Cassette Awning Lighting with Recesses for Indirect Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cassette awnings with lighting devices are not suitable for indirect lighting, which can create a more pleasant atmosphere compared to direct lighting.
Innovation Solution
The awning design includes recesses and openings in the housing and extension profile, allowing light from an internal lighting device to shine through, even when the extension profile is fully retracted, enabling indirect lighting. This design incorporates light-emitting diodes for color control and efficiency, along with reflectors and diffusers for enhanced lighting effects, and a control device for continuous dimming and remote operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If lamps are built into the bottom of the awning housing, then direct lighting of the space below is achieved, but indirect lighting capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The housing bottom is segmented into multiple sections: solid sections for structural support and recesses/openings for light emission. This segmentation allows the same housing structure to provide both direct lighting (through solid sections) and indirect lighting (through recesses), resolving the contradiction between the two lighting modes.
Solution Approach 2:
Reflectors and diffusers are introduced as intermediary elements between the light source and the external space. Reflectors redirect light toward recesses for indirect lighting, while diffusers soften the light output. These intermediaries enable the system to provide both direct and indirect lighting from the same lamp installation.
2Volume of moving object
If the extension profile is fully retracted, then the awning is compact, but lighting capability is reduced due to coverage by articulated arms
Solution Approach 1:
Recesses and openings are pre-positioned in the extension profile at locations that remain uncovered even when the profile is fully retracted and articulated arms are folded. This preliminary positioning ensures that lighting capability is preserved in the retracted state, resolving the contradiction between compact size and lighting functionality.
3Illumination intensity
If halogen spotlights are used for lighting, then sufficient illumination is provided, but power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The light source type is changed from halogen spotlights to light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This parameter change in the lighting technology provides sufficient illumination while significantly reducing power consumption, thereby resolving the contradiction between illumination level and energy usage.
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 solution provides a pleasant ambient lighting effect, reduces power consumption, and allows for customizable lighting effects, including color changes and ventilation, while simplifying installation by integrating control components for easy connection to a standard AC network.
Implementation Method 1
The lighting device preferably has several light-emitting diodes, which, depending on the activation, emit red light and/or yellow light and/or blue light or a mixture of red, yellow and blue light, in particular white light.
Implementation Method 2
Due to the fact that the lighting device of the awning according to the invention has several light-emitting diodes, the arrangement of the lighting device enjoys greater degrees of freedom than is the case with conventional light sources such as incandescent lamps or halogen spotlights
Implementation Method 3
The recesses and/or openings in the housing and/or extension profile being arranged at the points which are not covered by construction elements, in particular articulated arms, when the extension profile is fully retracted
Data Source
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AI summary
The cassette awning has a cloth shaft rotatably mounted in a housing (1), where a cloth is unwound by the cloth shaft. The front end of the cloth is fastened at an extension profile (2). The awning has a lighting unit within the housing. The housing or the extension profile has recesses (10) or perforations. The recesses or perforations in housing or extension profile are arranged at the points. The points are not covered by construction elements, particularly hinge arms (3) at full retraction of extension profile, so that an indirect illumination of the surrounding of the awning is possible even at full retraction of extension profile.