or air gaps as intermediaries between the light source and the temperature sensor. These intermediary elements act as thermal barriers that prevent heat from the light source from reaching the sensor, ensuring accurate temperature measurements of the surrounding environment.
4Area of stationary object
If the night-light emits bright light to be visible from a distance, then the carer can monitor from afar, but the baby may be disturbed by the light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directs the light emission in specific directions using lenses or reflective surfaces to concentrate the light toward the carer's position while minimizing light emission toward the baby's position. The light has different intensity and directionality in different spatial zones, providing visibility for the carer while protecting the baby from disturbance.
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 carers to monitor and respond to room temperature without disturbing the baby, providing a clear and intuitive indication of safety through color-coded lighting and symbols, ensuring the baby's temperature is within the safe range, thereby reducing the risk of SIDS.
Implementation Method 1
a light source... arranged to emit light of a first colour when the temperature input is within a predetermined range and to emit light of at least one alternative colour when the temperature input is outside the predetermined range
Data Source
AI summary
A night-light (100) having a light source (104) and control circuitry (110), which is arranged to receive a temperature input comprising a measure of temperature measured by a temperature sensor (208). The light source (104) is arranged to emit light in a first color when the temperature measured by a temperature sensor (208) is within a predetermined range and to emit light in an alternative color when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (208) is outside the predetermined range. The night-light may be of particular use in babies' nurseries.