Detailed Description
Fig. 1-3B illustrate an electronic candle 100 according to the techniques of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, an electronic candle 100 may include a sidewall 102 having an upper region and a lower region. A base 150 (see fig. 2) may engage a lower region of the sidewall 102. The upper surface 106 may extend from an upper region of the sidewall 102 to form the upper recess 104. The upper groove 104 may have a variety of different shapes. The upper recess 104 may be shaped like a bowl or a portion of a bowl. For example, the upper region of the sidewall 102 may have different heights around the top perimeter of the electronic candle 100. The upper recess 104 may have a rounded or flat bottom surface. The upper groove 104 may have a smooth or rough bottom surface. The upper groove 104 may have a cylindrical shape.
Projection screen 110 may extend upwardly through an aperture 108 in upper surface 106. The position of projection screen 110 may be fixed relative to upper surface 106. Of course, excessive force may cause projection screen 110 to deflect or change position relative to upper surface 106. However, the intended movement of the electronic candle 100 (e.g., picking or dropping the candle, rotating the candle, or inverting the candle) does not affect the position of the projection screen relative to the upper surface 106.
As shown in fig. 2, the electronic candle 100 may include a base 150. The base 150 may house the batteries in a battery compartment 160. The base 150 may also house circuitry 170. The battery compartment 160 and the circuitry 170 need not be located in the base 150 or around the base 150, and may be located in other areas of the electronic candle 100. For example, the circuit 170 may be embedded in one or more of the light sources 120, 130. The circuit 170 and light sources 120, 130 may receive power from one or more batteries in the battery compartment 160.
A riser 140 may extend upwardly from the base. The light sources 120 and 130 may be located near the top of the riser 140 or at the top of the riser 140. The light sources 120, 130 may include light emitting diodes ("LEDs"), incandescent bulbs, or lasers. In some configurations, a riser is not required. For example, the light source may be embedded in other components of the candle.
The projection screen 110 may extend upward from the riser 140. The projection screen 110 may be rigidly fixed to the riser 140 at or near the top of the riser 140. For example, the projection screen 110 may be integral with the riser 140. The projection screen 110 may be a separate part that is rigidly attached to the riser 140 (e.g., glued or attached at more than one location). By rigidly securing the projection screen 110 and the riser 140 together, the position of the projection screen 110 may be fixed relative to the upper surface 106. Other methods of fixing the position of the projection screen 110 and the upper surface 106 are possible. For example, the projection screen 110 may be secured to the upper surface 106 or the sidewall 102 instead of the riser 140.
Projection screen 110 may be rigid. The projection screen 110 may be formed from one or more materials such as glass, plastic, metal, or foil. Such materials may be at least partially reflective. The projection screen 110 may be opaque, translucent, clear, frosted, or transparent. Projection screen 110 may have a grid surface or other textured surface. Projection screen 110 may facilitate the display of a holographic image.
The surface of projection screen 110 may be planar, concave or convex. The surface of projection screen 110 may be various combinations of planar, concave, and/or convex. Projection screen 110 may have a two-dimensional or three-dimensional appearance. The projection screen 110 may have a flame shape. Such a shape may be static and not change. Projection screen 110 may have one or more projection surfaces. For example, projection screen 110 may have front and rear projection surfaces. Projection screen 110 may have additional projection surfaces. For example, projection screen 110 may have more than three surfaces, each surface receiving light from one or more light sources. Projection screen 110 may have a surrounding surface to form a shape with a significant depth. For example, the projection screen 110 may have a three-dimensional shape that resembles an actual candle flame. In such an example, the light sources may be located around projection screen 110 and may project onto projection screen 110.
The projection screen 110 may be a single color or may have different colors. For example, the projection screen 110 may be colored or patterned to show a simulated wick. To provide the illusion of a real candle flame, the projection screen 110 is darker in color near the area of the intended wick. The projection screen 110 may have different colors (e.g., blue, white, orange, or yellow) to simulate the different flame temperatures and intensities that an observer would expect for a real candle flame. The color may be selected in combination with the color of the light emitted from the light sources 120, 130.
The light sources 120, 130 may be electrically connected to the circuit 170 by one or more conductors 180. Circuitry 170 may include a processor and one or more computer-readable storage devices that store software instructions for execution by the processor. The circuit 170 may independently control one or more different aspects of the light projected by the light sources 120, 130. For example, the circuit 170 can control the intensity or color of each light source 120, 130 individually.
The circuit 170 may illuminate the various light sources 120, 130 with different intensity sequences. Such an order may include a random order, a semi-random order, or a predetermined order. Such an order may include frequencies that are out of phase with each other. The order is dynamically influenced by other factors or inputs. For example, an output signal from a light sensor (not shown) may be received by the circuit 170, and the circuit 170 may then sequentially adjust the intensity level (e.g., increase the intensity at higher light) based on the light sensor output signal. As another example, an output signal from a sound sensor (not shown) may be received by the circuit 170, and the circuit 170 may then sequentially adjust the intensity level (e.g., adjust the frequency of intensity changes in response to characteristics of the received sound) based on the sound sensor output signal.
As shown in fig. 3A, projection screen 110 extends upwardly through aperture 108 in upper surface 106. Although not shown in this example, the position of projection screen 110 is fixed relative to upper surface 106. The light sources 120, 130 may be positioned below the upper surface 106. They may be positioned and configured in such a way that light is projected through the aperture 108 and onto the projection screen 110. The position of the light sources 120, 130 may likewise be fixed relative to the position of the projection screen 110.
Projection screen 110 may have a major plane. Such a plane may be substantially vertical and may generally face the direction of light emitted from the light sources 120, 130. Even if the projection screen 110 is not entirely planar, it should be understood that the projection screen 110 may still have a major plane.
Referring to fig. 3B, each light source 120, 130 may project light (either fully or partially) through an aperture 108 in the upper surface 106 onto the projection screen 110. The light emitted from each light source 120, 130 may be emitted according to a beam width. For example, the beam width of the light emitted from the light sources 120, 130 may be between 30 degrees and 35 degrees. The beam axis of the light emitted from each light source may intersect the major plane of projection screen 110. Such an intersection may have an angle between 20 and 40 degrees. The light sources 120, 130 may project light onto the same side or different sides of the projection screen 110. For example, light source 120 may project light onto a front side of projection screen 110, while light source 130 may project light onto a rear side of projection screen 110. If projection screen 110 is transparent, light projected onto one side may be transmitted to the other side.
Light source 120 may project light onto an area 122 on projection screen 110. Light source 130 may project light onto an area 132 on projection screen 110. The regions 122, 132 may be coextensive, overlap each other, or separate from each other. The regions 122 may have different or similar shapes. The shape may be affected by factors including the beam width of the projected light, the angle of incidence of the beam axis of the main plane of the projection screen 110, the distance of the light sources 120, 130 from the projection screen 110, the profile of the light receiving surface of the projection screen 110, or other factors. For example, a lens, an aperture, or the like may be provided to form a beam having a particular shape. These shapes may affect the shape of the regions 122, 132.
At least some of the light emitted from the light sources 120, 130 may be reflected from the projection screen 110 and directed toward the viewer's eye. For example, light may be directly reflected from projection screen 110 and to the eye of an observer without passing through any intervening material.
As described above, the intensity or color of each light source 120, 130 may be independently controlled by the circuitry 170. By such individual control, a candle flame can be simulated. For example, physical movement and different intensity profiles of candle flames can be simulated without the use of moving parts.
More than two light sources may be used. For example, the light of three light sources may be projected onto one side of projection screen 110. Each of these light sources may be independently controlled, as by the techniques discussed above. As another example, four light sources may be used. Two light sources may project light onto one side of projection screen 110 and two other light sources may project light onto the other side of projection screen 110.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the novel technology disclosed in the present application. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the novel teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. For example, although electronic candles have been primarily disclosed, similar techniques may be applied to other light emitting devices, such as wall candlesticks, lanterns, paper candles, or a tiki torch. Therefore, it is intended that the novel techniques not be limited to the particular techniques disclosed, but that they will include all techniques within the scope of the appended claims.