Liquid Stream Light Display via Internal Emission and Bubble Deflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid display technologies fail to create dynamic and selectable light effects in laminar or low turbulent liquid streams, limiting their ability to display stationary or moving patterns effectively.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating a laminar or low turbulent liquid stream with adjustable liquid parameters and synchronized light and light deflecting means, using light packets and particles or bubbles introduced into the stream to create cinematographic effects through Sequential Pulse Modulation (SPM), allowing for the display of various patterns based on environmental and user-defined settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If light sources are located outside the liquid stream (external illumination), then the device complexity is reduced, but the illumination intensity and visual effect are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight visibility in liquid streamVSAvoidillumination system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is nested within the liquid stream itself, with the liquid acting as both the medium and the light guide. The light emitter is positioned inside the liquid flow path, allowing light to propagate through the liquid from the interior, creating enhanced visibility and visual effects without requiring external illumination structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Illumination intensity

If laminar flow is maintained to create glass-like jet effects, then the light guidance is improved, but the light visibility to onlooker is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight visibilityVSAvoidlaminar flow stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces periodic disturbances to the laminar flow using thumpers or scratchers that locally and temporarily disrupt the flow at regular intervals. This periodic action allows light to escape from the stream at controlled points, making the light visible to onlookers while maintaining overall laminar flow stability for light guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous laminar flow is segmented by introducing localized disturbances at specific points along the stream. These segmentations create discrete light escape points through which light becomes visible, while the rest of the stream maintains its laminar structure for effective light guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Illumination intensity

If stream interrupters or thumpers are introduced to enhance light visibility, then the light visibility is improved, but the manufacturing precision and flow control become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight visibilityVSAvoidflow control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The thumpers or scratchers are designed to be passive elements that rely on the kinetic energy of the liquid stream itself to operate. The flow velocity and pressure naturally drive these disturbance elements, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex control mechanisms, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while enhancing light visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Illumination intensity

If additive water streams are introduced to create ripple effects, then the light radiation is enhanced, but the device complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight radiationVSAvoidadditive supply system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The additive water stream system is merged with the main liquid stream at the outlet, where the additive stream and main stream combine to create the desired ripple effects. This integration reduces the need for separate control systems and simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced light radiation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 approach enables the creation of dynamic, selectable light effects that can display stationary or moving patterns within a liquid stream, enhancing visual appeal and potentially serving as an information carrier by incorporating environmental and user-input data.

Implementation Method 1

Light rays emitted into said liquid stream to be guided by said liquid stream by total internal reflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a second emitter emits light deflecting means, in particular comprising gas bubbles and/or particles... light rays emitted into said liquid stream... deflected by said air bubbles or particles moving with said liquid stream... become visible to an onlooker

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight deflection by bubbles: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3319735B1Method and device providing a liquid display
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 KESSENER BV
  • EP3319735B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3319735B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2a
  • EP3319735B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention refers to a method for providing a liquid display displaying a selectable pattern (20-29, 45-48, 58-62) wherein a) either light rays (8, 79) are characterized by at least one light parameter, with the light parameter being defined • by a first light parameter defining the light rays (8, 79) as such, like the frequency and/or amplitude of the light, and/or • by a second light parameter defining the emission of the light rays (8, 79), like the location, repetition rate, width and/or form of emission pulses of the light rays (8, 79), and light deflecting means (17-19, 39-43, 60-62, 82) depend on the light parameter such that the emitted light deflecting means (17-19, 39-43, 60-62, 82) are tuned to the emitted light rays (8, 79) to create cinematographic light effects, b) or the light deflecting means (17-19, 39-43, 60-62, 82) are characterized by at least one deflecting parameter, with the deflecting parameter being defined • by a first deflecting parameter defining the deflecting means (17-19, 39-43, 60-62, 82) as such, like the material size, geometry, weight, amount, density, velocity, acceleration and/or kind of gas or solid material, and/or • by a second deflecting parameter defining the emission of the deflecting means (17-19, 39-43, 60-62, 82), like the location, repetition rate, width and /or form of emission pulses of the light deflecting means (17-19, 39- 43, 60-62), and the light rays (8, 79) depending on the deflecting parameter such that the emitted light rays (8, 79) are tuned to the emitted light deflecting means (17-19, 39-43, 60-62) to create cinematographic light effects.