Electronic Candle Flame Simulation with Segmented LED and Diffuser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing simulated electronic candles struggle to achieve a realistic dynamic effect of a candle flame, particularly in simulating the layered effects of a cotton wick, inner flame, outer flame, and flame center, while also facing issues with energy consumption and light simulation quality.
Innovation Solution
The electronic candle design incorporates a housing with a cylindrical peripheral wall, a flame head featuring a candle flame-like luminous body with an LED lamp bead and light guide cup, and a translucent lampshade with transverse raster textures. The flame head includes a black simulated cotton core column and LED chips that emit warm white and blue light, which are scattered and diffracted to simulate the inner, outer, and center flames, along with a cotton wick effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a semi-transparent diffuser cover is used to prevent LED chips from being seen, then the internal structure is hidden, but the light emitted becomes dim and the simulation effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flame simulation is divided into multiple independent light-emitting sections: inner flame LED chips, outer flame LED chips, and flame center LED chips, each enclosed by its own transparent lampshade segment. This segmentation allows each section to emit light independently while maintaining visual realism, eliminating the need for a single semi-transparent cover that dimmed the overall light.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses transparent lampshade materials with specific optical properties instead of semi-transparent diffuser covers. The transparent material allows maximum light transmission while the internal optical structures (light guide cups, reflecting surfaces) compose a composite system that maintains both brightness and visual realism.
2Device complexity
If a single surface flame sheet is used with light projection, then the structure is simple, but the light and shadow effects deviate when swing amplitude increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the flame simulation have different optical properties: the inner flame region uses transparent lampshades with specific light transmission characteristics, while the outer flame and flame center regions use different transparent materials and optical structures. This local differentiation ensures that light and shadow effects remain stable across various swing amplitudes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flame sheet projection to a three-dimensional structure with transparent lampshades surrounding LED chips at different spatial positions. This dimensional change allows light to be emitted from multiple angles and depths, maintaining stable simulation effects regardless of swing amplitude.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing electronic candle structures are used, then manufacturing is easier, but the layered effect of cotton wick, inner flame, outer flame, and flame center cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The flame simulation is divided into multiple independent light-emitting sections: inner flame LED chips, outer flame LED chips, and flame center LED chips, each enclosed by its own transparent lampshade segment. This segmentation allows each section to emit light independently while maintaining visual realism, eliminating the need for a single semi-transparent cover that dimmed the overall light.
Solution Approach 2:
Transparent lampshades serve as intermediary structures between the LED chips and the external environment. These lampshades allow light to pass through while shaping and directing it to create the appearance of different flame layers, including the cotton wick effect, without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
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
This design achieves a highly realistic and dynamic flame simulation with improved light and shadow effects, enhancing the visual realism of the candle flame and reducing energy consumption through efficient light management.
Implementation Method 1
the LED lamp bead and the light guide cup are both colloidal components... light emitted by the LED chips is relatively dim
Implementation Method 2
transverse raster textures are formed into an inner surface of the translucent lampshade
Implementation Method 3
transverse raster textures are formed into an inner surface of the translucent lampshade
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic candle with a highly simulated flame effect, including a housing having a top wall and a cylindrical peripheral wall, where the top wall has a through hole in the center; a flame head, passing upward through the through hole and including a candle flame-like luminous body and a simulated cotton core column, where the luminous body including an LED lamp bead and a light guide cup at the bottom, the LED lamp bead and the light guide cup are each a misty colloid component, a transmittance of the LED lamp bead is higher than a transmittance of the light guide cup, a first light-emitting chip and a second light-emitting chip that separately change in light and dark are provided in the LED lamp bead vertically, the first light-emitting chip located above emits warm white light upward, and the second light-emitting chip located below emits blue light downward.