Adaptor Lens Broadside Reflectors Illumination Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical attachments for semiconductor light sources with a length-to-width ratio greater than 1.5:1 often result in dark areas during illumination due to inefficient light distribution, as they cannot effectively utilize light that falls outside the central lens and side reflectors, leading to undesirable light loss.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating additional reflectors on the broad side and outer side reflectors to redirect unused light into the central and secondary beams, ensuring homogeneous illumination by aligning the light's directional components and increasing the illuminated area's cross-sectional length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional front-mounted optics with central lens and side reflectors are used, then the structure is simple, but dark areas appear and illumination becomes non-uniform when length-to-width ratio exceeds 1.5:1

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination uniformityVSAvoidreflector arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination system is segmented into multiple functional zones: central lens for primary beam, inner side reflectors for first secondary beams, outer side reflectors for second secondary beams, and broadside reflectors for third secondary beams. Each segment handles specific light paths to ensure complete coverage of the extended light-emitting surface without dark areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends the reflector arrangement from traditional 2D planar configuration (central lens + side reflectors) to 3D spatial configuration by adding broadside reflectors on the wide faces of the optics. This dimensional expansion enables effective light collection and redirection across the entire extended surface area, eliminating dark zones in high aspect ratio configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the length-to-width ratio of the light-emitting surface is increased beyond 1.5:1, then the illumination coverage is extended, but dark areas appear due to insufficient light distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight-emitting surface areaVSAvoidbrightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric reflector positioning tailored to the specific aspect ratio requirements. Outer side reflectors are positioned at optimized distances from the optical axis, and broadside reflectors are angled specifically to match the extended dimensions. This asymmetric configuration ensures uniform light distribution across non-square geometries, preventing dark areas even when length-to-width ratio exceeds 1.5:1.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Illumination intensity

If additional reflectors are added to improve illumination uniformity, then light distribution improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneity of illuminationVSAvoidnumber of reflectors
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple reflector functions are merged into a coordinated system where central lens, inner side reflectors, outer side reflectors, and broadside reflectors work together as an integrated light distribution network. Each component complements the others to redirect light from the semiconductor source across the entire light-emitting surface, achieving uniform illumination through synergistic operation rather than isolated elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution enhances light distribution by utilizing previously lost light, achieving homogeneous illumination even with a length-to-width ratio greater than 1.5:1, thereby improving the optical attachment's efficiency and reducing dark areas.

Implementation Method 1

a central lens with an optical axis and a focal area. This lens is designed to generate a central beam of light from light incident on it from the focal area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

an internal side reflector positioned on one side of the optical axis in a second spatial direction perpendicular to the first. This internal side reflector is designed to generate a first secondary beam of parallel light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

the further reflector arranged laterally is located in the third spatial direction on a first side of the optical axis and is configured to generate a third secondary beam of parallel light, which initially has a directional component parallel to the first spatial direction, a directional component parallel to the second spatial direction, and a directional component parallel to the third spatial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

the outer side reflector is arranged behind the inner side reflector in the first spatial direction and on a side of the inner side reflector facing away from the optical axis in the second spatial direction and is configured to deflect the third secondary beam such that the light of the third secondary beam propagates in the first spatial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3121510B1Adaptor lens
Publication Date: 2019.05.22 MARELLI GERMANY GMBH
  • EP3121510B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3121510B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3121510B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A front optic (36) is presented with a central lens (12) which has an optical axis parallel to a first spatial direction and which generates a central light beam, with an inner side reflector (21) which is arranged in a second spatial direction perpendicular to the optical axis on a first side of the optical axis and is designed to generate a first secondary beam of parallel light which lies next to the central light beam in the second spatial direction.The front optics (36) are characterized in that they have at least one further reflector (38) arranged on a broad side and at least one outer side reflector (40) arranged on a narrow side, wherein the further reflector (38) arranged on a broad side is arranged in a third spatial direction on a first side of the optical axis and generates a third secondary beam of parallel light and directs it towards the outer side reflector (40), wherein the outer side reflector (40) is arranged to deflect the third secondary beam so that it lies next to the first secondary beam in the second spatial direction on a side of the first secondary beam facing away from the optical axis.