Smart Christmas tree
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional artificial Christmas trees with moving sleigh and reindeer decorations are often expensive and unstable, with visible tracks that detract from their aesthetic appeal, making them less desirable for widespread adoption.
Innovation Solution
An artificial Christmas tree with a motorized rotary mechanism and cam follower system that allows a sleigh and reindeer to move around the tree without a visible track, powered by a microcontroller and motion sensors, and integrated with color lights and a speaker for festive tunes, all concealed within the tree's branches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a track is used to support the sleigh around the tree, then the sleigh can move stably, but the track becomes visible and unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The track is completely removed from the system. Instead of using a visible track to guide the sleigh, the patent employs a motorized rotary mechanism with a support bar that rotates around the tree trunk, carrying the sleigh without any external track structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bar and rotary mechanism are nested within the tree structure itself, utilizing the tree trunk and branches as the mounting structure. The mechanism is concealed within the tree's natural form, making it invisible from the outside.
2Shape
If a motorized rotary mechanism is used to move the sleigh without a track, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary mechanism serves multiple functions: it supports the sleigh, provides rotational movement around the tree, and incorporates a cam mechanism to generate the reciprocating vertical motion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism uses dynamic elements including a rotating support bar that changes position continuously, and a cam mechanism that converts rotational motion into reciprocating vertical motion, allowing the sleigh to appear to climb and descend the tree naturally.
3Extent of automation
If motion sensors and microcontrollers are added to activate features automatically, then the automation level increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses motion sensors to detect when a visitor approaches and automatically activates the sleigh movement and lighting features without requiring manual intervention. The microcontroller manages the coordination of multiple features based on sensor input.
Solution Approach 2:
Motion sensors provide feedback about visitor presence to the microcontroller, which then adjusts the operation of the sleigh and lighting features accordingly, creating an interactive experience that responds to user presence.
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
Provides a cost-effective, stable, and visually appealing automated decoration that enhances the Christmas tree experience by creating a 'wow factor' without the unsightly tracks, using a concealed motorized system and sensor-activated features.
Implementation Method 1
The rotary mechanism further comprises: a cam and a cam follower. The cam follower being connected to the support bar; such that, in use, when the rotary mechanism is activated, the support bar follows the cam surface and the decorative object travels around the decorative tree in an undulating path.
Data Source
AI summary
A decorative artificial tree comprising: a base stand; a plurality of connectable trunk sections; a plurality of leaved branch sections connectable to the trunk sections; a decorative object; a microcontroller; and, a motorised rotary mechanism comprising a support bar connected thereto, at one end of the support bar there is a counterweight, at the opposing end of the support bar the decorative object is attached; such that, in use when the motorised rotary mechanism is activated, the decorative object travels around the decorative tree.