Single Piece Light Guide with Alignment Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in creating smaller, reliable, and high-quality light guides for devices like cellular telephones, where assembly is complex due to the need for precise alignment of light guides with light sources and other optical elements, and these devices are prone to misalignment from physical stress.
Innovation Solution
A single piece light guide is developed using injection molding, which integrates a light rod and lens, with regions between them to facilitate alignment and securement within a housing, preventing misalignment and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a light guide is made smaller for portable devices, then device size is reduced, but assembly complexity increases due to precise alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light rod and lens into a single integrated light guide component manufactured via injection molding. This integration eliminates the need for separate alignment and assembly operations, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining the compact size necessary for portable devices.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional multi-component light guides are used, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but assembly time and alignment precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light rod and lens are combined into a single molded component, eliminating multiple assembly steps and reducing assembly time. The injection molding process maintains manufacturing flexibility by allowing direct integration of optical elements during the molding process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment and positioning of the lens relative to the light rod is performed preliminarily during the injection molding process rather than during final assembly. This preliminary action ensures precise alignment is built-in during manufacturing, eliminating time-consuming alignment operations later.
3Ease of repair
If light guide components are separately assembled, then manufacturing and replacement is easier, but misalignment occurs during device use due to physical stress
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the light rod and lens into a single monolithic component through injection molding, the patent eliminates misalignment issues caused by physical stress during device use. The unified structure ensures reliable alignment stability while the entire light guide can still be replaced as a single unit for repair purposes.
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 solution allows for the cost-effective and accurate assembly of light guides, ensuring efficient light transmission and reducing the risk of misalignment during use, even in compact and portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
A light guide receives light from a light source and transports it some distance with minimal loss
Implementation Method 2
The light guide may also collimate the light
Data Source
AI summary
A single piece light guide is disclosed herein. The single piece light guide may include a light rod and a lens. The single piece light guide may be formed using injection molding. The light guide may have one or more regions between the light rod and the lens. A housing may be provided for the light guide. The housing may have an opening that physically supports the light rod. Therefore, the light rod may be secured into place, which may prevent misalignment during use. The one or more regions between the light rod and the lens may assist in assembling and holding the light guide in the housing.