Angled LED Lighting Units for Light Box Illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting units for light boxes and sign cabinets, such as those using incandescent, neon, or fluorescent bulbs, face issues with short lifespans and low electrical efficiency, requiring significant energy consumption and offering limited flexibility in adjusting LED density within the lighting systems.
Innovation Solution
The development of a lighting system comprising a light box housing with interconnected lighting units, where each unit includes light emitting elements mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) within a housing, angled to emit light sideways, and a mounting mechanism for flexible placement, allowing for customizable light distribution and reduced energy consumption through the use of LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lighting units (incandescent, neon, fluorescent) are used in light boxes, then sufficient illumination is achieved, but lifespan is short and electrical efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental lighting technology parameter from conventional bulb-based illumination to LED-based illumination. This parameter change achieves both extended lifespan (50,000-70,000 hours vs. 750-20,000 hours for conventional lights) and improved electrical efficiency (fraction of energy to luminous flux vs. significant energy consumption), directly resolving the technical contradiction between reliability and energy use.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple fluorescent tubes are used to provide sufficient lighting in large applications, then illumination requirement is met, but energy consumption becomes significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lighting system into multiple individual LED modules that can be independently controlled and positioned. Each module contains multiple LEDs arranged in a linear array, allowing the system to provide sufficient illumination through distributed light sources while consuming significantly less energy than conventional fluorescent tube arrangements. The segmented modular design enables precise lighting control and reduced overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the lighting technology parameter from fluorescent tubes to LED modules, achieving the same illumination intensity with fraction of the energy consumption. The LED-based modules provide equivalent or superior lighting performance while dramatically reducing power requirements, directly resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and energy consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lighting systems are used, then illumination is provided, but flexibility in adjusting LED density and light distribution is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into discrete, interchangeable LED modules that can be independently configured. Each module contains a linear array of LEDs with specific spacing, and multiple modules can be combined or arranged to achieve desired LED density and light distribution patterns. This segmentation provides flexibility in adapting to different application requirements without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic configuration of the lighting system by allowing modules to be positioned at various orientations (including angled mounting) and arranged in different densities. The system can be adapted to specific application needs by adjusting module placement and orientation, providing versatility while maintaining relatively simple modular construction.
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
This solution provides a cost-effective, efficient, and reliable lighting system with extended lifespan, offering flexible light distribution and reduced energy usage, suitable for structural, display, and ingress/egress lighting applications, while minimizing the need for multiple LED densities.
Implementation Method 1
LEDs are solid state devices that convert electric energy to light and generally comprise one or more active regions of semiconductor material interposed between oppositely doped semiconductor layers. When a bias is applied across the doped layers, holes and electrons are injected into the active region where they recombine to generate light.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system comprising a light box housing, a plurality of lighting units including a housing, a plurality of light emitting elements mounted on a PCB within the housing. The light emitting elements arranged on an angled surface such that the light emitting elements emit light in a sideways direction from the lighting units. The lighting units can also be interconnected in a daisy-chain configuration, such that the lighting units form a row of lighting units. The row of lighting units adapted to be mounted within the light box housing, wherein the light box housing comprises one or more rows of lighting units.