Rotatable Light Pipe for Directional Receptacle Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical receptacles and lighting devices often fail to provide sufficient and directional illumination, especially in low ambient light conditions, limiting their ability to effectively illuminate the surrounding area.
Innovation Solution
An electrical wiring device with adjustable LED light sources and rotatable light conducting members that can be manually positioned to direct light to a selected area, activated by a photo sensor or other sensors to ensure adequate illumination when ambient light levels are low.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is incorporated into an electrical receptacle to illuminate the area, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a light source with an electrical receptacle housing, integrating two separate functions (illumination and electrical connection) into a single device. This merging approach improves illumination intensity while minimizing the increase in device complexity by utilizing the existing receptacle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical receptacle is designed to perform multiple functions: providing electrical power connection and providing area illumination. This multi-functionality allows the device to serve dual purposes, improving illumination capabilities without requiring a completely separate lighting device.
2Device complexity
If a fixed light source is used in the receptacle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to illuminate selected areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a rotatable light conducting member that can be manually positioned to direct light to selected areas. This dynamic element allows the light direction to be adjusted after installation, providing adaptability to illuminate different target areas without requiring complex electronic control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The light conducting member features a lens or curved surface that focuses and directs light in specific directions. The curved geometry enables the light to be projected onto vertical surfaces such as walls, providing versatile illumination patterns while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure.
3Illumination intensity
If a translucent cover extending along the front face is used, then the light distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a translucent cover that extends along specific portions of the front face, particularly between electrical components and apertures. This localized translucent coverage allows light to be distributed to specific areas where it is most needed, improving light distribution efficiency while minimizing the amount of translucent material required and reducing overall device complexity.
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 enhanced illumination of target areas with adjustable and directional lighting, ensuring safety and visibility without the need for special tools, improving upon existing devices by allowing independent adjustment of light beams and activation based on ambient light levels.
Implementation Method 1
A light conducting member can be coupled to the cover for directing light from the light source in a selected direction
Implementation Method 2
A photo sensor can be coupled to the circuit board for actuating the LED when the ambient light is below a threshold level
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical wiring device, such as a GFCI duplex receptacle, includes a light source for lighting a selected area and a photo sensor to detect ambient light conditions and to actuate a light source when the ambient light conditions are below a predetermined level. The light source is preferably at least two LEDs having an associated light conducting member functioning as a light pipe that extends between the respective LED and the front face of the electrical wiring device. Each light conducting member has an inclined face extending through an opening in the cover of the wiring device to project a light beam at an inclined angle with respect to the front face of the wiring device. The light conducting members are independently rotatably mounted in the wiring device so that the user can manually rotated the light conducting member to direct the light beam to a selected area.