Spherical Light Source Bridge Recess Protrusion Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-room illumination apparatuses for movable structures face challenges in balancing the holding force of the optical axis with ease of rotation, often resulting in increased operation force or reduced vibration endurance.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a light source unit with a spherical housing and a bridge that includes a first contact region with recesses and protrusions, allowing for a fitting mechanism that facilitates holding the optical axis while enabling easy rotation by releasing the recess and protrusion from their fitted state, providing a click feeling and intermittent increased holding force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the holding force of the optical axis is increased by adjusting the leaf spring, then the stability and vibration endurance are improved, but the force necessary for the user to rotate the light source unit is also increased, resulting in reduction of usability
Solution Approach 1:
The contact region between the bridge and light source unit is divided into multiple recesses and protrusions instead of a single continuous contact surface. This segmentation allows the light source unit to be held at discrete angular positions with reduced friction, enabling easy rotation while maintaining stability at each position.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaf spring is designed with elastic deformation capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its holding force. When the light source unit is rotated, the leaf spring deforms elastically to accommodate the movement, reducing the force required for rotation while maintaining adequate holding force at the final position.
2Ease of operation
If the holding force of the optical axis is reduced, then the operation force is decreased, but the light source unit becomes unstable, and vibration endurance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented contact structure with multiple recesses and protrusions provides stable holding at discrete positions without requiring excessive holding force. The segmentation creates point contacts that maintain stability while reducing the overall friction and holding force compared to a continuous contact surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source unit housing has a spherical shape that fits into the holder, allowing rotational movement while maintaining stable contact. The curved surface enables smooth rotation with reduced friction, improving ease of operation while maintaining stability through the spherical geometry.
3Force
If a leaf spring structure is used to press the light source unit, then the holding force can be adjusted, but the structure complexity and height are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge structure integrates multiple functions: it provides the pressing force through its rigid connection to the holder, creates the segmented contact regions with recesses and protrusions for positioning, and eliminates the need for a separate leaf spring component. This merging of functions reduces structural complexity while maintaining adequate holding force.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional leaf spring component is extracted and replaced by the bridge structure that performs the same pressing function through its rigid connection and geometric design. This extraction simplifies the overall structure by removing unnecessary components while maintaining the required holding force.
Data Source
AI summary
An in-room illumination apparatus for a movable structure includes: a light source; a holder that holds the light source; and a bridge that presses the light source against the holder. The light source includes a spherical housing and a light emitting element. The bridge includes, at a center part, a first contact region which is configured to be in contact with an outer surface of the light source at all times. The light source includes, at the outer surface, a light source-side contact region that is configured to be in contact with the first contact region. At least one recess and at least one protrusion are in the first contact region and in the light source-side contact region. A number of recesses and protrusions in the first contact region is different than a number of recesses and protrusions in the light source-side contact region.