Modular Lighting Assembly With Concealed Joints for Uniform Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular lighting systems face challenges in easy assembly and maintaining lighting continuity at joints, often requiring complex components that interrupt the emitting surfaces, leading to aesthetically and functionally unsatisfactory results.
Innovation Solution
A modular lighting system with modules and auxiliary components that allow for seamless electrical and mechanical connections, ensuring continuous lighting without visible interruptions, using diffusing materials and concealed connection devices within the lighting surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If modules are connected using conventional connecting members, then electrical connection between modules is achieved, but the continuity of lighting fixtures and emitting surfaces is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is nested within the light bodies of adjacent modules, with the electrical connection components housed inside the light body cavities. This nesting approach allows electrical connections to be made while maintaining the external continuity of the light body surfaces, as the connecting components are concealed within the modular structure rather than protruding outward.
Solution Approach 2:
The light body serves as an intermediary element that houses the electrical connection components while maintaining the visual continuity of the lighting fixture. The light body acts as a mediator between the electrical connection function and the aesthetic continuity requirement, allowing both to coexist by concealing the connection components within its structure.
2Reliability
If complex connecting members are used to ensure electrical connection, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connection between modules, maintains mechanical alignment, and preserves the aesthetic continuity of the light body. By integrating these functions into a single component that is housed within the light body, the design reduces overall device complexity while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connection components are merged with the light body structure, eliminating the need for separate external connecting members. The light body itself becomes part of the connection mechanism, housing the electrical contacts and providing structural support, thereby reducing the number of discrete components and simplifying the overall assembly.
3Reliability
If connecting members are positioned externally, then electrical connection is achieved, but aesthetic appearance and lighting uniformity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
All electrical connection components are nested within the light body cavities, completely concealing them from view. This nesting ensures that the light body surfaces form continuous, uninterrupted emitting surfaces, maintaining aesthetic appearance and lighting uniformity while the electrical connections are made inside the modular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The light body acts as an intermediary that shields the electrical connection components from the external environment and from view. By housing the connections within the light body, the system maintains uniform light emission across the entire fixture surface without interruptions or visible seams at the joints between modules.
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 achieves high uniformity and efficiency in lighting, allowing for versatile designs and eliminating shadows or differently lit areas, while maintaining aesthetic appeal by hiding connections within the lighting fixtures.
Implementation Method 1
using diffusing materials and concealed connection devices within the lighting surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
A modular lighting system (1), comprising at least one module (2) and auxiliary components (3) which can be assembled together; the module (2) comprising a support core (4), extending along an axis (A); a plurality of LEDs (5), arranged on at least one face (6) of the core (4) and axially spaced along the axis (A); a light body (7) positioned in front of the LEDs (5) and at least partly around the LEDs (5) and having a lighting surface (8) which transmits the light emitted by the LEDs (5) to the surrounding environment; the modules (2) and the auxiliary components (3) are joined to each other by respective concealed mechanical and electrical connection devices (45), which are completely housed and concealed inside the modules (2) and/or the auxiliary components (3).