Tapered Light Guide for Uniform Button Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices used in wet environments, such as oral irrigators, are prone to water damage due to unsealed control buttons, and traditional lighting often creates 'hot spots' rather than a diffused effect.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof button assembly with a spring mechanism and integrated seal to prevent water ingress, combined with a light guide that uses a tapered and textured design to provide uniform illumination around the button, reducing the appearance of 'hot spots'.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If control buttons are made movable to provide user input, then ease of operation is improved, but water ingress risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane seal is positioned beneath the button to flex with button movement while maintaining a water-tight barrier. The membrane allows the button to move between actuated and non-actuated positions while preventing water from entering the housing through the button assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane seal acts as an intermediary element between the movable button and the housing interior. It mediates the conflict between button movement and water protection by allowing mechanical movement while blocking fluid penetration.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional lights are used to illuminate the button, then illumination intensity is improved, but uniformity of lighting deteriorates due to hot spots
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide member acts as an intermediary between the light source and the button area. It receives light from a concentrated source (such as an LED) and distributes it uniformly across the button perimeter, eliminating hot spots while maintaining adequate illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member distributes light in a radial pattern around the button perimeter rather than concentrating it at a single point. This dimensional distribution transforms the lighting from a point-source pattern with hot spots to a distributed pattern with uniform illumination.
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
The solution effectively prevents water damage and provides a visually appealing, uniformly lit button interface, enhancing usability in wet environments and reducing manufacturing costs by integrating components.
Implementation Method 1
a spring coupled to the button and configured to deform in response to a user input force moving the button from the original position to the actuation position, and to resiliently return the button to the original position in response to cessation of the user input force on the button
Implementation Method 2
a light guide body optically coupled to the emitter. The light guide body may define a cylindrical body that tapers along an angled plane from a top end towards a bottom end, the bottom end defining a light entrance to the light guide body
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a light guide includes an emitter and a light guide body optically coupled to the emitter. The light guide body may define a cylindrical body that tapers along an angled plane from a top end towards a bottom end. The bottom end may define a light entrance to the light guide body.