Simulated flame effect apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing simulated flame effects in electric fires lack compactness and efficient assembly, limiting their manufacturing and installation convenience.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a housing featuring a reflective screen and projector system, where the projector is positioned closer to the base than the screen, projecting an image that is reflected forward, allowing for a compact and realistic flame effect display with adjustable illumination and color control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the projector is positioned at a conventional location to project images onto the capture screen, then the image projection function is achieved, but the apparatus occupies excessive space and lacks compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The projector is repositioned from a conventional side or top location to a lower position near the base of the housing, utilizing the vertical dimension more effectively. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the optical path to traverse through the housing interior in a novel trajectory, projecting images upward onto the capture screen while maintaining a compact footprint and improving assembly efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of positioning the projector above or beside the capture screen to project downward or horizontally, the invention inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the projector below the screen and projecting upward. This inverted configuration, combined with the angled reflector, achieves the same image projection function while significantly reducing the apparatus volume and simplifying the manufacturing process
2Reliability
If the reflector is positioned to reflect images onto the capture screen, then the flame effect is achieved, but the component arrangement becomes complex and difficult to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is positioned at a specific angle of 45 degrees relative to the capture screen, optimizing the optical path for efficient image reflection. This parameter optimization ensures that images projected from the lower projector position are effectively reflected onto the capture screen, maintaining flame effect realism while simplifying the overall component arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The angled reflector serves as an optical intermediary that bridges the lower projector position and the capture screen. By introducing this reflective mediator at a 45-degree angle, the system achieves effective image transfer without requiring complex direct projection mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining flame effect quality
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 a compact and realistic simulated flame effect with improved assembly efficiency, enhancing the visual experience while simplifying manufacturing and installation processes.
Implementation Method 1
said reflector comprising a reflective front face that is inclined relative to the line of sight into the housing interior... an image received by the top wall capture screen from the image projector is seen on the reflector front face thereby to be reflected forwards in the direction of said line of sight
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus for creating a simulated flame effect and suitable for an electric fire comprising a housing having a base (12) and a top wall (11) spaced apart to define therebetween a housing interior (20), the housing additionally comprising a front for providing a line of sight into said interior, the top wall comprising a capture screen (15) that faces towards the base of the housing, a reflector (14) disposed within the housing to lie between the capture screen and the housing base, said reflector comprising a reflective front face (17) that is inclined relative to the line of sight into the housing interior, an image projector (16) to project an image towards the capture screen, and wherein the reflector is angled relative to the capture screen whereby an image received by the capture screen (15) from the image projector is seen on the reflector front face and reflected forwards in the direction of said line of sight.