Ice Rink LED Lighting with Protective Coating and Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting solutions for ice rinks, particularly in professional settings like ice hockey, are not robust enough to withstand mechanical stresses and do not allow for effective display of dynamic graphics or images, and their removal from the ice is cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A lighting arrangement featuring LED-based light sources encased in waterproof casings with protective coatings, connected by electrical lines, and a heating device for easy removal, allowing for controlled light emission and integration into the ice surface with a layered body that forms a white cover layer, enabling the display of two-dimensional graphics and images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If commercial lighting arrangements are melted into ice rinks, then the lighting can be integrated into the ice surface, but the lighting is not robust enough to withstand mechanical stresses in professional ice hockey rinks
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into modular light sources that can be individually encased and replaced. Each light source is separated into discrete units that are frozen into the ice independently, allowing for modular deployment and replacement without affecting the entire lighting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The light sources are pre-encased in protective casings made of ice-resistant materials before being introduced into the ice. These casings provide mechanical protection against stresses from ice skate blades and hockey sticks, preventing damage before it occurs.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If lighting arrangements are frozen into the ice field, then they can remain in place for extended periods, but their removal from the ice is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the phase transition of ice by introducing heating devices that melt the ice surrounding the light sources. This allows the light sources to be easily extracted from the ice by converting the frozen state back to liquid water, simplifying removal without requiring mechanical force.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional field markings are used in the form of felt strips, then they can be placed in the ice rink, but they do not allow for dynamic graphics or moving images to be displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system transitions from static felt strip markings to dynamic LED-based light sources that can change color, intensity, and patterns. The individual light sources can be controlled to display static graphics, moving images, and animated sequences, providing real-time adaptability for different events and presentations.
Solution Approach 2:
The same lighting infrastructure serves multiple functions: it provides illumination for the ice surface, displays dynamic graphics and moving images, creates advertising banners, and can be configured for different events. The programmable nature of the light sources allows a single system to replace multiple specialized marking systems.
4Reliability
If light sources are encased in waterproof casings, then they are protected from ice and water, but the complexity of the lighting arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The casings are designed as thin-walled structures made of flexible or semi-rigid materials that provide waterproof and mechanical protection while minimizing bulk. These thin-film encasements protect the light sources from ice and water infiltration without adding significant complexity to the overall system architecture.
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 robust, durable, and customizable lighting system that can withstand mechanical stresses, facilitate the display of dynamic graphics, and simplify the removal process, replacing traditional markings and improving the visual appeal of ice rinks.
Implementation Method 1
the lighting arrangement has a heating device for generating heat
Implementation Method 2
The lighting arrangement has a multiplicity of LED-based light sources
Implementation Method 3
the lighting arrangement has at least one protective coating, with light emitted by the light sources being able to be emitted through the at least one protective coating
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~11
AI summary
The illuminant arrangement (1) has a multiplicity of LED-based light sources (4), which are sheathed in a watertight manner by one or more sheaths, wherein the light sources (4) are operatively connected to one another, at least in groups, by way of electrical connection lines (5). The connection lines (5) contain voltage supply lines. The illuminant arrangement (1) has at least one protective layer (3) to be applied onto the one or more sheaths (6) as protection for the one or more sheaths (6) and the light sources (4) from mechanical damage such that light emitted by the light sources (4) is emittable through the at least one protective layer (3). The illuminant arrangement can have a heating device. And provision can be made for the light sources to be arranged distributed over an area like grid points of a grid. Each one of the light sources can be suitable for emitting light with a variable colour, wherein the colour of each one of the light sources is individually selectable by means of a control unit.