Powered Sun Umbrella With Rotating Canopies for Light Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing umbrellas lack the ability to effectively modulate sunlight passing through, failing to provide customizable light transmission.
Innovation Solution
The umbrella features rotating canopies with alternating solid and open sections or polarized translucent materials, allowing for adjustable light transmission by rotating the canopies relative to each other or using polarized canopies to block or allow sunlight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a single solid canopy is used, then sun protection is provided, but light transmission cannot be modulated or customized
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy is divided into multiple sections with alternating solid and open portions, allowing selective light transmission while maintaining structural integrity. This segmentation enables the canopy to provide both sun protection and customizable light transmission by rotating to different positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy is made rotatable around the shaft, transforming it from a static structure to a dynamic one. This rotation capability allows the canopy to modulate sunlight transmission by changing its orientation, providing customizable light transmission while maintaining sun protection when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If openings are added to the canopy for light transmission, then customizable light transmission is achieved, but sun protection effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable canopy with alternating solid and open sections allows dynamic adjustment between full sun protection (when solid sections face the sun) and customizable light transmission (when open sections are positioned to allow light through). This resolves the contradiction by making the sun protection effectiveness variable rather than fixed.
3Illumination intensity
If polarized translucent materials are used in canopies, then light transmission can be modulated, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Polarized translucent materials are used in the canopy sections to modulate light transmission through polarization effects. When two polarized canopies are rotated relative to each other, they can control the amount of light passing through, providing light transmission modulation while maintaining a relatively simple structural design.
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 customizable sunlight modulation, providing adjustable light transmission and protection from the sun.
Implementation Method 1
the first canopy is made of a polarized translucent material; the second canopy is made of a polarized translucent material; When the polarization is perpendicular, there will be minimal light transmission. When it is parallel, there will be half light transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the present invention disclosed herein, there is provided an umbrella, comprising: a shaft; a first canopy; and a second canopy, wherein: the first canopy has alternating solid material and open sections; the second canopy has alternating solid material and open sections; the first canopy is attached to the shaft above the second canopy; and the first canopy and the second canopy are configured to rotate relative to each other around the shaft. A second embodiment is an umbrella, comprising: a shaft; a first canopy; and a second canopy, wherein: the first canopy is made of a polarized translucent material; the second canopy is made of a polarized translucent material; the first canopy is attached to the shaft above the second canopy; and the first canopy and the second canopy are configured to rotate relative to each other around the shaft.