Sub-surface Indicator Lighting via Optical Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical devices, such as cochlear implants, face design constraints that require separate printed circuit boards for microphones and indicator lights, leading to increased size and complexity, which hinders the miniaturization of these devices.
Innovation Solution
The use of sub-surface indicator lights optically coupled to the device housing via optical connectors, allowing the indicator lights to be mounted on the same printed circuit board as MEMS microphones, thus eliminating the need for separate PCBs and reducing the device's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If indicator lights are mounted on separate PCBs from microphones, then each component can be independently positioned and connected, but the device size and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the indicator light and microphone onto a single PCB by positioning the indicator light in the acoustic port area and the microphone adjacent to it on the same board. This integration eliminates the need for separate PCBs while maintaining independent positioning and connection capabilities for both components, thereby reducing device size and structural complexity.
2Reliability
If indicator lights are positioned inside the housing, then the external surface remains clean and sealed, but the light must be made visible from outside
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the acoustic port as an intermediary element that serves dual purposes: it allows sound to enter the microphone while also serving as a window for light to pass through. The indicator light is positioned within the acoustic port area, and the port's open structure enables light emitted by the indicator light to be visible from outside the housing without compromising the sealing integrity.
3Volume of moving object
If the device is miniaturized, then the overall size is reduced, but space for separate PCBs and components becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension and available surface area of a single PCB to accommodate both the microphone and indicator light in close proximity. By strategically positioning the indicator light in the acoustic port area and the microphone adjacent to it on the same board, the design maximizes space utilization and enables miniaturization while maintaining all necessary component placement options.
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 enables a more compact and space-efficient design for medical devices, while maintaining the functionality of indicator lights, which are still visible from outside the housing through the optical coupling.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical connector optically coupling the at least one indicator light to the outer surface of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein are devices/apparatuses having indicator lights (visual indicators), such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), positioned underneath/below the outer surface of a housing of the device. However, the indicator lights positioned below the outer surface of the housing, sometimes referred to herein as “sub-surface” or “sub-housing” indicator lights, are optically coupled to the outer surface of the housing via one or more optical connectors (e.g., light guides, light pipes, light diffusers, etc.). As such, the light emitted by the sub-surface indicator lights is still visible at the outer surface of the device housing.