Lighting and ventilation system having plate with central aperture positioned over grille to define intake gap
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting and ventilating systems often have a bulky appearance, complex design, inadequate cooling of light fixtures, inefficient component arrangement, and lack functionality in providing adequate illumination, especially with only one illumination source.
Innovation Solution
A lighting and ventilating system with a main housing that includes a fan wheel for air flow, a grille with multiple apertures and light-emitting diodes, a lamp housing with a separate set of illumination devices, and a plate that can be coupled to the grille, allowing for adjustable illumination based on occupancy, using a motion-sensing monitor to control the illumination devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lighting and ventilating systems combine elements of room ventilating fan with light fixture, then ventilation and lighting functions are integrated, but the apparatus has bulky appearance and complicated design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ventilating fan and light fixture into a single integrated apparatus, merging previously separate ventilation and lighting functions into one unified device that can perform both functions simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is designed to serve multiple functions - both ventilation and lighting - within a single device structure, making it a multi-functional unit that replaces what would traditionally require separate devices
2Device complexity
If conventional lighting and ventilating systems use single illumination source, then device structure is simplified, but functionality for providing adequate illumination especially quiescent lighting is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent illumination sources including LED elements and a lamp housing, allowing each component to serve specific lighting needs such as ambient lighting and task lighting separately
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates motion-activated control that dynamically adjusts which illumination sources are active based on occupancy detection, providing different lighting configurations for occupied versus unoccupied states
3Device complexity
If light fixture lacks adequate cooling, then device structure is simplified, but light fixture cooling is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the ventilation system, using the same airflow mechanism to cool both the room air and the light fixture components simultaneously through integrated air intake and exhaust pathways
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 efficient ventilation and adjustable lighting with multiple illumination sources, enhancing aesthetics and functionality by allowing for different lighting intensities and automatic adjustment based on occupancy, improving both ventilation and lighting performance.
Implementation Method 1
A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air
Implementation Method 2
the grille can comprise a plurality of apertures and a second set of illumination devices
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting and ventilating system includes a main housing with an air inlet and an air outlet a fan provided in the main housing to generate a flow of air between the air inlet and outlet; a grille having a plurality of apertures and coupled to the main housing; and a plate having an aperture located substantially centrally on the plate and defined by an aperture wall with a plurality of mounting notches, the plate coupled to the grille to define an airflow intake gap between the plate and at least a portion of the grille. The system further can include a lamp housing coupled to the grille and including at least a first set of illumination devices.