Portable Optical Observation Device with Conformal Battery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical observation devices face challenges in accommodating a power supply for electronic components without increasing the device's dimensions, as there is limited space for housing batteries within the existing structure.
Innovation Solution
A portable optical observation device is designed with a flat, moisture-resistant, and flexible battery cell that follows the housing's shape, allowing for efficient use of space and easy integration, along with a protective sheathing for shock resistance and ease of maintenance, and optionally features redundant power supply and rapid manufacturing methods for the housing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional batteries are used in optical observation devices, then power supply for electronic components is achieved, but device dimensions increase due to limited installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional three-dimensional cylindrical or rectangular batteries to two-dimensional flexible battery cells. These flat battery cells can be conformally mounted on the housing surface, utilizing the external surface area rather than internal volume, thereby avoiding increase in device dimensions while providing necessary power supply capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible battery cells with thin-film construction that can be bent and shaped to follow the housing contours. This flexibility allows the batteries to be mounted on curved or irregular surfaces of the housing without requiring additional structural space, effectively solving the space constraint problem
2Volume of moving object
If flat battery cells are used to reduce space requirements, then installation space is optimized, but protection against moisture and environmental factors becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cells are equipped with flexible protective coatings and encapsulation layers that conform to their flat geometry. These thin-film protective barriers provide moisture and environmental protection while maintaining the compact flat structure, preventing degradation of reliability despite the reduced form factor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures combining the flat battery cell with protective encapsulation layers and moisture barriers. This multi-layer composite construction provides both the space efficiency of flat cells and the environmental protection needed for reliable operation in various conditions
3Volume of moving object
If batteries are integrated into the housing structure, then compact design is achieved, but ease of maintenance and replacement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the housing structure into modular sections with dedicated battery compartments. These segmented compartments allow individual battery cells to be accessed, removed, or replaced independently without disassembling the entire device, maintaining compact integration while enabling easy maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The flat battery cells are designed to be extractable from designated compartments in the housing. Their thin profile and flexible nature allow them to be easily removed through access points in the housing structure, facilitating maintenance and replacement while keeping the overall design compact when batteries are installed
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 enables a compact design with reduced additional structural requirements, improved durability, and ease of maintenance while providing reliable power to electronic assemblies, such as image stabilizers and rangefinders, even in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one planar, typically flat, battery cell... configured to... supply the electronic assembly with power
Implementation Method 2
optical elements (usually a plurality of optical elements)—which optionally are mirrors but usually are lens elements
Implementation Method 3
optical elements (usually a plurality of optical elements)—which optionally are mirrors but usually are lens elements and possibly also prisms
Implementation Method 4
protective sheathing for shock resistance and ease of maintenance
Data Source
AI summary
A portable optical observation device is provided. The portable optical observation device includes an optical group which has a plurality of optical elements arranged in distributed fashion along an optical axis, and a housing which surrounds the optical group at least radially around the optical axis. Moreover, the observation device includes at least one electronic assembly and at least one planar battery cell which is shaped against the housing, configured to be at least moisture resistant, and configured to supply the electronic assembly with power.