Adjustable Spotlight via Planar LED Array and Common Refractive Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices with motorized components for dynamically adjustable spotlights are costly, noisy, prone to failure, and require regular maintenance, while complex solutions like Osram's dome-shaped luminaire are expensive due to dedicated optics for each LED.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device with a planar array of individually addressable LEDs and a common optical system of refractive lenses that shape luminous distributions into dynamically adjustable spotlights, eliminating the need for motorized components and reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If motorized components (motorized filter, motorized gobo wheels, motorized optics) are used to adjust spotlight properties, then the spotlight can be dynamically controlled in position and shape, but the device cost increases, form factor increases, noise increases, reliability decreases, and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces motorized mechanical components with a static optical system comprising a light source array and fixed lenses. The dynamic spotlight control is achieved through electronic control of light source activation patterns rather than mechanical movement, eliminating motors, gears, and moving parts while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting device is segmented into multiple individually controllable light sources arranged in an array, each associated with a fixed lens. By selectively activating different segments (light sources) and their corresponding lenses, the system achieves dynamic spotlight positioning and shaping without requiring the entire system to move mechanically.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dome-shaped luminaire with 61 individually controllable LEDs and dedicated optics for each LED is used, then dynamically adjustable spotlights can be generated, but the manufacturing cost increases due to complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single lens design that serves multiple functions: it shapes light from any position in the array and directs it at the appropriate angle. This universal lens can handle light sources at different positions without requiring position-specific optical components, significantly simplifying manufacturing compared to dome luminaires that need dedicated optics for each LED.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the optical shaping function into a single common lens structure that serves all light sources in the array, rather than having separate dedicated optics for each LED. This consolidation reduces the number of optical components from 61 individual lens assemblies to one shared lens, dramatically reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If motorized components are included to change lighting device orientation, then the beam direction can be adjusted, but the device becomes noisy, prone to failure, and requires regular maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces motorized orientation adjustment mechanisms with a static optical system. Beam direction control is achieved by electronically selecting which light sources in the array are activated, as each light source's fixed lens naturally directs light at a specific angle. This eliminates all moving parts, motors, and mechanical adjustment mechanisms, dramatically improving reliability and eliminating noise and maintenance 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
The solution enables cost-effective manufacturing of a compact lighting device that can adjust spotlight position and shape without motorized parts, providing a seamless and aesthetically pleasing light effect with reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical system comprising a plurality of refractive lenses common to the individually addressable light sources and sequentially arranged along a common optical axis to shape the luminous distribution of each set of light sources into a spotlight and project said spotlight in an angular direction
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a lighting device (1) for generating a dynamically adjustable spotlight without moving parts. The lighting device comprises a planar array of individually addressable sets of light sources (11), each set comprising at least one light source, each of said light sources being arranged to produce a luminous distribution; a controller (20) arranged to individually address said sets of light sources; and an optical system (100) comprising a plurality of refractive lenses (110, 120, 130) common to the individually addressable light sources and arranged to shape the luminous distribution of each set of light sources into a spotlight (13) and project said spotlight in an angular direction that is a function of a position of said set in the array.