Operating Light Distance-Dependent Brightness Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical lights fail to maintain constant illuminance in the surgical field when the distance between the light and the surgical site changes, leading to variations in radiation intensity and luminosity distribution.

Innovation Solution

A surgical light equipped with a sensor device for precise distance measurement between the light and the surgical field, allowing for automatic adjustment of luminous intensity through control of the lamps without mechanical means, ensuring constant brightness across varying distances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the distance between the operating light and the surgical field changes, then the radiation intensity and luminosity distribution change, but the illuminance in the surgical field becomes non-constant

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveilluminanceVSAvoiddistance adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A sensor device measures the distance between the operating light and the surgical field, and this measurement is fed back to a control device that automatically adjusts the luminous intensity of the light source to maintain constant illuminance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical adjustment mechanisms (such as those in large-mirror lights or distributed lighting systems) with an automated control system that uses sensor feedback to electrically adjust the light source intensity, eliminating the need for complex mechanical synchronization mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Illumination intensity

If mechanical mechanisms are used to adjust the illuminated field diameter or focal point distance, then the brightness distribution can be changed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness distributionVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated electrical control system that adjusts the luminous intensity of the light source based on sensor feedback, eliminating the need for mechanical synchronization of multiple components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the luminous intensity parameter of the light source electrically through the control device, rather than mechanically adjusting the physical position or orientation of optical components, thereby simplifying the device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Length of moving object

If the light source is moved to adjust the focal point distance, then the illuminated field diameter changes, but the illuminance in the surgical field becomes non-constant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocal point distanceVSAvoidilluminance

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

A sensor device continuously measures the distance between the operating light and the surgical field, and this feedback is used by the control device to automatically adjust the luminous intensity, compensating for changes in focal point distance and maintaining constant illuminance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical movement of the light source to adjust focal point with an electrical adjustment of luminous intensity controlled by feedback from distance sensors, thereby maintaining constant illuminance without mechanical repositioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 ensures consistent illuminance in the surgical field by dynamically adjusting the light intensity based on distance changes, maintaining optimal brightness and luminosity distribution regardless of positional shifts in the surgical light.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor device for ascertaining the position of the surgical field relative to the operating light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPosition detection:

Implementation Method 2

a control device for controlling the luminous intensity of the light source on the basis of the ascertained position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical control of luminous intensity:

Data Source

PatentEP2136129B2Operating light with distance-dependant brightness control

Publication Date: 2019.12.18 TRUMPE MEDIZIN SYSTEME GMBH & CO KG

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AI summary

An operating light (1) is provided, comprising a light body (4) with light sources (9) that illuminate a surgical field with light beams (11). The operating light (1) also includes a sensor device (16) for detecting the distance between the light body (4) and the surgical field. Depending on the change in the distance between the light body (4) and the surgical field, the luminous intensity of the light beams (11) is adjusted based on the detected distance so that the brightness in the surgical field remains constant even at different distances.