Sealed Light Engine Elastomer with Selective UV Cure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elastomer mouldings used for sealing light engines in devices become statically charged, attracting dust and reducing transparency and performance, with traditional cleaning methods risking scratches or embedding dust particles.
Innovation Solution
The elastomer moulding has a selectively cured central region for increased scratch resistance and a softer peripheral region for sealing, with the central region hardened using actinic radiation, such as UV light, to prevent dust embedding during cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastomer moulding is made soft for sealing, then the sealing functionality is improved, but the scratch resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer moulding is selectively cured in different regions: the peripheral sealing region remains soft and uncured to maintain sealing functionality, while the central light exit window region is cured to increase scratch resistance. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between softness for sealing and hardness for scratch resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer moulding is divided into functionally distinct regions: a peripheral sealing region and a central light exit window region. Each region is cured to different degrees based on its functional requirements, allowing the sealing region to remain soft while the light exit region becomes harder and more scratch-resistant.
2Strength
If the elastomer moulding is made hard for scratch resistance, then the scratch resistance is improved, but the sealing functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the elastomer moulding are assigned different hardness levels: the central region is cured to be hard and scratch-resistant, while the peripheral sealing region remains soft. This local quality differentiation allows each region to optimize its properties for its specific function.
3Strength
If the elastomer moulding is fully cured for scratch resistance, then the scratch resistance is improved, but the transparency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer moulding exhibits spatially varying cure levels: the central light exit window region is cured to provide scratch resistance while maintaining transparency, while the peripheral region remains uncured. This local quality control allows optimization of both scratch resistance and transparency in different regions.
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
This approach enhances the scratch resistance of the light exit window while maintaining the sealing functionality, preventing dust embedding and maintaining transparency and performance.
Implementation Method 1
the central region is cured and the peripheral region is not cured so that said central region has a greater hardness than said peripheral region
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a device (10) comprising a housing (20) including a light engine (21), said housing contacting a part (15) of the device; and an elastomer moulding (30) over said housing, said elastomer moulding comprising a cured central region (31′) acting as a light exit window for light emitted by said light engine and an uncured peripheral region (33) around said central region, said peripheral region contacting said part and acting as a seal. The cured central region has a greater hardness than said uncured peripheral region. Also disclosed is a method of moulding such a device in this manner.