Smartphone Flashlight Module with Infrared Remote Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face complexity in controlling multiple electronic devices from a remote location, as each device requires a separate remote controller, which can be cumbersome and requires additional adapter modules, making user handling difficult.
Innovation Solution
A flash light module integrated with a mobile device, such as smartphones or tablets, that incorporates a visible light emitter and an additional non-visible light emitter, like an infrared or UV emitter, to enable remote communication without additional hardware, using the existing camera flash lens for both visible and non-visible light emission, allowing a single device to function as a remote control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a smartphone is equipped with an additional converter comprising an infrared emitter module as a remote controller connected via an external port, then remote control function is added to the smartphone, but device complexity increases and user handling becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the visible light emitter (flashlight) and the infrared emitter into a single integrated module housed together in one housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate external adapter modules while providing both flashlight and remote control functions through a single integrated device, thereby reducing device complexity and improving user handling.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate remote controllers are used to control different electronic devices, then each device can be controlled, but the number of devices increases and user handling becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated module provides universal functionality by combining both visible light emission (flashlight) and infrared light emission (remote control) in a single device. This multi-functional design allows the smartphone to serve as both a flashlight and a remote control for various electronic devices, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices and reducing user burden.
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
Enables easy and efficient remote communication with electronic devices using a single device without modifying it, reducing the need for multiple remote controllers and adapter modules, while also allowing inspection purposes like counterfeit detection.
Implementation Method 1
a visible flash light emitter (10) to emit a flash light beam (13) along an optical axis (OA)
Implementation Method 2
at least one additional emitter (20) emitting non-visible light (22), like an infrared emitter, to enable remote communication
Data Source
Figure 1~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention describes a flash light module (1) comprising a housing (30) carrying at least a visible flash light emitter (10) to emit a flash light beam along an optical axis (OA) and at least one additional emitter (20) emitting non-visible light arranged at a second distance (D2) perpendicular to the optical axis (OA), where position and orientation of the additional emitter (20) and at least the second distances (D2) are suitably adapted as well as the housing (30) is suitably shaped in order to enable the additional emitter (20) to emit non-visible light (22) along a non-visible light emitting direction (IRD), wherein the additional emitter (20) is adapted to emit the non-visible light (22) to the environment suitable to remote communicate to, preferably to remote control, external electronic devices (5) comprising corresponding receivers for the non-visible light (22). The invention further describes a mobile device (100) comprising the flash light module (1) and a method to operate the mobile device (100).