Smart Illuminated Electrical Faceplate with Lightguide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical switches lack effective illumination solutions for faceplates and dimmer controls, resulting in poor ergonomic and aesthetic design, with direct LED illumination causing glare and light pollution, and failing to provide clear indication of power states.
Innovation Solution
A faceplate with a lightguide system that uses a transparent substrate and segmented backlight with side-illuminating LEDs to create uniform, indirect illumination of the touch-sensitive surface, allowing for dynamic control of light intensity and shape, enhancing user interaction and reducing glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If direct LED illumination is used to illuminate the faceplate, then the illumination intensity is high and clear, but it causes glare and light pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lightguide as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the faceplate. The LED transmits light into the lightguide, which then distributes the light uniformly across the faceplate through total internal reflection and scattering mechanisms, eliminating direct glare while maintaining illumination effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The lightguide is divided into multiple segments or zones, each responsible for illuminating specific regions of the faceplate. This segmentation allows for controlled light distribution and intensity management across different areas, preventing concentrated glare points while ensuring comprehensive coverage
2Illumination intensity
If uniform illumination is achieved through multiple reflections in the lightguide, then the illumination becomes homogeneous and glare-free, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies optical parameters of the lightguide material and structure, such as refractive index, surface roughness, and scattering particle distribution, to achieve uniform light distribution. By changing these parameters, the system obtains homogeneous illumination without requiring complex mechanical or electronic control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lightguide are designed with locally optimized properties, such as varying scattering particle concentrations or surface treatments in specific zones, to achieve uniform overall illumination while keeping the overall design relatively simple
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 improved ergonomic and aesthetic enhancements by offering clear, uniform illumination of touch-sensitive regions, reducing glare, and effectively indicating power states without direct light pollution, enabling users to interact with electrical switches more intuitively and comfortably.
Implementation Method 1
the transmitted light undergoes total internal reflection at the front surface thereby generating homogenized intensity light
Implementation Method 2
at least a portion of a surface that functions to scatter the homogenized intensity light from the transparent substrate through the front surface of the lightguide, thereby indirectly illuminating the faceplate
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed wherein is an electrical faceplate, such as a cover for a wall outlet or light switch, that uniformly illuminates by receiving light into a transparent lightguide, homogenizing the light within the lightguide and scattering the homogenized light preferentially through a front surface. In one embodiment a faceplate comprises a substrate operable to cover an interface between an electrical junction box and a wall. The faceplate further comprises a light receiving surface operable to receive light from a light generation component (e.g. an LED) and transmit the light substantially parallel to a front surface, thereby promoting reflection at the front surface that homogenizes the light intensity within the faceplate and a portion operable to scatter light through the front surface. Several embodiments provide a faceplate with a lightguide to homogenize light through a process of total internal reflection to provide uniform illumination of the faceplate.