PDT Magnifier Camera Illumination with Light Guide Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional low vision readers require users to hold the device above documents or use cumbersome stands for optimal magnification and illumination, leading to inconsistent lighting and the need for symmetrical illumination that is not effectively met by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A device with a hollow structure and a transparent optical light guide lens that rests atop the document, utilizing strategically positioned light-emitting diodes to provide symmetrical illumination and eliminate the need for manual hovering, ensuring even lighting and minimizing light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional low vision readers are used, then magnification can be achieved, but the device must be held above the document or use cumbersome stands, and illumination is inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function with the magnifier body by integrating LED light sources and a light guide lens directly into the device structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate illumination devices or stands, allowing the magnifier to provide both magnification and consistent illumination as a unified system while being easily operated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light guide lens as an intermediary component between the LED light sources and the document. This light guide lens redirects and distributes light symmetrically across the viewing area, ensuring consistent illumination while the magnifier rests directly on the document, eliminating the need for hovering or stands.
2Ease of operation
If the magnifier rests atop the document, then manual hovering is eliminated, but symmetrical illumination must be achieved through strategic LED positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of multiple LED light sources around the light guide lens, with LEDs placed at specific locations (e.g., four corners or strategic positions) rather than symmetric distribution. This asymmetric arrangement, combined with the light guide lens geometry, produces symmetric illumination across the document surface, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and illumination structure complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If strategic LED positioning is used, then symmetrical illumination is achieved, but light leakage must be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a light guide lens made of transparent or translucent material that acts as a flexible optical element to redirect light from the LEDs. This light guide structure confines and directs light symmetrically across the viewing area while preventing light leakage to surrounding areas, achieving both symmetric illumination and minimal light leakage through the optical properties of the lens material and geometry.
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 device provides optimal text and image enlargement with symmetrical lighting, eliminating dark spots and the need for stands, enhancing readability for individuals with low vision by ensuring consistent illumination without manual hovering.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent optical light guide lens is disposed in closing relation to the camera aperture so that all light entering the camera aperture must first pass through the optical light guide lens
Implementation Method 2
a first pair of light-emitting diodes is secured to a first end of the printed circuit board adjacent a first end of the camera aperture and a second pair of light-emitting diodes is secured to a second end of the printed circuit board adjacent a second end of the camera aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A device that enlarges text and images to enable a low vision person to see the text and images includes a hollow structure including a top housing and a bottom housing that are connected to one another. A camera aperture is formed in the bottom housing and a transparent light guide lens is disposed in closing relation to the camera aperture so that all light entering the camera aperture must first pass through the light guide lens. A cavity formed in the light guide lens is bounded by walls that are positioned at a critical angle. Light-emitting diodes are positioned at critical locations about the periphery of the light guide lens to illuminate the object being viewed.