Suspended Ceiling Tiles With Unique Identities For 3D Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing false ceiling and wall designs lack design flexibility while maintaining manufacturing, transportation, and installation efficiency, and fail to effectively address aesthetic, acoustical, lighting, and ventilation requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method involving mineral fibre based tiles with unique identities and calculated formats, positions, and orientations, allowing for complex 3-dimensional designs using flat tiles, facilitated by software calculations and visualizations, and precise installation techniques to ensure correct positioning and orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional rectangular or quadratic tiles are used in a rectilinear grid system, then manufacturing and installation are simple and cost-efficient, but design flexibility and aesthetic considerations are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by calculating the format, position, and orientation for each individual tile before manufacturing and installation. This pre-calculation enables complex 3-dimensional ceiling designs to be achieved while maintaining systematic organization, allowing tiles to be produced and installed efficiently despite their varied geometries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the ceiling into numerous individual tiles, each with uniquely calculated format, position, and orientation. This segmentation allows each tile to be independently manufactured and positioned according to precise calculations, enabling complex overall designs while maintaining simplicity in individual tile production and installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If complex 3-dimensional designs are created using flat tiles with unique formats and positions, then aesthetic and functional properties are improved, but manufacturing and installation processes become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveceiling geometryVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent calculates the format, position, and orientation for each individual tile in advance before manufacturing begins. This preliminary calculation allows complex 3-dimensional ceiling geometries to be achieved while maintaining efficient manufacturing processes, as each tile's specifications are predetermined and can be produced systematically

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent varies multiple parameters (format, position, orientation) for each individual tile to create complex 3-dimensional ceiling designs. By systematically changing these parameters according to pre-calculated values, the patent achieves diverse ceiling geometries while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through standardized production processes for each tile type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If software calculations and visualizations are used to determine tile positions and orientations, then design precision is improved, but installation time and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetile positioning accuracyVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs all software calculations for tile format, position, and orientation before the installation process begins. This preliminary computational work creates a complete installation plan that guides workers through the installation process systematically, ensuring high positioning accuracy while actually reducing installation time by eliminating on-site calculation and decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual measurement and positioning methods with software-based calculations and visualizations. This substitution of mechanical processes with computational methods achieves superior positioning accuracy and provides clear installation guidance that speeds up the actual installation process by eliminating trial-and-error adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3194679B1Methods and tile for use in a false ceiling or wall and a false ceiling or wall
Publication Date: 2022.06.01 SAINT GOBAIN ECOPHON
  • EP3194679B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3194679B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3194679B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a method of preparing an installation, to a method of installation of a false ceiling or wall, to a tile for use in such a false ceiling or wall and to a false ceiling or false wall. The method of preparing an installation comprises: calculating (202) format, position and orientation for each individual tile in the suspended ceiling or wall, associating (202; 206) each individual tile with a unique tile identity, producing (300) the individual tiles according to the calculated format, providing (301) respective tile with the tile identity of respective tile, providing (302) a representation of the suspended ceiling or wall including an association of the position of respective tile with respective tile identity.