Transparent Sensor Housing with Toothed 360-Degree Status Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inductive sensors with tubular metal housings face challenges in clearly outputting optical signals, especially when multiple light sources are required for different functions or colors, due to difficulties in seeing through openings in the housing.
Innovation Solution
A transparent, hollow base body with a circular-cylindrical emission region featuring a toothing in the form of a straight-toothed gearwheel, combined with a textured structure and light-diffusing fillers like glass beads, allows for clear optical signal output using a single light source, enabling multiple colors through additive mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple openings are provided in the housing for light sources, then different functions can be represented by different colors, but the device complexity increases and multiple light sources are required
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light sources are merged into a single light source. The patent uses one light source that emits white light or multiple colors simultaneously, which then passes through a color separation element (prism or diffraction grating) to create multiple colored light beams. This eliminates the need for multiple separate light sources and simplifies the device structure while maintaining the ability to represent different sensor functions through different colors.
Solution Approach 2:
A single light source is designed to perform multiple functions by emitting light that can be separated into different colors. The color separation element enables one light source to fulfill the role of multiple light sources, allowing the sensor housing to display multiple operational states (e.g., normal, warning, error) using a single light-emitting component rather than requiring separate LEDs for each state.
2Device complexity
If a transparent base body with toothing is used for light emission, then a single light source can illuminate the entire emission region, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a color separation element (prism or diffraction grating) within the transparent base body that utilizes optical phenomena to separate white light into its spectral components. This color change mechanism allows a single light source to produce multiple colored beams that illuminate different regions of the emission area, reducing the need for multiple light sources while managing the optical path precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The light propagation is extended from a simple linear path to a three-dimensional path within the transparent base body. The toothing structure and color separation element create multiple reflection and refraction paths, allowing light to reach various emission regions through different spatial dimensions. This dimensional expansion of the optical path enables comprehensive illumination with a single light source.
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 ensures that light signals are visible from all sides, allowing clear differentiation of sensor states with minimal light sources, enhancing visibility and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The base body preferably contains at least one light-diffusing filler. The filler is thus more preferably glass beads.
Implementation Method 2
a transparent toothing in the form of a straight-toothed gearwheel reflects light hitting the toothing from within such that it is partially emitted outwards
Implementation Method 3
the toothing is delimited on the lateral surface by a rough structure, in particular a textured structure
Data Source
AI summary
A housing part (10) for a sensor has a transparent, hollow base body which has a toothing (14) in the form of a straight-toothed gearwheel in a circular-cylindrical emission region on its lateral surface. A circuit board of the sensor is partially arranged in the housing part (10). The circuit board has at least one light source which faces the emission region.