Fence Rail Indirect Lighting for Glare and Light Pollution Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fence illumination systems cause significant light pollution and glare due to direct lighting, and existing solutions like diffusers do not adequately address these issues while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A fence system design featuring profile rails with functional grooves for slats, where lighting elements are integrated within these grooves, providing indirect illumination that enhances the aesthetic appearance by creating alternating bright and dim areas through slat curvature, reducing glare and light scatter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If lighting devices are embedded in profile rails with frontal light emission, then the fence system is illuminated, but light pollution increases and glare is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional direct lighting approach by placing the lighting element behind the slat and using the slat itself as a light guide. The light emits from the rear surface of the slat rather than from the front, transforming the slat from a simple barrier into an active illumination element. This inversion eliminates glare and light pollution while maintaining effective fence illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The slat acts as an intermediary between the lighting element and the external environment. The lighting element is positioned behind the slat, and the slat's material properties (transparency, light guide characteristics) mediate the light transmission, distributing it evenly across the fence structure without creating direct glare or light pollution.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a diffuser is used to cover the lighting device, then blinding is prevented and visual appearance is improved, but lighting effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the diffuser function from a separate component and integrates it into the slat itself. The slat's inherent optical properties (material composition, surface characteristics, geometric shape) provide the diffusion effect, eliminating the need for an additional diffuser cover that would reduce lighting effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The slat serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural barrier, a light guide, a diffuser, and an aesthetic element. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent avoids the need for separate diffuser covers that would compromise lighting effectiveness while still preventing blinding.
3Illumination intensity
If slats with concave shape are used, then indirect lighting is enhanced and aesthetic appearance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved, concave surfaces on the slats to enhance indirect lighting effects and aesthetic appearance. The curvature is integrated into the slat design, creating wave-like patterns that distribute light more effectively while maintaining manufacturability through standard forming 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
The system achieves improved lighting of the fence while minimizing glare and light pollution, offering an attractive visual appearance with customizable illumination patterns.
Implementation Method 1
at least one lighting element is arranged in the functional groove in which the at least one slat is fastened
Implementation Method 2
indirect illumination of the fence system, in particular of the at least one slat, is enabled
Implementation Method 3
at least one surface of the at least one slat is curved... creates indirect lighting, with the fence system being illuminated more strongly and brightly in the area of a wave trough than in the area of a wave crest
Implementation Method 4
reducing glare and light scatter
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a fence system (1) with at least one profile rail (2) and at least one lamella (3), wherein the profile rail (2) has at least one functional groove (4) aligned parallel to a longitudinal direction (L) of the profile rail (2), wherein at least one lamella (3) is fastened in the functional groove (4), and wherein at least one lighting element (9) is arranged in the functional groove (4) in which the at least one lamella (3) is fastened.