Relay Light Guide Optical Pattern Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional relays with pilot lamps face challenges in visibility due to light interference from surrounding components and other relays when arrayed, making it difficult to determine the operational state from all directions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light guide within the relay case to direct and spread light emitted from the pilot lamp across a top panel, combined with an optical pattern on the panel surfaces to ensure the light is output in a planar state, enhancing visibility from any direction and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pilot lamp is provided in a conventional relay to indicate operational state, then the relay operation can be visually checked, but the light emitted is interrupted by surrounding components when viewed from certain directions, making visibility poor
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the pilot lamp and the external environment. The light guide captures light from the pilot lamp and redirects it to escape through the top surface of the relay housing, bypassing the obstruction caused by holder components. This mediator enables reliable visibility from above without requiring changes to the pilot lamp or holder structure.
2Productivity
If multiple relays are arrayed adjacent to each other, then space is efficiently utilized, but the light from one relay's pilot lamp is interrupted by adjacent relays' housings, making it difficult to identify which relay is active
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide creates a localized light emission zone at the top surface of each relay housing. By concentrating and redirecting light to escape only through the top surface area, each relay develops a unique local light signature that is not blocked by adjacent relays. This local quality enhancement allows individual relay identification even in densely arrayed configurations.
3Volume of moving object
If the pilot lamp is positioned horizontally in the gap between relay body and housing, then sufficient space is utilized for downsizing, but the light emission is blocked by the holder structure in certain directions
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide redirects light propagation from horizontal emission (parallel to holder structure) to vertical emission (perpendicular to holder structure). By changing the dimension of light escape to the vertical direction through the top surface, the system eliminates interference from horizontally positioned holder components while maintaining the compact horizontal pilot lamp arrangement.
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 improves visibility of the relay's operational state by ensuring the light is recognizable from all angles, even when relays are arrayed, and reduces the impact of disturbance light, allowing easy identification of which relay is active.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide is provided inside an outer surface of the case, the light guide is configured to take in the light emitted from the light source, to guide the light to a portion parallel to a top panel of the case
Implementation Method 2
an optical pattern is provided in at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the portion parallel to the top panel, the optical pattern is configured to output, the light guided in the light guide to the portion parallel to the top panel, to outside the case from a top surface of the top panel
Implementation Method 3
to guide the light to a portion parallel to a top panel of the case, and to spread the light in the portion parallel to the top panel
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A relay (31, 61, 71, 81) in which a relay body (32) and a light source (33) are incorporated in a case (34), the light source emitting light in conjunction with operation of the relay body (32), wherein a light guide is provided inside an outer surface of the case (34), the light guide is configured to take in the light emitted from the light source (33), to guide the light to a portion parallel to a top panel (40a) of the case (34), and to spread the light in the portion parallel to the top panel (40a), and an optical pattern (37, 62, 82) is provided in at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the portion parallel to the top panel (40a), the optical pattern (37, 62, 82) is configured to output, the light guided in the light guide to the portion parallel to the top panel (40a), to outside the case (34) from a top surface of the top panel (40a).