Patent Application
20250060106
The present disclosure relates generally to fireplaces, and more specifically to electric fireplaces with one or more panels.
Existing fire systems (such as electric fireplaces or fireboxes emulating a wood-burning fireplace) have multiple elements, where the fire element produces/emulates flames and the ember bed glows. These existing fire systems also allow for multiple rectangular TV monitors to be positioned next to each other in a linear fashion, making the fireplace 24 inches (about 61 cm), 36 inches (about 91 cm), or 48 inches (about 122 cm) long. Such configuration has limited the ability to simulate the stages of a wood-burning fire, restricts the product to a rectangular shape, and prevents other contents to be shown in combination or instead of a fire. Furthermore, existing displays such as TV monitors have the ability to show a fire scene or art, but such displays lack the ability to produce heat.
As such, there is a need for a fire system that can electronically simulate a more realistic fire experience, or can provide a flexible or adjustable fire experience for its users.
A modular electric fire system as disclosed herein offers more choices for the user or homeowner to tune or configure the type, size, and stage of the fire, as well as to enjoy other digital content on the same electronics without taking up more wall or floor space, and also providing another creative outlet or tool for the user or homeowner to shape the fire experience in any preferred way. The system also offers the flexibility of changing or switching its functionality between a fireplace and a monitor, or display, or panel.
The modular electric fire system of the present disclosure extends fire elements from the electric/simulated firebox, primarily in an electric fire system. In some examples, the fire system may additionally incorporate a gas or wood-burning fire system as well. In electric systems in particular, additional panels or displays such as a second display/panel, third display/panel, fourth display/panel, etc., may be connected to the primary digital fire element (e.g., heat source) to create additional fire features outside of the conventional fireplace. In some examples, the additional displays or panels could provide illumination or glow, simulating an ember bed or glowing coals, rather than full resolution video content. This disclosure also offers a modular approach to fireplaces, where form and function may be adapted and added to over time by the user without requiring a construction project or to require expanding the preexisting space availability. The system may also be used a means to tailor the fire experience and to upgrade and/or change features accordingly.
According to one example (“Example 1”), a modular fire system includes one or more modular panels, and a controller operatively coupled with the modular panels. The controller includes one or more processing units and one or more memory units storing instructions therein which, when run by the controller, causes the controller to: detect a number and a position of the one or more modular panels; and control, based on the detected number and the detected position of the modular panels, operation of the modular panels.
According to another example (“Example 2”) further to Example 1, the controller is configured to cause the modular panels to display videos or images that are synchronized with respect to each other.
According to another example (“Example 3”) further to Example 1 or 2, the system includes a heat source, and the controller is operatively connected to and controls the operation of the heat source.
According to another example (“Example 4”) further to Example 3 when dependent upon Example 2, the videos or images are further synchronized with respect to the heat source.
According to another example (“Example 5”) further to Example 3 or 4, the modular panels and the heat source are integrated in a unitary device.
According to another example (“Example 6”) further to any one of Examples 1-5, the controller is configured to control the operation of the modular panels based on a user input.
According to another example (“Example 7”) further to any one of Examples 1-6, the modular panels are arranged to align with two or more separate planes with respect to each other.
According to another example (“Example 8”) further to any one of Examples 1-7, the modular panels are disposed at a predetermined distance from each other.
According to another example (“Example 9”) further to any one of Examples 1-8, the modular panels have different sizes, different shapes, or both different sizes and different shapes.
According to another example (“Example 10”) further to any one of Examples 1-9, the modular panels are stacked on top of one another in a pyramid-shaped arrangement.
According to another example (“Example 11”) further to any one of Examples 1-10, the modular panels have different image resolutions from one another.
According to another example (“Example 12”) further to any one of Examples 1-11, the one or more modular panels include a first modular panel and a second modular panel, the second modular panel is disposed in front of the first modular panel, and the controller is configured to control the operation of the first and second modular panels by showing a first video or image on the first modular panel and showing a second video or image on the second modular panel that is different from the first video or image.
According to another example (“Example 13”) further to any one of Examples 12, the second video or image is a visual extension or continuation of the first video or image.
According to another example (“Example 14”) further to any one of Examples 1-13, the one or more processing units and the one or more memory units are provided as a single unit.
According to another example (“Example 15”) further to any one of Examples 1-14, at least one of the modular panels includes a speaker that is independently operable by the controller.
According to one example (“Example 16”), a method of controlling operation of a modular fire system includes: detecting, with a controller a number and a position of a plurality of modular panels of the modular fire system; and controlling, with the controller, operation of the modular panels based on the detected number and position of the modular panels.
According to another example (“Example 17”) further to Example 16, the method includes: detecting, with the controller, a number and a position of additional modular panels of the modular fire system; and controlling, with the controller, operation of the modular panels and the additional modular panels based on the detected number and position of the additional modular panels.
According to another example (“Example 18”) further to Example 16 or 17, detecting the number and position of the modular panels further includes detecting sizes and shapes of the modular panels, and controlling the operation of the modular panels further includes synchronizing images or videos shown on the modular panels.
According to another example (“Example 19”) further to Example 18, the method includes: controlling, with the controller, operation of a heat source of the modular fire system, and synchronizing the images or videos shown on the modular panels further includes synchronizing the images or videos with respect to the heat source.
According to one example (“Example 20”), a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing thereon instructions which, when run by a processor, causes the processor to perform the method of any one of Examples 16-19.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
The following description refers to the accompanying drawings which show specific embodiments. Although specific embodiments are shown and described, it is to be understood that additional or alternative features are employed in other embodiments. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the claimed invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
It should be understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural components, elements, portions, or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such components, elements, portions, or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (for example, cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the written description.
The present disclosure is generally directed to a fireplace or fireplace system capable of providing digital fire elements that may be extended to additional panels or displays adding depth and peripheral effects connected to the fireplace system or distributed around the room/home, for example.
The controller 106 may be configured to separately and independently control operation of the modular panels, such as the panels 102 and 104, as well as the heat source 114. The controller 106 may control the modular panels based on the output of the heat source 114, or control the heat source 114 based on what is displayed on the panels. The heat source 114 may be an electric heater, a gas heater, or other type of heater, or a combination/hybrid thereof. The heat source 114 may be attached or operatively coupled with one of the panels 102 or 104. In some examples, one or more of the panels 102 and 104 may include a speaker 116 that is operatively coupled with the panel(s) and is controlled using the controller 106.
The controller 106 may be configured to control operation of the heat source 114, detect a number, type, and position of one or more of the modular panels 102 and 104 in the system 100, and control the operation of the modular panels based on the detected number and detected position. The positions may be relative with respect to each other and/or to the heat source 114. In some examples, the controller 106 also takes into consideration the sizes and shapes of the individual modular panels 102 and 104 in the process of controlling operation of the panels.
The images or videos 112 shown on each panel 102 or 104 may vary according to examples or user preference, or as noted above, some panels could provide illumination or glow, simulating an ember bed or glowing coals, rather than specific images or video. In some examples, the modular panels 102 and 104 may have different image resolutions from one another, such as the upper (main) panel 102 having a higher image resolution than the lower (sub) panel 104, since the users may not pay as much attention to the lower panel 104 as they do to the upper panel 102.
As shown in
As used herein, “synchronized” images or videos are timed such that the content of the image or video as displayed in real-time to the users is in some way matching the timing of another image or video as displayed. For example, multiple panels may display the same image or video when synchronized, or the panels may display different portions of the same image or video. In some examples, multiple panels may display different contents altogether, but the contents may be synchronized in the sense that the various images or videos may start or end at the same time, or change to a different image or video at the same time, such as in or near real-time. As such, users may enjoy different unique configurations of the displays without having to reconfigure the displays themselves.
The heat source 114 may be physically or operatively coupled with either the first panel 102 or the second panel 104. The second panel 104 may be positioned or disposed under the first panel 102 which would show the main fire element. The second panel 104 may instead show a portion of an emulated ember bed (with the ability to emulate flames as well as to glow) which may be synchronized with, and visually change in view of, the image or video 112A of the fire that is shown in the first panel 102. As shown, in some examples, the second panel 104 may be narrow and long (i.e., the height-to-length ratio may be less than that of the first panel 102) and may be thin, such as measuring about 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15 cm) in height, for example, thus showing smaller flames that may be illuminated in addition to or independently of the ember bed in the first panel 102.
In some examples, the panels 102 and 104 and the heater 114 may be implemented in a single unitary device, instead of two separate devices, in order to prepare functionalities of both a fireplace and a panel in a single device. A single unitary device may be defined as a device with a single housing such that all subcomponents of the device is enclosed or housed within the housing to form a unitary design.
In some examples, the thicker panels may include additional functionality such as providing a storage space within at least one of the panels. For example, the panels may be part of a box-like structure that is hollow inside to provide storage space. In some examples, the additional functionality may include decorative features such as a “mantel” aesthetic to the fire system.
In some examples, the modular panel 102 or 104 may have non-rectangular shapes, such as circular (round), ovoidal, spherical, hemispherical, etc. In some examples, the modular panel 102 or 104 may not be anchored to the floor like a traditional hearth, but instead may be mounted on a wall or hanging from the ceiling, etc. In some examples, the modular panel 102 or 104 may be wrapped around columns and corners, such as when the panel is made of a flexible polymeric material. In some examples, the modular panel 102 or 104 may be used as a headboard or footboard on a bed, as bathroom mirrors, as exercise room mirrors, or on the blades of ceiling or box fans. In each of the configurations, different shapes may be implemented, providing the modular panels 102 and 104 with ability to fill user-defined spaces that are not rectilinear, for example. Although not shown in
In some examples, the user may place additional modular panels in the modular fire system, in which case the controller proceeds to step 1106 of detecting the number and the position (also sizes and/or shapes, if applicable) of the additional modular panels that are introduced into the system. Doing so may update the internal memory of the controller to correctly reflect the current situation. In step 1108, the controller controls the operation of all of the modular panels based on the updated number and the updated position (also sizes and/or shapes, if applicable) of all the modular panels (i.e., including the original panels and the newly added panels).
In some examples, the controller may control the operation of the modular panels so as to synchronize images or videos shown on the modular panels. The synchronizing may be performed with respect to the heat source as well, wherein the controller controls operation of the heat source such that the images or videos on the modular panels are synchronized with respect to the heat source, in step 1110.
Benefits of the modular fire systems as well as the processes of controlling the same include, but are not limited to, allowing for both the fire and the audio and/or visual display functionality to be used simultaneously with only one system taking up space in the room or wall, for example, when implementing the modular configuration of the panels with respect to the heat source. The audio and/or visual display may be used as a TV or picture frame, for example, and fire may be enjoyed simultaneously by illuminating the fire elements on the ember bed and having the digital content on the main panel or display. Digital fire elements may beneficially be extended to additional panels or displays adding depth and peripheral effects connected to the fireplace system or distributed around the room/home. Such a modular approach beneficially allows a fire system to be tailored both to the aesthetic and space limitations of each homeowner, making a customizable solution for each and every space based on the user's needs.
Also, beneficially, a modular fire system may be placed where the user prefers, as opposed to a conventional fireplace that must be anchored to the floor and surrounded by a large mantel, or a linear fireplace that requires a large rectilinear wall space. For example, a fire system as disclosed herein may be configured to fit in a trapezoidal or triangular space below a set of stairs. The fire system may be configured to fit between tall windows. The fire system may be configured to fit within a space limitation, e.g., in the narrow and long space below a picture window or on a kitchen backsplash. The fire system may be configured such that the entire fire system is shaped like flames.
The advantage of such modular system as disclosed herein includes the convenience of requiring only one system to serve as fireplace and a TV (or picture frame, etc.), instead of two or more systems each performing separate tasks (e.g., one system generating heat and another system displaying images or videos on the wall) which would provide large dead space on the wall if both were turned off or deactivated. Additionally, clutter may be reduced, and the resulting availability of wall space may be free to be used for other purposes. As such, a single (or unitary) system may provide the benefit of being capable to fit inside the available space that the user has, without requiring more space for installation.
Additionally, a multi-stage fire feature may be implemented in the modular panels such that the multi-stage feature can more realistically simulate the stages of a wood-burning fire. For example, in an early stage the fire may be small with only the main (firebox) panel being illuminated, whereas in a subsequent stage the fire may increase in size and luminosity on the main panel while an ember bed is illuminated on a secondary panel (as shown in
Furthermore, modular addition of panels provides the benefit of allowing the addition of functional elements (such as a phone charging port or a module that could keep your coffee warm), décor updates/upgrades, power and performance upgrades including heating, or other functionality (e.g., higher resolution, better communication, new digital content, security, gamification, etc.) to the system without requiring extensive hardware changes. Modular components also facilitate ease of repair, limit waste by having the user only replace necessary components instead of the entire system, protect future compatibility, increase the level of customization, allow for more rapid development through open source components, allow self-assemble and maintenance by the end user, allow end users to create their own customizations, and potentially increase shipping efficiency due to ease of assembly and disassembly.
Numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the preceding description, including various alternatives together with details of the structure and function of the devices and/or methods. Moreover, the scope of the various concepts addressed in this disclosure has been described both generically and with regard to specific examples. The disclosure is intended as illustrative only and as such is not intended to be exhaustive. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made, especially in matters of structure, materials, elements, components, shape, size, and arrangement of parts including combinations within the principles of the disclosure, to the full extent indicated by the broad, general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. To the extent that these various modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, they are intended to be encompassed therein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. App. No. 63/533,286, filed Aug. 17, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63533286 | Aug 2023 | US |
