Watch Hand Illumination via Spindle Waveguides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand illuminating apparatuses face limitations in design flexibility and efficient illumination of specific hand portions due to the use of optical guiding members, which are often heavy and difficult to implement in small watch hands, restricting the ability to illuminate only desired areas.
Innovation Solution
A hand illuminating apparatus featuring a light source positioned below the hand spindle, with a first optical guiding section guiding light from the lower edge to the upper edge and a second optical guiding section with multiple optical waveguides on the hand to direct light from the base to the tip, allowing for efficient and flexible illumination of desired hand positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the hand itself is configured from an optical guiding member, then the hand can be illuminated, but the material of the hand is limited and the design is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The optical guiding function is segmented from the hand structure. The hand can be made from any material while a separate optical guiding member (attached to the rear side or integrated into the spindle) provides the illumination function. This allows independent optimization of hand material selection and optical guiding material selection.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary optical guiding member is introduced between the light source and the hand. This mediator can be attached to the rear side of the hand or integrated into the spindle, allowing light to be guided to the hand without constraining the hand's material composition or design freedom.
2Illumination intensity
If the optical guiding member is attached to the rear side of the hand, then only one portion of the hand can be illuminated, but the rotating torque becomes large due to the weight
Solution Approach 1:
The optical guiding member is nested within the hand spindle structure rather than being attached to the exterior rear side of the hand. By integrating the optical guiding function into the existing spindle (which rotates with the hand), the solution eliminates the need for additional weight on the hand while achieving the same illumination effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical guiding member is positioned in the radial dimension (within the spindle) rather than extending in the axial dimension (attached to the rear side). This dimensional repositioning moves the optical guiding function closer to the rotation axis, reducing the moment arm and thereby reducing the rotating torque.
3Illumination intensity
If a light emitting diode is embedded in the hand spindle, then the hand can be illuminated in a wall clock, but it is difficult to implement in a watch due to the small diameter
Solution Approach 1:
A thin film optical guiding member is used instead of a bulky light emitting diode. This thin film can be flexed or bent to conform to the small diameter of the watch hand spindle, allowing the same illumination function to be achieved in both wall clocks and watches without modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical guiding member's physical parameters (thickness, flexibility, material properties) are changed to enable it to adapt to different spindle diameters. By making the optical guiding member thin and flexible rather than rigid and thick, it can be implemented in both large wall clock spindles and small watch spindles.
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
This solution enhances design freedom, reduces the weight of the hand, and enables efficient illumination of specific hand areas, improving visibility and ease of use by allowing precise lighting of hand tips and numerals on the dial plate.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical guiding section which is provided to guide light from the light source from a lower edge to an upper edge of the hand spindle
Implementation Method 2
a second optical guiding section in which a plurality of optical waveguides are formed on the hand, and which is provided to guide light which exits from the first optical guiding section from a base to a tip of the hand
Data Source
AI summary
A hand illuminating apparatus is described. According to one implementation of the present invention, the hand illuminating apparatus includes a hand which is driven to rotate by a hand spindle. A light source is provided in a position below the hand spindle. A first optical guiding section is provided to guide light from the light source from a lower edge to an upper edge of the hand spindle. A second optical guiding section, in which a plurality of optical waveguides are formed on the hand, is provided to guide light which exits from the first optical guiding section from a base to a tip of the hand.