Analogue Watch Flange Light Guide for Uniform Dial Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watch lighting devices for analogue displays suffer from non-uniform light distribution, complex manufacturing, unsightly design elements, high energy consumption, and limited light intensity, which affect readability and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A watch with a lighting device featuring a semi-transparent element forming the flange that uses a light source powered by electricity, with a lower injection surface, intermediate surface for reflection, and lateral exit surface to achieve angularly uniform and intense light distribution, utilizing OLEDs or LEDs for efficient lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If beds are provided in the flange for diodes, then light sources can be accommodated, but unsightly dark zones are created on the dial
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide acts as a mediator that conceals the light source accommodation structure. Instead of directly mounting diodes in visible beds on the flange, the light guide receives light from sources positioned elsewhere and distributes it uniformly, eliminating the visual impact of mounting structures while maintaining lighting functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single shallow light source is placed under the flange, then manufacturing is simplified, but light intensity and total light injection are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lighting function into multiple components: a light source, a light guide with specific optical properties, and a distribution mechanism through the flange's inner lateral surface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, achieving both manufacturing simplicity and high light intensity through the efficient light guide design.
3Illumination intensity
If electroluminescent strips are used, then uniform lighting is achieved, but manufacturing and mounting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical mounting structures with an optimized optical system. Instead of using electroluminescent strips requiring complex conductor tracks and mounting arrangements, the invention uses a light guide with controlled light extraction properties that achieves uniform lighting through simpler optical design and manufacturing processes.
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 a watch with aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-manufacture, and energy-efficient angularly uniform lighting, enhancing dial readability and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an intermediate surface configured to receive, with no prior reflection, at least a major part of said injected light, and to substantially reflect said at least a major part of said injected light towards the lateral exit surface
Implementation Method 2
an at least semi-transparent element forming the flange or surrounding the flange, which in the latter case is at least semi-transparent in the direction of the display space for light provided by said at least one light source
Data Source
AI summary
A watch (2) including a flange (14), the inner lateral surface (28) of which laterally defines a display space (70), and a lighting device (20) including a light source (10) powered by a source of electricity on the watch. The lighting device has a semi-transparent element (12) forming the flange, which is arranged above the light source and has: a lower injection surface (22) to enable injection into the semi-transparent element of a major part of the light (30) provided by said at least one light source; a lateral exit surface (26) through which a major part of the light injected into the semi-transparent element can exit; and an intermediate surface (24) to receive, with no prior reflection, a major part of the injected light, and to substantially reflect the same towards the lateral exit surface.