Optical Fibres Embedded in Moldable Materials for Pixelized Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting and signalling systems in opaque materials are exogenous and aesthetically undesirable, lacking the ability to transmit information and light endogenously, limiting their applications in energy efficiency, safety, and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
Optical fibre beams are integrated into moldable materials to create a pixelized surface, allowing for two-way light and data transmission, connected to LED-light systems and sensors, enabling communication, colour changes, and energy harvesting without altering the material's appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If exogenous lighting and signalling systems are installed through negatives or superficial external fixing elements, then light transmission and signalling functions are achieved, but the surface appearance is degraded with visible marks and installations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lighting and signalling systems with the material structure itself by integrating optical fibres directly into the matrix during manufacturing. This eliminates separate external installations and creates a unified structure where the material body serves as both structural element and light transmission medium, resolving the contradiction between functional performance and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fibres are nested within the material matrix during the manufacturing process, with fibres being embedded into the material body before final curing or setting. This nesting approach allows the fibres to be completely enclosed within the material, making them invisible from the surface while maintaining full light transmission functionality.
2Illumination intensity
If optical fibres are installed a posteriori by superficial external fixing elements, then light transmission is achieved, but the system is not integral to the material and requires separate installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning and embedding optical fibres into the material matrix during the manufacturing process, before the material is cured or set. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for subsequent installation steps, reducing overall system complexity and ensuring the fibres become an integral, permanent part of the material structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process merges material formation with fibre integration into a single unified operation. The fibres are incorporated into the material body during molding or casting, eliminating the need for separate installation procedures and reducing device complexity by combining multiple steps into one.
3Loss of information
If optical fibres are distributed systematically along the surface to create a pixelized surface, then communication and data transmission capabilities are enhanced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the spatial distribution, density, and orientation of optical fibres within different regions of the material to create pixelized zones with specific data transmission characteristics. This localized control of fibre arrangement enables region-specific communication functions while maintaining overall manufacturing efficiency through standardized embedding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The systematic distribution of optical fibres for pixelized communication is performed preliminarily during the manufacturing stage, with fibres positioned in predetermined patterns before the material is cured. This preliminary arrangement simplifies subsequent operations by eliminating the need for post-manufacturing fibre positioning and enables automated manufacturing processes.
4Reliability
If optical fibres are embedded in the material body, then the system remains unaltered over time and ages with the material, but the fibres must be precisely positioned during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary positioning of optical fibres during the manufacturing process, embedding them in predetermined locations before the material is cured or set. This preliminary action ensures precise fibre positioning is achieved during manufacturing, which then guarantees long-term operational reliability as the fibres remain fixed relative to the material structure throughout the material's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The embedding process merges fibre positioning with the material manufacturing process itself, where fibres are incorporated into the matrix during molding or casting. This merging ensures that fibre positions are determined by the manufacturing process geometry, providing both the precision needed for functionality and the permanence required for long-term reliability.
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 permanent, aesthetically pleasing, and functional means for information transmission and energy harvesting, enhancing urban environments with interactive and dynamic surfaces that can communicate safety messages, generate power, and monitor structures without visible installations.
Implementation Method 1
allowing light, data and information in general to pass through an opaque element in an almost imperceptible way
Implementation Method 2
The fibre terminals, when duly connected to a computer system provided with a LED-light switch
Implementation Method 3
The fibre terminals, when duly connected to a computer system provided with a LED-light switch
Implementation Method 4
The simultaneous use of end transmitting and lateral transmitting fibres (FODLL 1 and 2mm) allows superficial effects to be produced such as a change in the colour of the material's surface by the refraction of light transmitted to the outside
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for the application of optical fibres in cold moldable materials, such as concrete, or other cementitious materials produced from other binders such as plaster wherein optical fibre beams are embedded in such a way as to distribute the fibres according to a preset network mesh aimed at obtaining the desired pixelization effect in specific targeted areas. The invention also relates to pixelized materials which are obtained according to the method of the present invention.