Artificial fireplace for displaying an artificial fire pattern

1 . Artificial fireplace for displaying an artificial fire pattern, comprising:

a fireplace video showing flames, and

a display device, configured to display the fireplace video, wherein the display device comprises:

a backlight source, which comprises a plurality of LEDs, wherein the backlight source is configured to emit light with the LEDs, and

an LCD-panel, which is configured to selectively transmit or modulate light from the backlight source, in order to display the fireplace video,

wherein the LEDs of the backlight source only emit light onto the LCD-panel where the flames are to be displayed.

2 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 1 , wherein the display device is configured to display the fireplace video in a rectangular display area of the device, wherein the LEDs of the backlight source span part of the rectangular display area, and wherein a remaining part of the rectangular display area, e.g. outside the part spanned by the LEDs of the backlight source, is free of LEDs.

3 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 2 , wherein the LEDs of the backlight source are offset from a neighboring rectilinear edge of the rectangular display area.

4 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 3 , wherein the LEDs of the backlight source are offset from a rectilinear top edge of the top edge of the rectangular display area.

5 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 4 , wherein the top edge of the LEDs of the backlight source substantially corresponds to a top edge of the flames.

6 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 2 , wherein the LEDs of the backlight source are offset from respective neighboring rectilinear linear edges of the rectangular display area.

7 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 6 , wherein all edges of the LEDs of the backlight source substantially correspond to all respective flame edges of the flames.

8 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of the LEDs of the backlight source has an arc shape substantially corresponding to a bottom edge shape of the flames.

9 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 1 , further comprising a reflector panel, which is located adjacent to the backlight source and which comprises a surface with a high reflectivity, which is configured to reflect light.

10 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 9 , wherein the high-reflective surface of the reflector panel comprises a high-reflective coating.

11 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 9 , wherein the high-reflective surface of the reflector panel only spans across a portion of the panel, having a high-reflective surface area that substantially corresponds to the flames.

12 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 11 , wherein the high-reflective surface area substantially corresponds to the LEDs of the backlight source.

13 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 12 , wherein a portion of the reflector panel, e.g. outside the high-reflective surface area, comprises a surface with a low reflectivity that is configured to absorb light.

14 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 13 , wherein the low-reflective surface of the reflector panel comprises a low-reflective coating.

15 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 13 , wherein the reflector panel comprises a transitional reflective surface with a reflectivity in between the high-reflective surface and the low-reflective surface, wherein the transitional reflective surface is configured to reflect light.

16 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 15 , wherein the transitional reflective surface of the reflector panel comprises a high-reflective coating.

17 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 1 , further comprising a mask, which is located in between the backlight source and the LCD-panel and which comprises an absorbing mask surface that is configured to absorb light, wherein the mask further comprises a mask aperture in the absorbing mask surface, which has a shape that substantially corresponds to the flames.

18 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 17 , wherein the absorbing mask surface comprises an absorbing coating, for example a black coating.

19 . Artificial fireplace according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a housing, defining an interior and comprising at least one opening to allow a line of sight into the interior of the housing,

a semi-transparent mirror, which is arranged in the interior of the housing and which comprises:

a first side, facing the opening, and

an opposite second side, facing away from the opening, and

a fireplace background, which is arranged in the housing,

wherein the display device is arranged in the housing and configured to display a first fireplace video,

wherein the semi-transparent mirror is arranged to at least partially reflect the first fireplace video at its first side and to at least partially transmit an image of the fireplace background at its second side, in order to recombine the first fireplace video and the background image into the artificial fire pattern, such that the artificial fire pattern is visible along the line of sight.

20 . Method for displaying a fireplace video with an artificial fireplace that comprises a display device, comprising:

providing a fireplace video, which at least comprises flames,

emitting light with a backlight source of the display device,

illuminating an LCD-panel with the light,

selectively transmitting or modulating the light with the LCD-panel to display the fireplace video,

wherein,

the backlight source comprises a plurality of LEDs for the emitting of the light,

wherein the LEDs of the blacklight source only emit light onto the LCD-panel where the flames are to be displayed.