GB2444073A - Simulated fire with a beam shaper or lens modifying light from an LED - Google Patents

Abstract

A simulated fire has a LED light source that has, in addition to the epoxy casing encapsulating the LED, a secondary lens or light shaper with ridges 426, or an array of micro-lens or lenslets (fig 5). The shaper may distribute light across the screen or flame effect by, for example, changing a circular pattern to a rectangular pattern. In some embodiments multiple colours are output from one or more multi-coloured LEDs or from an array of LEDs of different colours to generate an image of a fire on a screen (180, fig 1), a coloured filter or dye used, and/or the lens/shaper may be tinted. The LEDs can be individually controlled by a processor, and mounted on a metal core PCB for heat dissipation. The height or angle of the light source or the surface onto which it is directed, may be fixed (figs 2a,2b,6) or adjustable (figs 1,2,3). A fuel bed (110, fig 1) may be illuminated by the light source or an additional light source. The screen may have a diffusing surface and a reflecting surface. The flame effect may include ribbons (186, fig 1) and a fan; a mask; a rotating foil rotisserie (fig 3); a rotating filter (645, fig 6); or a rotating drum with LEDs (715, fig 7) on its surface.

Description

Simulated Electric Fire incorporating LEDs

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electric fires and in particular to an electric fire that includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide for internal illumination. The invention particularly relates to electric fires where one or more LEDs are used to provide illumination for the flame effect of the fire.

Background

Electric fires are well known and are used to create the illusion of a real fire, typically in a domestic environment. Such fires may include a chassis that incorporates a fuel bed that simulates coals or logs. A flame effect is typically provided in a vertical orientation, the flames being provided in one of a number of different fashions, some of which are described in our earlier applications W002068875. Such arrangements discuss the use of tungsten filament light bulbs for providing the internal illumination necessary to provide lighting for both the flame and/or fuel beds.

The use of such filament light bulbs is limited for a number of reasons. For example, their power consumption is quite high which is not environmentally friendly. Yet a further disadvantage is their lifetime, in that the lifetime of filament bulbs is quite short. This can present a specific problem when they are used in the internal portions of fires and would have to be changeable by the customer as opposed to by a trained technician. In these circumstances is behoves the manufacturer of the fire to provide an opening in the chassis of such tires to enable a user to easily change the bulbs, as required. This is an additional assembly requirement in the fabrication of such fires.

It is also known to selectively position one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a fuel bed to provide regions ot high intensity output so as to resemble hot spots in a fuel bed. This can be achieved by selectively locating the LEDs in desired location. The actual LED is visible to the user of the fire as they are physically identifiable within the fuel bed.

It is also known to create an array of LEDs orientated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fuel bed and then by selectively activating the LEDs to generate pseudo flame effects. The flame effect generated derives from a viewer observing the direct illumination output of the LED. Such arrangements are typical of the known attempts to replace filament bulbs with alternative light source and the resultant flame effect is a series of point light sources located relative to one another to define a flame. As the LED's provide a point source, heretofore it has not been possible to distribute the output from the LEDs or to provide a more realistic flame effect.

There are therefore a number of problems associated with such arrangements.

Summary

These and other problems are addressed by an electric fire in accordance with the teaching of the present invention that utilises one or more LEDs for internal illumination of the fire so as to achieve lighting of one or more of a flame effect or a fuel bed. The LED output is co-operable with a flame effect means to generate, through direction of the LED output onto the flame effect means, a flame pattern on a screen within the chassis of the fire.

Preferably the light output generated by the LED is initially passed through a first and second beam shaper to achieve correct collimation of the light to provide a desired illumination effect. The use of such multiple beam shapers allows for creation of a distributed well defined flame effect to be generated on a screen within the fire.

Accordingly the invention provides a fire as detailed in claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.

These and other features will be understood with reference to following drawings.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section through an electric fire incorporating LEDs in accordance with the teaching of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section through a second embodiment of an electric lire in accordance with the teaching of the invention showing an alternative mounting arrangement for the LED.

Figure 2a is a section through a fire in accordance with a further embodiment which uses a single LED to provide illumination for both the fuel bed and the flame effect means, and which also provides for a mounting of the heating element in an upper region of the fire.

Figure 2b is a section through a further embodiment which shows the use of a single LED to provide for illumination within the fire.

Figure 3 is a section through another embodiment of an electric fire incorporating an LED in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a mounting arrangement including optics for use with an LED within the context of fires in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative optics arrangement to that of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a rear view of internal portions of an electric fire in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a rotatable drum in accordance with the teaching of the invention which is useable to generate flame effects on a screen.

Figure 8 is a schematic showing how a fire using a drum according to Figure 7 could be arranged to generate the flame effects.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings

Preferred but exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

Figures 1 and 2 show in section view an example of an electric fire according to the teaching of the invention. The fire is configured to simulate the effect of a burning real fire and includes a chassis 105 within which a fuel bed is mounted horizontally in a mid region of the chassis towards the front 115 of the fire. The fuel bed 110 is provided on a platform 120 or some other mounting arrangement and may comprise artificial coal or logs or other artificial fuel as desired. Other modifications to the arrangement of artificial fuel beds are well known and will not discussed herein.

In this illustrated embodiment, the fuel bed may be considered as being located in a main upper compartment 130 of the fire and is separated from a main lower compartment 140 by a partition 150. The lower chamber 140 typically contains any suitable means for providing a thermal output, for example a forced air convection unit 155 generally comprising an electric heating element and a fan for passing an air stream over the element. As such heating means are known in the art, no further details need be given.

As mentioned above the fuel bed 110 is located towards the front of the chassis so as to be visible by a user. The main upper compartment may be sealed at this front portion by a transparent and preferably tinted panel 160.

This panel may be made of glass (e.g. so-called smoked glass) or plastics, e.g. acrylic or perspex. Certain embodiments may provide for a front surface of this panel to be at least partially reflective so as to allow a user to see an image of themselves in the panel, when the internal illumination of the fire is not activated.

Where the mounting arrangement for the fuel bed is provided as a platform it is preferably a diffusing screen, e.g. a sheet of frosted or translucent glass. The partition could be replaced by some other non-continuous mounting means for example a bracket in which case the lower surface of the fuel bed is exposed to those elements below. Beneath this platform a pivotally mounted light fan or flicker wheel 165 may be provided. This flicker wheel may be driven by a motor. A first light source 170 is provided and is secured to the chassis.

The light source may be a conventional filament bulb or more preferably is a light emitting diode. The fan 165 is a generally circular element with reflective vanes driven by thermal currents rising from the light source when it is switched on. The rotation of the flicker wheel causes the simulated fuel bed also flicker thereby resembling glowing coals. It will be understood that the use of filament bulbs results in a generation of such thermal currents. However, in the preferred embodiment where the first light source is desirably of the type provided by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and is orientated to shine light upwardly towards the fuel bed located thereabove, it may be necessary to provide a powered rotation of the flicker wheel-LEDs not generating a large amount of heat. Of course the use of such a flicker wheel will be understood as being an optional accessory to a fire, and that it may be dispensed with completely or replaced with alternative ways of colouring the fuel bed 110. The securing of the first light source to the chassis is desirably to the platform 150 that separates the lower compartment 140 from the upper compartment 130.

A screen 180 extends upwardly from the simulated fuel bed 110 towards the upper part of the chassis 105. Screen 180 may be one or more panels having a partially reflecting surface and a diffusing surface. Suitably, screen 180 is made from a sheet of transparent material, such as glass, acrylic or perspex, having a lightly silvered surface on its front side (i.e. that side facing the front panel 160) and having, on its rear side, a surface which is configured to diffuse the light passing through. This may be provided by for example having closely spaced lines scored or otherwise produced on the surface. For example, the lines may be photographically produced on the rear surface. The lines may be horizontal, or inclined, or cross-hatched, in order to provide a suitable diffusing effect. Any other technique which provides for the fabrication of a diffusing surface on the rear surface of the screen will be equally useful within the context of the invention in that it is not intended to limit to any one technique.

The fire includes means 185 for simulating a flame effect. Such means, in the context of Figures 1 and 2, is shown located behind the screen 180 and comprises a moveable fabric, 186, such as one or more fabric ribbons, which hang in a substantially vertical and spaced relationship at the rear of the chassis. The fabric is arranged such that it will tend to ripple or undulate in a current of air provided by a small tangential fan unit 188 which is situated either above, or as shown below the lower ends of the ribbons and which extends across most of the lower portion of an otherwise substantially airtight chamber 1 30a. Further information on the construction of such ribbons is found in our earlier British Patent, GB2230335.

Although not shown in this sectional view, a rear surface 187 of the chassis 105 may be provided with a patterned effect so as to resemble one or more flames. Such patterning may be achieved by providing regions of varying reflectivity and patterning the higher reflectivity regions to resemble flames. The patterned effect can be provided integrally on the rear surface or alternatively on a preformed panel that is then located on the rear surface. The patterned effect will be located behind the ribbons, The rear surface 1 87 of the chassis is illuminated using a second light source 190. This second light source is preferably of the type provided by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). As the LED(s) provide a light source that is a directional light source it is important to mount the LED in a fashion that correctly orientates the LED(s) relative to the rear surface, so as to achieve the correct height of illumination. It will be understood that the higher the illumination up the rear surface, the higher that the viewed flames will appear to an observer to the front of the fire. While a fixed mounting may be suitable for certain applications it is also possible, as shown the in the arrangement of Figure 1, to provide the LED(s) on a mounting that allows for modification of the angular orientation of the LED relative to the rear surface. Such modification may be achieved by providing the LED on a tiltable mount 191, whose angle of tilt 192 may be varied as required.

Figure 2 shows a second way in which the relative height of the viewed flames may be changed. In this arrangement, the LED(s) are provided on a moveable frame 200 that can move upwardly and downwardly in a vertical axis.

One example of how this may be achieved is by providing a spindle arrangement 205 with upper 205a and lower 205b members. The spindle arrangement has mounted thereon the moveable frame 200 and by winding a thread 210 on the spindles in a desired direction it is possible to cause the frame to move upwardly and downwardly within the chassis relative to the rear surface 187.

When the first and second light sources 170, 190 are switched on, the simulated fuel bed 110 is illuminated and the partially reflective surface of screen 180 provides an image of the fuel bed. The fan 188 creates undulating movement of the ribbons 186 and light from the second light source 190 is therefore reflected randomly onto the back of screen 180 so as to simulate flickering flames. This flickering image is perceived between the actual simulated fuel bed 110 and its image in the screen 180 so that the flames appear to be emanating from somewhere in the middle of an extended fuel bed.

It will be understood that in this arrangement the generated flame that appears on the screen is derived from a reflective interaction between the light source and the means for generating a flame. While heretofore the illumination of the fuel bed and the flame effect means has been described with reference to two separate light sources it will be understood that one source, if suitably located within the chassis, could be used to provide illumination for both the fuel bed and the flame effect means simultaneously. Such arrangements are disclosed in Figures 2a and 2b where one or more light sources 190 located at a single location provide for illumination of both the fuel bed and the flame generating means. Figure 2b shows that although one light source could be used for simultaneous illumination of the fuel bed and the flame generating means that this could be supplemented by an additional source 190a provided to direct light into the fuel bed. In this way the fuel bed will have a region of brighter intensity located towards the rear of the fuel bed where it is receiving illumination from two sources. Figure 2a also shows how a heating element 155 can be located in an upper region of the fire, confirming that the location of the heating element is not essential within the context of the invention.

It will be understood that both mounting arrangements described in Figures 1 and 2 allow for the orientation of illumination provided by the light source 190 relative to the rear surface to be changed. Such modification of the orientation is not a requirement but if provided can be provided in a motorised fashion such that a user can select a desired flame height and the relative orientation of the light source to the rear surface will be changed appropriately.

It can also be combined with a programmable element that will enable a level of automation in this changed orientation. For example the fire may be provided with a number of different flame arrangements such as an early stage fire, a roaring fire and then a dying fire. In each of these three examples the height of the flame will be changeable, the highest flame being associated with the roaring fire. Using the teaching of the present invention, the viewing user of the fire can be presented with an aesthetic that resembles the traditional life of the fire by suitably programming an orientation of the light source relative to the fire.

This control could also be used in conjunction with changes in the speed of movement of the fabric or the illumination output of the light sources to more closely resemble the activity of a real fire. While the changing of the orientation of the light source relative to the rear surface may be effected by moving the mount on which the LED is mounted it will be understood that equally the surface orientation could be moved, what is achievable using the teaching of the invention is a relative change in the orientation of the surface on which the light from the LED is reflected from and the LED itself.

In the arrangements of Figures 2a and 2b such modification of the orientation subsequent to installation is not possible. However at the time of installation the orientation of the LED can be correctly chosen to ensure a desired height of flame is generated on the screen 180.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of a fire 300 in accordance with the teaching of the invention which also uses one or more LED's for internal illumination of the fire but does not include moveable fabrics to create the flame effect. In this embodiment the same reference numerals are used for components already described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The fire includes a chassis 301, that again houses a fuel bedi 10 that is located in front porton of a main upper compartment 330. The fuel bed 110 is positioned in front of a light diffusing and reflecting screen 180, which reflects an image of the fuel bed. A light source in the form of one or more LEDs 305 is positioned in a lower main compartment 303 and directly illuminates strips of foil 306 on a rotor 307, whereby moving beams of light (B, C) are reflected from a rear reflector 310 onto an inner surface 1 80b of the screen 180. The foil and rotor collectively are referred to as a rotisserie. When the rotisserie rotates, moving beams of light appear like flickers moving upwardly on the screen 180. Ar auxiliary reflector 315 reflects moving beams along another path (D) to be viewed by a viewer nearer to the appliance. The appliance houses a fan heater 155 located in the base of the chassis and orientated to blow heated air outwardly from the front of the fire. The reflector 310 may be fixed or have a variable angle of inclination, and this angle of inclination may be moveable during use of the fire.

Similarly to what was described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, a translucent panel 160 may be provided in front of the fuel bed. This panel may be tinted, partially reflective or masked.

In a similar fashion to the mounting of the LEDs in Figures 1 and 2, the LED 305 may also be provided with mounting means that that allow its orientation to be modified. In the schematic of Figure 3 such mounting means is shown in the form of a tiltable mount 320, whose angle of orientation allows a changing of the relative angle between the end plane of the LED and the rotisserie. By changing this angle it is possible to alter the angle of illumination of the light emitted from the LED onto the rotisserie. This can then serve to change the apparent height of the viewed flames. The height could also be changed by providing a movement of the rear surface 310. Of course it will be understood that such relative movement is not a requirement of a fire in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

The rotisserie can be considered as effectively a rotatable drum whose rotation serves to change the degree of reflection achieved from the light source. In the arrangement of the rotisserie heretofore described, this variance is provided by having strips of reflective material extending outwardly and circumferentially about the drum. Other arrangements may include the use of a patterned surface on the drum or indeed the provision of a number of apertures on the surface whose presence would prevent any reflection of light.

The invention has heretofore been described with reference to LEDs mounted within an electric fire but no mention has been made of the type of LEDs or the type of mounting arrangement for them. It is envisaged that fires in accordance with the teaching of the invention could be used with conventional LEDs, ultrabrite monocolour LEDs or with multi-coloured LEDs. A basic LED consists of a semiconductor diode chip mounted in the reflector cup of a lead frame that is connected to electrical (wire bond) wires, and then encased in a solid epoxy lens. LEDs emit light when energy levels change in the semiconductor diode. The output pattern of the LED is defined by the epoxy, or first, lens In effect the lens serves to modify the shape of the beam emitted from the LED and can be considered a beam shaper. Within the context of the present invention the terms lens and beam shaper will be used interchangeably, what will be understood by the terms is any means capable of modifying the beam output pattern to a desired shape. In preferred embodiments of the invention such conventional LED arrangements are modified such that individual LEDs may be mounted within a lens system that provides a second lens (or second beam shaper) above the first lens, in effect a compound lens effect. Such an arrangement is shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In Figure 4, a lens system 400 is shown that is optimally configured for use with the LEDs that are used to illuminate the rear surfaces of the chassis. Each LED is mounted on a lead frame 405 that provides electrical connection 410 to mounted LED. One or more circuit tracks 415 provided on a printed circuit board allow the provision of electrical power and also control signals to be provided to the LED. Such control signals can be used to determine the on/oft characteristics, the luminosity and other optical characteristics of the LED. A lens holder 420 is provided to house a second lens 425, which is desirably configured to co-operate with the output of the first lens (not shown) to change the overall output of each LED. The combined lens holder/second lens are then mounted relative to the LED/first lens combination, desirably by fixing the lens holder to the lead frame to which the LED is fixed. The use of such a compound lens arrangement is advantageous in that the light output from the LED can be adjusted to provide a more distributed pattern which when viewed from the front of the fire is a more realistic effect than what would be achieved without the second lens. In preferred implementations the output pattern of the LED is changed from the substantially circular pattern that is provided by the first lens to a rectangular pattern as an output from the second lens. If a circular pattern was used there would be regions of high illumination and low illumination across the screen, whereas using the second beam shaper it is possible to distribute the intensity across the screen. This serves to also increase the area of screen occupied by the flames generated.

The specifics of the lens arrangement used for the second lens will depend on the specific orientation chosen for the actual LED. It will be understood that conventionally the output defined by the first lens is a substantially circular output. In the configuration of Figure 4, this second lens is provided with a plurality of ridges 426 on its upper surface that serve to modify the circular output pattern of the first lens to a substantially rectangular pattern. While this pattern could be arranged in a landscape or portrait configuration, when used with the moveable fabric it is desirably provided in a portrait mode where the height of the illumination is emphasised as opposed to its width. When used with the rotatable drum, a landscape pattern is preferable as the width will be emphasised s opposed to the height, which is better for illumination across the full extent of the drum. The change in illumination pattern is possible as the shape of a rectangle can be used to broaden or heighten the output pattern, the two patterns being 90 degrees out of phase with another. Such a change is achievable by moving the relative positioning of the lines 425 on the second lens surface relative to the LED mounted therebelow. By using two or more LEDs arranged side by side it is possible to generate a distributed light source across the back surface of the chassis which provides the desired degree of illumination for the desired flame pattern.

The colour output of such mono-colour LEDs can be modified by suitably tinting the second lens to provide an integrated filter or by using a secondary filter that is mounted above the lens arrangement such that light emitted by the LED is filtered prior to incidence on the rear surface of the chassis. The former arrangement is preferred where there is a desired predetermined colour output and there is a desire to reduce the number of separate components that need to be mounted within the chassis whereas the latter configuration provides a level of flexibility in that the non-integrated filter can be changed subsequent to installation. Of course the two arrangements could be used together to provide a further degree of colour selection-achieved by mixing the filters as desired for the output required.

While it is possible to provide mono-colour LEDs and to use filters with these LEDs to provide a change in the achievable colour output, the teaching of the present invention also provides certain configurations that may employ multi-coloured LEDs. The use of such multi-coloured LEDs is advantageous in that the requirement for physical filters is obviated, as the colour sequence output can be modified by applying a suitable control sequence to the LED. Also such multi-coloured LEDs provide a higher number of distinct colour variations than are available using physical filters.

One of the issues with use of multi-coloured LEDs is however that their output is a mix of the component colours Therefore if such an output is incident on a physical baffle it can cause diffraction effects which may result in a break up of the light output to its constituent colours. The invention addresses such issues by employing a specific lens configuration to minimize such diffraction effects. Figure 5 shows an example of such a compound lens configuration 500.

Similarly to that described with reference to Figure 4, this lens configuration includes a second lens 505 mounted in a lens holder 510 relative to the LED provided in a lead frame 515 therebelow. The second lens is provided as a microlens or lenslet array, the use of which may minimise any dispersion or diffraction effects that will occur if the light emitted by individual LED's is incident on a surface within the chassis of the fire. The lenslet of the second beam shaper may be considered a matrix of miniature lenses, molded or formed onto a common base. When activated, the hght from the LED is directed by the orientation of the lenses within the lenslet array to a desired pattern that can be used to ensure that diffractive effects are minimised within the illumination area served by the LED array. Electrical connections 520 can be provided to each of the lens systems to provide power and control to the individual LEDs.

By using multi-coloured LEDS such as those provided by (ROB) Red, Green and Blue high brightness LEDs or indeed bi-coloured arrangements using for example red and green that are pulse width modulated (PWM) or controlled in some other suitable fashion, it is possible to vary the intensity of each colour relative to the other as output from the LED. The PWM is desirably implemented using a software routine carried out by a standard microcontroller.

This routine allows effectively any colour to be generated with rapid changing strobe effects, fast and slow colour fades as well as static colours producing in effect over 16 millions colours. This can be used to match the output colour achieved from the LED to more closely match the desired colour that would be expected from a flame.

It will be understood that the use of LEDs provides a number of advantages over the prior art filament arrangements such as: 1) Longer life: LEDs are rated up to 100,000 hours life (over 22 years at 12 hours per day) 2) Lower power consumption (up to 80% less) when compared with existing filament bulbs. For example power consumption using a typical conventional fire is about 100 watts. LED total power consumption in comparison is about 21 watts. 3) Durable (LED modules will not break like standard glass bulbs) 4)

Increased reliability which has the potential to minimise cost associated with servicing and support.

5) Less waste heat produced 6) High efficiency.

7) Highly directional outputs.

Where multi-coloured LEDs are used in the context of the fire of Figures 1 or 2 it is preferred that one or more multi-coloured LEDs be used for illuminating the flame effect means whereas mono-coloured LEDs may be used for illuminating the fuel bed. In the context of the fire of Figure 3 where the LED providing the rear illumination also serves to illuminate the fuel bed, it is preferable that the multi-coloured LED be used in embodiments requiring a plurality of colour sequences.

In all arrangements employing the multi-coloured LEDs it is desirable that a processor arrangement be included within the chassis to provide suitable drive signals for the LEDs. The choice of colour can then be varied depending on the specific visual effect desired. Where used in combination with the changing orientation of illumination such effects can readily resemble the different changes in the life of a fire. Suitably the processor can be used to pre-programme these events such that they are activated concurrently. While the nature of the program may be preset by the manufacturer, further modifications may employ a remote control system whereby the user can select a desired fire type and by activating a suitable control sequence can cause that effect to be simulated. The implementation of such processor controls of LEDs and its interface with a remote control unit will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and requires no discussion here.

As discussed heretofore, a fire in accordance with the teaching of the invention employs one or more LEDs to provide internal illumination to simulate fire effects. In the embodiments described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, the fire is of a type that includes a partially reflective screen located immediately behind the fuel bed to provide an effect where flames generated appear to be emanating from within a mid-portion of the fuel bed. Figures 6 to 8 show modifications to such an arrangement.

In the example of Figure 6, a plurality of LED's 605 are provided so as to provide for internal illumination within the chassis 61 0 of the fire. The individual LEDs are provided so as to form an array 615 which is located in a lower portion of the fire 100. In the arrangement of Figure 6, the array is formed by mounting each of the LEDs on a frame 620 prior to installing the LED array 615 into the chassis 61 0 of the fire. The prior mounting of the LEDs on their dedicated mounting frame ensures that accurate location of the LEDs within the fire can be achieved as the location of the frame can be accurately enabled using one or more alignment features. This also addresses the problem of locating intricate items within the reduced space available in the internal poftons of the chassis, which would occur if each of the LEDs used were individually mounted within the chassis. It is much easier to mount the LEDs onto their respective location on the frame when the Irame and LEDs are outside the chassis than when they are inside. This can increase the speed of assembly of such fires immeasurably.

The use of such a frame is also advantageous in that it may be used to provide a heat sink for the individual LEDs such that heat generated by the LED can be easily taken away from the heat source, thereby reducing the possibility of overheating. Such a provision can be provided using a metal material to form the frame. Desirably the LEDs are mountable on a metal core printed circuit board which may then be attached to a heat sink by way of conduction. The heat sink may then suitably dissipate the heat generated by convection.

The frame may also include one or more electrical connections 625, 630 that can be used to provide power to the individual LEDs. Such incorporation of the necessary electrical connections that are required for the operation of each of the LEDs is advantageous where a number of LEDs are provided, as the electrical connections can be tested prior to installing the LEDs wthin the fire, thereby reducing the time required to fabricate a complete fire. Furthermore the electrical connections can be fabricated during construction of the frame-such as using printed circuit board technology to ensure that each electrical connection is provided as required.

Each of the LEDs can be individually or collectively controlled using a electronic controller 635 such that the timing sequence can be altered as desired. This can provide varying visual effects which provide improved aesthetics to the viewing used.

In the orientation shown in Figure 6, the mounted LED array is provided below a fuel bed 650, in a lower portion 640 of the fire, and shine upwardly to illuminate a lower surface of that fuel bed. While the individual LEDs may be provided by standard ultrabrite one colour LEDs, in a preferred embodiment, the LEDs include one or more multicoloured LEDs such that by applying an appropriate electrical signal the colour output of the LED can be changed. This has particular application in defining the viewed colour of the fire, where the user may wish to simulate an actual burning fire. In such arrangements the colour and intensity of the flames will change during the burn sequence and this can be simulated using a combination of one or more multi-coloured LEDs with suitable controllers such as the controller 635 of Figure 1. Where the use of such multi-coloured LEDs is not practical different colours can be used by providing a plurality of single colour LEDs and either positioning them individually behind different filters or applying different coloured dyes. such as an amber/orange dye to the clear optics in the manufacturing process gives an almost colour match to existing flame effect using incandescent light bulbs. By selectively activating individual ones of these coloured LEDs it is also possible to change the overall colour viewed.

In the arrangement of Figure 6, the schematic illustrates how the LEDs are used for illumination of the fuel bed and no flame effect is provided. The colour sequence used to illuminate the fuel bed may be provided by the use of multi-coloured LEDs as just discussed or by using mono-coloured LEDs with a rotatable filter arrangement 645 which is segmented with each segment providing a desired filter. By orientating the segmented disc relative to the light source below, the light colour incident on the fuel bed may be suitably changed.

While shown in the context of the fuel bed illumination it will be understood that equally such an array could be used for illumination of the flame effect means.

Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative arrangement for generation of fire effects within an electric fire. In this embodiment, a rotatable drum 700 which is rotatable about an axis 710 in a similar fashion to the rotisserie arrangement is provided with integrally formed or mounted LEDs 715 on its surface 720. By patterning the surface 720 with the LEDs in a suitable fashion as the drum rotates the light that is emitted in a specific direction will change. As shown in Figure 8, such light 810 can then be directed through a mask 800-which is suitably provided with a patterned surface of varying transmissivity so as to generate on the screen 180 a suitable flame pattern. The provision of the mask 800 with a flame pattern provided thereon provides for the shape of the ultimate pattern on the screen whereas the rotation of the drum 700 changes the light that is passed through that mask so as to vary the ultimate image. The LEDs chosen on that drum could be a mixture of mono-coloured LEDs of different colours, of multi-coloured LEDs or just a combination of LEDs. Such an arrangement differs from that heretofore in that the flame generating means and the light source are integrally formed and the flame generated on the screen does not arise out of reflection of the light against the flame generating means.

In this context the flame generating means can be considered as including the mask 800 and the light is still directed onto the flame generating means to generate the flame pattern. In this arrangement the light it directed onto and through the flame generating means whereas in the previous arrangement it was directed onto and reflected off the means. As the light intensity in the arrangement of Figures 7 and 8 is not diminished arising from reflection losses it is possible to use lower intensity light sources than required in the reflection arrangements heretofore described.

What has been described herein are exemplary embodiments of a electric fire that provides for one or more LEDs for internal illumination purposes. The use of such LEDs provides for improved performance and characteristics of the fire. While preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the figures modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is to be limited solely by the claims. Where integers or components are described with reference to one figure it will be understood that they can be interchanged with those of another Figure without departing from the context of the invention.

The words comprises/comprising when used in this specification are to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims (49)

1. Claims 1. An electric fire having a chassis including a light source,

   simulated flame effect means for reflecting light from said light source to simulate flames, simulated fuel means to simulate a bed of combusting fuel, and screen means on which to view an image of the simulated flames, said screen means being positioned between said flame effect means and said simulated fuel means, said screen means being capable of diffusely transmitting light reflected by said flame effect means and wherein the light source includes at least one light emitting diode (LED), the LED being controllable using an electric controller such that application of a suitable control signal from the controller defines the output of the LED and further wherein the light source includes a first and second beam shaper, the first beam shaper providing an output from the at least one LED in a first output pattern and the second beam shaper changing the first output pattern to a second output pattern, the second beam shaper being located above the first beam shaper.
2. 2. The fire as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one LED and screen means are mountable such that their orientation relative to one another may be changed.
3. 3. The fire of claim 2 wherein the at least one LED is mountable on a moveable mount, a movement of the mount allowing for a change in orientation of the at least one LED relative to the screen means.
4. 4. The fire of claim 3 wherein the mount allows a change in the angular orientation of the LED relative to the screen means.
5. 5. The fire of claim 3 or 4 wherein the mount is moveable in a direction substantially parallel to flame effect means.
6. 6. The fire of any preceding claim wherein the screen means is also capable of reflecting light from said simulated fuel means so that the simulated flames appear to emanate between the simulated fuel means and an image of the latter means reflected in said screen means
7. 7. The fire of any preceding caim wherein said flame effect means comprises moveable material supported so as to be capable of movement, and means for causing said movement.
8. 8. The fire of claim 7 wherein said material is a fabric.
9. 9. The fire of claim 8 wherein the fabric is in the form of a plurality of vertically arranged ribbons locatable in a rear portion of the chassis behind the screen means, the screen means separating the ribbons from the fuel bed.
10. 10. The fire of claim 7 wherein the means for causing movement is an air blower configured to direct air onto the moveable material to impart movement.
11. 11. The fire of any one of claim 1 to 6 wherein the flame effects means includes a rotatable drum, a rotation of which causes changes in light reflected onto the screen
12. 12. The fire of claim 11 wherein the rotatable drum includes reflective strips having either the same, or different colours, and extending outwardly from the drum.,.
13. 13. The fire of claim 12 wherein the reflective strips are circumferentially arranged about the rotatable drum, the drum being located in a lower region of the chassis below the screen means.
14. 14. The fire as claimed in claim 11 wherein a surface of the drum has regions of differing reflectivity.
15. 15. The fire of claim 14 wherein the regions of differing reflectivity are provided by having one or more apertures provided in a surface of the drum.
16. 16. The fire of claim 11 wherein the at least one LED is mounted relative to the rotatable drum such that output pattern defined by the second beam shaper substantially overlaps with the dimensions of the drum.
17. 17. The fire of claim 11 further including a reflector, the reflector being arranged relative to the rotatable drum and the screen means to reflect light originating from the drum onto and through the screen means.
18. 18. The fire of claim 1 7 wherein the reflector is provided on a rear surface of the chassis behind the screen means.
19. 19. The fire of claim 17 wherein the reflector is mountable such that its angular orientation relative to the rotatable drum is changeable.
20. 20. The fire according to any preceding claim wherein said screen means is a translucent or transparent panel or panels having a reflective surface and a diffusing surface.
21. 21. The fire according to any preceding claim in which said screen means is a single panel having a lightly reflective front surface and a rear surface configured to provide a diffusing surface.
22. 22. The fire according to any one of the preceding claims having a transparent front panel through which the simulated fuel and the screen means are visible.
23. 23. The fire according to claim 22 wherein said transparent front panel is tinted so that the simulated fuel and the screen means are substantially obscured when the source of light is extinguished.
24. 24. The fire according to claim 22 or 23 wherein the front panel is both transparent and reflective whereby multiple front-to-back images of the simulated fuel means are provided and the simulated flames appear to emanate from different regions in an extended bed of fuel.
25. 25. The fire of claim 22 wherein a front surface of the transparent front panel is at least partially reflective such that a user may view themselves in the panel on occasions when the light source is off.
26. 26. The fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein LED and screen means are mountable such that their orientation relative to one another may be changed, a changing in the orientation of the LED relative to the screen means provides for a subsequent altering of the height of the viewed flame.
27. 27. The fire as claimed in claim 26 wherein a change in the orientation is provided by a movement of the at least one LED along a vertical path within the chassis of the fire.
28. 28. The fire as claimed in claim 27 wherein the relative orientation is controllable using the controller.
29. 29. The fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the light source includes at least one LED useable to illuminate the fuel bed.
30. 30. The fire as claimed claim 29 wherein the at least one LED for the fuel bed and for the screen means are different.
31. 31. The fire as claimed in claim 30 wherein the at least one LED used to illuminate the screen means is mountable in a rear portion of the chassis, the at least one LED used to illuminate the fuel bed is mountable in a front portion of the chassis below the fuel bed.
32. 32. The fire as claimed in any preceding claim including a plurality of LEDs, the LEDs being arranged within the chassis so as to provide a distributed source of illumination for the simulated flame effect means.
33. 33. The fire as claimed in claim 32 wherein each of the LEDs can be individually or collectively controlled using the controller
34. 34. The fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the at least one LED is provided on a lead frame, the second beam shaper being provided in a holder that is mountable on the lead frame.
35. 35. The fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second beam shaper is configured to provide for a modification of the output pattern from the first lens to a substantially rectangular output pattern.
36. 36. The fire as claimed in any preceding claim including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for internal illumination of the fire so as to achieve lighting of one or more of a flame effect or a fuel bed portion of the fire, the plurality of LED's being provided so as to form an array, each of the LEDs being mountable on a frame prior to installing the LEDs into the chassis of the fire.
37. 37. The fire of claim 36 wherein the chassis includes one or more one or more alignment features which cooperate with the frame to achieve accurate location of the LED array within chassis.
38. 38. The fire as claimed in claim 36 or 37 wherein the frame provides a heat sink for the individual LEDs such that heat generated by the LED can be easily taken away from the heat source.
39. 39. The fire as claimed in claim 36 wherein the frame is fabricated from a metal.
40. 40. The fire as claimed in claim 36 wherein the frame includes one or more electrical connections that can be used to provide power to the individual L F Ds.
41. 41. The fire as claimed in claim 40 wherein the frame is provided as a metal core printed circuit board.
42. 42. The fire as claimed in any preceding claim including a plurality of LEDs and wherein each of the LEDs can be individually or collectively controlled using the controller such that the timing sequence for individual LEDs can be altered as desired.
43. 43. The fire as claimed in claim 43 wherein intensity output of individual LEDs is controllable.
44. 44. The fire of any preceding claim further including a remote control, the remote control being actuatable on the controller and allowing a user to vary the illumination provided by the light source.
45. 45. The fire of any preceding claim further including at least one multi-coloured LED.
46. 46. The fire of any preceding claim wherein each of the first and second beam shapers include at least one lens.
47. 47. The fire of claim 1 wherein the first beam shaper includes an epoxy coating which encapsulates the light emitting diode.
48. 48. The fire as claimed in claim 46 wherein the second beam shaper includes a lenslet array.
49. 49. A fire substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 7 to 8.