Modular Wetroom Lamp with Interchangeable LED Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems are not easily adaptable or expandable to meet changing conditions, particularly in environments with high humidity, such as greenhouses or industrial settings, and lack a modular design that allows for simple interchangeability and reuse of components.

Innovation Solution

A modular wet room lamp design featuring a splash-proof lamp housing with interchangeable LED modules, a separate external power supply and control unit, and electrical connectors that enable easy replacement and reconfiguration of modules without the need for tools, allowing for flexible use in various applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a modular design with interchangeable LED modules is implemented, then adaptability and ease of maintenance are improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components and connection interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system is divided into independent LED modules that can be interchangeably inserted into the lamp housing. Each module contains its own light source, heat sink, and optical element, allowing individual replacement without affecting other components. This segmentation enables the system to adapt to different lighting requirements while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lamp housing is designed with universal receiving openings that accommodate multiple types of LED modules. The standardized connection interfaces and mechanical mounting structures allow the same housing to work with different module configurations, enhancing adaptability. The external power supply and control unit also serve multiple functions including power delivery, dimming control, and module management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If LED modules with heat sinks are used, then lighting performance is improved, but the overall device weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting performanceVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Heat sinks are strategically positioned only at the rear end of each LED module where heat generation occurs, rather than distributing weight uniformly throughout the housing. The optical elements are placed at the front end to direct light output. This localized component arrangement maintains lighting performance while minimizing overall device weight by placing functional elements only where necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a splash-proof housing design is implemented, then reliability in humid environments is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to sealing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connections are extracted from the internal housing structure and placed on the external surface. Plug sockets and plugs are positioned on the outer wall, allowing electrical connections to be made outside the sealed housing. This extraction eliminates the need for complex internal sealing around wire entries and connectors, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining splash-proof reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A sealed housing structure acts as an intermediary barrier between the internal electronic components and the external humid environment. The housing includes integrated sealing elements at critical interfaces, such as where lamp modules connect to the housing and where electrical connectors interface with the external environment. This intermediary structure protects internal components without requiring complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If multiple receiving openings are provided for lamp modules, then ease of operation and module interchangeability are improved, but the housing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple receiving openings are arranged in a distributed pattern across the housing structure, utilizing three-dimensional space efficiently. The openings are positioned at optimal locations for module insertion and removal operations. This spatial distribution enables easy access to multiple modules simultaneously without requiring complex internal routing or structural reinforcements, maintaining simplicity while enhancing operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution provides a lightweight, easily expandable, and adaptable lighting system that can be used in humid environments, reducing the complexity of splash protection and allowing for efficient heat dissipation, while enabling easy maintenance and reuse of components, thus addressing the limitations of existing systems.

Implementation Method 1

a heat sink arranged at a rear end of the lamp module for cooling the light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sink: Heat Sink

Implementation Method 2

an optical element arranged at a front end of the lamp module for emitting the light from the light source in a spatial beam angle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical element: Lens

Data Source

PatentEP4043781B1Wetroom lamp, in particular greenhouse light
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 REMUS UWE
  • EP4043781B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4043781B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4043781B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The moisture-proof luminaire, which is in particular a greenhouse luminaire, is equipped with a luminaire housing (12) and several lamp modules (34) that can be inserted into the luminaire housing (12). The luminaire housing (12) is plate- or disc-shaped and has a top housing wall (14), a bottom housing wall (16), and a surrounding housing side wall (18) connecting these two housing walls (14, 16) and sealing the space between the two housing walls (14, 16) to the outside in a splash-proof manner. In the top housing wall (14) and in the bottom housing wall (16), several pairs of aligned receiving openings (22, 24), each with an opening edge (28, 30), are formed for one lamp module (34).The moisture-proof luminaire is further equipped with a cylindrical ring (46) arranged between the top housing wall (14) and the bottom housing wall (16) for each pair of receiving openings, surrounding the two receiving openings (22, 24) for splash-proof sealing of the gap between the top housing wall (14) and the bottom housing wall (16) of the luminaire housing (12). Each lamp module (34) can be inserted into a pair of receiving openings (22, 24), wherein the lamp module (34) rests at its front end on at least a section (26) of the opening edge (30) of the receiving opening (24) of the bottom housing wall (16) and its rear end with the heat sink (36) is arranged to project beyond the top housing wall (14).