Light Transmitting Building Blocks with Segmented Geometric Shapes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Humans spend most of their time indoors, disconnecting from natural light and rhythms, leading to a need for architectural systems that better integrate natural light and environmental alignment.
Innovation Solution
Development of building blocks made from light-transmitting materials like glass, plastics, or resins, with geometric shapes such as octahedrons and decahedrons, that can be aggregated to form wall structures with varying patterns and orientations, allowing for enhanced light transmission and visual effects while maintaining structural stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If building blocks are made from light-transmitting materials with geometric shapes, then light transmission and visual effects are enhanced, but structural stability and manufacturing complexity become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The building blocks are divided into two halves that can be separately manufactured and then joined together. This segmentation allows for the creation of complex geometric shapes (octahedrons, decahedrons) while maintaining manufacturing feasibility, as each half can be produced using standard molding techniques before being assembled into the final complex form.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs light-transmitting materials such as glass, plastics, or resins that combine optical transparency with structural integrity. These composite material choices enable the blocks to maintain both their light-transmitting properties and structural stability despite having complex geometric shapes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If building blocks are aggregated to form wall structures with varying patterns, then adaptability and visual effects are improved, but manufacturing precision and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the building blocks into standardized halves, the patent creates modular units that can be easily assembled into various wall configurations. This segmentation standardizes the manufacturing process while enabling diverse structural arrangements, as each half can be precisely manufactured once and then reused in multiple configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The building blocks are designed with universal features that allow them to serve multiple functions and configurations. The standardized halves can be arranged in different patterns to create various wall structures, making the same basic components adaptable to multiple architectural designs and spatial requirements.
3Strength
If building blocks use adhesive joints to connect halves, then structural stability is maintained, but visual appearance and light transmission are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is formulated with optical properties that match the surrounding light-transmitting material, making the joint visually imperceptible. By adjusting the adhesive's refractive index and color to match the block material, the joint becomes transparent or translucent, allowing light to pass through while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive acts as an intermediary substance that bridges the two halves while being optically integrated with the surrounding material. This mediator adhesive provides both mechanical bonding strength and optical continuity, allowing it to fulfill the dual role of structural connector and light-transmitting element.
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
These building blocks improve occupants' connection to natural light cycles, promoting well-being by providing undisrupted natural light and darkness, enhancing circadian rhythm alignment, and offering unique visual and spatial configurations within built environments.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive with a colored dye configured to produce a thin veil of color configured to fade in an out of view depending on an orientation of a viewer relative to the building block
Data Source
AI summary
Building blocks, wall structures made therefrom, building systems made therefrom, structures made therefrom, and methods of constructing a structure therewith, are described.