Patent Application
20160238235
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of lighting and aesthetics; and more specifically to a digital lampshade which also serves as an electronic display of digital images and non-static motion imagery while emitting visible light.
2. Background Description
Recent advancements in lighting technologies have made it possible to deliver energy efficient, colorful, thin, and light-weight flexible digital displays. Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (AMOLED), Organic Light Emitting Transistors (OLET), E-Ink and various other lighting and display technologies can now be used to create lighting and displays for the lighting and display industries.
The first generation flexible display technology had 16-bit grayscale with a low resolution. Currently displays using this technology, have diagonal screen, and can have the thickness of a sheet of paper. Its low resolution is explained by the fact that color is achieved by adding a filter on top of the grayscale screen. These displays emit sufficient light as to be daylight readable.
Flexible OLED technology displays don't need chips to create light, and they only need one piece of glass or even plastic or metal to serve as the substrate. These factors make it a better candidate for bending. OLEDs light up the screen with carbon-based materials that are deposited onto the surface, and that surface can then be shaped. Flexible OLED displays are light, thin, very flexible, and crucially, don't need to be covered in glass, so they can be flexed and twisted into most shapes. They also perform in a very similar way to existing AMOLED screens. Because there's no glass layer, there is nothing to break, at least brittle breaks.
Some of the screen technologies use all plastic, based on organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), and the main structure of the backplane is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). On top of that are the OTFTs, made of other plastics.
Another flexible display technology uses a backplane which is then laminated to E Ink's frontplane, harnessing its electronic ink technology. Due to both the E Ink display and plastic substrate logic transistors, the display is also extremely low power, since it only draws power when the screen makes an update. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) flexible displays have also been manufactured.
Circuit logic on flexible substrate is then bendable or conformable. Electronic components are mounted on, or printed on, flexible plastic substrates, usually made of polyether ether keytone (PEEK), an organic thermoplastic, polyimide, or transparent conductive polyester film. They've been used in watches, cameras, cellphones, and several small and/or portable consumer devices, as well as automotive and aerospace applications.
Applications for flexible color plastic screen technology extend to e-reader displays and to conformable signage or conformal screens in medical applications. The screens' daylight readability in bright and dim light would be a benefit in both of those applications, as well as in mobile electronics.
Some companies have introduced curved OLED televisions with a curved or flexed OLED display. These are the first applications and they are growing.
The concept of developing a flexible display was first put forth by Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Company). In 1974, Nicholas K. Sheridon, a PARC employee, made a major breakthrough in flexible display technology and produced the first flexible e-paper display.
In 2005, Arizona State University opened a 250,000 square foot facility dedicated to flexible display research named the ASU Flexible Display Center (FDC). ASU in partnership with Hewlett Packard finally demonstrated a prototype flexible e-paper from the Flexible Display Center at the university. HP continued on with the research, and in 2010, showcased another demonstration. However, due to limitations in technology, HP stated their goal was to make displays thinner and lighter.
Some manufactures offer color and monochrome plastic flexible displays in various sizes based on proprietary organic thin film transistor (OTFT) technology, capitalizing on their high volume manufacture of organic electronics. These flexible displays are cited as being “unbreakable”, because they are made completely of plastic and do not contain glass. They are also lighter and thinner than glass-based displays and low-power. Applications of this flexible display technology include signage, wristwatches and wearable devices as well as automotive and mobile devices.
What is needed are ways to take further advantage of the flexible display technology for lighting with use for the digital aspects of these emerging flexible logic display technologies. What is needed is lighting fixture technology that can migrate current lighting solutions from the current more mundane but standard lighting fixture solutions to the modern age of digital lighting. Hence what is needed are lighting devices that have added functionality with the usual illumination provided.
The present invention discloses a Digital Lampshade Display system comprising a supporting a lamp fixture with stand structurally coupled to the base and with conventional light fixture on the stand supporting a 3D conformable surface flexible display. The base lighting unit contains electronic components and circuit logic which controls the functions for the flexible 3D conformable surface display having external and internal surfaces for light emission, the display surface configured as a lampshade surrounding the conventional light fixture. The display light emitting layers are coupled to a flexible display interface (FDI) logic for digital image screen loads and other display control functions, which is electronically controlled by the flexible display interface, electronically coupled to a main control console, the display interface having components and logic for digital communication coupling the display to the control console. The main control console having executable digital control components, communication protocol and logic coupled to a wire/wireless communication facility for loading, displaying, downloading and storing image files from digital media sources, the communication facility with electronic components, communication protocol and logic for loading and downloading digital images to the control console for routing onto the flexible display interface and or media storage, and the lampshade display physically configured for emitting diffuse light and displaying of images via the wired or wireless communication facility electronic components and logic, whereby a flexible display screen for emitting diffuse light as a lampshade around a conventional light can also display downloaded static and video images.
Specific embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures.
In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
The typical lampshade is a fixture that covers the light bulb on a lamp to diffuse the light it emits. Most lampshades are conical or cylindrical in form, and may be mounted onto floor, desk, wall or tabletop lamps, as well as suspended lamp models. Lampshades can be made from a wide range of materials, including glass. Beyond its practical purpose, significant emphasis is also usually given to the lampshade's decorative and aesthetic features. An object of the invention is to migrate from the standard lighting solution to the digital age of lighting solutions.
The present invention discloses the world's first Digital Lampshade Display using new lighting and display technologies from flexible display substrates.
It is an object of the invention to provide a lighting technology that will provide a for the standard lamp fixtures, which may be operated with or without a light bulb in a standard lamp.
It is another object of the invention to generate emitted light from both its exterior and interior surface(s).
It is another object of the invention for a lamp that will provide the user with a display upon which digital images and non-static motion imagery may be viewed.
It is yet another object of the invention allow the user to download images and motion imagery onto the lamp and to change a room's decorative and aesthetic feel.
It is an object of the invention to provide the user the ability to change the color, design, pattern, and illumination characteristics of their lampshade(s) to suit their needs.
The invention light emanates from digital lampshade display system (DLD) which is flexible and conformable to 3D surfaces of many types. The DLD contains one or more USB connectors to connect to a companion lamp when not being used with a standard lamp. The DLD will also have a Wireless Communication Facility which will pair with a companion Wireless Remote Control which will allow the user to use the Wireless Remote Control to control the DLD's functions such as: tuning the lampshade ON or OFF, adjusting brightness and/or contrast, selecting images to display, etc. The DLD will have logic and programming to allow the user to download a software application from the Internet in order to interact/interface with the lampshade. Where the regular lamp is also used in the lamp fixture, the DLD will have a layer of fabric on its exterior surface; allowing the lampshade to function as a regular lampshade when the power is turned off.
The Digital Lampshade Display 101 may be made from Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (AMOLED), Organic Light Emitting Transistors (OLET), using organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) with backplane of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Flexible E-Ink or any other flexible display technology. The light emitting layers are interfaced with flexible display interface (FDI) logic for digital image screen loads from various sources. The display surface is conformable around the exterior of a given 3D surface shape. In this embodiment, the Digital Lampshade Display 101 may contain at least one emissive layer on the Exterior Surface 102, of the Digital Lampshade Display; and at least one emissive layer on the Interior Surface 103, of the Digital Lampshade Display. In this embodiment, the Digital Lampshade Display may emit light from both its Exterior Surface 102 and its Interior Surface 103. In this embodiment, the user may upload and view both static and/or full motion digital imagery on the Exterior Surface of the Digital Lampshade Display. In this embodiment, the Digital Lampshade Display may be operated with or without the use of a light bulb.
USB or other communication standard devices couple to a companion lamp. The Wireless Communication Facility provide the functionality to pair with a companion Wireless Remote Control which will allow the user to use the Wireless Remote Control to control the DLD's functions such as: turning the lampshade ON or OFF, adjusting brightness and/or contrast, selecting images to display, etc. DLD base housing contains a Wired or Wireless Communication Facility which comprise the electronic components and logic to provide communication and user function and control to download images from the Internet and other external sources in order to interact/interface with the lampshade. In this embodiment, the Digital Lampshade Display may be operated optionally with conventional light bulb.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has a base lighting unit for housing electronic components and circuit logic, a supporting a lamp fixture stand structurally coupled to the base and with conventional light fixture on the stand also supporting and coupled to a 3D conformable surface flexible display, the flexible 3D conformable surface display having external and internal surfaces for light emission, the display surface configured as a lampshade surrounding the conventional light fixture, the light emitting layers are coupled to a flexible display interface (FDI) logic for digital image screen loads and other display control functions, the flexible display interface is coupled a main control console, the display interface having components and logic for digital communication coupling the display to the control console, the main control console with executable digital control components, communication protocol and logic is coupled to a wire/wireless communication facility for handling user interface both local and remote, loading, displaying, downloading and storing image, video and audio files from digital media sources, the communication facility with electronic components, communication protocol and logic for loading and downloading digital images via wired or wireless standard protocol communication facility electronic components and logic to the control console for routing onto the flexible display interface and or media storage, and the lampshade display physically configured for emitting diffuse light and for displaying images and video received via the communication facility,
In another embodiment, the Digital Lampshade Display may contain a semi-transparent layer of fabric or any other viable type of decorative material, which may be wrap coupled over the Exterior Surface of the Digital Lampshade Display. In this embodiment, the semi-transparent layer of wrapping fabric may give the Digital Lampshade Display the appearance of a normal lampshade when it is powered OFF. In another embodiment, the static and/or full motion digital imagery which is displayed on the Exterior Surface of the Digital Lampshade Display may be visible through the semi-transparent layer of fabric when the Digital Lampshade Display is powered ON.
In another embodiment, the Companion Lamp may also contain a Wireless Communication Facility 403. In one embodiment, the user may pair their computer or Smartphone to the Wireless Communication Facility via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or any other viable wireless frequency. In this embodiment, the user may upload or remove static and/or full motion digital imagery to/from the Companion Lamp. In another embodiment, the user may use their paired computer or Smartphone to access the internet, where preset images or animations may be downloaded from a specific website to be viewed on the Digital Lampshade Display. In another embodiment, the user may download or stream a specific theme, such as a movie theme, to be displayed on the Digital Lampshade Display. In another embodiment, the user may engage their paired computer or Smartphone to control the Digital Lampshade Display's functions. These functions are typical display functions such as turning the display ON/OFF, selecting display brightness, selecting images to display, etc.
In another embodiment, the Companion Lamp may also contain a Data Port 404 such as a memory card reader or any other standard type of media reader. In this embodiment, the user may use the Data Port to load images, patterns, video files, etc. onto the Companion Lamp storing logic.
In another embodiment, the Companion Lamp embodiment may also contain a Touch Sensitive Illuminated Control Pad 404. In this embodiment, the user may touch the Touch Sensitive Illuminated Control Pad with a finger to adjust the lighting level of the Digital Lampshade Display and/or the light bulb.
In another embodiment, the Retro-fit Digital Lampshade Display may contain a Touch Sensitive Illuminated Control Pad 704. In one embodiment, the user may touch the Touch Sensitive Illuminated pad 704 in pre-set ways for control, tapping once, twice, trice, etc for diming, increasing light, turning off/on, respectively, etc to adjust the lighting level of the Digital Lampshade Display and/or the light bulb.
In another embodiment, the Retro-fit Digital Lampshade Display may contain a Rigid Frame 705, which may be rigidly coupled to the Wireless Communication Facility and may support the Retro-fit Digital Lampshade Display. In one embodiment, the Rigid Frame 705 may be made from metal, plastic, composite or any other viable lampshade physical supporting material. In another embodiment, the Rigid Frame 705 may be hollow tube to allow for the storing of electrical and data wiring to provide electrical and electronic connectivity to the Retro-fit Digital Lampshade Display from logic and programming components for the transferring of electronic images to be displayed on the Exterior Surface of the Retro-fit Digital Lampshade Display.
In another embodiment, the Retro-fit Digital Lampshade Display may contain a female Threaded Light Socket 706 for insertion of conventional legacy light bulb into the Threaded Light Socket to provide additional illumination to that of the Retro-fit Digital Lampshade Display. In another embodiment, the user may inset a light bulb into the femalae Threaded Light Socket 706 to provide illumination without the use of the Retro-fit Digital Lampshade Display.
In an embodiment, the DLD system integrated components will include DLD integrated components and facilities to upload and save music to the Built-in Alarm Clock via Data Port 903. In this embodiment, the Data Port may be a USB Port, mini USB, micro USB, memory card reader, or any other viable data port technology.
In another embodiment, the Tabletop Lamp integrated utilities may contain a Cradle 904, to provide a Smartphone docking station, Cell Phone, MP3 Player, intercomm, stereo, etc. to the Tabletop Lamp. In this embodiment, the user may through remote or console 905 access audio files which they have stored on their docked Smartphone, Cell Phone, MP3 Player, etc. for playing audio files through the Tabletop Lamp's Speaker(s) 905. In another embodiment, the user may set the Tabletop Lamp to alarm and play audio files from their docked Smartphone, Cell Phone, MP3 Player, etc. In another embodiment, the Built-in Alarm Clock may be set to automatically synchronize to any alarm that is set on the user's docked Smartphone, cell phone, MP3 Player, alternate audio device, etc.
Tabletop Lamp base houses electronic components couple Control Console Button(s) 906, for typical functionality to control or adjust any audio being played on the Tabletop Lamp. The control interface can be of the touch screen type with touch tapable buttons and analogous with a smartphone touch screen interface. The user may alternatively control or adjust any audio being played on the Tabletop Lamp with a wireless remote.
In another embodiment, the Tabletop Lamp will contain a Cradle 904 for docking various consumer devices such as a Smartphone, Cell Phone, MP3 Player, etc. to the Tabletop Lamp. In this embodiment, the user will access audio files through the standard interfaces and logic for retrieving stored audio on their docked Smartphone, Cell Phone, MP3 Player, etc. For playing of those audio files through the Tabletop Lamp's Speaker(s) 905. In another embodiment, the user may set the Tabletop Lamp to alarm and play audio files from their docked Smartphone, Cell Phone, MP3 Player, etc. In another embodiment, the Built-in Alarm Clock may be set to automatically synchronize to any alarm that is set on the user's docked Smartphone, Cell Rhone, MP3 Player, etc.
In another embodiment, the user may use Console Control Button(s) 906, to control or adjust any audio being played on the Tabletop Lamp. In another embodiment, the user may control or adjust any audio being played on the Tabletop Lamp with a wireless remote.
In another embodiment, the base will house logic and components to provide access to photos and/or video files which they have stored on docked Smartphone, Cell Phone, MP3 Player, etc. For display those photos and/or video files on the Tabletop Lamp's Digital Lampshade Display. In another embodiment, the Tabletop Lamp will contain standard compliant components and interface logic for programming the alarm and to display photos and/or video files from their docked Smartphone, Cell Phone, MP3 Player, etc. on the Tabletop Lamp's Digital Lampshade Display
In another embodiment, the user may use Console Control Button(s) 906 interface, to control or adjust any photos and/or video files being played on the Tabletop Lamp's Digital Lampshade Display. In another embodiment, the DLD interface will provide functionality to control or adjust any photos and/or video files being played on the Tabletop Lamp's Digital Lampshade Display with a wireless remote.
In another embodiment, the DLD will integrate components, logic, communication standard protocol interfaces to provide for the download and install interactive application software, such as Google Earth for example, to the Orb-Shaped Digital Lampshade Display. In this embodiment, the Orb-Shaped Digital Lampshade Display will have an exterior touch screen interface to provide the user with a three dimensional, interactive experience; allowing the user to touch on selected geographic areas to view data, points of interest, photos, etc.
In another embodiment, the Digital Lampshade Display will download an image for a spherical pattern to be displayed conforming to a DLD sphere shape exterior surface. In one example, the bauble may be a Christmas ornament or any other type of decorative ornament.
In one embodiment, a bauble may contain a Plug-In Module (such as USB) to allow it to be quickly plugged and unplugged from a cable. In this embodiment, the Plug-In Module may allow the user to connect the bauble to a cable to download static and/or full motion digital imagery. In another embodiment, the user may download static and/or full motion digital imagery to the bauble via Wi-Fi, or any other viable wireless frequency so that the bauble can be installed without the cable.
In another embodiment, the bauble(s) may be suspended together from a cable. In one embodiment, one end of the cable may be plugged into an electrical outlet, while the rest of the cable may be hung on/around a Christmas tree. In this embodiment, power may be provided to the bauble(s) to display the static and/or full motion digital imagery.
In another embodiment, the bauble may contain an Internal Battery with an Internal Battery which may be charged/recharged when the bauble is plugged into the cable. In another embodiment, when the Internal Battery is fully charged, the user may disconnect the bauble(s) from the cable and hang them up anywhere. In this embodiment, the disconnect bauble may display static and/or full motion digital imagery for as long as the Internal Battery maintains a charge.
Therefore, while the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this invention, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
