Shrinkable Optical Fiber Pen for Illuminated Writing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pens do not offer enhanced handling or versatile usage options, particularly in illuminating surfaces for writing, painting, or cosmetic applications, nor do they efficiently manage lead material usage or drying.

Innovation Solution

A pen design featuring a sharpenable pen case with integrated optical fibers that can be illuminated from a light source, allowing for visible, UV, or infrared light emission, along with a detachable container housing a power source and light source, enabling versatile lighting applications and efficient lead material handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional pens are used without additional lighting components, then the device complexity remains low, but the illumination capability for writing surfaces is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the writing function and illumination function into a single integrated pen device. The optical fiber is embedded within the pen body, and the light source is housed in the pen cap, creating a unified tool that provides both writing and lighting capabilities without requiring separate devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pen is designed to perform multiple functions: writing/drawing and illumination. The detachable cap serves dual purposes as both a protective cover and a housing for the light source and power supply, enabling the same device to adapt to different usage scenarios including writing in dark environments and UV curing applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If optical fibers are integrated into the pen case, then illumination for writing surfaces is enabled, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination for writing surfacesVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pen is divided into separate modular components: the pen body containing the optical fiber and the detachable cap containing the light source and battery. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested independently, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical fiber is strategically positioned only in the areas requiring illumination (the pen body where light needs to reach the writing surface), while the cap houses the light generation components. This localized arrangement optimizes the distribution of functional elements without unnecessary complexity throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pen cap is designed as a detachable container housing light source and power source, then versatility and reuseability are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveversatility and reuseabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is designed to be detachably connectable to the pen body, allowing dynamic reconfiguration. The cap can be removed and attached to a different pen body, or used independently with a new lead insert, providing flexibility and extendability to the writing tool's lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The light source and power supply are nested within the cap structure, which itself attaches to the pen body. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to be integrated in a compact manner without significantly increasing the external dimensions or complexity of the overall device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 enhances pen handling by providing illumination for writing or cosmetic applications, facilitates crosslinking or drying of lead materials, and allows for the reuse of pen components, improving usability and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

at least one optical fiber, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the pen and is made of a material that can be sharpened, is arranged in the pen sleeve, the light-entry surface of which is arranged at the rear end of the pen sleeve in such a way that it can be connected to an existing there Light source can be acted upon by light, the optical fiber exiting with its light exit surface from the front end of the pen case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical fiber light transmission: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

a surface of the type in question can also be irradiated with UV or infrared light, for example in order to bring about a crosslinking reaction in a UV-curable lead material transferred to the surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking reaction: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

to dry a lead material by supplying heat by means of IR radiation to accelerate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation heating: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2344346B1Fluorescent pencil
Publication Date: 2012.09.05 A W FABER CASTELL GMBH & CO
  • EP2344346B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2344346B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2344346B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a pencil having a pencil shell (1) made of a shell material that can be sharpened and lead (4) retained in a central receiving hole (3) extending in the longitudinal direction of the pencil in the shell material. At least one optical fiber (6) made of a material that can be sharpened and extending in the longitudinal direction of the pin, at least partially enclosed by the material of the pencil shell, is disposed in the pencil shell (1), the light entry surface (7) thereof being disposed at the rear end (14) of the pencil sleeve, such that light can be applied thereto by means of a light source (8) present there, wherein the light output surface (37) of the optical fiber (6) protrudes out the pencil sleeve at the front end (30) thereof.