Aircraft Tray Table Magnification Lens for Readability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft passengers face challenges in using personal electronic devices during flights due to the need to free their hands and the limited ability to view content, especially when the device is set up at a distance, leading to small text sizes and difficult viewing angles.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft tray table with a personal electronic device support and a magnification lens that can be actuated between stowed and deployed positions, allowing the device to be held at a suitable angle and distance for easier viewing, with the magnification lens providing 2× to 5× magnification of the content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the personal electronic device is set up at a distance from the aircraft passenger, then the passenger's hands are freed for other uses, but the passenger's ability to view the content displayed on the device is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A magnification lens assembly is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the personal electronic device and the passenger's eye. The lens assembly includes a lens element that magnifies the display content, allowing the device to remain at a comfortable viewing distance while enhancing the passenger's ability to see the content clearly.
Solution Approach 2:
The viewing system is segmented into three distinct components: the personal electronic device, the magnification lens assembly, and the passenger's eye. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the device can be positioned for hand freedom while the lens assembly provides the necessary optical magnification.
2Measurement precision
If the personal electronic device is held close to the aircraft passenger, then the passenger can view the content clearly, but the passenger's hands are occupied and cannot be used for other purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The magnification lens assembly serves as a mediator that enables clear content viewing without requiring the device to be held close to the passenger. The optical magnification provided by the lens allows the device to be positioned at arm's length or on a nearby surface, freeing the passenger's hands.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical solution of holding the device close to the eye is replaced with an optical solution - the magnification lens assembly. Instead of relying on proximity for viewing clarity, the system uses optical magnification to achieve the same effect while maintaining hand freedom.
3Measurement precision
If a magnification lens is added to the aircraft tray table, then content readability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnification lens assembly is merged with the existing aircraft tray table structure. The lens assembly is integrated into the tray table's support mechanism, combining the functions of device support and optical magnification into a single integrated unit. This reduces the overall system complexity compared to having separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray table is enhanced with multi-functionality - it now serves both as a device support surface and as a magnifying glass for viewing content. The lens assembly is designed to work with various personal electronic devices, providing universal applicability across different device types and sizes.
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 tray table supports personal electronic devices at a comfortable viewing angle and magnifies content, enhancing readability for passengers by increasing the size of displayed information, thus improving the overall viewing experience during flights.
Implementation Method 1
The magnification lens may include a lens configured to magnify content displayed on the personal electronic device when the magnification lens is in the final lens deployed position.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft tray table may include a body with a defined interior cavity, a personal electronic device support, and a magnification lens. The personal electronic device support may be configured to hold a personal electronic device when the personal electronic device support is in a support deployed position. The magnification lens may be configured to fit within the interior cavity when the magnification lens is in a lens stowed position. The magnification lens may include a lens configured to magnify content displayed on the personal electronic device held by the personal electronic device support when the magnification lens is in a lens deployed position. The personal electronic device support may be parallel to the magnification lens when the personal electronic device is in the support deployed position and the magnification lens is in the lens deployed position.