Carpet Back Lighting for Dynamic Navigation Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems for floors often require visible light sources, which can compromise aesthetics and fail to provide dynamic lighting effects or navigation assistance effectively.
Innovation Solution
A lighting arrangement featuring a light transmissive carpet unit with a hidden back lighting system, allowing for dynamic lighting effects and navigation assistance without visible light sources, utilizing a control unit to manage light sources and sensors for various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visible light sources are used in floor lighting systems, then navigation and information guidance functions are achieved, but aesthetic appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the light sources from the surface level (2D plane of the floor) to a third dimension (below the carpet, in the subfloor or padding layer). This dimensional relocation allows the lighting function to be achieved without visible light sources on the floor surface, thereby maintaining aesthetic appearance while providing navigation guidance through light transmission through the carpet material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the carpet as an intermediary element between the hidden light sources and the user. The carpet acts as a medium that transmits light from the concealed sources below, enabling the light to reach users for navigation purposes while the light sources themselves remain invisible, thus resolving the contradiction between functional visibility and aesthetic concealment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If static lighting is used, then simple illumination is achieved, but dynamic lighting effects and information display are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic lighting capabilities by enabling the system to change light properties (intensity, color, pattern, timing) in response to various inputs. The lighting system transitions from static to dynamic operation, allowing different lighting modes for navigation, information display, and emergency guidance, thereby achieving adaptability without excessive complexity through controlled dynamic behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect user presence, movement, or environmental conditions and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables the lighting system to automatically adjust its behavior, providing dynamic lighting effects and contextual information display while keeping the control logic relatively simple through sensor-driven automatic responses.
3Area of stationary object
If light sources are embedded in the carpet, then integrated lighting is achieved, but light source visibility and maintenance access are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates light sources from within the carpet structure to a dimension below it (subfloor or padding layer). This spatial repositioning achieves comprehensive lighting coverage across the carpet area while simultaneously improving maintenance accessibility, as light sources can be reached by removing the carpet or accessing the subfloor layer without disturbing the carpet itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the lighting system into distinct modular components: the carpet layer, the intermediate layer (padding or subfloor), and the light source modules. This segmentation allows the lighting function to be independently accessed and maintained by working in the space between carpet layers or at the subfloor level, facilitating easier repair while maintaining full lighting coverage.
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 aesthetically pleasing dynamic lighting and navigation assistance while maintaining the appearance of a standard carpet, offering versatile uses such as navigation, advertising, and emergency guidance.
Implementation Method 1
the light transmissive carpet unit is arranged to transmit at least part of the light travelling in a direction from the carpet unit back side to the carpet unit front face
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting arrangement comprises a carpet structure and a control unit. The carpet structure includes a carpet back lighting system comprising a carpet back lighting unit having a lighting unit front face and a plurality of light sources. The carpet structure further includes a light transmissive carpet unit comprising a carpet unit front face and a carpet unit back side. The lighting unit front face and the carpet unit back side are adjacent. The carpet unit is arranged to transmit at least part of the light travelling in a direction from the carpet unit back side to the carpet unit front face. The control unit is configured to receive one or more input signals and is configured to generate, in response to one or more input signals, one or more output signals to control the light generated by the light sources.