Workshop Light Projection for Tool Visibility on Cluttered Benches
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large and cluttered workshop environments with varying lighting conditions and diverse materials, existing methods struggle to ensure that users can quickly and reliably identify the positions of tools and components indicated by light beams, particularly when surrounded by bright conditions, reflective surfaces, or complex backgrounds.
Innovation Solution
The method employs dynamic light beam projections that change in color, brightness, frequency, shape, and path to enhance visibility, using augmented reality principles to guide the user's attention, potentially combined with additional signals like acoustic cues or secondary light indicators, ensuring precise detection of required tools and components even in adverse conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a light beam is used to indicate tool positions on a large work surface, then the user can be guided to the required tools and components, but the indication becomes difficult to see under bright conditions, reflective surfaces, or in cluttered environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the light beam movable and changeable rather than static. The light beam dynamically changes its position, color, and intensity to maintain visibility and guide the user through different work steps. This dynamic behavior allows the indication to adapt to different environmental conditions and remain recognizable despite background interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes as a key mechanism to enhance the visibility and distinguishability of the light beam indication. By changing the color of the light beam according to different work steps and conditions, the system maintains high contrast against various backgrounds including reflective surfaces and bright environments, thereby improving reliability of recognition.
2Productivity
If the workshop workplace is cluttered with parts and objects, then comprehensive tool availability is ensured, but the user has to search for the indicating light signal leading to time delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the light beam respond to user actions and system state changes. The indication system provides continuous feedback by updating the light beam position and characteristics based on the current work step, allowing the user to quickly locate the required tool without searching through cluttered areas, thus reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic repositioning of the light beam to the exact location of required tools eliminates the need for users to search through cluttered work surfaces. The light beam actively moves to highlight the correct tool or component, significantly reducing the time required to locate items despite the cluttered environment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different materials and colors of components and tools are used, then functional requirements are met, but the light beam indication becomes harder to distinguish from the background
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color changes in the light beam to ensure distinguishability from components and tools of various materials and colors. By selecting light beam colors that provide high contrast against the specific background materials, the system maintains reliable indication visibility across diverse tooling and component surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic adjustment of light beam characteristics including color, intensity, and position allows the system to adapt to different material surfaces and color combinations. This dynamic behavior ensures that the indication remains distinguishable regardless of the diverse materials and colors present in the workshop environment.
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 approach significantly improves the recognizability of tools and components by dynamically adjusting the light beam, making them more visible and easily identifiable, even in challenging environments with different materials and colors, thereby reducing time delays and improving workflow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The position of the tools and/or components required for the activity are illuminated with at least one light beam
Implementation Method 2
The individual work steps to be carried out by a user are displayed by a central control unit via an optical display
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for supporting individual work steps to be performed at a workshop workstation, wherein the workshop workstation comprises at least one work surface, tools, and/or components. The individual work steps are displayed by a central control unit via an optical display on or near the work surface. For this purpose, the tools and/or components required for the task are illuminated with at least one light beam, and/or the position of a part to be assembled is displayed. According to the invention, when the position of the light beam changes from a first position to a second position, the light beam is dynamically altered, at least in the region of the second position, for a predetermined time.