GB2412959A

GB2412959A - Illuminated Features

Info

Publication number: GB2412959A
Application number: GB0504807A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Jackson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-12
Filing date: 2005-03-09
Publication date: 2005-10-12
Also published as: GB0504807D0; GB0405568D0

Abstract

An illuminated feature consisting of a wholly, or partly transparent or translucent member 1 provided with an internal means of illumination 4, a rechargeable power source 3b and a control means 3a. In a preferred embodiment the member is a naturally occurring rock, or is fabricated to look like a naturally occurring rock or stone, and the means of illumination is a light emitting diode so that the rock appears to glow in the dark. Preferably, the power source 3b is rechargeable from renewable means, such as solar panels 14, wind or water power. The apparatus to harness the renewable means of power, such as a solar panel, may be attached directly to the member to form a self contained unit (fig: 2). The control means 3a may be provided with sensors 9, either simply to switch the illumination on at dusk and off at dawn, or to operate via external sensors responding to movement. The controller may also be programmed to operate optical features via the means of illumination, to play recordings or operate wind chimes 18.

Description

24 1 2959

ILLUMINATED FEATURES

This specification relates to illuminated features, which may be used as decoration or functional Items In houses, shops, restaurants, gardens, patios, exhibitions, displays, grottos, etc to create a particular ambiance.

It Is known to use lighting effects to enhance the aesthete appearance of, for example, gardens and foliage In those gardens, after dark It Is common to provide low level lighting shining upwards into the leaves of trees and also to locate the lights In trees pointing at appropriate parts of the foliage, as well as providing lighting to delineate paths, etc It Is also common to use low level lighting in houses and other buildings While these are mayor features, it is possible to provide smaller, more intimate enhancement of particulamtems It is known to provide lighting for figures in grottos, etc. but these often tend to be rather gaudy features, often out of place In a garden where people wish to promenade and talk or contemplate the natural beauties The use of translucent bodies, lit Internally by mains electricity Is also known While underlit foliage, and other forms of lighting in parks, etc are known, these are often on a large scale, using floodlights, causing light pollution of the night sky and suitable only for open public spaces These Is thus a need for a subtle form of Illumination, and related illumnatable features, able to create an artistic ambiance In a house, garden, on a patio, etc preferably using renewable power According to the invention, there Is provided a member having a means of illumination located within the member so that the light therefrom is visible at least over a part of the surface of the member, the power for the means of illumination being provided by a rechargeable power source, and having a control means to regulate the recharging of the power source and operation of the means of Illumination According to a first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the membems wholly or partly optically transparent or translucent According to a second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the optically transparent or translucent membems a naturally occurring substance.

According to a third variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the member Is fabricated from optically transparent or translucent materials IP1 361A 1 According to a fourth vanation of the apparatus of the invention, the optically transparent or translucent member is fabricated and /or shaped to look like a naturally occurring substance.

According to a fifth variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the means of illumination Is a light emitting dode(s).

According to a sixth vanaton of the apparatus of the invention, the means of Illumination Is a fight bulb(s) According to a seventh variation of the apparatus of the Invention, means are provided to enhance light transfer from the means of illumination Into and / or through the optically transparent or translucent member According to an eighth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of illumination Is provided with means to vary the brightness of the Illumination According to a ninth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of illumination Is provided with means to vary the colour of the illumination.

According to a tenth variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the means of Illumination Is provided with means to cause it to flash According to an eleventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means to cause the means of Illumination to flash Is a liquid crystal device.

According to a twelfth vanaton of the apparatus of the Invention, the means of Illumination is provided with means to cause it to operate In response to an external signal According to a thirteenth variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the means to operate the means of illumination Is in accordance with the ambient brightness According to a fourteenth variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the means to operate the means of illumination Is in accordance with a passive Afro red detector According to a fifteenth variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the means to operate the means of Illumination is in accordance with a timing device IP1361A 2 According to a sixteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, light guides are provided within the member to conduct the light from the means of illumination to preferred parts of the surface of the optically transparent or translucent member.

According to a seventeenth vacation of the apparatus of the invention, the light guides are provided with means at the ends of the guides remote from the means of illumination to distribute the fight away from the light guides.

According to an eighteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the light guides extend beyond the surface of the optically transparent or translucent member According to a nineteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the rechargeable power source is recharged by a renewable power source.

According to a twentieth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the renewable power source is solar power According to a twenty first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the renewable power source is wind power According to a twenty second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the renewable power source is water power According to a twenty third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the rechargeable power source is recharged by mains power According to a twenty fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the rechargeable power source Is used to operate an audio speaker, provided with prerecorded or preprogrammed outputs According to a twenty fifth variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the rechargeable power source Is used to operate a wind chime According to a twenty sixth vanaton of the apparatus of the invention, the operation of the means of illumination and / or of the speaker and / or of the wind chime is controlled by an internal program IP1361A 3 To According to a twenty seventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the program is held internally in the control means According to a twenty eighth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the program may be changed by providing an external signal to the control means.

According to a twenty ninth variation of the apparatus of the Invention, a new program may be loaded into the control means via the external signal According to a thirtieth variation of the apparatus of the invention, a plurality of units of the apparatus of the invention are linked together to provide a sequential effect(s) According to a thirty first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of linking together separate units of the apparatus of the invention is via electronic transmission between the appropriate units According to a thirty second variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the solar power Is provided by a photovoltaic panel According to a thirty third variation of the apparatus of the Invention, the photovoltaic panel is attached directly to the optically transparent or translucent member to provide a self contained unit In a preferred application, the optically transparent or translucent membems a naturally occurring rock Into which a hole is drilled and an electronics package Is Inserted. The electronics package consists of a rechargeable battery, a control means, a source of Illumination and appropriate electrical connections The battery is recharged, preferably by a renewable power source, such as a solar panel, and, via the control means, illuminates the bulb so that the light emitted therefrom Is passed across the hole and Into the optically transparent or translucent rock, causing it to glow The control means may be caused to light the source of Illumination at dusk and extinguish it at dawn as well as creating other optical effects, e.g flashing, dimming and brightening, changing colours, etc Other external sensors, e.g. passive infrared devices, may be used to detect the passing of people and cause the control means to operate the light source accordingly IP1 361A 4 In an altematve preferred design, the optically transparent or translucent member is a fabricated member made to look like a naturally occurring rock or stone, etc.. In addition to looking like rocks, the naturally occurring member or fabricated member may be formed into objects of interest, e 9. decorative Items on walls, ornaments on patios, statues, objets d'art, etc all of which may be,llumnated, wholly own part, by the method of the Invention.

In addition to operating a light source, the control means may operate other features, such as an audio speaker or wind chimes, etc In one example of the application, units of the apparatus of the Invention may be used to mark the edges of a path and provide a permanent dim light, to indicate of the course of the path When an Infrared sensor detects the approach of a person, the Illumination may be increased to give a clearer, ndication of the course of the path. Lights may be brightened (and dimmed) sequentially, In accordance with the speed and direction of the walker Other effects, such as Illumination of features near the path, wind chimes, recordings of birdsong, etc. may be activated as required by a pre-programmed means In the controller For a clearer understanding of the Invention, and to show how it may be put Into effect, reference Will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings In whch.

Figure 1 Is a part sectional elevation of an,11umnated member, with the power supply being provided via a separate photovoltac means, figure 2 shows a part sectional elevation of a second 'ruminated member, similar to that in Fig 1 but Incorporating light guides and with the photovolta,c means attached directly to the'11um,nated member; Figure 3 Is a side elevation of another arrangement of the 'ruminated member shown in Figs 1 and 2, and, figure 4 is a block diagram of the electrical circuitry powering the 'ruminated members of figs 1 to 3 and operating the associated features In this description, the same reference numeral Is used both for,dentical parts, and for different parts, fulfll,ng an identical function IP1 361A 5 Referring to Fig. 1, a transparent or translucent member 1 is shown In sectional elevation with a central aperture 2 into which an electronic package 3 Is inserted through the base aperture of hole 2. Hole 2 may be drilled out of a transparent or translucent member 1, e.g a naturally occurring rock, as shown by the end 2A of hole 2. Electronics package 3 consists of an electronic control assembly 3A and a rechargeable battery 3B A connection 11 to a separate photovoltac, solar panel 14 is provided.

Panel 14 Is mounted on a member 13 placed on own ground 10 and, as shown by symbol 12, may be at a distance from rock 1. Panel 14 is mounted via a hngeable member 15 so that the angle can be adjusted according to the location of the assembly For example, it is normal to locate photovoltac panels pointing south In the northern hemisphere (and north In the southern hemisphere) at an angle to the horizontal 16 where 0 Is the angle of latitude of the location of the panel.

At the end of electronics package 3 is a fight source 4, e.g. a bulb or fight emitting diode (LED) Means to pass the light from source 4 into member 1 are provided, e. g a surface treatment 6 on the inside of hole 2, or filling the space 6A between the Inside 6 of hole 2 and source 4 with light transmitting gel, etc. In operation, solar panel 14 would charge up battery 3B In the daytime sunshine. After dusk, light 4 would be illuminated, either via a dusk / dawn on / off photocell sensor 7, via connection 7A or, perhaps, by a passive infra-red (PIR) sensor 8 via connection 8A when the presence of a passer-by (not shown) was detected Light source 4 would be a low voltage device to provide appropriate Illumination so that member 1 would appear to glow In the dark Any appropriate type of fight 4 can be used but a LED Is preferred as it provides a high light output for a low power input. It Is known to provide LEDs in a variety of colours and the combination of red, green and blue LEDs can be used to produce any colour of the optical spectrum by selectively combining the lights and Intensities of the Illumination. It Is known to use a group of three LEDs, consisting of one red, one blue and one green, together to form a pixel and a number of pixels may be provided to Increase the Intensity of the optical effects which can be provided IP] 361A 6 A programming sensor 9 Is provided, connected 9A to electronics package 3, which can be programmed remotely, e g via a handheld controller (not shown) Various programs are provided In controller 3A to alter the intensity and colour of the light emitted from source 4.

By this means, the glow in member 1 can be caused to change In intensity and / or colour, as desired. A diffuser 5 is provided so that the light emitted by source 4 illuminates transparent or translucent member 1 uniformly Additional features may be added to enhance the effect provided by the glowing member 1, e.g wind chimes 18, In which a motor 1 8A would rotate the chimes 1 8B against a hammer 1 8C Another feature could be a small speaker 17 broadcasting birdsong or other appropriate sounds. The effect of a number of such glowing members A In a garden after dark, accompanied by PIR controlled chimes and birdsong could be magical, giving the Impression of a 'fairy grotto'.

Such a feature could be an Important adjunct to a large hotel, or similar establishment, to attract clients and help them to relax, before or after a meal, etc In one example, the lights could glow dimly, e.g. to indicate the route of a footpath, until PIR sensor 8 detected a passer-by and sgnalled 8A to controller 3A to operate a program, e.g. of Increasing brightness, changing colours, operating wind chimes, playing birdsong, etc In such an example, PIR sensors 8 would operate consecutively, so that the 'path would appear to come alive' as the passers-by moved forward and in time with the speed of their passage along it A vanaton of the principle Is shown In Fig 2 Here, panel 14 Is attached directly to member 1 via members 13A and 13B, secured in a hole 13C In this case, member 1 could be cast, e 9 from a mixture of glass particles in a resin and allowed to polymerise.

Central hole 2 would be part of the casting In this case, a matrix of fight guides 1 9A is Incorporated Into the casting 1 where a central section 19 Is located around source 4 so that the light from it would be passed directly into member 19 and thence, via guides 19A, to their ends 20 at, or near, the surface 1A of member 1 This would give the translucent member 1 a speckled effect, e brighter spots 20 against the more dimly lit surface 1A In this vanaton, casting 1 could be made to look like a naturally occurring substance, e 9. a rock For example, surface 1A could be rough and uneven, like a natural rock and the colour of the glass particles could be chosen accordingly. Castings 1 could also be in the form of statues or other decorative features IP1361A 7 Light source 4 and light collector 19 could be arranged so that light is passed both into guides 19A and into translucent member 1 so that member 1 would both glow and show brighter points of light distributed around the surface 1A Lenses 20 may be provided at the ends of guides 19A, or guides 19A may be terminated short 20A of surface 1A to give a range of optical effects One option Is to affix a transparent Image 20B to the surface 1A of member 1 so that the light from the end 20A of guide 19A illuminates it. The Image 20B could be that of a butterfly or a moth, or star, etc Liquid crystal optical on / off means (not shown) could be Incorporated Into light guides 19A so that they could be switched on and off sequentially to provide an additional effect. Such liquid crystal means would be connected (not shown) to electronic controller 3A Though only a single source of light 4 Is shown, multiple sources 4 could be used to give a background glow of a first colour and brighter speckles of a second, contrasting, or brighter, colour. The colour combinations could be cycled through a predetermined program. An optional variation of the light guides 19A Is an extension 19B (shown dashed) beyond surface 1A of member 1 to a lens 20 to illuminate 21 a particular feature (not shown), e.g. foliage, a statue, etc As shown, wind chimes 18 and speaker 17 could also be provided Other optical and audio features, appropriate to the philosophy of the disclosure, may be provided, as required, all

falling within the scope of the disclosure

Where member 1 is cast (e 9. Fig 2), the glass particles may be coloured It is known to produce such particles from recycled glass and, by handling different colours separately, glass particles of only a single colour are obtained, e 9 clear, brown, green, blue, etc. Thus, coloured members 1 may be cast to order By using particles of only a single colour, a dense shade is obtained, e 9 brown, but by mixing brown and clear glass a lighter, fawn shade, Is produced Thus, Is possible to produce cast members closely resembling naturally occurring substances, e 9 rocks of a single colour, rocks with veins of a second substance in them, etc. Also, If, say, clear and coloured particles are mixed with resin separately and the mixtures added to each other during the casting process, an essentially transparent member 1, with swirls of Internal colour may be produced lP1361A 8 Fig 3 shows a different configuration of member 1 and support member 13A for panel 14 (not shown), where hole 2 is In the side of member 1 A removable mounting 23 supports member 13A and engages with hole 2. A drain 22 Is provided in case water gains access to hole 2 Fig 4 shows the basic electric crcuRry of the Invention Renewable power, e 9. from the sun 14A, or wind 24 or falling water 25 passes 10 to charge battery 3B Mains back up 26 may be provided to cover for overcast, windless days A number of different sources of renewable power 14A, 24 or 25 are shown for completeness, though only one would normally be used, with optional mains back-up 26 Controller 3A may be provided with a timer (not shown) and, via connections 28 and 10, engage mains back-up 26 if dusk was approaching and battery 3B was nsuffiaently charged. Via connections 27, controller 3A operates lights 4, spotlights 21, speakers, 17, wind chimes 18, etc. as determined by Internal programs, an internal timer (not shown) and / or external sensors, e.g. photocell 7, PIR unit 8 or programmable Input 9 Though the description has been written using the invention to create attractive, fantasy effects, these could equally be 'horror' effects, e.g. for a chldren's grotto. In this case, members 1 could be cast In the form of snails, trolls, etc and images 20B could be those of spiders, etc Illuminated 21 features (not shown) could be devils, ghouls, etc The principle of the Invention may be used inside houses, e.g. on window sills or other appropriate locations Here, the apparatus A would use external daylight 14A to charge battery 3B and emit light 4 after dark. The apparatus A could thus be an ornament, chides night light or have any other suitable application In the case of a night light, this could be put on the windowsill In the daytime and by the chides bed at night Such a night light could be taken outside, e 9 If the child went camping, etc Electronics package 3 Is secured In hole 2 by a suitable means (not shown) , which allows it to be removed, should this be required Optically transparent or translucent rock 1 may be more valuable than electronics package 3 and it is advantageous to be able to replace package 3 if an electronic component falls, or the whole package is to be changed for one with improved features Electrical means (not shown) would allow leads 7A, 8A, 9A, 11 and those to liquid crystals (not shown) to be connected / disconnected to electronics package 3 to facilitate its removal and replacement IP1 361A 9 > The skilled man will appreciate other vanatons of the pnncple of the invention, all falling within the scope of the application IP1361A 1 0

Claims

Claims: 1 Apparatus comprising a member having a means of Illumination

located within the member so that the light therefrom is visible at least over a part of the surface of the member, the power for the means of Illumination being provided by a rechargeable power source, and having a control means to regulate the recharging of the power source and operation of the means of illuminations 2 Apparatus, as claimed In claim 1, wherein the member is wholly or partly optically transparent or translucent 3 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optically transparent or translucent membems a naturally occurring substance.

4 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the member is fabricated from optically transparent or translucent materials Apparatus, as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein the means of illumination is a light emitting diode(s) 6 Apparatus, as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein the means of Illumination is a light bulb(s) 7 Apparatus, as claimed in claims 5 or 6, wherein means are provided to enhance light transfer from the means of illumination into and / or through the optically transparent or translucent member 8 Apparatus, as claimed in claims 5 or 6 or 7, wherein the means of illumination is provided with means to vary the brightness of the, llumnaton 9 Apparatus, as claimed In claims 5 or 6 or 7 or 8, wherein the means of illumination Is provided with means to vary the colour of the Illumination Apparatus, as claimed In claims 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9, wherein the means of illumination is provided with means to cause it to flash.

IP1361A 1 1 11 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means to cause the means of illumination to flash Is a liquid crystal device 12 Apparatus, as claimed In any preceding claim, wherein the means of Illumination Is provided with means to cause it to operate In response to either an externally generated signal or an Internally generated signal 13 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means to operate the means of illumination is In accordance with the ambient brightness 14 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means to operate the means of Illumination Is In accordance with a passive infra red detector.

Apparatus, as claimed In claim 12, wherein the means to operate the means of illumination Is In accordance with a timing device.

16 Apparatus, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein light guides are provided within the member to conduct the fight from the means of illumination to preferred parts of the surface of the optically transparent or translucent member 17 Apparatus, as claimed In claim 16, wherein the light guides are provided with means at the ends of the guides remote from the means of Illumination to dstnbute the fight away from the light guides 18 Apparatus, as claimed In claims 16 or 17, wherein the fight guides extend beyond the surface of the optically transparent or translucent member 19 Apparatus, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rechargeable power source Is recharged by a renewable power source Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19, wherein the renewable power source Is solar power 21 Apparatus, as claimed In claim 19, wherein the renewable power source Is wind power IP1361A 1 2 22 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19, wherein the renewable power source is water power 23 Apparatus, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rechargeable power source Is recharged by mains power 24 Apparatus, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rechargeable power source and control means is used to operate the means of illumination according to a predetermined program Apparatus, as claimed in claim 24, wherein the rechargeable power source and control means is used to operate an audio speaker, provided with pre-recorded or pre- programmed outputs 26 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 24, wherein the rechargeable power source and control means is used to operate a wind chime 27 Apparatus, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the operation of the control means Is by an electronic program 28 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 27, wherein the program is held internally in the control means 29 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 28, wherein the program may be changed by providing an external signal to the control means Apparatus, as claimed in claim 29, wherein a new program may be loaded Into the control means via the external signal.

31 Apparatus, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of units of the apparatus of the invention are linked together to provide multiple or sequential effect(s) 32 Apparatus, as claimed in claim 31, wherein the means of linking together separate units of the apparatus of the Invention Is via electronic transmission between the appropriate units.

IP1361A 1 3 33 Apparatus, as claimed In all or any of claims 20 or 24 to 32, wherein the solar power Is provided by a photovoltaic panel 34 Apparatus, as claimed In claim 33, wherein the photovoltaic panel Is attached directly to the optically transparent or translucent member to provide a self contained unit Apparatus, as described In and by the above descnpton with reference to the accompanying drawings IP1361A 1 4