InnoCentive Challenge Name: Dual Use - Off Grid - Illumination Device
Doc. Number: (internal use only)
My Solution:
Detailed Description of the Solution
The Solver's proposed novel affordable dual purpose, interior, self-contained, off-grid lighting device is the "Magnetically Mounted Disc-Shaped Light Diffuser", which is an upgrade of the existing model.
Here are the features of the Magnetically Mounted Disc-Shaped Light Diffuser:
extreme simplicity
magnetic mount to switch between mode 1 (task lighting) and mode 2 (room lighting)
uniform diffusion of light with wide cone angle and no glare
existing lamp requiring no modification except for adding 2 magnets
no change in the switch (fool-proof ON/OFF only)
no additional LED light bulbs required
no moving parts or mechanism whatsoever
retrofit of installed lamps possible
Please refer to the attached detailed drawings for the lighting device design proposed.
Identification and Specification of the materials/parts used are as follows.
1 disc-shaped translucent light diffuser, preferably made of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) plastic, with mirror coating on the back and on the side
2 flat-head bolts/screws made of galvanised steel
2 magnetic elements, preferably rare-earth magnets
Each of the Seeker's Technical Requirements is addressed as follows.
Estimated/Expected performance of the proposed lighting device meets the technical requirement of cone angle of illumination greater than 110 degrees. There is low variation in light intensity due to the use of translucent ABS plastic as the light diffuser, and to the mirror-coating on the light diffuser. Moreover, the mirror coating on the back and on the side of the light diffuser significantly minimises the loss in intensity, if not essentially eliminates it.
The proposed lighting device is extremely simple in design to render the lighting device inexpensive to be built for manufacturability.
Estimated/Expected durability of the proposed lighting device meets the technical requirement of being rugged enough for long-term (> 5 years) use due to the use of high-impact ABS plastic, to the use of galvanised steel to resist corrosion, and to the lack of moving parts. The lighting device, being transportable, is expected to be rugged enough to survive occasional drop from a height of 1.2 m. The proposed lighting device is sealed and water resistant to survive the exposure to rainfall for a short (<= 30 minutes) time.
The additional cost of the proposed lighting device is expected to be less than $1.00 USD/lighting device.
The proposed lighting device complies with all of the Design Constraints listed in the detailed description.
References and Notes
Patent application "Dual-Mode Lighting Device with Magnetically Mounted Light Diffuser" has been drafted by the Solver for potential exclusive licensing to the Seeker. Please find attached the partial text of the patent application for your review.
Conclusion
The Solver believes that the novel Magnetically Mounted Disc-Shaped Light Diffuser will meet all of the Seeker's Technical Requirements and Desirable Properties with concrete support.
