Apparatus and related methods for the controlled illumination of a convex surface
Illumination provided to the interior of a convex surface can be controlled using a plurality of internal barriers separating light sources such as light emitting diodes. Such controlled illumination can simulate phases of the moon using logic which can be limited to yes or no Boolean decisions, thereby minimizing the complexity of required input.
1. A system comprising:
a. a body, said body comprising a plurality of barriers;
b. a plurality of illumination sources, said plurality of illumination sources disposed such that one or more illumination source is positioned between each pair of barriers from said plurality of barriers; and
c. a translucent convex surface, said translucent convex surface disposed such that an interior portion of the translucent convex surface is illuminable by one or more of said plurality of illumination sources;
wherein the plurality of barriers intersect one another along an axis which lies in a plane containing a portion of the body obscured by the translucent convex surface.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of barriers are textured for dispersing light.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of barriers are textured with a coarse, random texture.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the interior of the translucent convex surface is textured with a light diffusing texture.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the light diffusing texture is a soft even texture.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the translucent convex surface is marked with a design depicting a celestial object.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of barriers comprises opaque barriers.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the translucent convex surface is a dome.
9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a light sensor operable to control illumination of said plurality of illumination sources.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of barriers are textured with a coarse, random texture; wherein the interior of the translucent convex surface is textured with a soft even texture; wherein the translucent convex surface is marked with a design depicting a celestial object; and wherein the translucent convex surface is a dome.
11. A system comprising:
a. a translucent convex surface;
b. one or more illumination sources disposed such that the interior of the translucent convex surface is illuminable by light emitted by the one or more illumination sources;
c. a control, said control operable to regulate illumination of the interior of the translucent convex surface by the one or more illumination sources;
d. a back portion, said back portion assembled with said translucent convex surface and comprising a mounting feature configured to facilitate positioning of the back portion on a surface; and
e. one or more opaque barriers, said one or more opaque barriers disposed between the back portion and the translucent convex surface such that said one or more opaque barriers blocks light from at least one illumination source from said one or more illumination sources from reaching a portion of the interior of the translucent convex surface; and
wherein said one or more opaque barriers comprises a plurality of opaque barriers; wherein said one or more illumination sources comprises a plurality of illumination sources; and wherein said one or more illumination sources are disposed such that at least one illumination source is situated between each pair of opaque barriers from said plurality of opaque barriers; and
wherein said translucent convex surface is marked with a design depicting a celestial object; wherein said control is operable to activate an automatic illumination cycle for said one or more illumination sources; and wherein said automatic cycle simulates a set of phases for the celestial object;
wherein the plurality of opaque barriers intersect along an axis which lies in a plane containing a portion of the back portion obscured by the translucent convex surface.
12. A system comprising a plurality of barriers, said plurality of barriers having an intersection located adjacent to a circular flat back member, said plurality of barriers being opaque and having a coarse, random texture; said plurality of barriers being disposed such that the plurality of barriers are symmetric relative to the intersection of said plurality of barriers, wherein the intersection is a diameter of the circular flat back member;
said system further comprising a plurality of illumination sources, wherein at least one illumination source from the plurality of illumination sources is disposed between each pair of barriers from the plurality of barriers.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein each barrier from said plurality of barriers has a thickness of less than 2 mm.