Controllable Light Emitting Surfaces for Product Highlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shop window displays struggle to provide effective feedback to users selecting products due to limitations in visibility, especially in daylight, and require complex setups for multiple product highlighting, which can be cumbersome and obstructive.
Innovation Solution
An interactive system utilizing controllable light emitting surfaces, such as RGB LED arrays embedded in mats or surfaces, linked to RFID tags for automatic product detection and highlighting, allowing independent illumination of products with desired attributes, including color coding and adjustable intensity, to provide clear feedback on user selections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If spot lights are used for product highlighting, then product visibility is improved, but the number of spot lights required increases and their placement becomes complex and obstructive
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the shop window into multiple segments, with each segment containing a light source that can be independently controlled to highlight specific products. This segmentation allows multiple products to be highlighted simultaneously without requiring complex external light placement, as each segment self-contained lighting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the light source, control system, and display segment into an integrated unit. By merging these components, the system eliminates the need for separate spot light placements and achieves product highlighting through a unified, simplified structure where the light source is inherently part of the display segment.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple spot lights are positioned close to each other for highlighting multiple products, then product coverage is improved, but light blockage between products increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each light source is positioned and directed to illuminate only its associated product or local area within the segment. This localized lighting approach ensures that light is concentrated on the intended target without being blocked by adjacent products, as each light source has its own optimized illumination path independent of neighboring segments.
3Illumination intensity
If product layout is adjusted to accommodate spot light placement, then highlighting effectiveness is improved, but layout flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates electronically controllable light sources that can be dynamically adjusted in intensity, color, and timing through electronic control signals. This dynamic control allows the highlighting effectiveness to be optimized without physical repositioning of light sources or products, maintaining layout flexibility while achieving effective highlighting through electronic adjustment rather than mechanical reconfiguration.
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 enhances user interaction by providing clear and adjustable product highlighting, improving visibility and usability, especially in daylight conditions, while simplifying the setup and allowing for multiple product highlighting without obstructive light placement issues.
Implementation Method 1
A controllable light emitting source is linked to a physical item. A processor is configured to turn on the controllable light source in response to user selection of the item.
Data Source
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AI summary
A highlighting method and an interaction system (100) include at least one controllable light emitting source (110) linked to an item (120); and a processor (140) configured to turn on the controllable light emitting source (110) in response to user selection of the item (120). The controllable light emitting source (110) may be embedded in a mat (210) or a strip (430). The mat (210) may include a matrix of photo detectors or pressure sensors configured to detect the base or footprint of the item (120) when placed on the mat (210). The periphery of the product or the footprint may be illuminated upon selecting the product. Alternatively or additionally, a background surface behind the product may be illuminated upon selection thereof.