Spring-Biased Light Barrier for Personal Care Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal care devices, such as electric toothbrushes, face challenges in reducing light crosstalk between neighboring indicators, which affects the clarity and effectiveness of visual mode selection, leading to a perception of lower product quality.
Innovation Solution
A personal care device design featuring a hollow housing with a transparent or translucent portion, a carrier-mounted light source, and a light barrier element with a spring-biased light barrier plate ensures precise alignment and minimizes gaps, preventing light from escaping and illuminating neighboring symbols or icons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a light barrier is provided between light sources to prevent light crosstalk, then the clarity of visual mode indication is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light barrier element is nested within the housing structure, with the light barrier plate positioned between adjacent light sources and the transparent portion of the housing. This nested arrangement allows the light barrier function to be integrated into the existing device architecture without adding external complexity, while still effectively preventing light crosstalk between neighboring indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The light barrier element acts as an intermediary component between adjacent light sources. It includes a light barrier plate that blocks light from one light source from reaching neighboring indicators, while a light transmission portion allows the intended light signal to pass through to the transparent housing portion. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing targeted light control without requiring complex overall device redesign.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the light barrier plate is positioned close to the light source for effective light blocking, then light crosstalk is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light barrier element is designed with a spring element that provides dynamic positioning capability. The spring element biases the light barrier plate towards the light source, creating a consistent contact force that maintains optimal light blocking position. This dynamic mechanism compensates for manufacturing tolerances and ensures reliable light crosstalk prevention without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element introduces a variable force parameter that adjusts the position of the light barrier plate. By changing the mechanical parameter (spring force), the system can maintain optimal light blocking regardless of small variations in manufacturing dimensions. The spring element's elastic deformation allows the light barrier plate to adapt to slight position variations while maintaining effective light blocking.
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 design effectively reduces light crosstalk, ensuring clear and accurate visual indication of selected modes without gaps, enhancing user experience and product quality by maintaining focused illumination on intended indicators.
Implementation Method 1
the light barrier element has at least a first spring element arranged to bias a light barrier plate of the light barrier element against the inner surface of the hollow housing
Implementation Method 2
a light barrier element mounted on the carrier, wherein the light barrier element has at least a first spring element arranged to bias a light barrier plate
Implementation Method 3
a hollow housing having at least a first transparent or translucent portion extending between an outer surface of the housing and an inner surface of the hollow housing
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is concerned with a personal care device having a hollow housing having at least a first transparent or translucent portion extending between an outer surface of the housing and an inner surface of the hollow housing, a carrier mounted inside the hollow housing in a fixed position relative to the hollow housing, at least a first light source mounted on the carrier, a light barrier element mounted on the carrier, wherein the light barrier element has at least a first spring element arranged to bias a light barrier plate of the light barrier element against the inner surface of the hollow housing, the light barrier plate having at least a first light transmission portion that is in positional alignment with the first light source and in positional alignment with the first transparent or translucent portion of the hollow housing so that light emitted by the first light source is visible at the outer surface of the first transparent or translucent portion.