Redundant Illumination Unit With Shared Cooling Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination systems lack full redundancy, as they fail if modules other than light sources, such as cooling systems or power supplies, malfunction, leading to interrupted operation during critical procedures like surgery.
Innovation Solution
A fully redundant illumination unit design featuring two light sources arranged serially within a channel, with cooling units at both ends, and a displaceable reflection element to ensure light can be redirected and cooling maintained even if one light source or cooling unit fails, allowing continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two entirely separate autonomous illumination units are provided with duplicate cooling systems and power supplies, then fail-safe performance is improved, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into functionally independent modules: light sources are separated from cooling units, and each cooling unit can serve multiple light sources. This modular segmentation allows the cooling system to be shared while maintaining redundancy for critical functions, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooling unit is designed to be universal and capable of cooling multiple different light sources (both laser diodes and LEDs). This multi-functionality means that a single cooling unit can replace another if needed, providing redundancy without requiring completely separate dedicated cooling systems for each light source, thus reducing complexity while maintaining fail-safe performance.
2Reliability
If multiple light sources with separate cooling units are provided for each light source, then redundancy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light sources (laser diodes and LEDs) are combined within a single illumination head and share common cooling units. The cooling units are positioned to serve multiple light sources simultaneously, merging the cooling function rather than providing separate dedicated cooling for each light source. This combining approach maintains redundancy capability while reducing the total number of cooling units and associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic switching capability where the illumination head can selectively activate different light sources and redirect cooling capacity as needed. This dynamic allocation allows the system to adapt to failures by redistributing cooling resources to active light sources, maintaining redundancy without requiring static separate cooling systems for each component.
3Device complexity
If a single cooling unit serves multiple light sources, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases upon cooling unit failure
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is extracted as a separate, independent module that can be selectively applied to different light sources. Each cooling unit is designed to be a self-contained module with its own pump and heat dissipation system, capable of being independently controlled and switched. This extraction allows a failed cooling unit to be replaced or bypassed while maintaining cooling for other light sources, preserving reliability while keeping the overall system simpler than fully autonomous units.
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
Ensures continuous illumination and cooling, minimizing downtime and association between components, achieving the highest possible fail-safe performance with reduced complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
A first cooling unit for cooling the first and the second light source is arranged at a first end of the channel, and a second cooling unit for cooling the first and the second light source is arranged at a second end
Implementation Method 2
cooling units...cooling maintained even if one light source or cooling unit fails
Implementation Method 3
there being arranged in the channel a displaceable reflection element with the aid of which, depending on the position of the reflection element, light radiated selectably from the first or the second light source is directed through the light exit opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to an illumination unit (10) that encompasses two light sources (16, 18) arranged one behind another in a channel (14). A cooling unit (30, 32) is provided respectively at the two ends (26, 28) of the channel (14). The invention further relates to an energy supply unit (50) for supplying the illumination unit (10) with electrical energy. The energy supply unit (50) encompasses two energy sources (56, 58) arranged in a channel (54). Respective cooling units (64, 66) are arranged at the two ends (60, 62) of the channel (54).