RGB LED Spa Lighting with Protective Jacket

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pool and spa lighting systems using incandescent or fluorescent light sources have short lifespans, requiring frequent maintenance and are prone to mechanical failures, leading to high costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system utilizing RGB LED units with a central controller and serially connected LED units, reducing the number of control lines and current requirements, and employing a protective jacket over connections to enhance reliability and ease of installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If incandescent or fluorescent light sources are used in pool and spa lighting, then the lighting can be provided, but the lifespan is short and maintenance frequency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifespan of light sourceVSAvoidmaintenance frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical light sources (incandescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes) with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are solid-state devices with no moving parts. This substitution eliminates the mechanical failures associated with traditional light sources and extends operational lifespan from thousands of hours to tens of thousands of hours, directly resolving the contradiction between lifespan and maintenance frequency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs LED modules that can be easily replaced as inexpensive units, transforming the maintenance approach from repairing complex mechanical systems to simply replacing affordable electronic components. This reduces maintenance complexity and frequency while keeping costs low

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Adaptability or versatility

If fiber optic lighting systems with mechanical color wheels are used, then color changing capability is provided, but mechanical components fail and require maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor changing capabilityVSAvoidmechanical failure rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical color wheel system with electronic LED modules that can change colors through electrical control. Each LED module contains red, green, and blue LEDs that can be independently controlled to produce any color in the visible spectrum, eliminating mechanical moving parts while maintaining or enhancing color versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic color control through electronic means, allowing real-time adjustment of color output by varying the intensity and combination of red, green, and blue LED elements. This provides the same adaptability as mechanical color wheels but with enhanced reliability and control precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Illumination intensity

If conventional lighting units with incandescent sources are used, then lighting is provided, but periodic maintenance adds cost and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting outputVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces incandescent lighting systems with LED-based systems that have no filaments, glass envelopes, or mechanical components requiring maintenance. LEDs are solid-state devices that only require electrical connections, dramatically simplifying the system from mechanical to electronic and eliminating maintenance complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs LED modules with built-in protection features including waterproof connectors, integrated mounting mechanisms, and fail-safe operational modes. These self-service features allow the system to maintain operation and protect itself from common failure modes, reducing the need for external maintenance intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 provides longer-lasting, reliable, and cost-effective lighting with reduced maintenance needs, improved durability, and simplified installation by using LEDs and serial connections, while the protective jacket ensures waterproof and robust connections.

Implementation Method 1

Each unit has a red, green and blue light emitting diode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS8161640B2Method of making RGB spa light using light emitting diodes

Publication Date: 2012.04.24 THE SLOAN COMPANY INC

AI summary

A method for forming a protective jacket over a connection region includes connecting the leads of an electronic device to conductors such that the connections are in a connection region, placing the connection region in a mold, injecting molten protective material into the mold to cover the connection region, allowing the molten material to cool and harden and removing the connection area from the mold.