Radiant Energy Device Sensor Array for Surface Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical devices using infrared proximity sensors face challenges in accurately detecting non-flat surfaces, leading to potential burns due to incorrect identification of surface proximity, as these sensors require reflection and may not recognize protruding features or maintain a minimum distance, resulting in unintended radiant heat exposure.

Innovation Solution

A radiant energy emitting device with a sensor system that detects the spatial relationship between the sensor and target surface, allowing for activation of energy emission without requiring reflection or a minimum distance, and can sense the entire aperture area, preventing unintended energy exposure by using projected field, capacitance, or inductive proximity sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If infrared proximity sensors are used to detect target surface proximity, then the device can activate energy emission at appropriate distances, but the sensor may fail to recognize non-flat surfaces such as protruding features, leading to unintended operation and potential burns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor detection accuracyVSAvoidunintended radiant energy exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is divided into multiple independent sensors arranged in an array across the aperture surface. Each sensor monitors its local region independently, allowing the system to detect surface irregularities and determine whether the aperture is properly positioned on a flat target surface before activating energy emission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor array serves multiple functions: it detects target surface proximity, verifies flatness of the target surface, identifies proper aperture positioning, and controls energy emission activation. This multi-functional approach replaces the single-function infrared proximity sensor with a more versatile detection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If infrared sensors operate based on reflection principles, then they can detect surface proximity, but they require a minimum distance and cannot detect surfaces within their blind-spot range, potentially allowing unsafe operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor operation simplicityVSAvoidsurface proximity detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical reflection-based sensing with alternative sensing mechanisms including capacitance sensing, inductive sensing, or time-of-flight measurement. These methods do not depend on infrared reflection geometry, eliminating blind spots and allowing accurate detection at very close distances including direct contact range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If a single-point or limited-point sensor is used to detect target surface proximity, then the device structure remains simple, but it cannot sense the entire aperture area, leading to potential mispositioning and unsafe energy emission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor system structureVSAvoidaperture positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 effectively prevents unintended radiant energy emission by accurately detecting the target surface, ensuring safe and controlled energy delivery, even on non-flat surfaces, and is resistant to electromagnetic radiation across various wavelengths.

Implementation Method 1

projected field, capacitance, or inductive proximity sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

projected field, capacitance, or inductive proximity sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

emit radiant energy out through the aperture to a target surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiant energy transmission: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Data Source

PatentUS8481982B2Energy emitting treatment device

Publication Date: 2013.07.09 JOHNSON SCOT L

AI summary

In one aspect, the present application is directed to a radiant energy emitting device. The radiant energy emitting device comprises (A) an outer housing including at least one aperture there through, the housing being operationally configured to (1) receive and contain radiant energy therein, and (2) emit radiant energy out through the aperture to a target surface; (B) an energy emission means; and (C) a sensor means disposed about the aperture of the housing, the sensor means being in communication with the energy emission means and operationally configured to detect the spatial relationship between the sensor means and the target surface, said spatial relationship determining activation of the energy emission means.