Lighted Moving Ball Display With Wireless Power and Gravity Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighted moving ball display systems are limited in application, adaptability, complexity, bulkiness, utility, form, and ability to capture attention, particularly failing to engage younger audiences and offering limited variety in expression while being expensive.
Innovation Solution
A lighted moving ball display system comprising light emitting balls with a ball power module, wireless power receiver, and a passive transport medium, along with a lifting mechanism and motivating apparatus, such as air pressure generators, to create a visually engaging and dynamic display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wired power and complex control systems are used in lighted moving ball displays, then reliable power supply and control are achieved, but device complexity and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wired electrical power transmission with wireless power transmission technology. The moving balls are equipped with wireless power receivers that harvest energy from electromagnetic fields generated by transmitters positioned along the display track. This eliminates the need for physical electrical contacts and complex wiring systems within the moving balls, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the power supply and control electronics from the moving balls themselves, placing these functions externally. Power is transmitted wirelessly through the environment, and control signals are communicated via wireless communication protocols. This extraction simplifies the internal structure of the moving balls to minimal components, reducing bulkiness and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more light emitting devices and control features are added to enhance visual expression, then display versatility and attention-capturing ability improve, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functional integrated components within the moving balls. Each ball contains a single light emitting device capable of producing multiple colors through wavelength modulation, rather than requiring separate LEDs for each color. The wireless communication module handles multiple functions including control signal reception, status reporting, and synchronization, reducing the overall component count and system complexity while maintaining high display versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves diverse visual expressions by dynamically changing parameters of the light emitting devices, such as wavelength, intensity, and modulation frequency, rather than adding more physical components. The wireless control system transmits parameter adjustment commands to modify the optical output characteristics in real-time, enabling versatile display capabilities without increasing device complexity.
3Device complexity
If passive transport medium with gravitational force is used for ball movement, then system simplicity and cost reduction are achieved, but control precision and display dynamics are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static passive gravitational transport system into a dynamic controllable system. While the primary transport mechanism remains gravitational (maintaining simplicity), wireless control signals enable real-time modulation of ball release timing, release position, and release velocity. The wireless communication system allows the control unit to dynamically adjust display patterns, creating diverse motion sequences and visual effects without adding complex mechanical transport mechanisms.
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 provides a versatile, attention-catching, and engaging visual display that can be easily configured for various settings, offering a range of expressions and reducing complexity and cost, while being adaptable for different themes and environments.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitting balls each may include a wireless power receiver module
Implementation Method 2
light emitting balls with a ball power module, wireless power receiver
Implementation Method 3
configured to receive the balls and may be configured to permit the balls to traverse the medium under gravitational force
Implementation Method 4
a motivating apparatus that may be functionally coupled to the medium and may be configured to actively urge the plurality of light emitting balls to traverse the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A lighted moving ball display system configured to provide a visual display, such as in a Christmas tree. The system includes a plurality of light emitting balls. The light emitting balls each include a light emitting device, a ball power module, and a housing configured to secure the light emitting device and the ball power module, therein. The system includes a passive transport medium configured to receive the balls and permit the balls to traverse the medium under gravitational force. The system includes a lifting mechanism functionally coupled to the medium and configured to lift the plurality of light emitting balls to a top portion of the medium. The system includes a power module configured to provide power to the modules and components of the system. The system includes a motivating apparatus configured to actively urge the plurality of light emitting balls to traverse the medium.