WO2009069076A2

WO2009069076A2 - Electronic tile

Info

Publication number: WO2009069076A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/054946
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Ramaioli
Original assignee: Francesco Ramaioli
Priority date: 2007-11-26
Filing date: 2008-11-25
Publication date: 2009-06-04
Also published as: EP2286147A2; ITPV20070020A1; WO2009069076A3

Abstract

A electronic tile implements variable colour and/or brightness and/or temperature. This tile is inserted in a system of several identical tiles which covers a surface. A special tile controls the system parameters such as colour, brightness, temperature, thus colouring and conditioning the surface and/or the environment at will. Every single tile and each sub-part of it can be indipendently controlled. The tile implements the above mentioned functionalities without any wiring. At least one tile has to be connected to the electrical supply.

Description

ELECTRONIC TILE

Introduction

Home automation is massively diffusing into our houses.

The house of the future can't lack this invention of furnishingss, lighting, particularly evocative visual communication and thermal adjustment of rooms.

Thanks to the easiness of application of imagination and personal art that this new tool allows, architects and designers' imagination will have more possibilities of expression. This invention can also be modified at will and/or afterwards without structural intervention requirement, and without the need of workers or manpower intervention.

This find concern with the lighting, the colouring, the variability of colour and/or brightness' parameters of a room or an area in which it is applied, both individually and in combination. It is also possible to influence the thermal conditions of an area. The continuous variation of brightness and colour can also allow the implementation of moving pictures and colours. The reproduction of images and colours can simulate, for example, the colours and the drawings of classical ornaments of a bathroom or a kitchen, which are normally covered with standard ceramic tiles, that can be replaced by this innovative type of tiles.

APPLICATIONS OF THIS FOUND

This invention can be used to decor furnishings, both of the inner and the exterior surface of buildings, whether residential or of other gender and use.

Moreover, it is particularly suitable to replace the common ceramic tiles, adding functionality of variability in the colour, brightness, lighting, and air-conditioning' parameters. It can also be used to create screens or to set up advertising signs.

KNOWLEDGE AND DIFFERENCES

There are many products and patents that are apparently very similar to this invention, even though they are radically and fundamentally different from this one. There are many types of wall screens, even very large whose pixels are easy to see from close up. Every pixel is controlled as the pixels of a digital screen, through a common complex electronics that direct them. However, on the contrary of this founding, large screens are not products sold (and made)as a single independent pixel(or limited aggregation of pixels). Indeed, thanks to this invention, it will be possible to sell and/or create a single pixel.

There are also wall lights, which are used to create advertising signs and images in exhibitions or on skyscrapers. Nevertheless, even these products differ from this invention, because these wall lights, besides being physically and generally a unique product, are produced in large standard sizes. As a consequence, on the contrary of this invention, they require big spaces and can hardly be placed in a room. There are also other tiles that integrate light sources but, even though they are colored and can change thanks to knobs or limited controls, they are simply points of light. Here below the most interesting patents are cited, even though they are completely different from this invention: US2008266843, WO2008104936, TW318799, GB2442977, US2008048200, CN200958274, GB2438636, HU0600090, DE102006015437, DE102006014800, CN2913842, KR20070014839, WO2007042547, WO2007037712, KR20040104299.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This invention is a product or a system consisting of one or more parallelepipeds, from now on generically called "tile" (or "tiles"), that, alone or in combination with similar elements, creates the coloring and/or the lighting of an area and/or a surface.

This invention consists of an innovative kind of tile or combination of tiles having the characteristics described in this text.

The control (also in real time) of the single tiles, allows and create the mix of the colours and/or of the movements and/or of the brightness of the surface composed by combinations of tiles, which follow the orders given by the controller component.

Every single tile can be uniquely identified and/or can be identified (also later) according to the assembly or gluing position and/or the programming.

This invention can be compared and used (eg attached) as a standard ceramic tile, thanks to both its size and for its physical and mechanical features. Therefore, it can be easy handled by a mason and/or a tiler with no particular difficulty, since it does not require any wiring. Hence, it does not require the intervention of an electrician, which will be useful in more advanced stages of the implementation, to connect at least one tile to the supply. As a consequence, the tools and the ways of working do not change, thus making easier the use and the diffusion of this invention.

The combination of the elements of this invention, applied to a wall, transforms the covered areas in fixed bright screens and/or in colorable and/or colored walls. It is possible to program the variation of the colour and/or of the brightness and/or of the reflection, and even to visually reproduce movements (eg moving pictures). The coloring can imitate both the painting that is normally present on the walls, and the standard ceramic tiles, with or without any decorations which can be inserted even in the intermediate layers of the tile.

Decorations may not be visible until a suitable level of light intensity is reached. Moreover, since this invention can be applied to any surface, it is possible to transform the surface into a complex scene, for example it is possible to insert thes elements in the forniture in order to communicate and visualize everything the final user desires. It is possible to design the colouring and/or the brightness of a bathroom or a kitchen, and to change the colours and the ornaments at will, even using pictures in motion, and even as a function of changing external factors: the coulour and/ or brightness can change at sunset.

A particular application is to hide a building by imitating the landscape behind it. Imagine for example a skyscraper with this invention applied to its surface, and a camera that record the landscape behind it (eg hills). If later these images are reproduced on the skyscraper surface by means of this invention, the result will be the visual vanishing of the skyscraper.

It is possible to keep the colouring and/or the lighting and the decorative drawings for years or at will. Then they can be changed with a very simple informatics procedure (eg a change control software) which can be done in different ways, as described in this text.

The tile can reproduce more elements of decoration, even the permanent ones, in order to create more ornaments which are visible for example only when the light sources of the tile are turned ON.

There are several ways to implement this innovation (the find), such as for example by the applying one or more light sources, controlled and spread within and/or on the sides of the tile, or integrated inside it. Thanks to different suggested technologies, such as those which use the transflective areas, electroluminescent sources, OLED, LED, LCD, TFT and so on, it is possible to change the colours and/or the brightness. It is almost always required an homogenization strategy of the colours and/or of the light distribution, as explained in this text.

If we compare asset of these innovative tiles to a screen, every single tile can be assimilated to at least one pixel of that screen. The single tile, if made in the best way, forms a set of four independent pixels, called in this article "small tiles", which compose the tile.

The pixel created in this way, can also have a considerable size, equal to ¹A (a quarter) of the tile measures. The low resolution of a large pixel seen from close up is enough to produce a suitable effect of colour, shining and motion. The size of the pixel is determined by the desired resolution and/or by the desired number of pixels per tile. The size of the tile, or of the small tiles which compose it, can be made suitably small. Also the tile made with a single pixel can be brilliantly used as part of the furniture and/or as a screen.

PROBLEMS SOLVED BY THIS INVENTION

Besides creating colouring, lighting and conditioning effects, this invention solves other problems, such as: 1) easy applicability to a wall as the ceramic tiles that is going to replace;

2) suitable thickness and size which allow it to be compared and used as the standard ceramic tiles;

3) particularly effective in solving wiring problems since it does not require any complex electric wiring that would make impossible the implementation of the tiles system on the walls. Thus this invention can be easy and quickly attached to the surfaces;

4) its characteristics of duration and of reliability permit to avoid substitution interventions for a reasonable time;

5) it can be used by ordinary workers of the building sector (Floor tiler), since no special expertise for the assembly is required; 6) all the tiles are equal, except at least one that is used to supply and/or control the set of tiles;

7) tiles can be cut as the standard tiles, allowing to cover the desired areas of application;

8) tiles can be drilled as the standard tiles, in order to allow the introduction of other furnishings, such as an hook and a towel rail of a bathroom, a mirror and so on;

9) it can be easily replaced in case of break or malfunctions. This characteristic is particularly useful when this invention is applied to screens or advertising signs. If necessary, the replacement of the burn pixels is allowed. Indeed, this invention can be used to create screens of arbitrary size and shape, even very big ones, and by simply attaching the tiles to any kind of surface.

This invention also have the following features, resulting from the solving of some problems or which can solve some problems. It can change colour, simulate reference colours (eventually shown), illuminate with lights of different colours, reproduce images in motion or not, and make adapting advertising signs. It has an own system of planning and control, even remotely, a connection system that allows every tile to share the information and the power supplies with the adjacent tiles.

It can also comprise a system of heat differentiation, capable of heating and cooling.

In the list below, all the elements that make up a tile and a system are indicated. They will be separately described in appropriate sections.

-SUPPORT -ELECTRONICS -DISPLAY (application side, interior, surface, transflex led oled) Internal SUBDIVISION - light diffusor -PROTECTION (even with light diffusor functions)- SIMPLE CONNECTION -GUIDED CONNECTION(spacer) -CONNECTOR - ABSENCE OF WIRING -SPACER (even with a CONNECTOR functions)-BINARY SYSTEM supply and bus -LOUDSPEAKERS -TILE SYSTEM -CONTROL SYSTEM - IDENTIFICATION (UNIQUE AND/OR PROGRAMMED AND/OR depending on the POSITION)-SOFTWARE-COMMUNICATION -thermal CONDITIONER.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is made and/or divisible into different identifiable parts , which are linked and integrated in a single monobloc product called tile. The single tile works better when it is inserted into a set of identical tiles including at least a control and/or a supply tile (Fig. 1 dis. 5).

The invention can be identified both in a single tile and in a system of several tiles, thanks to the fact that a tile can be made and sold individually, because it is independent, still achieving its functions in combination with other tiles. In this latter case another additional tile which controls all the others and/or supplies the entire system is required.

Construction of the tile. Construction of the tile.

A single tile consists of different parts attached together, as will be described in this paragraph. The tile is composed of: an element called from now on "support" (Fig. 1 dis. 4 ), for example made of ceramic, that can be stuck to the wall. This part is the generic interface between the invention and the application surface. The most important characteristic of this element is its mechanical control of the retention efforts, but it is also important to dissipate the thermal energy generated by the electronic circuits and/or the visualizer.

There are one or more electronic circuits identified from now on as a part called "electronics" (Fig. 2 dis. 4), which may be placed into different internal positions (eg in appropriate grooves) or on the sides of the tile, or joined to the support, forming one of the layers of the invention, or inserted in appropriate pockets (Fig. C dis. 4).

The electronic devices, or the "electronics", receive and handle the supply and control signals, which are generally shared by all the tiles, and communicate the working parameters to every single tile and its parts (identification, colour, brightness, reflection, filtering, aperture, temperature). These electronic devices are connected to the part called "visualizer " (such as sources of light fig. DE dis. 4) which recreates the colouring and/or the lighting and/or the reflections. As already mentioned, this part can be implemented in different technologies which use LEDs (emitter luminescent diodes) the OLEDs (organic LEDs), the LCDs (liquid crystal display), transflective surfaces, and so on. Any product that can change its state and/or colour and/or light thanks to an electrical or an electronic control can be used. The visualizer can also be integrated in the electronic part.

As a further example of a visualizer system implementation, a tile-side lighting system consisting in a LED of suitable power is suggested (fig. B, C, D dis. 3).

In this case as well, a lighting with one or more triad of LEDs, RGB (Red Green Blue) is expected to obtain all the existing colours by means of an appropriate mixing. It is also possible to use similar multi-color and/or electroluminescent light sources.

In this way, a tile having one or more independent light areas (Fig. A dis. 1) is made. A tile can be for example subdivided into four independent parts (Fig. A dis. 2). It is also possible to add a LED (for example a white one) to the three basic colours LEDs, in order to increase the light power and/or create shades and/or attenuated colours.

The tile can be illuminated from a side (eg Fig. A, B, C dis. T). In this case the light is parallel to the tile's side. It is possible to use only a single side.

It is also provided a tile made with the led inside the tile (Fig. D, E dis. 4) and/or inside the subdivisions (eg the cross division which ideally separates a single tile in four parts), or inside a sandwich system or inside a pocket made inside the support and protection materials and/or inside the diffusor materials.

Convenient solutions comprising circuits that include and/or exclude automatically specific parts to ensure the tile to work properly with electric continuity, even if cut or drilled, are provided.

A light homogenizer system consisting in an appropriate diffuser (eg additional layer), which distributes to all the concerned pixel the colour and/or the light source, can also be used. This diffuser can be made of a system of prisms and/or reflections and/or light guide and/or lens (eg Fresnel lens). The diffuser can work also as a protection layer, but it is also possible to provide a further outer layer, obscure or transparent, with the specific fuction of protection from mechanical scratches (eg further additional layer). The mechanical protection can easily be achieved by using transparent and/or semitransparent ceramic and/or glass and/or paint (eg Fig 3. A dis. 4).

The system, from now on called "tile system" (example of use in a bathroom - dis. 5 and 6), consists of a set of identical tiles, which are interconnected and very close together, and at least "a control system", (1 dis. 5) eventually integrated in one or more tiles made for this purpose.

Another way to obtain and/or made a visualizer: in maintaining the division of the support, the electronics and the display elements as superimposed parts. Thanks to the LCD it is possible to obtain same areas of colour convenient for the display. In this case the visualizer is made of at least two layers. The first one is the surface divided in areas of different colours, for example small repetitive RGB-coloured rectangles as the screen of a computer. The second one is made of an LCD that enables or disables ( also thanks to a hole) the display of some areas of the coloured part. In this way, the colour is reproduced, and can be changed and combined at will. The minimum size of the pixels is due to the below colouring layer (divided into differently coloured squares) and to the size of the area controlled by the LCD. It is possible to obtain different coloured shapes by polarizing differently and appropriately areas of the LCD. A backlighting of the LCD and/or a lighting from above(also reflective) can be required. It is also possible to use coloured LCD (layered or not).

The same way to obtain and/or made a visualizer can be used even with an OLED (organic led) technology. The surface of the visualizer is created by using an OLED. An additional layer is provided to protect the surface from the treatment of liquid cleaning substances and to prevent the delicate surfaces from scratches.

The electronics element controls the OLED circuits, which in their turn can be helped by further light sources from above or below.

Of course, light sources can be chosen among those already on the market, like the TFT with active or passive matrix, or those not yet on sale.

Generic Construction:

The invention can be made up by assembling together distinct and unfinished parts, consisting of: a transparent part combined with a semitransparent or opaque ceramic part, with some holes to insert the light sources where necessary. The light is inserted as an additional layer, together with the electronic control and / or and external controls. The light source can be placed on one side that lights up the lens used as a homogenized light guide in the tile. Suitable binders glue the system layers.

The part (es ceramic part) which contacts the wall (intended to support the invention) is joined to the previous described parts.

This part may in turn have the system of connections, even on more sides, such as springs to contact the adjacent tiles and / or the connector / spacer.

The invention can be subdivided into parts. If for example 2 independent light sources are placed on each one of the 4 sides, a tile is made with four bright pixels, namely the tile has four points of independent brightness and/or intensity and 4 points of independent colour and/or reflectivity.

In this particular case, every quarter of a tile has two sides lighting. The same effect can be achieved by splitting the inner layer into differently colored parts and / or into parts having different brightness.

Obviously, the degree of subdivision may be increase to improve performance. This way it is possible to implement a screen having variable resolution depending on a) the number of tiles b) the number of internal subdivisions of the tile. Indeed, the number of subdivisions can be from one (1) to a very high number, even greater than the four part subdivision mentioned above. Subdivision can be avoided by using a high definition screen while maintaining the functionality and control network connection (interconnection) without wiring.

It is possible to realize a simple connection: a connection between 2 tiles is achieved through appropriate contacts, for example, placed on two points per side, inside or protruding the tile itself, in the case of redundant power supplies and shared controls. For example, at least 3 contacts are required to connect a control bus and the two power supplies. The connection can be used to form lines and / or columns of power and / or control over different pixels. This ensures the necessary power and voltage signals for both the power of light sources and electronic circuits for programming and control of every single bright point system through connections to intelligent networks (including for example a single bus data) and / or rows and / or columns. Lack of wiring: This redundant system of distribution of signals and power supplies replace the entire wiring system of the tiles.

The guided Connection: The electrical connection between 2 tiles is accomplished for example through contacts and / or the connectors placed on the sides of the tile. Spacers, such as. Cross spacers (Fig. H dis. 2), can be used during the installation process to help and to implement the electrical connection between 4 adjacent tiles by means of connectors and / or contacts integrated into the spacer. The spacer (Fig. d, e, f, g dis. 2) can also help to better position the tile and to improve the realization of the clefts between the tiles (Fig. 1 A dis).

This spacer becomes a cross-connector, which can also bring positive and / or negative and / or alternate power supplies and one or more signals that carry the control of individual tile and / or individual pixels within the tile. This spacer / connector can be used to create inter-tile cleft from 0 mm to several millimeters wide between tile and tile. In case of specific and complex problems, , special electrically conductive driving tracks can be provided, in addition to the spacer or substituting it, carrying signals (eg bus communication) and power supplies, supported or attached to surfaces on which tiles will be applied. Even joints can be provided. The cross connection can be replaced by a connection to the rows and columns, even maintaining the interconnection network of tiles.

The interconnection of rows and columns can be achieved through the spacers / cross connectors, which carry a directional electrical connection consisting of two orthogonal axes x and y.

The control system: it requires the use of one or more tiles dedicated to the control and monitoring of functionalities of individual tiles and the set of tiles. The control tile can have specific tools to visualize the parameters and functionalities. This control system is programmable via keyboard, radio, infrared, smart card, USB memory stick, wi-fi, bluetooth, and so on. The degrees of freedom comprise the choice of decoration, of the timing and the color or colors of the bathroom, or reproducing also the images caught by a camera. The color and / or lighting can be maintained for years.

The control tile can make the controlled tiles to reproduce the functionalities of a screen. It can also incorporate a radio receiver and / or a television and / or a connection to the Internet.

To this end, an appropriate loudspeaker (for istance a piezoelectric one) can be integrated into the tile system, in order to disseminate sound and audible signals. Additional sensors integrated into the tile or the system can ensure interaction between the tile and the outside world, eg. Microphones, temperature sensors, cameras, etc..

Thanks to the control system, it will be easy to achieve simple changes in color, brightness, temperature, for istance in a bathroom or portions of it, realizing sequential change of nuances or through the creation of drawings on the walls and floors on which tiles are applied. It is possible to implement a system which identifies a person who enters into the room and adapts the parameters (color, light, images, etc.) according to personal tastes. Instead of the control tile, any element which can be connected to the tile system and exchange signals with it can used.

The heat

One or more tiles of the system can be specialized to add functionality to the entire system, by inserting a heating or cooling system controlled by a remote tile. The tile/tiles control the specialized tiles parameters in order to obtain the desired environmental parameters. The easiest way to realize the heating is to use electro-resistive elements which heat the exposed surface of the tiles.

A different cooling or heating system is implemented by means of Peltier cells controlled by the same monitoring system which is used to control the lighting and color. Such Peltier cells exchange heat with the environment through the exposed surfaces, implementing a positive or negative temperature, also using the wall as a sink of thermal energy: if you want to cool the air you have to cool the surface of the tile, warming up (yielding heat) the wall below the tile. We provide systems which facilitate the exchange of heat, even through electrostatic ventilation.

The special tile described above always has a control systems that monitor the external temperature in order to suitably control the remaining power required to reach the desired parameters. It produces a thermal gradient adequate to rapid exchange heat and rapidly achieve the desired comfort. It still maintains the concept of invention keeping the concept of "tile network"

It is the best way to develop the invention. THE COMPOSITION OF PHYSICAL TILES The best way to realize the mechanical parts is the following: Four tiles made of ceramic or a suitable material are attached to a bigger white ceramic tile (base). The four tiles have at least 2 opaque or reflective sides which contact the other tiles. The 4 tile also have a diffuser system to homogenize the colours generated by point light sources.

On the four tiles (may be a single one cut into 4 parts), special light guide geometries (eg holography) are included or reported by cutting the tile or through or laser abrasion, even partial separation. A single multi-color LED or several single-colour LEDs can be used to achieve the desired color and intensity by appropriate mixing. The special tile which control the temperature (heating or cooling) can only have that functionality.

The best way to achieve the electronic part is as follows: hi this case, each tile is made up 4 independent points of color, brightness and temperature. Each one of the 4 small tiles has at least one active side. The number of active sides is two so as to better homogenize the small tile color. It is feasible to insert the led between the layer of white ceramic and that of semi-transparent ceramic (sandwiches approach or pocket approach). This electronics realizes the Identification: each small tile is uniquely identified, both initially with a identification code, and secondarily with a sub code allocated for programming or for mounting position programming. There is an initial identification of tile and a secondary identification of 4 points. The set of tiles may be the local network controlled by one or more digital communication bus or analog bus or combined bus. The control string will contain checks, such as the following parameters: number of tiles, number one of the four small tiles, color, intensity, temperature.

It is otherwise a possible to identify tiles by rows and columns. You can also implement an analog control.

The best way to implement the tile control is as follows: at least one of the bright tile is used for monitoring. This tile can be radio controlled (eg bluetooth or wi-fi, zigB or UWB), or controlled by infrared digital transmission network, etc., in order to receive commands or to remotely or locally program the system. Instead of or in addition, a slot out with appropriate connector can be provided to insert a flash memory card (eg secure digital or multi media card) or even a USB connection. Some tools can be added: a power-ON button, the supply for all the tiles, a keyboard programming, a display to dialogue with the user for the setup of the system. The control tile may be the only one that distributes supply to all the other tiles.

The best way to realize the programming and control software is as follows: The main control tile may contain some basic settings such as a timer to plan power-ON, brightness also as a function of environmental brightness or presence of a person, geometric figures in motion, setting and maintaining of the desired colors. You can program tiles installed in succession. The tile will also have the colors and traditional decorations which are mostly used in each room and set those parameters when the system is installed.

The system of tiles can be provided together with an external computers software, for the design of the space in which the tile system is installed considering brightness, color, heating, cooling.

This software will allow to implement the settings chosen by users or architects or customers. It could also implement for istance static figures and / or in motion, wall clocks, scenic backgrounds with sunset, progressive shades for pyrotechnic effects with musical accompaniment. For this purpose a tile of proper thickness with a loudspeaker (eg a piezoelectric one) is provided.

Once the environment has be designed with the computer tool, the project will be saved and transferred to the tile / tiles control. A real time computer tool can be provided to remotely and continuously control the environment. The control tile will reproduce the programmed parameters comprising space, time, color, and / or temperature and / or noise and / or brightness.

Another way to achieve the tile is as follows: support eg. Ceramic (1 eg Fig. A dis. 4) shows appropriate engravings (eg holes or cuts, fig. H dis. 2) on every corner, to allow the placement of electrical contacts (eg. Compression springs); a suitable electrical circuit and / or a printed circuit is attached to the support and connected to each corner of the tile and support, as well as to connect the circuit contacts. Another layer (eg. In laser improved methacrylate to maximize the LEDs light diffusion.) is added to act as light-guide (eg 2 fig. A dis. 4). These are led attached to the methacrylate side to exploit its thickness (eg Fig. Dis.3 B). LEDs may be connected to a circuit inserted between the support and the methacrylate, or be connected to an external tile. Another layer is placed above the methacrylate, (eg Fig 3. A dis. 4) such as an additional surface opaque translucent ceramic, which can increase the homogeneity of the spread of methacrylate and add adequate protection to scratches. The circuit connected to the control bus by means of the tile corners or the LEDs circuit, can be inserted between the support and the methacrylate, and / or integrated inside the circuit on the side of the methacrylate, or placed in adequate housing. The various layers of the tile can be attached by means of suitable binders such as. stickers.

Claims

ELECTRONIC TILE

1) A system consisting of one or more electronic tiles, which have the following characteristics: a) are applicable as the standard ceramic tiles which are going to replace, b) are enough thin to be compared and used as ceramic tiles, c) do not require electrical wiring (simplified implementation and management), .0 d) can change color and / or e) are able to illuminate and / or f) are capable to represent moving images , g) are capable of representing ornaments h) are able to simulate the colors of an environment L 5 i) have a proper system of planning and control, even remotely, integrated in one or more tiles, or outside them. j) each one of the tile system components is controlled by the control system individually or in groups, in terms of color or brightness and / or temperature. k) the information is transferred from tile to tile and / or through an appropriate electrically 0 conductive track.

1) or alternatively or in addition to the above specifications, uses a system of interconnections to deliver signal and power supplies to each tile, using each tile as a bridge to contact the next tiles

1) are capable of heating and / or cooling their surface and / or parts which are in contact and work as a heat sink. 5 m) each one of the tile system components may have a further subdivision in indipendently controlled sub-parts. n) using any combination of the properties listed in sections a) n), (combination that is still innovative, inventive, industrializing) 0 2) The tile can change color and light intensity according to external and/or internal control system and the tile is identified unambiguously and / or by programming and / or on the basis of the mounting position. This tile is inserted into a system of almost homogeneous tiles.

3) a system consisting of several tiles according to claims 1) and / or 2), capable of an 5 environment and / or a surface changing color and / or light intensity, these mutations of color can also simulate movements ( including images) and / or permanent colors and / or obtain changes in the temperature of the surrounding environment.

4) a second tile according to the previous claims can be divided into areas controlled separately and distinguishably, each of these areas can have color and / or brightness and / or temperatures, this tile is inserted into a system of tiles.

5) a tile that has the following characteristics: a) has several areas that can assume different colors, different brightness, different temperatures b) has at least one area as above c) is placed in communication with the adjacent tiles with respect to the transmission of control signals and the power supply d) does not require any electrical wiring e) can be autonomous and independent from the other tiles f) may be part of an interacting tile system g) there may be one or more tile that controls all other tiles of the system.

6) a tile according to previous claims, that uses a system of connecting appropriate shape, even separable from the tile itself, such as a cross, which besides providing a system of spacers for the mounting stage, achieves a possible cleft between two tile, and also realizes the connection of the power supply and / or the control signals between adjacent tiles.

7) a tile according to previous claims can be clearly identified on the basis of a code and / or its mounting position, such that it is possible to reproduce images, figures, particular colors, both homogeneous or not. Thanks to the identification of the position, it is possible to achieve, through appropriate supervision, the functionality of one or more pixels on a screen, by using the surface on which it is deposited as a display and / or as an adequate permanent and / or variable coloured surface.

8) a Aggregation tile according to previous claims, including at least one (more intelligent) tile controls any other tile, in order to reproduce images in motion by varying the colors properly and / or light intensity of each single pixel implemented by the subsidiaries tiles; images can be static or dynamic. Consider for example a hypothetical bathroom provided with this system of tiles, in which different colors are realized, such as strips of different color at the bottom of the walls and strips different colors in other parts of the bathroom, changing color according to your mood or in the presence of the user; the inspection of the programming tile can be done in several local or remote ways, including the use of memory card, Remote control via radio, cable, infrared, keyboard, digital door. The tile control may have a programming procedure to implement the basic functionalities such as colors, movements, digital wall clocks. By means of the control tile, the system can implement the functionalities of a screen a radio receiver and / or television and / or connect to the Internet, through appropriate user-interface systems. The control tile deliver the electrical power to the system of tiles, even as exclusive function.

9) A system of tiles at least one of which is called "control tile" according to claim 8; the control tile parameters can be programmed by means of a suitable software tool, through the connection between a compatible personal computer software. This software decides the tile programming, enabling to: a) obtain all colors and intensities of light tiles , b) simulate the entire system implementation, c) simulate the installation and settings which are available, d) simulating the coated surfaces , e) simulate the achievable and programmable, f) plan and allow the programming of each pixel, represented by each tile or parts of it, over time, space, the color, the intensity, the brightness, the temperature; This software, when transferred from the computer to the control tile, properly control the replication of the determined settings, so that you have the freedom to create environments influenced by the creativity of individuals; that creativity can be changed and adjusted as often as you will; the settings defined by using the computer software tool, even simulated to evaluate in advance the results, can be replicated by the tile system both delayed or in real time, even by means of multimedia connection.

10) a tile according to previous claims, is built as follows: one part called support which can be glued or deposited on a surface (eg on a wall), for example white colored, and should be able eventually to reflect lights. A transparent part of proper thickness, also multilayer, superimposed on the white base to which it is attached by means of appropriate materials, es. gel, plastic sheets, and / or silicone material. A electronic and electrical part which can be placed on both sides of the tile or within the structure of the tile itself. A active lighting parts which can be included within the tile and / or on the sides of it and, if possessing characteristics of directional lighting may be directed into appropriate directions to suitable diffuse and / or mixing of light and / or color; This diffusion may also be realized by means of a appropriate dedicated layer. The active lighting parts may also be inserted into a pocket made inside support material and dissemination / protection material. Active lighting parts can be also implemented in OLED technology (organic LED) and / or transflective technology which achieve the different areas of colors, possibly properly lighted or back-lighted, by means of appropriate polarization of the chemical barriers just like those of liquid crystal.

11) a tile according to previous claims and / or alternatively to claim 10, consists of a support preferably of white ceramic, a layer of transparent or semi-appropriate material, preferably made of glass or ceramic of appropriate thickness, attached to the ceramic. The transparent part is divided into four zones by means of cross sign passing through the center dividing it into four equal squares (if the tile is square), or rectangular shape if the ceramic is rectangular, or alternatively can also be divided by the diagonals or with any other appropriate geometrical shape including mosaic. Each individual part of each division is designed to allow a homogeneous refraction of light in order to homogenize the visible surface without affecting the adjacent divisions that are isolated from the cross and / or division. For example, if one quarter of tile is lighted, this coverage should preferably avoid spot effects. This tile has an external border that runs on four sides and shows at least a triad of RGB LED or simlar sources in two points on each side. On each side there are two Triads, meaning that for every square there are at least two sides illuminated by a triad of RGB which can be also inserted into suitable grooves obtained in the transparent part. Also the lateral bars may contain the electronic control and active and passive identification; The side bars have also the possibility to be connected directly to the fingers of the other adjacent tiles and / or you can adapt to the helping cross element.

12) made a tile according to claim 1 and with an appropriate combination of these claims, that instead of having a glass part, possesses an plastic and / or white and/or transparent or colored part which can be thermally or abrasively etched (eg methyl). Such part is appropriately treated with laser or by grinding or by molding so as to create a very efficient homogenization or diffusion of light. This area can be further protected by other materials es. Ceramic and / or glassy.

13) A tile that alternatively to previous claims, is made as follows: a substrate, a display system using LED, OLED, LCD, transflex materials, some electronic control above or below, a transparent or semitransparent protection, a backlight system and / or an additional light source and the various parts may have a different order of coupling or overlapping and / or additional protections

14) A tile or a tile according to previous claims, which has a capacity to detect internal and

5 external factors such as temperature, presence of a person, brightness outside, the presence of smoke, sound, brightness / color (camera), brightness / color in motion (cameras), and adequately adapt the color, brightness, temperature, video.

15) A tile that works as an independent Pixel or as limited aggregation of independent subsidiary 0 Pixels remotely controlled. The tile is involved in a network of digital / analog control and a network of power. Both these networks are implemented by means of redundant connectors applied to each tile. In addition to the connectors placed on the tile, further connectors (eg cross) can be used to carry the spacers in order to facilitate the mounting and contacting of different tiles, and the realization of cleft between the tiles. L5

16) A tile according to claim 1 and / or 2 and / or 5 and / or 15 or 18, is composed of several wedging elements that can be used during the mounting stage as spacers for the realization of cleft between the tiles, and an unfinished tile, working as a spacer itself, to which the top finisher part is attached during the final mounting stage.

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17) A tile according to previous claims, which is able to operate even if drilled and / or cut during installation or to mount rawplugs, so as to replace the standard tiles( es. furnishings). This tile adopts strategies to automatic exclude damaged and / or short-circuited parts. 5 18) A tile characterized by the fact that it can be produced and sold individually. It implements a pixel which can be networked to the adjacent tiles, working individually and in combination with other tiles. The tile's transmission network may be common to the tiles and used for transmission of video signals to monitor and / or parameters of light and / or color and / or temperature. A tile that works as a repeater signal to signals received by tiles which contacts, 0 through a redundancy of contacts, on top or on side, that avoid any further wiring. The pixel network may also include a limited number of pixels (eg four) to increase the definition of the screen that can be achieved in combination with other tiles. A tile that can use a system of contacts (eg connections spring) direct or indirect: the direct contact provides for a transition of signals (contact) between tile and tile, while the indirect contact provides a spacer that serves as a multi-connector that can deliver the signal to every side of the tile. This way redundancy of signal transmission and / or supply is achieved.

This tile is called " network pixel " for since it is an autonomous pixel (or aggregation of few autonomous pixels in the same tile). It can implement a screen having size and shape defined by the user, the customer or the installator. In fact, it can be achieved by combining any number of tiles, even modifiable in the future

The network signals can be generated by one tile more 'intelligent than others' which is deliver the working parameters (video, color, light, temperature pixel) to the tile pixels network, depending on the location and / or programming and or a unique code. Alternatively, the network signals may come from a external source.