Lighting unit for a display shelf
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cosmetic display shelves face challenges in providing effective lighting that minimizes energy consumption and heat exposure, while maintaining a visually appealing and environmentally friendly solution, as excessive lighting can harm products and the environment.
Innovation Solution
A lighting unit for cosmetic display shelves featuring a transparent or translucent elongate diffuser with a light-receiving interface and a LED strip that directs light through the diffuser to create a backlit graphic display, with a portion of the light directed downward to illuminate products, reducing heat exposure and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If excessive lighting is used to improve product visibility and visual appeal, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat exposure to cosmetic products increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple LED modules distributed along the shelf, each providing localized illumination. This allows sufficient overall lighting while reducing concentrated heat exposure at any single point, as the heat load is distributed across multiple smaller light sources rather than one intense source
Solution Approach 2:
A heat-reflective barrier or insulating material is introduced between the LED lighting elements and the cosmetic products to block thermal transfer. This intermediary layer allows the lighting to remain intense for visibility while preventing the harmful heat from reaching and degrading the cosmetic products
2Illumination intensity
If excessive lighting is used to enhance visual appeal, then illumination intensity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional incandescent or fluorescent lighting systems are replaced with LED (light-emitting diode) technology, which converts electrical energy directly to light with minimal heat loss. This substitution maintains high illumination intensity for visual appeal while dramatically reducing energy consumption and eliminating the harmful heat exposure issue
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system incorporates adjustable intensity controls and motion sensors that dynamically modify illumination levels based on customer presence and time of day. This allows the system to maintain high visual appeal during peak hours while reducing energy consumption during off-peak periods, optimizing the balance between illumination and energy use
3Illumination intensity
If traditional lighting systems are used to illuminate products, then illumination is provided, but heat is generated that softens cosmetic products over time
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional incandescent bulbs that convert most energy to heat are replaced with LED modules that emit minimal thermal radiation. This substitution provides equivalent or superior product illumination while maintaining cosmetic product temperatures within safe storage ranges, preventing wax and oil-based products from softening or degrading
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal insulation materials or heat-reflective barriers are positioned between the lighting fixtures and cosmetic products to block thermal energy transfer. This intermediary layer allows continuous illumination while maintaining a temperature buffer that protects temperature-sensitive cosmetic formulations from heat-induced degradation
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 visually appealing, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly lighting system that minimizes heat exposure to cosmetic products, enhancing product visibility while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
said diffuser is configured to scatter a portion of the light passing therethrough towards the cover so as to, in use, allow a display graphic in said gap to be backlit
Implementation Method 2
a lighting element comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes attached to a circuit board to form a light strip, wherein the light emitting diodes are oriented to direct light towards the light-receiving interface and through said diffuser
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A lighting unit (150, 502, 600) for the front edge of a display shelf is proposed. The lighting unit has a transparent or translucent elongate diffuser (160, 504, 602) which has elongate upper and lower edges and elongate front and rear faces. The diffuser (160, 504, 602) has a light-receiving interface (170, 506, 610) extending in a direction of one of the elongate edges. A lighting element (180, 508, 622), comprises a plurality of LEDs attached to a circuit. The LEDs are oriented to direct light via the light-receiving interface and through the diffuser (160, 504, 602) from one edge towards the other. A substantially transparent elongate cover (200) is located over the diffuser (160, 504, 602) and defines a gap therebetween for receiving a display graphic. The diffuser (160, 504, 602) scatters a portion of the light passing therethrough towards the cover (200) to back light the display graphic in the gap. The diffuser (160, 504, 602) also transmits a portion of the light therethrough to be emitted at the upper edge; and a portion of the light is reflected by the lighting unit (150, 502, 600) in a downward direction.