Modular LED Control Unit for Customizable Bottle Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle illumination solutions, such as electroluminescent (EL) labels and under-bottle LEDs, are limited in customization, color range, and durability, and are not easily adaptable to different bottle geometries, making it difficult for brands to effectively showcase their products in low-light environments without increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular LED control unit connected to a thin LED label that can be easily attached and removed, allowing for complex electronics and customizable lighting effects, including communication between units and reprogramming after deployment, to create dynamic displays responsive to environmental factors and events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If EL elements are used for bottle illumination, then a single configuration can be achieved, but customization is limited and color range is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into separate components: a reusable LED control unit and a bottle-specific mount. This segmentation allows the control unit with complex electronics to be standardized while the mount adapts to different bottle geometries, resolving the contradiction between customization and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED control unit is designed as a universal module that can be attached to different bottle types through custom mounts. This universal design allows the same complex electronics to serve multiple bottle configurations, achieving both customization and cost-effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex electronics are placed under a bottle to drive a complex display, then customization and display capability are improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the complex electronics into a reusable control unit from the bottle-specific components, the system allows expensive electronics to be manufactured once and reused across many bottles, significantly reducing per-unit cost while maintaining high display capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed to be removed and reused on different bottles. Instead of discarding expensive electronics with each bottle, the system recovers and reuses the control unit, reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining advanced display capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed illumination solution is implemented, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different bottle geometries is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the standardized control unit from the adaptive mount, allowing the mount to be customized for different bottle geometries without complicating the main electronics. This segmentation enables broad applicability while keeping the core system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount acts as an intermediary between the standardized control unit and the varied bottle geometries. It adapts the fixed control unit to different bottle shapes, achieving broad applicability without requiring complex reconfiguration of the main system.
4Reliability
If EL labels are used, then installation is simple, but performance degrades over time and rapid color changes are not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces EL elements with LEDs, which have significantly longer lifespans and better durability. While LEDs require more complex electronics, the reusable control unit design amortizes this complexity over many uses, achieving both reliability and longevity.
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
Enables affordable, customizable, and adaptable lighting solutions that can be used across various bottle types, enhancing product visibility in low-light conditions and providing rich feature sets for branding and marketing purposes.
Implementation Method 1
A modular LED control unit connected to a set of lighting elements such as a thin LED label
Data Source
AI summary
A device, system, and method for illumination of a bottle or other vessel. A bottle or vessel may be illuminated using lighting elements disposed in a label that is controlled by a detachable control unit which is configured to sit inside an indentation of the vessel or otherwise below the vessel. The control unit may communicate with other control units and may be configured to display lighting patterns in response to instructions that may be programmed prior to the control unit being attached to the vessel, or in response to instructions sent to the control unit after it has been attached to the vessel.