DESIGN NAME: Ni
PRIMARY FUNCTION: LED Parasol
INSPIRATION: We never think about designing a product. We just create what we need. During our holiday in Maldives luxury resort, after we dined on the beach and walked back to resort, we came up with a strong feeling that something is missing there and we have to do the job.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: NI, the innovative combination of parasol and garden torch, is a brand new design embodying the adaptability of modern furniture. Integrating a classic parasol with versatile lighting system, NI Parasol is expected to play a pioneering role in enhancing the quality of street environment from morning to night. The proprietary finger-sensing OTC (one-touch dimmer) allows people to adjust the brightness of the 3-channel lighting system at ease. Its low-voltage 12V LED driver provides an energy-efficient power supply for the system with over 2000 pieces of 0.1W LEDs, which generates very little heat.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Interaction is the key for NI Parasol. The OTD (one-touch-dimmer) allows users to adjust the lighting according to the environment at ease with its finger motion sensors. Considering its usage in high-class environments such as hotel and museum entrance, customers may want to avoid other people touching the control by mistake. Therefore we developed a remote control that enables an administrator-only central control of 6-12 piece Parasols at the same time.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project kick-started in February 2013 in Hong Kong, China, while the initial idea came up in 2012 December. The first prototype was finished in January 2014 and was later exhibited in International Furniture Fair Singapore in March 2014.
|
PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: NI uses strong aluminum frame with outdoor powder coating. We created a IP connector for each light, ensuring people can change the LED easily. Being environmental friendly, the total power consumption of the NI system only equals that of three 60W incandescent light bulbs while providing a much brighter lit area. NI uses a low voltage 12V LED output driver to power a system of over 2000 pieces 0.1W LEDs but generating very little heat. When the NI is closed, its system can still be kept ON acting as a beautiful light torch for the garden.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: NI 350, the shade uses the reputed Sunbrella fabric. Aluminum over 2.0mm thickness with structure inside. With NI opened the lower end is still over 2.3 meters. This avoids rusting by salt-laden winds as most customers will put it near sea side. Heavy aluminum and brass are used to connect inside.
TAGS: NI, Parasol, LED, Garden Furniture, Garden Umbrella, FoxCat,
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: We love outdoor dining and outdoor environment. Every time when we are sitting in restaurant or dinning on beach there are always parasols. They are beautiful, but when the night falls they cannot function with the environment. NI is using all-in-one cabling and therefore you can move it and do the set up quickly. After testing over 50 times of different LED colors, we chose 1800K LED candle light for down light and 2200K for up light respectively.
CHALLENGE: In order to overcome the challenge in cabling and water proofing so as to make it suitable for all environments, we tailor-make the molds with water proof gasket that satisfies IP Rating, ensuring real protection for the PCB inside. In making the cable all in one yet changeable is also a difficult part during the development.
ADDED DATE: 2014-03-15 00:53:00
TEAM MEMBERS (6) : Terry Chow, Chris Chan, Tom Rodinger , Sonia Lo, Joshua Wong and Philip Shiu
IMAGE CREDITS: All image: Photographer by ones production
|