Showcase LED Lighting Control for Low-Temperature Display Chambers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fluorescent lamp-based display systems face issues with laborious maintenance, mercury disposal, inconsistent illumination due to temperature, and short lifespan, especially when frequently turned on/off, making it difficult to achieve high presentation effects in showcases.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing LED illumination apparatuses controlled by person-detecting sensors to adjust illumination intensity dynamically, with temperature sensors to manage heat, and illumination intensity sensors to harmonize with surrounding brightness, reducing installation and operational costs while enhancing presentation effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fluorescent lamps are used for illumination, then illumination can be provided in the display chamber, but the lamps require frequent replacement due to aged deterioration and cannot withstand frequent turning on/off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination reliabilityVSAvoidlamp lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the illumination source from fluorescent lamps to LED illumination apparatuses. LEDs have inherent properties of long lifespan, resistance to frequent switching, and stability in low-temperature environments, directly resolving the reliability and duration issues without requiring additional protective mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If fluorescent lamps are used, then illumination is provided, but mercury content makes disposal difficult and requires special handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination capabilityVSAvoidmercury pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fluorescent lamps containing hazardous mercury with LED illumination apparatuses that are environmentally friendly and do not contain toxic substances. This eliminates the harmful factor of mercury pollution while maintaining illumination capability, and the LED units can be disposed of through normal waste channels without special handling requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If fluorescent lamps are frequently turned on/off to match customer presence, then illumination control is achieved, but the lamp life shortens and stable illumination cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination controlVSAvoidillumination stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the illumination source to LEDs, which have the inherent capability to withstand frequent switching operations without degradation. This allows the system to frequently adjust illumination based on customer presence detection while maintaining both lamp life and illumination stability, something impossible with fluorescent lamps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Illumination intensity

If fluorescent lamps are used in low-temperature display chambers, then illumination is provided, but the lamps require time to reach predetermined illumination intensity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination outputVSAvoidwarm-up time
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fluorescent lamps with LED illumination apparatuses that provide instant full brightness output regardless of ambient temperature. LEDs do not require warm-up time to reach operating temperature and maintain consistent illumination intensity immediately upon activation, eliminating the time loss associated with fluorescent lamp warm-up in cold environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

5Adaptability or versatility

If multiple showcases are controlled independently, then each showcase can be optimized, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual showcase controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a centralized control apparatus that manages multiple LED illumination apparatuses across multiple showcases through a unified system. This multi-functional control unit can independently adjust illumination in each showcase while maintaining a single system architecture, reducing complexity compared to completely independent control systems for each showcase.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates detection means that monitor customer presence and provide feedback to the control apparatus. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adjustment of illumination levels in response to detected conditions, allowing individual showcase optimization without requiring manual intervention or complex independent control systems for each unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 durable, energy-efficient, and consistent illumination, attracting customer interest with improved presentation effects and reduced maintenance needs, as LED lights have high durability against ON/OFF cycles and maintain intensity in low-temperature environments.

Implementation Method 1

LED illumination apparatuses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

person detecting sensors provided in the plurality of arranged showcases, respectively, so that the approaching of any person is detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSensor detection:

Implementation Method 3

temperature sensor which detects the temperature in the display chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 4

illumination intensity sensor which detects the brightness of a surrounding area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIllumination intensity detection:

Data Source

PatentEP2062508B1System comprising showcases and a control apparatus
Publication Date: 2012.01.04 SANYO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP2062508B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2062508B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2062508B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object is to provide a control apparatus (33) of a showcase (1) in which appropriate illumination having a high presentation effect can be realized by an LED illumination apparatus (15) having a high durability against turning ON/OFF and capable of securing a predetermined illumination intensity even under an environment at a low temperature. The control apparatus (33) controls a plurality of showcases (1) so that display chambers (5) where commodities are displayed are illuminated with LED illumination apparatuses (15), and includes a person detecting sensor (11) provided in a showcase (1) disposed in such a position that the approaching of any person can first be detected among the plurality of arranged showcases (1). When the person detecting sensor (11) detects the approaching of the person, the illumination intensities of all the LED illumination apparatuses (15) of the plurality of showcases (1) are increased.