Electronic Flameless Candle with Dynamic Flicker and Scent Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flameless candles lack the ability to simulate a natural flame flicker and provide a scented experience similar to traditional candles, while also being easily controllable and aesthetically similar to their traditional counterparts.
Innovation Solution
An electronic flameless candle design featuring a body shaped to mimic traditional candles, incorporating an LED light source with a circuit board that generates random signals for a natural flicker, a scent component for aroma emission, and a sensor component for environmental condition-based control, including motion sensing for remote operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flameless candles use incandescent lamps or LEDs as light source, then safety and longevity are improved, but the ability to simulate natural flame flicker deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using a microcontroller to generate random flicker patterns that dynamically vary the LED's brightness and timing, making the artificial light source simulate the natural, unpredictable motion of a real flame. This resolves the contradiction by making the static LED appear dynamic and flame-like.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal and intensity parameters of the LED output by controlling duty cycle, brightness levels, and flicker intervals through software, transforming the steady LED light into a dynamic flickering pattern that mimics natural flame behavior.
2Ease of operation
If flameless candles use traditional switch controls on the base, then ease of operation deteriorates, but device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical switch system with sensor-based detection systems (motion sensors, touch sensors, or voice sensors) that automatically detect user intent and control the candle without requiring physical contact or complex mechanical components, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining or reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The candle performs self-service by using environmental sensors to automatically detect when a user wants to interact with it, eliminating the need for manual switch operation and making the device more intuitive and easier to control.
3Shape
If flameless candles lack scented feature, then aesthetic similarity to traditional candles deteriorates, but device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the scented material by using a heating element to raise the temperature of the scent cartridge, causing the solid or liquid fragrance material to evaporate and release scent into the air, thereby achieving aesthetic similarity to traditional scented candles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition by heating the scented material from solid/liquid to gas phase through evaporation, allowing the fragrance to be released into the surrounding air and providing the scented experience characteristic of traditional candles.
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 realistic flame-like flicker, scent emission, and easy control, enhancing the aesthetic and functional similarity to traditional candles while ensuring safety and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a light source operably connected to the body, the light source electrically operated to illuminate in a way that simulates a natural flicker of a real candle flame
Implementation Method 2
a scent component, operably connected to the body, the scent component configured to emit a scent when heated
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An electronic flameless candle(10) including a body (20) having a top surface(22), a bottom surface(24), a sidewall(26) between the top surface(22) and the bottom surface(24), and a cavity(48) defined by the top surface(22), the bottom surf ace(24) and the sidewall(26), the body(20) configured in shape and size to simulate a true flame candle. The candle (10) may also include a light source(56) operably connected to the body(20), the light source(56) electrically operated to illuminate in a way that simulates a natural flicker of a real candle flame. The candle (10) may also include a scent component(40), operably connected to the body(20), the scent component(40) configured to emit a scent when heated and/or a sensor component(70), operably connected to the body(20), the sensor component(70) configured to sense an environmental condition and affect a mode of the light source(56) upon the sensing of the environmental condition.