Adaptive Road Lighting Unit With Dual LED Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing street and road lighting luminaires face challenges in efficiently adapting light distribution to ensure uniform illumination along the road, particularly in response to changes in weather or road conditions, with current solutions requiring complex optical components and control systems, and limited adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A lighting unit with two LED light sources, each having distinct longitudinal light distribution characteristics, allows for adaptive light distribution by modifying the ratio of their intensities through adjusting the number of activated LEDs, maintaining a constant total number of LEDs and utilizing a control unit for automatic adjustments based on environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional luminaires use one lamp and a reflector system to achieve desired light distribution, then the light distribution can be controlled, but the utilisation factor is limited to 0.45-0.5 and the adaptability range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire is divided into multiple independent lighting units, each with its own LED module and optical system. This segmentation allows each unit to be independently controlled and optimized, enabling flexible adaptation of light distribution patterns while improving overall utilisation factor by reducing inter-reflector losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire incorporates adjustable components including movable LED modules and variable optical elements that can dynamically change the light distribution pattern. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different road widths, lighting requirements, and environmental conditions, significantly expanding the adaptability range beyond fixed reflector systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources with different tilts and orientations are provided to obtain combined light distribution, then the light distribution can be customized, but the system complexity increases and glare control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire employs multiple LED modules that can function in different configurations. By controlling which modules are active and their individual intensities, the system can achieve various light distribution patterns (symmetrical, asymmetrical, focused, wide-area) using the same physical components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves light distribution customization by changing operational parameters (which LEDs are activated and their intensity levels) rather than changing physical configurations. This parameter-based control allows flexible adaptation of light patterns without increasing mechanical complexity, and enables precise glare control through independent intensity modulation of each LED module.
3Illumination intensity
If all light sources are arranged on the same planar surface and the lighting head is tilted at high angles to obtain asymmetrical lateral light distribution, then the opposite side of the road can be illuminated, but the adaptability to different road conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using fixed high-angle tilting, the invention employs independently controllable LED modules that can dynamically adjust their effective light distribution pattern. By selectively activating and intensity-modulating specific LED modules, the system can achieve asymmetrical lateral illumination when needed while maintaining adaptability to various road widths and configurations, eliminating the compromise between fixed geometry and environmental adaptability.
4Manufacturing precision
If different combinations of reflectors and lenses are provided to ensure even illumination, then the desired light distribution can be obtained, but the luminaire requires storage and assembly of multiple optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical optical systems (multiple physical reflectors and lenses) with electronically controllable LED modules. Each LED module incorporates integrated optics, and by selectively activating and intensity-modulating these modules, the system achieves precise light distribution control and uniform illumination without requiring multiple separate optical components, thereby simplifying assembly and reducing component inventory requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and flexible adaptation of light distribution to maintain uniform road illumination, simplifying the luminaire's geometry and manufacturability, and allowing real-time adjustments to weather and road conditions without the need for multiple optical components.
Implementation Method 1
each light source comprises a plurality of LEDs
Implementation Method 2
Each light source may be provided with an optical element which is adapted to distribute the light of the corresponding light source
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~6c
AI summary
A lighting unit (! 0) for use in a luminaire (1), in particular a luminaire for road and/or street lighting, has an adaptable light distribution. The lighting unit (10) comprises at least two light sources (1, 121) or groups ought sources, each of said light sources (11, 12) or groups of light source having an individual light distribution characteristic, wherein the overall light distribution of the lighting unit (10) is adapted by modifying the ratio of the light outputs of the at least two light sources (11, 12) or groups of light sources.