The present disclosure is generally related to light reflection and more particularly is related to an apparatus, system, and related methods for light reflection with grooved surfaces.
A material's ability to reflect or absorb light is often a consideration for use of that material within a product or structure. For example, different types of glass and mirrors which are highly reflective are often used in products which are required to transmit light, such as devices which use laser light. Highly reflective materials are also commonplace with safety products, such as reflectors on vehicles or reflective fabrics within clothing. When light reflection is not desired, materials which tend to absorb light are used. For instance, when it is desired to prevent glare, such as with driving vehicles, light absorbing marking paint may be used on roadways. Additionally, light absorption or reflective materials are often used in decorative elements, such as outdoor sculptures, such as Chicago's Cloud Gate sculpture, which is designed to reflect a distorted skyline view of the city of Chicago.
In many situations, however, there is a desire to better control the ability of a material to reflect light, a direction of light reflection, or other characteristics of light reflection. While controlling the ability to reflect or direct light can be achieved with mirrors or other highly reflective materials being positioned or oriented at the desired angle, the ability to reposition these materials to achieve varying reflection patterns may require mechanical devices, such as mounts, actuators, or similar repositioning devices. Even then, certain reflective materials may not be suitable in all situations. For instance, while glass mirrors are reflective, they are also highly susceptible to breaking or shattering, such that they are not suitable for certain environments.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus, system, and related methods for light reflection with grooved surfaces. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the apparatus, among others, can be implemented as follows. The light reflection apparatus has a first surface with a quantity of grooves therein. A second surface has a quantity of grooves therein. Relative to the quantity of grooves in the first surface, the quantity of grooves in the second surface have at least one of: a different angular shape than the quantity of grooves in the first surface; a different size than the quantity of grooves in the first surface; a different angular orientation than the quantity of grooves in the first surface; or a different unit density than the quantity of grooves in the first surface. At least one light source emits light on the first and second surfaces. As an orientation between the emitted light to the first and second surfaces changes by either moving the first and second surfaces or moving the at least one light source, the quantity of grooves in the first surface reflects the emitted light independently of the quantity of grooves in the second surface.
The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing an apparatus for reflecting light with grooved surfaces. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the apparatus, among others, can be implemented as follows. A surface has a quantity of grooves therein. The surface is formed from a material, wherein the quantity of grooves within the surface are formed by removing portions of the material. At least one light source emits light on the surface. As an orientation between the emitted light to the surface changes by either moving the surface or moving the at least one light source, the quantity of grooves in the surface reflects the emitted light in varying directions.
The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing methods of reflecting light with a grooved surface. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing a first surface having a quantity of grooves therein; providing a second surface having a quantity of grooves therein, wherein the quantity of grooves in the second surface has at least one of: a different angular shape than the quantity of grooves in the first surface; a different size than the quantity of grooves in the first surface; a different angular orientation than the quantity of grooves in the first surface; or a different unit density than the quantity of grooves in the first surface. Light is shined from at least one light source on the first and second surfaces. An orientation between the light to the first and second surfaces is changed by either moving the first and second surfaces or moving the at least one light source. The light from the quantity of grooves in the first surface reflects independently of reflecting the light from the quantity of grooves in the second surface.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
To provide heightened abilities to control the reflection of light, an apparatus for light reflection with grooved surfaces 10, as depicted in
In greater detail, the apparatus 10 may be used to control the independent reflection of light from various surfaces based on different angular grooves 22, 32 within those surfaces. As shown in
The plate 12 may be a structure which has a mounting surface, commonly planar in shape, to which the grooved surfaces 20, 30 can be affixed to or formed on. The plate 12 may have any size or shape, such as being a large size with a circular shape, e.g., such as being 1-10 feet in diameter, or it may be smaller with a non-circular shape, such as when it is less than a foot in width. The plate 12 may be mounted to a mounting device, such as a holder or stand, for instance, one which allows the plate 12 to rotate or otherwise move. Accordingly, the holder or stand may utilize any mechanical or electro-mechanical devices to control movement of the plate 12, such as, for example, bearings, rotational joints, servo motors, actuators, belts, pulleys, gears, or any other device.
The grooved surfaces 20, 30 may be formed from various materials. For instance, it may be common for the grooved surfaces 20, 30 to be formed from a metal which is malleable enough to form a groove within the surface thereof. The metal material may include copper, bronze, steel, gold, silver, or any other type of metal or metallic compound. It is also possible to plate the metal surfaces 20, 30 in a different metal with an electroplating or sputter coating process, such that an inexpensive metal can be used as the main substrate while a more expensive or more reflective metal, such as gold or silver, is provided to reflect light. Other materials may also be used, including plastics, glass, resin-based materials, polymers, or any other type of material. The material used may be selected based on the intended use and design of the apparatus. Additionally, it is noted that the inscribed grooves can be delicate and difficult to clean if they get dirty. To prevent contamination or obstruction of the light reflection, it is possible to seal the surface 20, 30 with grooves 22, 32 under a transparent protective coating, such as a lacquer, polyurethane, or similar fully or semi-transparent protective coating. Such a coating, if used, may fill all or a portion of the grooves 22, 32, yet still allow light reflection from the grooves 22, 32.
Additionally, as shown in
Additionally, it is noted that the positioning of the grooves 22, 32 can be varied. For example, as shown in
Beyond having grooves 22, 32 within rows or columns, it is also possible to orient grooves 22, 32 within a linear or curved path, a concept referred to as path scintillation. For example,
While previous examples utilized a region or portion with parallel grooves therein, such that all grooves within the region reflected light at the same time, the path scintillation example of
For any of the implementations of the present disclosure, the grooves 22, 32 may be formed within the surfaces 20, 30 by any known techniques. In one example, the grooves 22, 32 are formed within the surface 20, 30 using an inscription technique where a hardened implement is moved across the surface 20, 30 with a downward force. In another example, a computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine may be used to precisely and efficiently drag a diamond tipped engraving bit across the surface to form the groove 22, 32. When a CNC machine is used, software can be used to generate a particular design with any number of surfaces 20, 30, whereby the software controls or recommends the particular type of groove 22, 32 within each surface 20, 30. This software can communicate with a CNC machine which intakes gcode to control the movement of the CNC machine engraver. Other processes may also be used, such as chemical etching, stamping, molding, or similar techniques.
As previously noted, the angular shape of the grooves 22, 32 can cause light to reflect from the grooved surface 20, 30 in different directions. As such, by placing a quantity of grooves 22 with the same angular shape within one of the surfaces 20, and a second quantity of grooves 32 with the same angular shape within the other surfaces 30, it is possible to reflect light in two or more different directions. When the surfaces 20, 30 are moved, such as when they are rotated, or when the light source 40 is moved or rotated relative to the surfaces 20, 30, different illumination effects can be created. For example, by varying the angle between the light source 40, the surfaces 20, 30, and the viewer, different sections of the surfaces 20, 30 can be made to appear to light up. In other words, the light from the light source 40 can be reflected at different angles on the different surfaces 20, 30 such that different beams of light are reflected into the viewer's eye based on the particular angle of the light source 40 to the surfaces 20, 30, and based on the characteristics of the groove 22, 32 within the surfaces 20, 30.
In one preferred embodiment, the surfaces 20, 30 are mounted on a kinetic structure (such as a rotatable plate) which is rotated relative to a stationary light source 40, such that as the surfaces 20, 30 move, the viewer sees different light reflections. The result is an animation effect, where the light dances across the surfaces 20, 30 in a visually pleasing manner. Any type of mechanical or electromechanical device can be used to rotate the surfaces 20, 30, such as an electromagnetic motor, a blade powered by the wind or a flow of water, or any other device capable of causing rotational movement. A similar effect can be achieved by keeping the surfaces 20, 30 stationary and moving the light source 40 relative to the surfaces 20, 30.
It is also possible to display non-abstract patterns, such as photographs, text, designs, symbols, or other recognizable elements. For instance, the motion can be programmed to have specific behaviors which influence the animation, such as mimicking the motion of a clock pendulum, providing directional movement instructions for vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or others.
Moreover, other effects can be created by changing other physical parameters of the surfaces 20, 30. For instance, the surfaces 20, 30 may be mounted on an angle or tilt while being rotated, or independent of any rotation, such that light is reflected angularly. It is also possible to configure different surfaces 20, 30 such that they can be independently moved, and where their motion or lighting can be coordinated.
In an additional example, as depicted in the diagrammatical illustration of
Additionally, it is possible that the grooves can be formed within the metal surfaces of items beyond larger, planar metallic sheets. For instance, the grooves can be formed within artworks such as sculptures, architectural structures in buildings, and jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, badges, and other forms, where the motion of the user, the observer, and lighting can create the appearance of glowing, motion, or animation of patterns. These jewelry items may be constructed from metals or other materials, such as plastics or glass.
It is also possible for the apparatus 10 to be implemented as an indicator or a form of communication, for example, where different orientations of light relative to the user and the surfaces indicate different visual or textual messages. For example, a stop sign with a grooved surface could be animated to indicate a train is approaching. Accordingly, any use of the apparatus 10, whether decorative, utilitarian, or a combination thereof, is considered within the scope of the present disclosure. These may include, but are not limited to, safety purposes, communication, ID badges, security, entertainment, education, industrial, or others.
It should be noted that any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, portions of code, or steps that include one or more instructions for implementing specific logical functions in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claim.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/122,326 entitled, “Apparatus, System, and Related Methods for Light Reflection with Grooved Surfaces” filed Dec. 7, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20030167795 | Metcalfe | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20040022066 | Imazeki | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20070068196 | Seliktar | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20150062916 | Takayama | Mar 2015 | A1 |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220178514 A1 | Jun 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63122326 | Dec 2020 | US |