Vibration-Sensing Ball Launcher for Low-Noise Intermittent Firing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pet ball launchers consume excessive energy, generate noise, and reduce battery life due to continuous motor operation, affecting user and pet comfort.
Innovation Solution
A sensing ball launcher equipped with sensors to detect mechanical vibrations, a controller to manage the ball-launching mechanism based on these vibrations, and a ball-blocking assembly to prevent consecutive ball entry, optimizing energy use and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the driving motor continuously drives the ball-launching wheels, then the ball can be launched consistently, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The driving motor operates periodically rather than continuously. The controller activates the motor only when a ball is detected in the feeding channel by the sensor, creating intermittent operation cycles that reduce energy consumption while maintaining reliable ball launching when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor automatically detects the presence of a ball and triggers the motor without external intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures the motor runs only when necessary, optimizing energy usage while maintaining consistent ball launching availability
2Reliability
If the driving motor continuously drives the ball-launching wheels, then the ball can be launched consistently, but noise increases affecting comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The motor operates periodically rather than continuously. By activating the motor only when a ball is detected in the feeding channel, the system creates intermittent operation cycles that significantly reduce noise levels while maintaining reliable ball launching when needed
3Use of energy by moving object
If the driving motor operates intermittently based on sensor detection, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system extracts only the essential components needed for intermittent operation: a simple sensor to detect ball presence and a controller to activate the motor based on sensor signals. This minimal extraction approach reduces energy consumption while adding only necessary complexity
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 device intelligently manages energy consumption, reduces operational noise, and extends battery life by activating the ball-launching mechanism only when needed, enhancing user experience and device longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor disposed on the housing and configured to detect mechanical vibrations of the housing caused by external forces
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing ball launcher relates to the technical field of pet toys, including a housing, a ball-launching device, a first sensor, and a controller. The housing includes a ball entry port, a ball exit port, and a ball feeding channel disposed inside the housing and communicating the ball entry port and the ball exit port. The ball-launching device is disposed in the housing and includes a driving member and a ball-launching assembly, which is mechanically coupled to the driving member and partially extends into the ball feeding channel to launch a ball through the ball exit port. The first sensor is disposed on the housing and configured to detect mechanical vibrations of the housing caused by external forces. The controller is disposed inside the housing, signal-connected to the first sensor and electrically connected to the driving member, and controls the ball-launching assembly based on a sensing signal.