LED Flame Simulator Flicker Control With Low-Noise Airflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame simulators face challenges in producing realistic flame effects with reduced heat, maintenance, and cost, as they often use short-lived incandescent bulbs, noisy fans, and unrealistic flame elements, leading to safety hazards and rapid deterioration.
Innovation Solution
The use of high-powered LEDs with adjustable brightness, low-capacity fans, and fabric flame elements with laser-cut edges and fray-blocking treatments, along with a programmable controller to create realistic flickering effects and reduce heat through heat sinks, addresses these issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If incandescent bulbs are used to illuminate flame elements, then the flame effect is achieved, but the bulbs have short lives and produce significant heat creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the illumination source from incandescent bulbs to LEDs, which operate at different temperature and energy efficiency parameters. LEDs provide sufficient illumination for flame elements while generating minimal heat, extending component life and eliminating safety hazards associated with hot bulbs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal radiation mechanism of incandescent bulbs with the electroluminescence mechanism of LEDs. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature operation while maintaining illumination effectiveness, thereby extending bulb life and reducing safety risks.
2Illumination intensity
If incandescent bulbs are used to illuminate flame elements, then the flame effect is achieved, but significant heat is produced creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the illumination source from incandescent bulbs to LEDs, which operate at different temperature and energy efficiency parameters. LEDs provide sufficient illumination for flame elements while generating minimal heat, eliminating safety hazards associated with hot bulbs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal radiation mechanism of incandescent bulbs with the electroluminescence mechanism of LEDs. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature operation while maintaining illumination effectiveness, thereby reducing heat production and safety risks.
3Illumination intensity
If fans or blowers are used to create air flow over flame elements, then the flickering effect is enhanced, but the fans are noisy and move large volumes of air causing unrealistic flame movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fan capacity parameters, selecting smaller fans that move reduced volumes of air at lower speeds. This reduces noise levels while maintaining sufficient air flow to create realistic flame flicker effects, eliminating the harmful noise factor.
4Illumination intensity
If large volume air flow is used over flame elements, then the flickering effect is enhanced, but the flame elements move unrealistically and air currents spoil the fire simulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fan capacity parameters, selecting smaller fans that move reduced volumes of air at lower speeds. This reduces air flow volume to create more subtle, realistic flame movement while maintaining sufficient flow to enhance the flicker effect, eliminating unrealistic flame element movement.
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 improved longevity, reduced maintenance, and enhanced realism in flame simulations with safer operation and reduced heat, making the flame simulators more efficient and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
cutting the flame bodies from silk sheets with a laser to sear or fuse the threads in the edge
Implementation Method 2
reduce heat through heat sinks
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for simulating flames using fabric flame sheets or elements. The apparatus includes a fan or blower for producing a volume of air flow and two or more flame elements positioned in the fan air flow. First and second light sources, such as high powered light emitting diodes (LEDs), are provided to produce light beams having two differing colors such as an amber beam and an orange/red beam. The light beams are directed so as to mix or cross on or near the flame elements when the flame elements extend outward from their mounting location into the fan air flow. Each of the LEDs has a brightness level that can be tuned or adjusted by a controller, which may be manual or may be automated to modify the brightness level of at least one of the LEDs and typically both LEDs during the operation of the flame simulator.