GB2520579A

GB2520579A - Illuminated picture

Info

Publication number: GB2520579A
Application number: GB1405709.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Paul Waterman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-26
Filing date: 2014-03-31
Publication date: 2015-05-27
Also published as: GB201320868D0; GB201405709D0

Abstract

An LED 7 illuminated picture frame that is battery powered 8 and motion activated. Preferably the activation is via a motion sensor that illuminates the picture for a predetermined time. An audio and/or ambient light level sensor may also be used to activate the LEDs 7 via a control unit. Preferably at least one LED 7 is mounted facing a light reflective rear panel 10 of the picture frame, and the front of the picture has a non light permeable surround (3, fig 1) and an opaque light permeable medium section 2, that may be perforated with small holes 4. The LEDs may be tri coloured.

Description

Illuminated picture.

Background

This invention relates to an illuminated picture.

Illuminating artworks in the home, office or gallery to enhance viewing experience can be achieved using specific additional external lighting, mounted on the wall or ceiling. Self-contained lighting within the frame of the artwork can achieve similar effects, can be battery powered, does not require additional wiring/installation and can be moved easily with the artwork. Motion and sound activation, and ambient light detection can allow automation of the lighting and increase battery life by illuminating only when motion and/or sound is detected in the proximity of the artwork and the ambient light level is such that illumination is required.

A number of inventions have been patented that illuminate artwork. U.S. Pat. No. 0226209 Al, dated Nov. 18, 2004 issued to Ayala, utilises front edge mounted, battery powered, motion, sound and ambient light level activated LED (light emitting diode) light sources.

U.K. Pat. No. 2460249 A, dated Nov. 25, 2009, issued to Whittle, illuminates via internal front mounted LED light sources powered from an external power source. U.S. Pat. No. 5899012, dated May 4, 1999, issued to Crum, back-lights translucent artwork via an externally powered light source. However, improvements in battery life, quality and method of lighting and the capability to better control the illumination in response to the environment/viewer would be desirable.

Statement of invention

To achieve this, low power LEDs in a unique configuration, and a specific medium are used, in conjunction with motion, sound and ambient light level sensors all controlled via a custom integrated circuit (IC) or microcontroller.

Advantages Enables precise control of lighting in response to motion, sound and ambient light level.

Increases battery life eliminating the need for an external power supply.

Allows the use of low cost, small, lightweight batteries, reducing the weight and minimum size of the frame.

Eliminates the need for an on/off switch.

Can be used as a motion/sound and ambient light level activated nightlight.

Adds interactivity to artwork.

Introduction to drawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * figure 1 shows the overall picture frame assembly, * figure 2 shows the LED lighting configuration; and * figure 3 shows the electronic circuit wiring and block diagrams.

Detailed description

To maximize illumination efficiency, artwork is printed on an opaque light-permeable medium such as, although not limited to, l75gsm white art card 2. This can be perforated to increase light transmission and add detail with small holes 4, of, although not restricted to, between 0.5mm and 5mm in diameter (holes can be any shape, artwork 2 and A" shown as an example). The medium is attached to an opaque non-light-permeable surround 3 for support and to provide an area for the illumination LEDs 7 and control apparatus 6, 8 and 9 to be mounted. This assembly is mounted in a frame 1, which can be made of wood, metal or plastic, with external dimensions of 25cm to 50cm x 25cm to 50cm, and a depth of 4cm to 8cm. A forward facing motion sensor and an optional audio frequency microphone and ambient light level detector 6 are attached to the back of 3 and aligned with sensor aperture 5.

Illumination is achieved using low power high efficiency ultra bright white or tn-colour (red/green/blue) LEDs 7, mounted on the back of 3, facing rearwards. (Four LEDs are shown, but this can be increased/decreased for larger/smaller frames.) Light from LEDs 7 is reflected by white or mirrored reflective back panel 10, maximising illumination area and providing a diffuse light source for artwork 2 and perforations 4.

In it's simplest configuration a passive infra-red (FIR) sensor 6 detects motion in the proximity of the picture and triggers a custom motion sensor integrated circuit (IC) 12 such as BISS0001 Micro Power FIR Motion Detector IC, which switches on LED drive circuits(s) 11 for a predetermined time, to power high efficiency ultra bright white LED5 7.

More sophisticated control can be achieved by the addition of an audio frequency microphone and ambient light level detector to 6, and replacement of the motion sensor circuit IC 12 with a low power microcontroller such as a Microchip P1C16F677 8-Bit Microcontroller, and by using either white or tn-colour (red/green/blue) high efficiency ultra bright LEDs. Utilising the low power sleep' mode of the PlC microcontroller, off-state current drain can be kept to a minimum. Wake' from sleep can be triggered by either the motion sensor, audio frequency microphone or ambient light level detector in 6. Embedded software written in either assembly language or C' programming language is used to define the wake/sleep operation of the microcontroller. On wake, one or more LEDs can be driven at a predefined brightness using pulse width modulation (PWM) generated by the microcontroller. This facilitates highly efficient use of the LEDs and allows brightness control, allowing soft fade on/off and other effects such as varying the brightness of different LEDs over time to give the impression of movement. By independently controlling the brightness of each of the three colour elements in tn-colour LEDs a full spectrum of colours can be produced. By sampling the inputs from the motion sensor, audio frequency microphone and ambient light level detector, the illumination brightness, colour and movement react to movement, sound and light levels in the proximity of the picture adding an interactive component to the artwork.

Power is supplied to 9 by battery(s) 8.

Power regulator circuit 13 provides constant voltages for 11 and 12, ensuring most efficient use of battery(s) 8.

Claims

Claims 1 A motion activated, battery powered, LED illuminated picture.
2 An illuminated picture according to claim 1, in which a motion sensor is used to activate the LED lighting for a predetermined time.
3 An illuminated picture according to claim 2, in which at least one LED is mounted facing a light reflective rear panel to illuminate the picture.
4 An illuminated picture according to claim 3, in which an opaque light-permeable medium is used to transfer light reflected from the rear panel.
An illuminated picture according to claim 4, in which the opaque light-permeable medium is perforated with small holes to transfer light from the rear panel.
6. An illuminated picture according to claim 4, in which at least one battery is used to provide power.
7. An illuminated picture according to claim 5, in which at least one battery is used to provide power.
8. An illuminated picture according to claim 6, in which an audio frequency microphone and/or an ambient light level detector is used in conjunction with a microcontroller to control illumination in response to movement, sound and light levels in the proximity.
9. An illuminated picture according to claim 7, in which an audio frequency microphone and/or an ambient light level detector is used in conjunction with a microcontroller to control illumination in response to movement, sound and light levels in the proximity.
10. An illuminated picture according to claim 8, in which tn-coloured LEDs are used to provide full colour spectrum illumination.
11. An illuminated picture according to claim 9, in which tn-coloured LEDs are used to provide full colour spectrum illumination.