Surgical Light Independent Power Supply Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical lights often fail unexpectedly due to power supply issues, such as mains voltage loss and rapid accumulator discharge, posing risks during operations.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a second lighting unit with an additional light source connected to a separate power supply line, allowing each unit to be powered independently from a distinct voltage source, ensuring continuous operation even if one power supply fails.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single power supply line is used for the surgical light, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to unexpected failures during operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidpower supply structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical light is divided into two independent lighting units (first lighting unit and second lighting unit), each with its own separate power supply line. This segmentation ensures that a failure in one power supply line does not affect the other, thereby improving operational reliability while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If an accumulator is used to maintain operation during voltage loss, then the duration of action is extended, but the reliability deteriorates due to rapid discharge and complete failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation durationVSAvoidpower supply stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates an accumulator as a backup power source that is pre-charged and ready to take over immediately upon detection of mains voltage failure. This beforehand cushioning ensures continuous operation during and after voltage loss, extending the duration of action while maintaining reliability through the cushioning effect of the pre-prepared backup power source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2940373B1Initial failure-proof operation light
Publication Date: 2017.05.31 KARL LEIBINGER MEDIZINTECHNIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2940373B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to an operating light (1) for illuminating an operating area, comprising a housing-like light body (4) accommodating at least one first and one second light unit (2, 3), and a first power supply line (5) which is electrically connected to the first light unit (2) for supplying electric current from a first voltage source to at least one light source (6a, 6b) of the first light unit (2), wherein the second light unit (3) of the light body (4) has at least one further light source (7a, 7b) and is connected to a second power supply line (8) which is separate from the first power supply line (5) and by means of which a second voltage source can be electrically connected to the second light unit (3).