Artificial Skylight Device
The modular, 3D-printed artificial skylight addresses scalability and cost issues by offering customizable lighting effects and versatile installation, enhancing its applicability beyond traditional rectangular office ceiling grids.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025538841
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-01-02
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-14
AI Technical Summary
Current artificial skylights face issues with scalability and high manufacturing costs due to traditional fabrication methods, limiting their suitability for applications beyond rectangular office ceiling grids and failing to provide a natural appearance.
A modular artificial skylight design featuring a first light-emitting surface, a rim with inner and outer light-emitting surfaces, and a bezel, all of which are individually controllable for color and intensity, and manufactured using 3D printing, allowing for versatile installation options including hanging.
The design offers improved scalability, reduced manufacturing costs, and a natural appearance while providing customizable lighting effects, suitable for various installation scenarios.
Smart Images
Figure 2026501402000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an artificial skylight for obtaining artificial skylight / daylight or natural window appearance. [Background technology]
[0002] Artificial skylights provide an emulation of at least some aspects of an outdoor environment in an indoor environment. Demand for artificial skylights is increasing due to their beneficial properties for human health. Because people tend to spend most of their day indoors, potentially moving away from natural daylight, there is interest in creating artificial light that can simulate the appearance and light of a natural window or skylight.
[0003] Currently available artificial skylights combine multi-controllable color LED sources into a single lighting fixture to mimic an outdoor experience in an office or home environment. This concept combines these LED light sources with specific properties in a 3D-printed envelope. Current products fit very well into rectangular office ceiling grids; however, they are not suitable for other applications, such as hanging. Furthermore, current products are typically fabricated using traditional lighting fixture manufacturing methods, which involve bending and coating metal sheets, screwing, and wiring. Therefore, currently available products suffer from the disadvantages of poor scalability and relatively high manufacturing costs.
[0004] Thus, there is a need to provide an improved artificial skylight that offers scalability and low manufacturing costs while maintaining a natural appearance. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] In view of the above discussion, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved artificial skylight. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] Thus, an artificial skylight for providing artificial skylight light according to the present invention includes a panel including a first light-emitting surface arranged to emit a first light for resembling a sky. The first light-emitting surface may be rectangular, square, circular, diamond-shaped, or elliptical. Furthermore, the first light-emitting surface may be flat or curved. The first light may have a dominant peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 430 nm to 490 nm. The panel may optionally include a plurality of first light-emitting elements arranged on its first light-emitting surface. The term "light-emitting elements" is intended to mean "comprising light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a plurality of LEDs, and / or a plurality of LEDs arranged in a linear array." Furthermore, the term "light-emitting element" refers to a dense packing of LEDs. The dense packing of LEDs may be along the longitudinal axis of the artificial skylight. The panel may be a display module, LCD / matrix, etc.
[0007] The first light-emitting surface may have a length L and a width W. L may be in the range of 0.3 m to 2 m, preferably 0.4 m to 1.8 m, more preferably 0.5 m to 1.5 m, and most preferably 0.6 m to 1.2 m. W may be in the range of 0.3 m to 2 m, preferably 0.4 m to 1.8 m, more preferably 0.5 m to 1.5 m, and most preferably 0.6 m to 1.2 m.
[0008] Each or any of the LEDs may comprise inorganic LED(s) and / or organic LED(s) (OLED). Although the light-emitting elements are referred to herein as comprising LEDs, it should be understood that each or any of the light-emitting elements may comprise another or other type of light source, such as another or other type of solid-state light emitter, instead of or in addition to an LED. The light-emitting elements may be disposed along (substantially) the entire surface of the light-emitting surface of the artificial skylight.
[0009] The artificial skylight according to the present invention further includes a rim circumscribing the first light-emitting surface, the rim having an inner wall facing towards the first light-emitting surface and an outer wall facing away from the first light-emitting surface, the rim having a proximal end disposed adjacent the first light-emitting surface and a distal end disposed remote from the first light-emitting surface.
[0010] At least a portion of the inner wall of the rim includes a second light emitting surface configured to emit a second light to mimic sunlight. Preferably, the entire inner wall of the rim includes the second light emitting surface.
[0011] The first light-emitting surface may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the second light-emitting surface. The term "substantially perpendicular" is understood to mean disposed at an angle of 85° to 95°. The second light-emitting surface may include a plurality of second light-emitting elements.
[0012] At least a portion of the outer wall of the rim includes a third light-emitting surface configured to emit a third light. The third light-emitting surface may include a plurality of third light-emitting elements. Preferably, the entire outer wall of the rim includes the third light-emitting surface.
[0013] The portion of the inner wall of the rim that includes the second light-emitting surface may be in the range of 5% to 95%, preferably in the range of 15% to 85%, more preferably in the range of 20% to 80%, most preferably in the range of 30% to 70%, for example 65% of the total inner surface area of the rim.
[0014] The portion of the outer wall of the rim comprising the third light-emitting surface may be in the range of 5% to 95%, preferably in the range of 15% to 85%, more preferably in the range of 20% to 80%, most preferably in the range of 30% to 70%, for example 65% of the total outer surface area of the rim.
[0015] At least a portion of the rim may be 3D printed. 3D printing may be performed using any 3D printing technique, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM). Preferably, the outer wall of the rim is 3D printed. The rim may comprise a polymer material, such as polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropene (PP), polylactic acid (PLA), or the like.
[0016] To improve the versatility of the artificial skylight according to the present invention, the first light-emitting surface, the second light-emitting surface, and the third light-emitting surface may be individually controllable. Furthermore, the color and / or intensity of the second light and / or the third light may not be constant along the inner wall and / or the outer wall of the rim. The first light-emitting surface, the second light-emitting surface, and / or the third light-emitting surface may be backlit and / or sidelit.
[0017] The artificial skylight may further include a light exit window panel disposed downstream from the first light-emitting surface, the light exit window panel being configured to allow at least a portion of the first light to exit the artificial skylight. The light exit window panel is preferably transparent and is used to give the artificial skylight an infinite effect. Preferably, an air gap is formed between the light exit window panel and the first light-emitting surface.
[0018] The artificial skylight rim may further include a bezel disposed between and parallel to the inner and outer walls of the rim, the bezel having a first surface facing the inner wall of the rim and a second surface facing the outer wall of the rim. In embodiments where a bezel is present, a second light source may be disposed on the first surface of the bezel and a third light source may be disposed on the second surface of the bezel. The bezel has a proximal end disposed adjacent to the first light-emitting surface and a distal end disposed away from the proximal end. The bezel may be 3D printed and may comprise glass and / or metal.
[0019] The bezel may include a support portion disposed adjacent to the distal end of the bezel, i.e., away from and substantially parallel to the first light-emitting surface. The support portion of the bezel is disposed adjacent to the distal end of the rim, and the support portion has an inner edge disposed adjacent to the inner wall of the rim and an outer edge adjacent to the outer wall of the rim. The distal end of the outer wall of the rim may include a flat portion abutting the support portion of the bezel. Such an embodiment provides the advantage of preventing light leakage from a gap formed between the bezel and the outer wall of the rim.
[0020] The proximal end of the inner wall of the rim may include a flat portion that abuts the first light-emitting surface or, if present, the light-exit window panel. Such an embodiment minimizes or eliminates light leakage through the gap between the bezel and the inner wall of the rim.
[0021] In particular, the panel including the first light-emitting surface may be circular and may have a first diameter D1. Also, the bezel may be circular and may have a second diameter D2 defined by the inner edge of the support portion of the bezel. The first diameter D1 may be larger than the second diameter D2 (D2 < D1). In such an embodiment, when the panel including the first light-emitting surface is provided within the bezel, there arises a problem that insertion of the panel into the bezel from its distal end is not possible. The panel may be inserted from the proximal end of the bezel at an angle through a dedicated notch at the proximal end of the bezel and may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the bezel. Alternatively, the panel may have a truncated shape, for example, a truncated circular shape, that enables insertion of the panel into the bezel. Another option is to reversibly deform the proximal end of the bezel so that the panel can be inserted.
[0022] The inner wall portion of the rim may be an inner diffuser. The inner diffuser may be conical and thus may be disposed at an angle α with respect to the first light-emitting surface. The angle α may be from 30° to 150°, for example, from 75° to 120°. A masking element may be disposed between the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion of the rim. Preferably, the masking element abuts against the inner wall portion of the rim. Such a masking element covers a part of the inner wall portion of the rim and gives a shadow effect. The masking element is preferably made of a light-blocking material.
[0023] The outer wall of the rim may be in the form of an outer diffuser and may include a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The horizontal portion may be adjacent to the distal end of the rim and may provide the advantage of preventing light leakage through a gap formed between the bezel and the outer diffuser. It should be noted that the terms "horizontal" and "vertical" as used herein are understood to correspond to the conventional meanings of these terms when the artificial skylight is suspended from a ceiling or another horizontal surface. However, when the artificial skylight is mounted on a wall or another vertical surface, the terms "horizontal" and "vertical" are interchangeable.
[0024] The vertical portion of the outer diffuser may be convex. In particular, the vertical portion of the outer diffuser may be ribbed.
[0025] The artificial skylight according to the present invention may comprise a hanging element arranged to suspend the artificial skylight. The hanging element may be a wire, a chain, a rope, or the like.
[0026] As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides an artificial skylight that is hangable and has improved appearance.
[0027] Finally, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hangable artificial skylight, the method comprising: a) providing a panel including a first light emitting surface arranged to emit a first light to resemble a sky; b) providing a rim having an inner wall and an outer wall, the rim having a proximal end and a distal end, at least a first portion of the inner wall of the rim including a second light emitting surface configured to emit a second light to resemble sunlight, and at least a portion of the outer wall of the rim including a third light emitting surface configured to emit a third light; c) positioning the first light emitting surface within the rim such that the rim surrounds the first light emitting surface, such that an inner wall of the rim faces toward the first light emitting surface and an outer wall of the rim faces away from the first light emitting surface, and such that a proximal end of the rim is positioned adjacent the first light emitting surface and a distal end of the rim is positioned remote from the first light emitting surface; Includes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which are schematic and not necessarily to scale, and generally show only those parts necessary to clarify the embodiments of the present invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested. [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of an artificial skylight according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the artificial skylight shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments of the invention set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments of the invention are provided as examples so that this disclosure will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components having the same or similar function.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an artificial skylight 1 according to the present invention. The artificial skylight includes a panel 2 including a first light-emitting surface 2a arranged to emit a first light to resemble the sky. The first light-emitting surface 2a is circular. Furthermore, the first light-emitting surface 2a is flat. The first light may have a dominant peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 430 nm to 490 nm, i.e., the first light may be blue light.
[0031] The artificial skylight 1 includes a rim 3 surrounding a first light-emitting surface 2a. The rim 3 has an inner wall 4 facing toward the first light-emitting surface 2a and an outer wall 5 facing away from the first light-emitting surface 2a. The rim 3 has a proximal end 6 disposed adjacent the first light-emitting surface 2a and a distal end 7 disposed remote from the first light-emitting surface 2a.
[0032] The inner wall 4 of the rim 3 includes a second light-emitting surface 8 configured to emit a second light to resemble sunlight. The first light-emitting surface 2a is disposed substantially perpendicular to the second light-emitting surface 8.
[0033] The outer wall 5 of the rim 3 includes a third light emitting surface 9 configured to emit a third light.
[0034] As mentioned above, to increase the versatility of the artificial skylight according to the present invention, the first light emitting surface 2a, the second light emitting surface 8 and the third light emitting surface 9 may be individually controllable. Furthermore, the color and / or intensity of the second light and / or the third light may not be constant along the inner wall 4 and / or the outer wall 5 of the rim 3.
[0035] Turning to Figure 2, the artificial skylight 1 further includes a light-exit window panel 10 positioned downstream from the first light-emitting surface 2a, the light-exit window panel 10 being configured to allow at least a portion of the first light to exit the artificial skylight 1. The light-exit window panel is preferably transparent and is used to give the artificial skylight an infinity effect. An air gap 11 is formed between the light-exit window panel 10 and the first light-emitting surface 2a.
[0036] The rim 3 of the artificial skylight 1 further includes a bezel 12 disposed between and parallel to the inner and outer walls 4, 5 of the rim 3. The bezel has a first surface 13 facing the inner wall 4 of the rim 3 and a second surface 14 facing the outer wall 5 of the rim 3. A second light source 15 is disposed on the first surface 13 of the bezel 12, and a third light source 16 is disposed on the second surface 14 of the bezel 12. The bezel 12 has a proximal end 17 disposed adjacent to the first light-emitting surface 2 a and a distal end 18 disposed away from the proximal end 17.
[0037] The bezel 12 includes a support portion 19 disposed adjacent a distal end 18 of the bezel 12, i.e., away from and substantially parallel to the first light-emitting surface 2a. The support portion 19 of the bezel 12 is disposed adjacent a distal end 7 of the rim 3, and the support portion 19 has an inner edge 20 disposed adjacent to the inner wall 4 of the rim 3 and an outer edge 21 disposed adjacent to the outer wall 5 of the rim 3. The distal end 7 of the outer wall 5 of the rim 3 includes a vertical flat portion 22 that abuts the support portion 19 of the bezel 12. Such an embodiment provides the advantage of preventing light leakage from a gap formed between the bezel 12 and the outer wall 5 of the rim 3.
[0038] The proximal end 6 of the inner wall 4 of the rim 3 includes a flat portion 23 that abuts the light exit window panel 10. According to such an embodiment, light leakage from the gap between the bezel 12 and the inner wall 4 of the rim 3 is minimized or eliminated.
[0039] In particular, the panel 2, including the first light-emitting surface 2a, is circular and has a first diameter D1. The bezel 12 is also circular and has a second diameter D2 defined by the inner edge 20 of the support portion 19 of the bezel 12. The first diameter D1 is greater than the second diameter D2 (D2 <D1)。
[0040] As mentioned above, the inner wall 4 of the rim 3 may be an inner diffuser. The inner diffuser is conical and thus disposed at an angle α relative to the first light-emitting surface 2a, which in the illustration is approximately 105°. A masking element 24 is disposed between the outer wall 5 and the inner wall 4 of the rim 3. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the masking element 24 abuts the inner wall 4 of the rim 3. Such a masking element 24 covers a portion of the inner wall 4 of the rim 3, creating a shadow effect.
[0041] The outer wall 5 of the rim 3 is in the form of an outer diffuser and includes a vertical flat portion 22 and a horizontal portion 25. The horizontal portion 22 abuts the distal end 7 of the rim 3 and provides the advantage of preventing light leakage through a gap formed between the bezel 12 and the outer diffuser 5.
[0042] The vertical portion 25 of the outer diffuser 5 is convex and ribbed.
[0043] The artificial skylight 1 according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, includes a hanging element 26 arranged to suspend the artificial skylight 1. The hanging element 26 may be a wire, a chain, a rope, or the like.
[0044] While the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and in the above description, such illustrations are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive, and the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood by those skilled in the art, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, and can be implemented in practicing the claimed invention. In the claims, the word "comprises" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope.
Claims
1. 1. A hangable artificial skylight for providing artificial skylight light, the artificial skylight comprising: a panel including a first light emitting surface arranged to emit a first light to resemble the sky; a rim surrounding the first light-emitting surface, the rim having an inner wall facing toward the first light-emitting surface and an outer wall facing away from the first light-emitting surface; Including, the rim has a proximal end disposed adjacent the first light-emitting surface and a distal end disposed remote from the first light-emitting surface; at least a first portion of the inner wall of the rim includes a second light emitting surface configured to emit a second light to resemble sunlight; at least a portion of the outer wall of the rim includes a third light emitting surface configured to emit a third light; The artificial skylight includes a bezel disposed substantially parallel to and between the inner wall and / or the outer wall of the rim, the bezel having a first surface facing the inner wall of the rim and a second surface facing the outer wall of the rim.
2. The artificial skylight of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the rim is 3D printed.
3. The artificial skylight of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first light-emitting surface, the second light-emitting surface, and the third light-emitting surface are individually controllable.
4. 4. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the color and / or intensity of the second light and / or the third light is not constant along the inner wall and / or the outer wall of the rim.
5. 5. The artificial skylight of claim 1, wherein the artificial skylight comprises a light-exit window panel positioned downstream from the first light-emitting surface, the light-exit window panel being configured to allow at least a portion of the first light to exit the artificial skylight.
6. 6. The artificial skylight of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the inner wall of the rim includes a flat portion that abuts one of: i) a first light-emitting surface; and ii) a light-exit window panel included in the artificial skylight and positioned downstream from the first light-emitting surface.
7. 7. The artificial skylight of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the bezel includes at least one second light source and the second surface of the bezel includes at least one third light source.
8. 8. The artificial skylight of claim 1, wherein the bezel includes a support portion disposed away from and substantially parallel to the first light-emitting surface, the support portion of the bezel being disposed adjacent to the distal end of the rim, the support portion having an inner edge disposed adjacent to the inner wall of the rim and an outer edge adjacent to the outer wall of the rim.
9. 9. The artificial skylight of claim 8, wherein the panel including the first light-emitting surface is circular and has a first diameter D1, and the bezel is circular and has a second diameter D2 defined by the inner edge of the support portion of the bezel, where D2<D1.
10. 10. The artificial skylight of claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the rim is an inner diffuser having an inner surface facing the outer wall and an outer surface facing away from the outer wall, the inner diffuser being disposed at an angle α with respect to the first light-emitting surface, the inner diffuser including a horizontal portion disposed adjacent the proximal end of the rim and parallel to the first light-emitting surface.
11. 11. The artificial skylight of claim 10, wherein the artificial skylight includes a masking element disposed adjacent the inner surface of the inner diffuser.
12. 12. The artificial skylight of claim 1, wherein the outer wall of the rim is an outer diffuser including a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the horizontal portion adjacent the distal end of the rim.
13. The artificial skylight of claim 12 , wherein the vertical portion of the outer diffuser is convex.
14. 14. The artificial skylight according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the artificial skylight comprises a suspension element arranged to suspend the artificial skylight.
15. 1. A method for manufacturing a hangable artificial skylight, the method comprising: a) providing a panel including a first light emitting surface arranged to emit a first light to resemble a sky; b) providing a rim having an inner wall and an outer wall, the rim having a proximal end and a distal end, at least a first portion of the inner wall of the rim including a second light emitting surface configured to emit a second light to resemble sunlight, and at least a portion of the outer wall of the rim including a third light emitting surface configured to emit a third light; c) placing the panel having the first light emitting surface within the rim such that the rim surrounds the first light emitting surface, such that the inner wall of the rim faces toward the first light emitting surface and the outer wall of the rim faces away from the first light emitting surface, and such that the proximal end of the rim is positioned adjacent the first light emitting surface and the distal end of the rim is positioned remote from the first light emitting surface; A method comprising: