Acoustic Lighting Tile With Tapered-Slit Edge Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic lighting tiles with integrated light sources often compromise acoustic properties due to their thickness, making it difficult to integrate them seamlessly with thinner ceiling tiles while maintaining desired illumination and sound absorption.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic lighting tile design featuring a light guide panel with tapering slits and structures that facilitate light propagation through total internal reflection, combined with an acoustic panel for sound absorption, allowing for a slim form factor and efficient light and sound transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are integrated in acoustic tiles, then illumination quality is improved, but acoustic properties deteriorate due to increased thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional side-mounted or top-mounted light sources to edge-lit illumination, utilizing the perimeter edge of the tile as the light input boundary. This dimensional shift allows light to propagate through the tile thickness via total internal reflection, achieving uniform illumination without requiring additional thickness for light source mounting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light guide structure as an intermediary between the light source and the tile surface. The light guide channel, formed by recesses in the tile, acts as a mediator that transports light from the edge source through the tile body to the illuminated surface, enabling thin-profile integration while maintaining illumination effectiveness.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional light sources are mounted on acoustic tiles, then illumination is provided, but material usage and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide channel structure with the acoustic tile's existing recesses or cavities. The same recesses that could be used for acoustic insulation or structural purposes are dual-utilized as light guide channels, eliminating the need for separate light guide components and reducing overall material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The tile design incorporates multi-functionality where the recesses serve dual purposes: acoustic insulation/absorption and light guidance. This universal use of structural features for both acoustic and optical functions reduces the total quantity of materials required while achieving both illumination and sound absorption goals.
3Illumination intensity
If lighting devices are arranged between acoustic tiles, then illumination is achieved, but acoustic properties and grid system complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lighting function directly into the acoustic tile structure itself, eliminating the need for separate lighting devices positioned between tiles. The illumination and acoustic absorption functions are unified in a single integrated component, simplifying the overall grid system installation and configuration.
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 design provides uniform illumination and effective sound absorption, reducing material usage and weight, while maintaining a compact profile and minimizing interference with neighboring tiles.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide panel comprises a plurality of light guide structures at least partly separated by a plurality of slits, and at least part of each slit of the plurality of slits tapers towards the first edge surface. The first edge surface being configured to receive the first light source light from the first light source
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to the field of acoustically absorbing lighting devices, and in particular to an acoustic lighting tiles. Such an acoustic lighting tile (100) comprises a first light source (101) and a light guide panel (102). The first light source (101) is configured to provide, in operation, a first light source light. The light guide panel (102) comprises a bottom surface (111), a top surface (112) opposite to the bottom surface (111), and a first edge surface (113) that extends between the bottom surface (111) from the top surface (112), the first edge surface (113) being configured to receive the first light source light from the first light source (101). The light guide panel (102) comprises a plurality of slits (114), and at least part of each slit of the plurality of slits (114) tapers towards the first edge surface (113).