Lighted Sign Embedded LEDs Modular Solar Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic road signs face challenges with unsightly wiring, water intrusion, vandalism, and difficult field replacement of LEDs and face plates, as well as complex installation requirements due to separate components for electronics and solar panels.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves embedding LEDs into a back substrate with a secure grommet-sleeve mechanism for aesthetically pleasing light emission and easy replacement, along with a modular architecture for integrated solar panel and battery mounts, enabling pole installation and Internet-connected control for synchronized communication and monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs and wiring are mounted on the back side of the sign face with protruding ends, then the sign can be illuminated, but the wiring becomes unsightly and provides areas for water intrusion and vandalism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the LEDs within cylindrical sleeves that are recessed into the sign face, creating a nested structure where the light-emitting component is housed within a protective cavity. This nesting approach conceals the wiring and LED ends within the sign body rather than having them protrude, eliminating unsightly appearances and removing access points for water intrusion and vandalism while maintaining effective illumination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate boxes are provided for housing electronics and batteries, and separate mounting for solar panels, then each component can be independently installed, but the installation becomes more difficult and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the electronics housing, battery compartment, and solar panel mounting structure into a single unified back substrate assembly. This merging of previously separate components into one integrated unit simplifies installation by reducing the number of separate mounting operations required, while still allowing independent access and replacement of each component through designed access points and modular interfaces.
3Reliability
If LEDs are securely mounted to the back substrate, then the sign provides reliable illumination, but field replacement of LEDs becomes difficult if not impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the LED assembly into modular units where each LED or small group of LEDs can be independently accessed and replaced. The cylindrical sleeve design allows the LED to be inserted and secured in a standardized manner, creating a modular replacement system that maintains reliable illumination while enabling easy field replacement of individual LED components without requiring specialized tools or complex disassembly procedures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for sign assembly, then each component can be optimized independently, but the overall assembly requires more parts and increases maintenance complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the back substrate to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the structural mounting surface for the sign face, houses the electronics and battery compartments, provides the solar panel mounting interface, and contains the LED embedding structure. This multi-functional integration reduces the total number of separate parts required while maintaining the ability to independently optimize each functional element through modular design interfaces.
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
This design provides secure, aesthetically pleasing, and easily maintainable lighted signs with enhanced redundancy and control, facilitating field replacement and intelligent Internet-connected operation for synchronized control and monitoring of multiple devices.
Implementation Method 1
an integral solar panel mount
Implementation Method 2
an integral battery box mount
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides lighted signs and in particular electronic signs having embedded or integral light sources and in particular to lighted signs that have field replaceable lights and field replaceable face plates, and which preferably are controlled by an Internet-connected controller and which preferably includes an integral solar panel mount and an integral battery box mount, and still preferably include radios for pole-to-pole/machine-to-machine communication for synchronized control, and such products preferably having an additional network connection for Internet connectivity, such as by way of GPRS/GSM/cellular gateway functionality, WiFi, LAN, fiber optic or other network connectivity.