Adjustable LED Light Strips and Lenses for Flame Light Sheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame simulators face challenges in providing realistic, safe, and cost-effective flame effects due to issues with incandescent lighting, such as short bulb life, high energy consumption, and unwanted heat, which are exacerbated in larger displays and applications requiring long service hours.
Innovation Solution
The use of LED light strips with converging lenses to create thin sheets of light that can be adjusted and mixed for improved visual effects, reducing energy consumption and heat production, and allowing for safer and more maintainable flame simulation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If incandescent lighting is used to illuminate flame elements, then the flame effect can be achieved, but the bulb life is short and maintenance is required frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from incandescent lighting to LED lighting, fundamentally changing the illumination parameter. LEDs provide the same flame illumination effect but with dramatically extended operational life (50,000+ hours vs. 1,000 hours for incandescent bulbs), eliminating frequent maintenance while maintaining the flame simulation quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/incandescent lighting system with an LED-based optical system. This substitution eliminates the filament-based mechanical failure mode of incandescent bulbs, providing a solid-state lighting solution that is more reliable and requires no maintenance for the lifetime of the device
2Illumination intensity
If incandescent bulbs are used for flame simulation, then the flame effect is achieved, but significant heat is generated that must be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the illumination parameter from incandescent thermal radiation to LED electroluminescence. This parameter change delivers the required flame illumination intensity while reducing heat generation by approximately 90%, as LEDs convert electrical energy directly to light rather than through thermal processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful heat generation of incandescent bulbs into a beneficial cooling characteristic. By using LEDs, the system eliminates the need for bulky air handlers and heat removal equipment, allowing the flame simulator to be positioned closer to flammable materials and reducing overall system complexity
3Illumination intensity
If incandescent lighting is used in large flame displays, then the flame effect can be achieved, but energy consumption is very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a parameter change from incandescent to LED lighting across the entire large-scale flame display system. This substitution maintains the required illumination intensity for large windows and building facades while reducing energy consumption by a factor of 5-10 times, making long-operational displays economically viable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the large flame display into multiple independent LED modules or strips. This segmentation allows each module to be independently controlled and illuminated, optimizing energy distribution and consumption across the entire large-scale display while maintaining overall illumination intensity
4Illumination intensity
If incandescent bulbs are used for flame simulation, then the flame effect is produced, but unwanted heat is generated that creates safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the illumination parameter from thermal incandescent lighting to cold LED lighting. This parameter change eliminates the safety hazard of unwanted heat generation while maintaining flame illumination quality, allowing the system to be positioned in locations where people and flammable materials may be nearby
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful thermal radiation of incandescent bulbs into a beneficial cold-light characteristic of LEDs. This transformation eliminates safety concerns related to heat exposure for audience members and surrounding materials, while the LED system can be positioned closer to the flame simulation area for better visual effect
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 longer-lasting, energy-efficient, and safer flame simulation systems with improved visual effects, reducing maintenance needs and energy costs while maintaining realistic flame representations.
Implementation Method 1
A lens is mounted adjacent each of these light strips to focus, bend, or converge the output light beams into two or more thin sheets or less dispersed curtains of light
Implementation Method 2
two or more light strips, such as a linear arrangement of light emitting diodes (LEDs), to provide dispersed beams of colored light (or white light)
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for generating light sheets useful in flame simulators or other lighting displays. The apparatus includes first and second light strips, which may include light emitting diodes of differing colors. Each of the light strips is mounted on support members that are mounted in the apparatus to rotate such that the orientations of the light strip outputs can be adjusted. The support members are mounted on end plates that can be rotated such that the light strips can be moved to be into a single plane or into differing planes, and the support members may be rotated to set the orientation of the light strips. Positioned over each light strip is an elongate projection lens such as a cylindrical rod. The light generated by the light strips is focused by the projection lenses into a sheet of light by converging and combining the light from the light strips.