GB2467219A

GB2467219A - Flame effect with moving image on one screen projected onto another screen

Info

Publication number: GB2467219A
Application number: GB1000731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Leslie Watts
Original assignee: Flamerite Fires Ltd
Current assignee: Flamerite Fires Ltd
Priority date: 2009-01-22
Filing date: 2010-01-18
Publication date: 2010-07-28
Also published as: GB201000731D0

Abstract

Flame effect simulating apparatus has a display screen 4, a media player 2, media storage 3 holding a moving flame image, a light source 5, a light reflector 6, magnifying means 7,8 and a second screen 10, arranged so that in use the moving flame image held on the media storage means 3 is transmitted in a continuous loop onto the media player 2 which sends it to the display screen 4, the reflector 6 and light source 5 projecting the moving flame image on the display screen 4 through the magnifying means 7,8 and onto the second screen 10. A glass heat deflector (11, figs 5 & 6) allows light to pass. The display screen may be LCD, TFT or plasma. More than one screen or media player may be present. The apparatus can be used in an electric or gas fire.

Description

Projected Simulated flame effect This invention relates to an apparatus and method for simulating a realistic flame effect e.g. for use in an electric or gas fire.

There are many designs of fire on the market which include some form of flame effect picture (flame image'), usually behind or in front of a fuel effect eg. coal or wood, or a decorative fuel effect e.g. pebbles or glass spheres or a false (simulated) gas type burner. Unfortunately these flame effects are often not very realistic and can spoil the appearance of an otherwise good fire design. The aim of this invention is to create a realistic 3d randomly moving flame image by using one or more LCD/TFT/Plasma display screens and projecting the image to look as if it is burning at the centre of a fuel effect, According to one aspect of the present invention an apparatus for simulating a flame effect and suitable for use in an electric or gas fire comprises at least one display screen, at least one media player means, at least one media storage means holding a moving flame image, at least one light source, at least one light reflector, at least one magnifying means and a second screen, arranged in such a way that in use the moving flame image held on the media storage means is transmitted in a loop (continuously) onto the media player which sends it to the display screen, the reflector and light source projecting the moving flame image on the display screen through the magnifying means and onto the second screen.

One media player can only play a single content of media (The Flame image') supplied by one storage device held internally or externally of the media player. The single content of media can be sent to one, two, three or more display screens but it will only be the same piece of media playing on all display screens. This is done by passing the played contents through a signal splitter.

A plurality of media playing devices each using its own media storage means holding its own specific content can play that content on its own separate display screen. So by using two media players with two different media storage devices you can get two different flame images to be played on 2 different screens and so on. It will be appreciated that a combination of the two types of projection described in the above two paragraphs may be combined to give a variety of flame images.

The media storage means may be in the form of internal memory in the media player or as external memory storage. For example the media storage means can either be memory card based, circuit board based, USB (Universal Serial Bus) based or a form of SD (Secure Digital) card fitted during manufacture or assembly becoming a non removable part of the appliance, although it may also be possible to use consumer-removable and replacement storage devices.

The display screen is preferably selected from TFT (Thin Film Transistor LCD), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and Plasma screens.

The second screen will usually be larger than the display' screen and usually transparent but can be translucent e.g. of plastic or glass. Alternatively it may be a mirror or of metal, polyester or nylon or such like material. A black dot effect may be used on the screen to give a graduating or distorted view. This will usually sit in between, in front or behind a fuel effect, where present, although there may not always be a fuel effect or burner. In a further embodiment a fuel effect e.g. coal or wood, or a decorative fuel effect e.g. pebbles or glass spheres or/and a gas imitation burner may be provided as part of the fire.

Preferably the fire comprises a casing in which at least one of the apparatus is fitted, and the casing is inset into a wall or other building component.

Alternatively the casing may be free-standing, e.g. in the form of a stove, or the fire may be hung on a wall.

The light source may be single or a plurality and may be of any colour e.g. a LED or any bulb type such as a low or high voltage spot lamp.

The reflector would usually be of glass or metal made in such a way as to dissipate the light accordingly for projection.

A single magnifying means or a plurality of magnifying means may be used in the apparatus. The magnifying means preferably comprises one or more lenses including Fresnels, clear or coloured, plastic or glass which enlarge and focus the flame pattern. The lenses may be flat, convex or concave; a simple magnifying lens could be used.

In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a heat deflector: According to a second aspect of the present invention an apparatus for simulating a flame effect and suitable for use in an electric or gas fire comprises at least one display screen, at least one media player means, at least one media storage means holding a moving flame image, at least one light source, at least one light reflector, at least one heat deflector, at least one magnifying means and a second screen, arranged in such a way that in use the moving flame image held on the media storage means is transmitted in a loop (continuously) through the media player which sends it to the display screen, the reflector and light source pass light through the heat deflector projecting the moving flame image on the display screen through the magnifying means and onto the second screen.

The, or each, heat deflector is usually a form of glass, a multilayer dielectric mirror or a coating that separates infrared radiation (heat) from the visible part of the spectrum and is positioned between the light source and the display screen. Without the presence of a heat deflector, the heat generated by some types of light source would be too high and therefore could damage the display screen.

Where the finished product is an electric or gas heater, then a heat source would be provided e.g. the heat source is preferably an electric element from which hot air is preferably moved to the exterior of the fire by means of a fan.

Alternatively, the heat source could be a gas fired burner, but again an electric fan could be provided to direct hot air to the exterior of the fire.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus is itself contained in a housing, as a unit which can be easily removed e.g. when a component needs servicing or is to be used in other fire designs.

It will be appreciated that certain features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are for brevity described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a schematic front view of an electric fire according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the electric fire in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective angled view of an electric fire according to Figure 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective angled view of an electric fire using only one magnifying means Figure 5 is a schematic perspective angled view of an electric fire using a heat deflector.

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective angled view of an electric fire using a heat deflector and two magnifying means.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the electric fire comprises a casing 1 containing a media player 2 and a media storage device 3. Content (The flame image) is played from the media storage device 3 on the media player 2 and sent to the LCD display screen 4. Above the LCD display screen 4 is a light source 5 and reflector 6. The light from the light source 5 and reflector 6 projects the image on the LCD display screen 4 through magnifying means 7 (a Fresnel lens) and 8 (a magnifying lens) onto a screen 10 behind an imitation fuel effect 9 (or burner). The result is a moving, random flame picture which mimics real flames.

Referring now to Figure 4, the electric fire comprises a casing 1 containing a media player 2 and a media storage device 3. Content (The flame image) is played from the media storage device 3 on the media player 2 and sent to the LCD display screen 4. Above the LCD display screen 4 is a light source 5 and reflector 6. The light from the light source 5 and reflector 6 projects the image on the LCD display screen 4 through a magnifying means (lens) 7 onto a screen 10 behind an imitation fuel effect 9.

For clarity the heat source has been omitted, but when a gas burner is present (component 9), then that would be a heat source. Where component 9 is instead an imitation fuel effect, then the heat source could be positioned anywhere suitable in the casing together with a fan to direct the resulting hot air, if desired.

Referring now to Figure 5, the electric fire comprises a casing 1 containing a media player 2 and a media storage device 3. Content (The flame image) is played from the media storage device 3 on the media player 2 and sent to the LCD display screen 4. Next to the LCD display screen 4 is a heat deflector 11, light source 5 and reflector 6. The light from the light source 5 and reflector 6 projects the image on the LCD display screen onto a larger screen behind an imitation fuel effect 9 (or burner). The result is a moving, random flame picture which mimics real flames.

Referring now to Figure 6, the electric fire comprises a casing 1 containing a media player 2 and an external media storage device 3. Content (The flame image) is played from the media storage device 3 on the media player 2 and sent to the LCD display screen 4. Next to the LCD display screen 4 is heat deflector 11, light source5 and reflector 6. The light from the light source 5 and reflector 6 projects the image on the LCD display screen 4 through magnifying means 12 and magnifying means 13 onto a larger screen 10 behind an imitation fuel effect 9 (or burner). The result is a moving, random flame picture which mimics real flames.