Semi-Transparent Watch Flange for Uniform Analogue Dial Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watch lighting devices for analog displays suffer from non-uniform illumination, complex manufacturing, unsightly design elements, high energy consumption, and limited light intensity, making them aesthetically unappealing and difficult to produce.
Innovation Solution
A watch with a lighting device featuring a semi-transparent flange that uses a semi-transparent element with a positive annular lens to direct light uniformly across the display space, powered by a compact and efficient light source, such as OLEDs or LEDs, ensuring angularly homogeneous illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a non-directional light source is incorporated in a cavity of the flange, then the light source can be easily installed, but it generates highly luminous zones and intense illumination of adjacent regions, resulting in non-uniform illumination of the dial
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide element is introduced as an intermediary between the light source and the dial. This light guide receives light from the light source and redistributes it uniformly across the dial surface, eliminating the non-uniform illumination zones while maintaining ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical parameters of the flange are modified by incorporating a light guide with specific refractive index and geometric properties. The light guide's optical parameters enable it to transform the non-directional light into uniform illumination across the dial surface.
2Illumination intensity
If housings are provided in the flange for diodes to achieve uniform illumination, then angularly uniform illumination can be obtained, but the housings create unsightly dark lateral areas and are complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide element is merged with the flange structure itself, eliminating the need for separate housings. The light guide is integrated into the flange's lateral surface, creating a seamless design without unsightly dark areas while maintaining uniform illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange is given multiple functions: it serves both as a structural element and as a light guide. The lateral surface of the flange is designed to perform both mechanical support and optical guidance functions, simplifying the overall device structure.
3Device complexity
If a single small light source is placed under the flange with a transverse groove, then the design is simpler, but the quantity of light injected into the display space is limited and low
Solution Approach 1:
The light injection geometry is changed from a point-source vertical injection through a small groove to an extended linear injection along the lateral surface. This dimensional change from point to line allows a single light source to illuminate a much larger area effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide utilizes the curved lateral surface of the flange to distribute light. The cylindrical geometry of the flange's lateral surface enables efficient light propagation and distribution around the entire dial perimeter.
4Illumination intensity
If an electroluminescent strip is used to provide homogeneous illumination, then uniform illumination is achieved, but the manufacturing and assembly are relatively complex and delicate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses conventional LEDs or light sources that can be easily manufactured and replaced, rather than complex electroluminescent strips. The light guide element acts as a simple optical component that transforms the light from these conventional sources into homogeneous illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide serves as an intermediary that simplifies the lighting system. Instead of using complex electroluminescent strips, a simple light source combined with a light guide achieves the same homogeneous illumination effect with much easier manufacturing and assembly.
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 provides easy manufacturing, high-end aesthetics, and efficient, uniform illumination with sufficient intensity, addressing the issues of previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a positive annular lens to direct light uniformly across the display space
Implementation Method 2
an intermediate surface configured to receive, without prior reflection, at least a major portion of said injected light, and to substantially reflect said at least a major portion of said injected light towards the lateral exit surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The watch (2) comprises a flange (14), the inner lateral surface (28) of which laterally defines a display space (70), and a lighting device (20) comprising at least one light source (10) powered by an electricity source of the watch.The lighting device comprises an at least semi-transparent element (12), in particular forming the flange, which is arranged above said at least one light source and has: - a lower injection surface (22) configured to allow injection into the at least semi-transparent element of at least a major portion of the light (30) provided by said at least one light source, - a lateral exit surface (26) through which at least a major portion of the light injected into the at least semi-transparent element can exit, and - an intermediate surface (24) configured to receive, without prior reflection, at least a major portion of said injected light, and to substantially reflect said at least a major portion of said injected light towards the lateral exit surface.