Wearable Illumination Assembly with Aspheric Lens and Articulating Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user-wearable illumination devices for medical and dental procedures are not compact or lightweight enough, leading to discomfort during prolonged use without sacrificing performance.
Innovation Solution
A user-wearable illumination assembly with a lens housing and a light guide that can be mounted on devices like goggles or face shields, featuring an aspheric lens and articulating mounting fixture for precise adjustment, and a light guide with individual fiber optic strands to provide uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If prior illumination devices are used, then illumination function is provided, but device size and weight are large causing user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is extracted from the wearable assembly and placed remotely, with only the light guide and lens remaining in the compact housing. This separates the heavy illumination generation component from the wearable unit, dramatically reducing weight while maintaining full illumination capability through the remote source
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system is segmented into distinct functional components: remote light source, light guide, lens, and mounting assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables the wearable portion to be minimized in size and weight
2Volume of moving object
If illumination assembly size is reduced, then user comfort is improved, but adjustment precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting fixture incorporates multiple articulating joints with pivotal movements about different axes, transforming a static compact housing into a dynamically adjustable system. This allows precise light direction control through coordinated rotation at multiple joints despite the small overall assembly size
Solution Approach 2:
Adjustment capability is extended into multiple spatial dimensions through the articulating mounting fixture with pivotal movements about orthogonal axes. This multi-dimensional adjustment approach allows comprehensive light direction control within a compact volume by utilizing angular degrees of freedom rather than linear displacement
3Ease of manufacture
If light guide structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but illumination uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is designed with non-uniform aspheric surfaces that create intentional aberrations in different zones. This local variation in optical properties compensates for the simple light guide structure, ensuring uniform illumination across the entire field by strategically distributing light intensity variations throughout the projection area
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 assembly provides bright, uniform illumination while being small and lightweight, ensuring user comfort during long procedures and allowing precise light direction adjustment to avoid shadows.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide has a first end that can be coupled to a light source, and a second end that is coupled to the lens housing
Implementation Method 2
An optical lens disposed within the lens housing has a substantially spherical surface that faces the second end of the light guide, and an aspheric surface that faces away from the second end of the light guide. The lens cooperates with the light guide to project light from the light source through the lens
Data Source
AI summary
A user-wearable illumination assembly comprises a mounting fixture that is adapted to be coupled to a user-wearable device, such as eyeglasses, goggles, face masks, helmets, or other devices. A light guide has a first end that can be coupled to a light source, and a second end coupled to a lens housing that is in turn coupled to the mounting fixture. An optical lens in the lens housing cooperates with the light guide to project light from the light source through the lens. In one embodiment, the lens has a substantially spherical surface facing the second end of the light guide and an aspheric surface facing away from the second end of the light guide. In another embodiment, the mounting fixture comprises articulating portions to permit independent or simultaneous adjustment of the lens housing to direct projected light in a desired direction.