Light-Transmissive Carpet Structure With Recessed Back Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carpet back lighting systems suffer from significant light loss due to the impermeable nature of carpet tiles and backing layers, with up to 95% of light being lost, primarily due to the backing layer.
Innovation Solution
A light transmissive carpet structure with pre-shaped recesses accommodating optics, which can penetrate the backing layer using a heating element, and a control unit to manage light transmission and emission, allowing light to be directed from the back side to the front face while maintaining an anti-slip coating and hidden light sources or sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional carpet tiles and backing layers are used, then structural integrity and anti-slip functionality are maintained, but light transmission is blocked with up to 95% light loss
Solution Approach 1:
The backing layer is segmented by creating recesses that accommodate individual optical elements. This segmentation allows light to pass through specific localized areas while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the backing layer, resolving the contradiction between light transmission and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backing layer transitions from being uniformly opaque to having localized transparent regions where recesses are formed. These local quality changes allow light to pass through specific areas while the rest of the backing layer maintains its light-blocking properties for structural support.
2Loss of energy
If the carpet structure is made light transmissive, then light loss is reduced, but the anti-slip coating and structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Recesses are pre-formed in the backing layer before final assembly, creating predetermined light transmission pathways. This preliminary action ensures that structural integrity is maintained while light transmission channels are established in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical elements are introduced as intermediary components that bridge the light source and the carpet front surface. These intermediaries facilitate light transmission through the recesses while the backing layer maintains its structural function.
3Illumination intensity
If light sources are exposed on the carpet surface, then light transmission is maximized, but aesthetics and safety are compromised due to visible sources
Solution Approach 1:
Light sources are nested within recesses in the backing layer, hidden from view on the front surface. This nesting allows light to be transmitted through the carpet while the sources remain concealed, maintaining both aesthetics and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The light transmission path is moved from the surface level to the depth dimension within the backing layer. Light sources are positioned in the third dimension (depth) within recesses, allowing illumination to emerge through the carpet without exposing sources on the surface.
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 significantly reduces light loss, enabling efficient light transmission through the carpet while maintaining anti-slip functionality and concealing light sources and sensors, allowing for flexible lighting designs and easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the optics further comprise a heating element, such as an electrically conductive element, such as a wire or a metal platelet, arranged at at least part of an external face of the optics. When applying the carpet unit to the back lighting system, the heating element may be heated, preferably to a temperature in the range of 50-200 °C. In this way, part of the backing layer, such as a tile backing, may melt, thereby making it easier to penetrate the backing layer
Data Source
Figure 1~3a
Figure 3b~4a
Figure 4b~4d
AI summary
The invention provides a carpet back lighting system comprising a carpet back lighting unit having a lighting unit front face and a unit back face, wherein the lighting unit front face comprises a light source, arranged to generate light, and accompanying optics. The carpet back lighting system is suitable as back lighting at a carpet unit back side of a light transmissive carpet unit selected from the group consisting a carpet and a carpet tile. Further, the optics are suitable to be arranged to guide light into the light transmissive carpet unit, and wherein the optics are suitable to be arranged to penetrate into at least part of the light transmissive carpet unit.