How Things Work Flashcards
1
Q
Bluetooth Speaker
Winning Ideas
A
- Emit low or high frequency sounds to repel insects.
- Bluetooth wristband alerts hikers if anyone leaves certain radius; improved buddy system.
- Mountable device that generates the frequency needed to break glass in emergencies (i.e. car window).
- A Bluetooth ID: Create your own personal Bluetooth frequency that you can use to connect to anything or to protect your own devices.
- Speaker that turns ASL to audio.
2
Q
Bluetooth Speaker
Mechanisms of product
A
Bluetooth transmission
- Radio wave transmitters send signal to antenna and receiver in the speaker on specific frequency.
- Speaker generates security key and laptop will send security key back and confirm connection to transfer.
- Signal is converted into an electrical signal, amplified, and outputted to the speaker.
Sound generation
- Electrical signals are sent to a magnet which pushes and pulls another magnet, causing the diaphragm to vibrate.
- Diaphragm vibration causes the air in front to vibrate creating sound waves.
Drivers
- Multiple will allow for better frequency response.
- Subwoofers can play larger ranges of frequencies.
3
Q
Iron/Steamer
Winning Ideas
A
- Water level indicator.
- Steamer to melt ice on car.
- Build something like a closet with multiple nozzles in it that can spray steam, then you can directly put clothes into the closet and leave it in there for half an hour.
- Can dry the umbrellas after use.
- Scented steam, added via replaceable plug-in containers that can be bought separately (different fragrances based on occasion) .
4
Q
Iron/Steamer
Mechanisms of product
A
- Irons use direct contact heat, or conduction, to smooth out wrinkles.
- Metal plate is heated to a high temperature and heat is transferred to the clothing when in contact.
- Uses steam to relax fibers in clothing, allowing wrinkles to fall out naturally.
- Loosens bonds in long-chain polymer molecules.
- The steam comes in contact with the clothing as opposed to direct contact of a hard surface on an iron.
5
Q
Pencil Sharpener
Winning Ideas
A
- Sharpener that can sense pencil hardness/ material and adjust cutting speeds and feeds.
- Shine dress shoes using sensors for shape.
- Install a small press in the shaving tray that periodically compresses shavings so you don’t have to empty it as often and creates less mess when emptying.
- A fast acting machine for sharpening tools like chisels. These are usually sent out to professionals to sharpen.
- Chocolate shredder.
6
Q
Pencil Sharpener
Mechanisms of product
A
Planetary sharpener
- Pencil inserted into hollow axis of two cylindrical cutters, crank operated.
Gilbert
- Friction wheel connects motor to hand-cranked sowing machine.
- Universal motor
- Commutator for AC or DC motor
- Rotor winding spaced out by use of insulation material
7
Q
Hair Dryer
Winning Ideas
A
- Create a tripod and movable arm that the hairdryer can be placed in for people with disabilities or conditions such as Parkinson’s that prevent them from holding it properly.
- Dryer that uses essential oils or some other fragrance and adds it to the air that is blowing to keep the hair smelling fresh all day.
- A drier that looks like a comb, using a mix of heat to get the water to evaporate but not hot enough to burn, and warm air to make it work faster. As you comb your hair, it dries.
- Adding noise isolators inside hair dryer to reduce the noise of it (they can get pretty loud) .
- Hair dryer with temperature sensor to prevent overheating/burning hair. Shut off above certain temperature to effectively dry but not be burn risk. Make safer for use on pets.
8
Q
Hair Dryer
Mechanisms of product
A
- Circuit first supplies power to the heating element.
- Then current makes the small electric motor spin, which will turns the fan.
- The airflow generated by the fan is directed down the barrel of the hairdryer, over and through the heating element.
- As the air flows over and through the heated element, the generated heat warms the air by forced convection.
- Finally, the hot air streams out the end of the barrel.
- Wire needs to have high electrical resistance to produce heat for warming, made of Ni-Cr alloy.
9
Q
On-Ear Headphones
Winning Ideas
A
- Headphone pairs (or several) that act as a single Bluetooth device for synced audio, movies on planes, silent discos, HQ music listening in groups.
- Headphone that isolates sound in an OR, lets you hear only the person you want to hear, and is easy to wear for long periods of time.
- Headphones that automatically connect to your home speakers when you arrive home.
- Add a dial on earcup to adjust treble/bass.
- Headphones that double as hearing aids.
10
Q
On-Ear Headphones
Mechanisms of product
A
- Digital (binary data) to analog (electrical) conversion.
- Current supplied by the analogue signal interacts with the coil in the driver which has been magnetized and there’s a magnetic field that’s formed.
- The forces that results cause the coil to move and therefore the diaphragm since they’re connected, which then causes vibrations in the air molecules and produces sound.
Also note:
- Bone-conduction headphones made for hearing aid patients.
11
Q
Portable Charger
Winning Ideas
A
Mini portable charger blocks equipped with built-in, usb-phone adapters that are made to be cheap and intended for single-use and easy disposal so they are useful in cities where travel is high and access to outlets is scarce
12
Q
Portable Charger
Mechanisms of Product
A
13
Q
Winning Ideas
A
Mini portable charger blocks equipped with built-in, usb-phone adapters that are made to be cheap and intended for single-use and easy disposal so they are useful in cities where travel is high and access to outlets is scarce
14
Q
Mechanisms of Product
A
